Thank You for Your Service
Books about World War I and World War II are popular right now and can be historical fiction, women’s fiction, suspense thrillers, biographies, memoirs, and even romance. Stories of battles, and the Holocaust are on the same shelf as tales of women in the services, wives and families at the home front and lovers sharing their last kiss. Coco Chanel is featured and so is
The United States and many Allies celebrate Veteran’s Day or Remembrance Day in November so I am sharing books about the World Wars with you. I heard many stories from my mother who was a college student during World War II, so I have always been drawn to books that can teach us more about these horrific world events. I hope you find a book to inspire you!
JENA’S REVIEW
Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book will be one of the best books of 2020. Paris Never Leaves You will also be my favorite read this year, and quite likely an all-time favorite.
The book received high praise from reviewers and writers who are far more talented and astute than me. But we all agree that this is a special book.
“Masterful. Magnificent. A passionate story of survival and a real page turner. This story will stay with me for a long time.” —Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey
The main reason for my passion for this book is the main character, Charlotte. She is so lovely, tempered, proper, contained, and yet beguiling as well. She’s unforgettable- take a look at the cover of the book. Her daughter Vivi is almost as appealing in her young and charming way. There are other characters in the book, but not too many to keep track of, and all of them bring something important to the story.
For readers who are experiencing a bit of World War II historical fiction fatigue, put those feelings aside. Yes, part of the story takes place during the war years in occupied Paris. The war times alternate with Charlotte’s life in America 10 year after the war. In this book, the war occupies a small stage- a bookstore in Paris. The real war story is the story of Charlotte and her choices, from the small everyday choices, to more nuanced and moral choices. She’s an ordinary woman, like many other ordinary people during the war. Or is she?
I won’t say anything about the plot, as I don’t want to reveal anything. While the writing is spare, it is also eloquent. The ideas are complex. I want to reread this book, because the ending surprised me, and I want to go back and see what I missed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“It is better to light just One Little Candle than to stumble in the dark.” *
The opening line to one of my favorite Christmas carols kept playing in my head as I read this inspiring book. Occupied France was in dire need of hope and in the midst of terrible darkness and oppression, some tiny points of light did shine through. This book is a fictionalized, but accurate account of Virginia Hall and the people she worked with in 1944.
American Virginia Hall was a well-educated young woman who began her career with the American Consulate service. During WWII she became an Allied spy, working with the British in France. Her basic mission as a wireless operator was to get supplies to the resistance fighters in France, organize them in acts of sabotage and train them to overthrow the Germans after D-Day. In the midst of evil, could she bring forth the hope of a brighter world?
The typical wireless operator survived in Nazi France for six weeks. Virginia was not typical. In spite of a physical handicap, she persevered. Her story is one of fear, loneliness, hardship and danger, but also moments of friendship, love and opportunity to witness acts of great mercy and bravery.
Readers will find the actual “spying” details fascinating. In an evil and constantly life-threatening world- a world without computers and high-tech??- how did Virginia accomplish her mission? Spies communicated through coded messages. Also, the BBC broadcast coded messages each evening. Even crossword puzzles could convey a secret message. It’s thrilling to be crowded in a dark room with Virginia and her cohorts, breathlessly listening to the radio for the words that would signal a delivery of supplies, or the start of the D-Day invasion. Through Virginia, we get to know many amazing and unsung people with true hearts for good.
A section of the story that deserves a whole book of its own, is Virginia’s time in Le Chambon-sur-Ligne. Saving the “Old Testaments” will have you weeping. Virginia was deeply affected too, but the love and valor she observed also helped to thaw her icy heart of emotional self-protection.
Well-paced, with wonderful historic details that enhance rather than slow-down the story, you will be awestruck by Virginia and thankful that people such as her rose up during a dark period of history. This is a must read! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
*Sung by Perry Como
Music by George Mysels
With Lyrics by Joseph Maloy Roach, Published 1952
The Tuscan Girl: Completely gripping WW2 historical fiction by Angela Petch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ever since the popular book and movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Tuscany invokes in me the feeling of getting away and starting a new life filled with peace and tranquility in the midst of timeless history. Author Angela Petch is up to the challenge of portraying her vision of the Tuscan countryside in an equally evocative and inspiring book that showcases the foods, homes, families and culture of Tuscany. Who hasn’t dreamed of taking a chance and starting anew in Tuscany?
The Tuscan Girl is a stand-alone companion to the author’s first Tuscan valentine, The Tuscan Secret. As we have come to expect from a book by Angela Petch, the characters and settings are the main course of this Italian feast. We get to know and deeply care about the characters from the World War II part of the story, Lucia and Florian, Salvo, Molly, the Spinks. The characters from the present are equally compelling, Alba, Alfi, and Lodovica. Massimo is the heart of the book and he appears in both the World War II story and the present. I found myself rereading a quote or description because it was filled with joy, humor, or wisdom.
The descriptions of Tuscany are reason enough to read the book. Many of the views of Tuscany are seen through Alba’s keen artist eyes. I know many readers may be used to skipping over descriptions of scenery or food, but don’t- you won’t want to miss a word. The characters love their world and share it with us from their views of trout in a stream to the unfolding of mountains and valleys. The scenes would bring joy to an Italian Renaissance painter.
There are two Tuscan girls in the story- Lucia in World War II and Alba in the present. The story of Italy’s travails during World War II are horrific and should not be forgotten.
So, why did I give this lovely book 4 stars? Mainly because there is too much. Too many changes in time which take away from the puzzles and mysteries by revealing too much, too many characters, and too many individual stories. On the other hand, many readers may find this story to be just what they wanted. Overall, this is a lovely poem to Tuscany and all that she has endured and given to the world. Recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy. This is my honest review.
The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This thoughtful and compelling book is both a toast to champagne- the drink and the region in France as well as a salute to the human spirit. Champagne- so bubbly, light on the tongue, effervescent, it’s the nectar of celebrations, a beverage of joy. But this is not a giddy story. The Vineyards of Champagne is a lyrical and lovely look at the past and present, its sadness and challenges.
When we meet Rosalyn, sitting in first class on her way to a small village in the Champagne region of France, she is not at all a poster girl for champagne, surprising since she is a wine sales rep. She lives in the shadows and suffers by crouching in front of her medicine cabinet, ever since Dash, the vibrant love of her life died.
On the plane, she is seated by a human force of nature, Emma from Australia, a wealthy wine investor. Emma is not married, she is not a widow, or “veuve” but she is in the same mold as the famous Madame Clicquot, the first woman to head a champagne house. The Veuve Clicquot is well-described in this book, so I looked her up. “In an era when women were excluded from the business world, she dared to assume the head of the company, a role she undertook with passion and determination. Madame Clicquot’s character might be summarized with two words: audacious and intelligent.” Audacious and intelligent also describes Emma.
Once in France Emma and Rosalyn meet and stay with the family of a small champagne house and grow quite close to Blondine, a wonderful character. The three of them team up because of their champagne connection, but they grow close as they investigate a century-old mystery. Emma is in possession of some letters that her great-aunt wrote to a young French soldier serving in the trenches during World War 1. Their epistolary relationship is a highlight of the book. What ever happened to the soldier, and his lover?
This is not a thrilling or suspenseful story; rather, it echoes the strength and timelessness of the Champagne region. The soil and its caves can nourish as well as save. Growers and producers of champagne face hard constant toil and must be as strong as the land that creates the grapes. The characters in this story are connected because they all face trials of the spirit.
I commend the author for creating a readable story that is filled with such entertaining depth . Juliet Blackwell is able to teach us about grapes and champagne, from Napa Valley to France in an appealing way. She is quite adept at creating full characters that are so real and authentic. Emma seems to Australian. The French characters are so French in their words, thoughts and actions. This is one of the saddest depictions of World War I have read.
I have not traveled that much in Europe, but as a college student, I did make it to Reims. I remember seeing the beautiful Cathedral, but nothing else. Oh, to have known more about the history of the place, the people living in the wine caves and cellars during the War! Thanks to this book, I now feel connected to the region.
The next time you drink Champagne, think of the stories behind it. Maison Veuve Clicquot has produced luxury champagnes sine 1772. It proclaims on its website, “Let Life Surprise you”. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced digital review copy. This is my honest review.
The Traitor by V.S. Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Not all Germans were Nazis” is the subtitle of The Traitor. What impact and power! But most Germans were subjugated by the Nazis and most Germans suffered. This book tells the story of Natalya, as she participates with the White Rose resistance group during World War II in Munich.
The real students behind the White Rose movement appear this book. Natalya is fictionalized. The White Rose, the meaning of the name is not known, was a peaceful movement by a small group of university students in 1942 who secretly produced and disseminated anti-Nazi and Reich leaflets. “We are your conscience.” They also painted resistance messages on buildings at night. “Freedom!” “Down with Hitler” The leaders of the group were guillotined by the Nazis in 1943. They died bravely, without denouncing fellow members. The author tells us in the book notes that copies of the White Rose leaflets were smuggled to the Allies, who copied and dropped them by the millions over Germany.
The book follows the life of Natalya, whose family emigrated to Munich, Germany from Russia to escape Stalin. At the Munich university, she meets members of the White Rose resistance. She also is pursued by a man who intrigues her- but can he be trusted? What about her landlady? And her own parents? As the war goes on, her suffering intensifies, but her spirit keeps her going.
The topic of this Historical Fiction is gripping and inspiring, but the way it is presented is flat and distant, even though it is told in the first person by Natalya. The second half of the book is exciting, but we never get to really know Natalya or the other White Rose members. We are told about the horrors of living in Munich during World War II.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK, and One More Chapter for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Hidden in the Shadows: An unforgettable WW2 novel by Imogen Matthews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hidden in the Shadows is World War II historical fiction that grabs you and pleads with you and sticks in your mind.
I highly recommend this book. I wish it were totally fiction and not based on actual history, as the story is hauntingly sad and painful. At the end of this profound book, the author writes (as many authors do) “If you have enjoyed Hidden in the Shadows, please do leave a review on the major review sites.” I am glad to leave a review, but this is not an “enjoyable” story in the sense of reading a rom com or sweet cozy mystery. Inspiring, unbelievable, a book that make you cry, a book that brings history to life- yes, it is all that.
This book is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Hidden Village. The hidden village was built purposefully by the Dutch in the Veluwe woods to hide Jews and others who need to hide from the Germans. I did not read The Hidden Village, but the author explains in her prologue that the book ends with the Germans discovering and destroying the village. Many readers wanted to know what happened to the characters that survived, and it is these characters who fled the Germans that we read about in book 2.
Laura and Wouter are two characters who ran for their lives, from the hail of bullets and pursuit of the German soldiers. They are both young, Laura is still a teenager, and they were just beginning to explore their love for each other. They are separated and spend the next year looking for each other. If Laura and Wouter had thought it was hard to live in a hidden village, life in Holland in the last year of the war is hell.
Laura is snuck from home to home, barn or shed, with little notice at all hours of the day or night. She is hungry, thirsty, cold in the harsh winter weather, and she is never able to relax or feel cared for. Wouter becomes more involved with the resistance. Death is always a present fear. The next person who passes them on the street could be a German soldier or collaborator.
Beautifully written, with many marvelous characters, this book reveals much about Holland during the war and the brave citizens who did their best. I couldn’t put it down. I am going to read the first book, The Hidden Village and I encourage readers to them both. The story is suitable for YA readers. Thanks to the author for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When you read the first chapter of this book, you feel as if you are reading a dystopian sci-fi fantasy. A sixteen girl lives in a ruined, grey nightmare landscape, and survives by her wits, while avoiding capture by the authorities. But it’s not dystopian, this book is based on true events, and really is a historical romance. I prefer to call it a sweet fairy tale as it is a simply told, but lovely tale.
The book is set in Coventry, England. Coventry was bombed many times during the Second World War by the German Air Force. The most devastating of these attacks occurred on the evening of 14 November 14, 1940, and continued into the morning of November 15. The book begins at this point in time. Ruby Shadwell is a plucky girl, raised in a loving family. Her parents operated a grocery store. All this is wiped away by the horrific bombings. She like many others, has lost all she had, although she comes to learn that inside her she still possesses a strong will to live and love.
The characters are so precious, and you will bond with them. They reminded me of Charlie’s family in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. From nothing, they create a life together, an old man, an older lady, and a puzzling you boy from London. Their world is a proper and plain world, a different time than now. Their “once upon a time” story spreads love and good will to themselves and others. A handsome Canadian soldier appears, like a Prince Charming in the eyes of Ruby.
The book closes with the end of the War. Love and the birth of new babies has replaced the grey skies. As I read the touching conclusion, I thought that surely babies born as the War ended must have been the most loved children, as bombs gave way to hope.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads/One More Chapter for this digital advance review copy. This is my honest opinion.
Of Windmills and War by Diane Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
World War II is a complex time of many countries and their governments, large armies, and mobilized home fronts and citizens. Of Windmills and Wars focuses on two people, not millions and gives us a heartbreaking up-close view of war. The story of Danny, Anja, their friends and families is simple, but beautifully told. The book spotlights the plight of The Netherlands as this stop country resisted Germany during the war. Resistance is only as strong as its weakest link, yet it is the small and stubborn Anja who does her best. Danny is an American Airman with an interesting connection to Anja. This sweeping romance enthralled me.
Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Millions of people have read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, based on the real-life story of Lale and Gita finding love under horrible circumstances. That book has been called “an extraordinary document”, and “a story of hope and survival against incredible odds”. Another reviewer notes, “I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved.” Cilka, Gita’s friend, was also imprisoned at Auschwitz-Birkenau and it is her story that is told in this second companion book to The Tattooist. Cilka’s Journey is historical fiction, based on her life and it is even more compelling, heartbreaking and inspiring.
In the excellent Author Notes at the end of Cilka’s Journey, Heather tells us that tattooist Lale considered Cilka to be the bravest person he had ever known. Cilka’s Journey begins when Cilka, age 16, was torn from her family and condemned to the Nazi concentration camp in 1942, then liberated at the end of the war only to be immediately imprisoned by the Soviet Union. She was then loaded on a box car for three tortuous weeks to a Gulag camp in Siberia north of the Arctic Circle.
What happens to a young girl/woman when staying alive is the only form of resistance she has? What happens when she feels she is an instrument of death? When she has never had any choices? Cilka’s Journey tells of her physical travels and also of her spiritual journey. Cilka survives because she is beautiful, brave, smart and searching for redemption. She survives because somehow humans are able to connect and love even while starving and working in harsh and evil conditions.
One of the most touching parts of the book for me is when the woman in Cilka’s Gulag prison hut celebrate the birth of a baby. They embroider baby clothes made from threads from their sheets and scraps of fabric. It’s hard for me to type that without crying. Another beautiful part of the book is the friendship of Cilka and the woman physician who sees Cilka’s talent and trains her.
The story is told in flashbacks from 1939-1945. The book is written in the third person, I believe deep third person, in the present tense which makes for a vivid and highly immersive story. You will feel like you are there with Cilka and the women, experiencing their fear, hardships, and deprivations. Once you start the book, you will keep reading until the end.
There is an epilogue which lets us know that Cilka and the man with the soft brown eyes she met at the Gulag returned to Czechoslovakia and were married for fifty years. I wonder if Cilka continued her medical work after she was released from the Gulag. This book is an inspiring and important memorial to those who perished and to those who lived to tell, but I wish it had never happened as it’s so unbelievably sad that Cilka’s Journey is based on true events and people.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Heather Morris, and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
No Surrender: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier’s Extraordinary Courage in the Face of Evil by Christopher Edmonds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are many World War II memoirs listed on Amazon and Goodreads- and a Google search will have you scrambling through 112 million results. There probably aren’t millions of memoirs, but I am thankful that there are many, because each person who served on the Allied side has an amazing story to tell. And these stories must be told soon, while we still have the veterans or their families to tell them. Christopher Edmond’s search for the details of his father’s World War II service is a uniquely positive and uplifting read, even though the details are harsh and horrifying. The book is written in a clear and friendly style and is a pleasure to read.
The author recalls that his Dad Roddie was scrupulously fair and was known as a “square shooter”. But his Dad also had a fun side and would light up a room and warm everyone’s heart with fun and laughter. Roddie was a sincere Christian and ended family prayers by saying, “Lord, help us help others who can’t help themselves.” He loved to sing hymns in church and coach his son’s little league team.
Growing up, the author had no clue about his Dad’s service during World War II. Like many men who returned from the war, Roddie wanted to get on with his life and have a home and family. The author did know that his Dad had served as a Master Sergeant in the US Army, 422nd Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division- the Golden Lions. It wasn’t until his daughter had to do a school project, that he and his family began to look closely through his Dad’s war memorabilia and study his Dad’s diaries from 1944-45.
The author felt a strong pull to search for the men who had served with his father, or their remaining families, to learn more about his Dad’s experiences during the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent capture by the Germans and imprisonment in a POW camp. Fortunately, some of Roddie’s Army buddies were still alive and the author met with them and finally heard the grim details and bravery of his father.
Roddie’s service to the Army and duty to his men of all faiths teach us that one person can always make a difference. And that’s why the author is sharing the story of his father’s message around the world, a message of the transformative power of love, selfless sacrifice and moral courage. Roddie was a secure, grounded and prepared young man, and he was able with God’s help to do the impossible. The story of Roddie’s months overseas and his son’s search to learn about it 75 years later is incredible.
Master Sergeant Roddie Waring Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee would be posthumously highly honored for his World War II heroism, in 2015. He saved 1500 of his men, men who were in their early twenties at the time and who would go home to live long lives filled with careers, marriage, children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. I thank all of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces and I salute the “Greatest Generation.” I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers Harper One for a digital advanced review copy. This is my honest review.
Victory for the East End Angels by Rosie Hendry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“To always being friends, no matter where we are or what we do.”
Winnie, Frankie, and Bella’s journey as East End Angels ends in this fourth book of the East End Angels series. Their time together began in 1939. Together, they faced many challenges through the years as part of an ambulance station crew as the bombs rained down in London. What happens to them as the end of World War II finally nears? The long-awaited peace brings joy, and also changes.
Author Rosie Hendry has once again given us a sweet and intimate picture of these young women who chose to volunteer and serve their country. I enjoyed reading about their everyday lives, as they dealt with family, relationships shattered by the war, and food shortages. The girls shared happy times at the cinema or dance halls, and they also supported each other during heroic moments as they faced the danger of bombs, “doodlebugs” and V2 rockets.
There are many other wonderful and familiar characters in this book, Station Officer Violet Steele, Rose, Sparky, Mrs. Connelly the stationhouse cook, and of course, the little dog Trixie. The author does a wonderful job of writing short chapters that deftly flow from one character to another. We worry with the girls when they receive bad news and we rejoice when they share happy moments, such as at weddings or celebrating a New Year that will hopefully ring in peace.
We learn that the war had brought horrible moments, but good had come to the Angels, too. One of the best things to happen at Station 75 was the mixing of society as varied people came to work together, from East End factory girls to debutantes. Everyone had to learn to work together. And now Winnie, Frankie and Bella grew up and must decide what to do next as a new era begins.
I enjoyed this series. I loved that the author fixed a spotlight on an interesting and unsung part of the war. My only small quibble with book 4 is that except for Poland, very little mention is given to the other Allies who fought to free Fortress Europe.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK and Sphere publishing for an ARC. This is my honest review.
Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mistress of the Ritz by bestselling historical fiction author Melanie Benjamin, features four main “characters”. The Mistress herself, Blanche Ross, an exuberant American flapper girl, is married to Monsieur Claude Auzello, the director/manager of the Hotel Ritz, Place Vendome, Paris. The Auzellos were real people and did live in the Ritz and run it, although not much is known about them.
The iconic Hotel Ritz, designed and built in 1898 by the equally iconic Cesar Ritz, is the third and perhaps most fascinating character. (Cesar’s partner was also iconic-Auguste Escoffier.) Many well-known and illustrious guests inhabited the elegant rooms and exquisite bars and dining rooms. And the fourth “character” is World War II and the German occupation of Paris, with its Luftwaffe headquarters in the Hotel Ritz. (All true, too.)
The story is told in the third person, alternately by Blanche and Claude, beginning in 1923, when they first meet. The debonair Frenchman’s heart “popped” when he beheld Blanche’s youthful beauty and flamboyant American personality. She gave him the nickname, “Popsy”. “Blanchette”, as he calls her, is fond of throwing vases at him- her passion is boundless.
The coming World War II, and subsequent German occupation of Paris looms over the story of Blanche and Claude, who it turns out have many secrets. When the Germans march past the Arch of Triumph, will the Auzellos cope, and will they and the Ritz survive? Haunting, compelling, troubling, emotional are all words I would use to describe this book.
If we changed the character’s names, the city and the war- we would have the story of “Gone With Wind.” Claude is Ashley, Atlanta is Paris, Tara is the Ritz and perhaps Hemingway can be Rhett. Certainly, Blanche is Scarlett and both women dealt with a major war. (And Scarlett liked to throw vases, too.) We readers love epic stories where seemingly ordinary people are shaped by a profound moment in history. But will Blanche succeed in growing up and finding herself, better than Scarlett did?
“As an armchair historian, I’ve always been drawn to stories from the past, stories that still resonate today—stories we may not know or remember. Untold stories, that explore the hidden corners, the locked closets behind the known historical record. Deeply personal stories, because history only comes alive when we remember that it was made by real people, people just like us. This is why I write novels about these people: Because facts are for the historian, but emotions are the province of the novelist.” Melanie Benjamin, Author
Author Benjamin has made the story of the Ritz, the war and the real people, just like us, come alive in a way that will continue to resonate with me. Readers will feel like they are sitting in the Ritz bar drinking martinis with Blanche. Did Blanche and Claude live happily ever after? Just like Scarlett, we don’t really know what their “tomorrow” brought, but I’m glad their story has been told.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Delacorte Press for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
The Stars in the Night by Clare Rhoden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The War to End All Wars ended on November 11, 1918. Our feelings of the Australian character and nation that exist today have their origins in the War and Anzac Day is commemorated as a national holiday in Australia. From a vantage of 100 years, author and historian Clare Rhoden shows us the experience of The Great War through the eyes of one Australian man.
The main character in this haunting historical fiction is Australian Harry Fletcher, and what a hero he is. “He didn’t notice other men looking to him for what to do next, because others had watched him for the lead all his life.”
Harry wasn’t wealthy, and he wasn’t educated. He worked in his family’s bakery and helped take care of his large family after his father died. He had a strong bond with his foster brother Eddie, a foundling that his father took in.
Harry was born to be a leader. He decided that the right thing to do was to enlist and fight for the British Empire. Of course, Eddie came, too.
“They’d been apprenticed to war as to a pernicious master, one who demanded heart and soul as well as body.” Harry and Eddie’s war started in Gallipoli in 1916, and then they served in France and Flanders. Conditions were horrible, but Harry was solid and realistic and did his best. By the end of the war, life had been harsh with Harry.
“He was Harry Fletcher and he was not finished yet.” He went back to Australia and once again, he did his best.
The blurb for this book explains the story well. “From the beaches of Semaphore to the shores of Gallipoli, the mud of Flanders to the red dust of inland South Australia, this is a story of love, brotherhood, and resilience.”
The author writes in a haunting and emotional style that will transfix you. The bond between Harry and Eddie was of a type that many people have probably not experienced. The cover of the book evokes the mood of the story. It looks similar to photos I have seen of the war zone near Chateau Wood.
This book truly moved me and I am thankful I read it. As I know mainly about the involvement of the U.S. in the War, which didn’t occur until the last year of the war, it would have helped me if there had been more details about the actual battles. But, I can see, that the author was not writing about World War 1 so much as she was writing about one man’s soul.
I will also note for readers, that the first part of the book shifts frequently between 1970 and 1915- 1917 and this confused me at first. But, once the story cast its spell, I found this to be a haunting read.
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for a review copy. This is my honest review.
Jena C. Henry, April, 2019
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel by Jeanne Mackin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Is there such a thing as literary fanfiction? There may be now! In The Last Collection, readers get to meet and become friends with two fashion icons, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. The protagonist of this evocative story is Lily and she tells us the events of the Paris of 1938 to 1939 in the first person which gives us a feeling of immediacy and connection with all of the characters in the book, real and fictional.
As the author tells us in her interesting and informative notes at the end of the book,
“The 1930’s was a golden age of couture and it was dominated by one city: Paris, and the city was dominated by two women: Chanel and Schiaparelli. Into a world of fabulous soirées, over-the-top costume balls, and quiet moments at the bar at the Ritz comes Lily, an American teaching art in England. She has received a cryptic telegram from her brother, requesting her to meet him at 2 pm at a café in Paris. She goes and her quiet, sad life changes just as quickly as the mannequins change outfits at the couture houses.
From the title of the book, to the foreshadowing in the story, we know that the Paris of 1938-1939 will not last long. Even as the characters clutch at the beauty and joy of Paris, they are also scheming- can the Nazi Von Dincklage (a real person) save Coco Chanel or his other lover who is a beautiful Jewish women? Can Schiaparelli save her daughter? And what of Lily’s own love affair? Lily’s friendship with both designers grows and so does her ability to handle life.
The detail and writing in this book is exquisite. From a study of the primary colors, to the operation of the designing world, to how the museums of Paris saved their artwork, the book is absorbing and moving. Did you know that ‘copy houses’ hired ‘sketchers’ to act as spies during fashion shows? They had to be able observe, memorize and then draw the new fashions certain to sell well, when no one was looking. A good sketcher could earn as much as 400 francs from a single two-hour showing of a collection. Fascinating.
The author gives us just as much insight into the creative vision and design abilities of Chanel and Schiaparelli. I would have loved to have seen photos or drawing of their creations. Imagine-a shoe hat! This book benefits from the literary style of writing and from the powerful depictions of the main characters. My only slight disappointment was that the book ended so suddenly. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a review copy. This is my honest review.
The Rise of the G.I. Army, 1940-1941: The Forgotten Story of How America Forged a Powerful Army Before Pearl Harbor by Paul Dickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I highly recommend this detailed and comprehensive, yet engaging and readable, non-fiction study of the years leading up to America’s declarations of war in 1941. At times in history, great men and women arise to lead. In the United States, we know of the Founding Leaders. In the years before World War II, we were blessed with the similar ascension of citizens with vision and energy. Were these people perfect? No, but they creatively persevered. Some of them have names that we still remember. Many are lost to history- especially the brave men and women who volunteered to serve in our citizen army.
What was America like before World War II? It was an isolationist country, dealing with the effects of the Great Depression. The armed forces had basically been disbanded after World War I, about 180,000 members remained, about the size of Portugal’s army, with old and limited equipment and resources. In 1939, when Germany attacked Poland, some leaders realized that we were ill-prepared to even defend our country, let alone participate in a war.
How did we go in a little over two years, from a skeleton service to a force that waged war in Europe and Japan? That journey is the heart of this book. We get to know Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton and Marshall. We learn how they started the selective service and drafted 5 million to serve, how they trained these regular folk to be dedicated soldiers, how the Officer Candidate School was created, how factories were mobilized to work around the clock, how Patton developed his tank command. Many of us who enjoy reading about WWII may not have realized how important the various army maneuvers, such as in Louisiana, were in creating fighting force.The book also highlights the dreadful issue of segregation in the armed forces, a terrible blight on the armed forces.
Near the end of this inspiring book, a woman who was 12 years old when a large-scale military maneuver was held near her farmhouse, recalled watching the soldiers relaxing in her yard. She wondered how many of those precious boys made it back.
This is the forgotten story of how America forged a powerful Army before World War II. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
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