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The Last Bookshop in London
August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler's forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she'd wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.
Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed--a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.
These book club questions are from the book club kit available on the author's website.
Book club questions for The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Which of the three main women in the story do you relate to more? Grace, Mrs. Weatherford or Viv? (or for men: Mr. Evans, Collin or George Anderson)
How does life during the Blitz parallel to experiences you’ve had during the pandemic?
After reading about Grace’s experiences as an ARP Warden, do you think it’s a job you would want to do? Why or why not?
At what point do you think Grace started to see Mr. Evans as a father figure and what did that mean to her?
What did you learn about the Blitz in reading this book that you didn’t know before?
What did you look up to learn more about after you finished reading The Last Bookshop in London?
All the children having to leave London for safe locations in England was a tough decision for parents to make, especially when relocating was not an option for most families. Do you think you would send your child away or keep them in London? How about once the Blitz started?
Taking shelter during the bombings wasn’t always comfortable or convenient as Anderson shelters were cramped and flooded easily and the tube stations were crowded, smelly and loud. Do you think you would still take shelter every night or eventually just chance it in the comfort of your own bed?
Dance halls were enormously popular during the war in London, even on through the Blitz. Do you think you would go to a dance hall while bombs were falling?
Food rationing meant cooking staples like butter, sugar and meat were in short supply. What is one of your favorite recipes you would need to alter and could you remake it using vegetables somehow?
What is the first book you remember falling in love with?
What is one of your favorite classics?
The Last Bookshop in London Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the The Last Bookshop in London discussion questions