Review
Readers who love books about books and historical fiction can rest assured that The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble is a worthy addition to their reading list. Book banning and censorship, unannounced raids, abuse of power and fear of prosecution bring this story to today’s headlines for readers who enjoy parallels to historical events.
The author weaves commentary about women’s healthcare and reproductive rights, resilience among oppression, and manages to develop characters who endure significant journeys and growth. Not to mention that all three main characters – the Applebaum sisters – have distinct personalities that will warm hearts.
The pacing could use some work – it’s simply my preference through. With women’s fiction bordering on historical fiction, a slower pace is expected. However, the author’s talent for writing engaging characters and high stakes in The Sisters of Book Row make up for it.
Shelley Noble joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about the research involved for this book and the plans for the future. Check out the interview in an upcoming episode and preorder The Sisters of Book Row, available March 3.
Book
1915: Manhattan’s Book Row, an eclectic jumble of forty bookshops along Fourth Avenue, is the mecca for rare book buyers from around the world, and the haunt of locals looking for a bargain. It is also the target of the most vicious censor in American history—Anthony Comstock.
And home to three sisters who vow to stop him.
For the three Applebaum sisters, the narrow, four-storied Arcadia Rare Bookshop is the only home they’ve ever known. Olivia, the oldest, is an expert in restoring rare manuscripts. Daphne, the outgoing middle sister, oversees the retail shop and is a favorite with their customers. Celia, the youngest, is left to dust and catalogue, but often sneaks out to do heaven knows what. Little do her sisters know, Celia has joined a group of young people who secretly print and distribute articles on women’s health by hiding them within the pages of ordinary cookbooks, household hints, and sewing patterns, despite the personal risk.
Meanwhile, the Comstock Laws threaten anybody who owns or circulates “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” publications. Even classic literature or fine art could send a person to jail. In the face of such oppression, Celia and the booksellers of Book Row band together. But secrets and a mysterious stranger mean the fate of the famed Book Row is anything but secure.
