Hold On To Hope
The Last Bookshop In Prague by Helen Parusel is a powerful, heartbreaking historical novel that I read in just one sitting. The story is fictional but grounded in fact as it surrounds the Nazi occupation of Prague from 1942 to the end of the war. The historians will recognize this as the place of Reinhard Heydrich, the butcher of Prague, and of his fate and the fate of the people of Prague. Fast forward to the end of the war, and once more, the people of Prague will go down in history.
The Nazi occupation was horrendous. Fear and cruelty abounded. Everything was designed to wear down the citizens of Prague – but they were made of stern stuff, and far from being worn down, many brave souls rose up.
The Last Bookshop In Prague is an inspiring read as we hear of the extraordinary bravery of the ordinary people who refused to be silenced.
At the heart of the community is the last bookshop in Prague. Here, although outwardly adhering to the Nazi orders to only stock German books and approved authors, inwardly it was the hub of the resistance.
We see the bravery of the young proprietress as she refuses to stand by and do nothing when Jewish children are in need. She and her family, do what they can, when they can, in order to save lives.
To be successful, the resistance relied on knowledge being passed on but also sealed lips. The less you knew, the less you could tell. Suspicion was everywhere. Trust was in short supply. No one knew exactly who was working against the Nazis, sometimes it was most surprising to learn who was.
Love still happens in time of war. Sometimes people fight against their feelings – but to no avail.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. The bravery of many is to be commended.
Helen Parusel has written a powerful fictional account. She brings history to life in The Last Bookshop In Prague. It is a book that needs to be read in memory of the brave citizens of Prague (and of Czechoslovakia as a whole) during World War II. I can highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
The Last Bookshop in Prague
Was she incredibly brave or incredibly stupid? Neither. Just a bookshop girl doing what she could against her country’s oppressors.
The banned books club was only the beginning; a place for the women of Prague to come together and share the tales the Germans wanted to silence.
For bookshop owner, Jana, doing the right thing was never a question. So when opportunity comes to help the resistance, she offers herself – and her bookshop. Using her window displays as covert signals and hiding secret codes in book marks, she’ll do all in her power to help.
But the arrival of two people in her bookshop will change everything: a young Jewish boy with nowhere else to turn, and a fascist police captain Jana can’t read at all. In a time where secrets are currency and stories can be fatal, will she know who to trust?
A heart-wrenching and powerful story of courage, tenacity and love. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this unforgettable novel.
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/bookshoppraguesocial
Author Bio –
Helen Parusel is a historical novelist, having been a teacher and a clothes buyer for M&S. She currently lives in Hamburg.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @HelenParusel
Twitter: @HelenParusel
Instagram: @helenparusel
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Bookbub profile: @helenparusel
