End of Week Reviews - February 11, 2017

The Book Thieves: The Nazi Looting of Europe's Libraries and the Race to Return a Literary Inheritance
By Anders Rydell, Translated by Henning Koch
4 Stars



Much has been written about the Nazi's plundering of priceless works of art and much has been remembered about the piles of books reduced to ashes, but there is a deeper story about books being stolen and intellectual property being appropriated.  This translated book delves into the story of high ranking Nazi officials collecting, through theft, many books.  Several major libraries throughout Germany are now dealing with the fact that a large portion of their collection has been stolen from those sent to concentration camps.  Following these dedicated librarians as they attempt the almost impossible task of returning these books to their owners and descendants, this book also explores how literature changed under the Nazi rule.  I thought this was well researched, interesting, sad but ultimately hopeful as a handful of good people try to connect families with their long lost literary inheritances.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


The Duke by Kerrigan Byrne
4 Stars


What I enjoy most about this series is the complex storylines and the multi-faceted characters.  Imogen has always worked overtime to make up for the fortune her father lost at the end of his life.  As a waitress, she defends herself against untoward advances every night but when the new Duke of Trewyth offers an absurd amount of money for one night with her, it begins a series of interactions over the years that are both heart-wrenching and hopeful.  Imogen is a strong, well-developed character that remains hopeful and optimistic regardless of some rough years.  The Duke has been through hell and has the physical and emotional scars to show it.  My only problem with this book is that the Duke is a mostly unlikeable character and though he does start to change towards the end, I don't think it came quite soon enough.  Overall, though, I enjoyed this book and found it to be another dark, well-written addition to the series.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.