For me, there are several:
- Rilla of Ingleside by LM Montgomery: the last book in the Anne of Green Gables series, and the story of a young girl's coming-of-age during World War I.
- Coventry, by Helen Humphreys: An account of the German blitz on one English town.
- D-Day, by Stephen Ambrose: nonfiction; should be self-explanatory.
- And Dream When You're Feeling Blue, by Elizabeth Berg: a family's life on the homefront during WWII.
My grandfather, Eugene Froehlich, spent WWII on a submarine in the Pacific, and wrote frequently to his sweetheart, my grandmother, Lois Shickel, who wrote back just as frequently. She called him "Skipper" and he called her "Reb" short for "Rebel," because she was from Virginia. One day I am going to compile these letters into a book, and then I'll have to add it to the list above. Because the best war stories, I think, are the ones that feature not only feats of bravery and strength, but love, too.Thanks to Granddady Gene and all our veterans, past and present!
I still need to find Coventry!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book on war is actually in another direction, John Hersey's Hiroshima. It shocked and sadened me when I read it just out of undergrad. It remains one of my favorite books.
I've yet to read Gone with the Wind! I probably should one of these days.
Rilla of Ingleside, of course. Also I remember liking Summer of My German Soldier. Gone With the Wind totally counts, as does Little Women somewhat. My mind has gone blank on any others.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandpa Pete served aboard the USS Zellars in WWII.
David: I'm glad you picked Hiroshima. It's important to remember the costs of war along withe the victories.
ReplyDeleteAdrienne: Little Women definitely counts, if GWTW does. I wish I knew your grandpa Pete so I could thank him in person. Hope you are doing well.
What a good discussion point! Well I just finished the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and LOVED it. I also really liked Land Girls which is about British women who served on the homefront in WWII.
ReplyDeleteI thought I didn't like historical fiction until I read March by Geraldine Brooks, set during the Civil War - amazing book!
ReplyDeleteI also really liked The Reader, The Book Thief, and Those Who Save Us, all about World War II.
Good discussion!
Sue
GWTW, of course. Diary of Anne Frank. I have an overarching fondness for Leon Uris' novel about the Warsaw Ghetto - Mila 18 - yeah, it's a soap opera, but it's a good one & it led me to read some other really cool stuff = among them The Avengers by Rich Cohen. There is, of course, Shelby Foote on the Civil War. Gone to Soldiers (WWII) and City of Darkness, City of Light (French Revolution) - both by Marge Piercy. Primo Levi's memoir of Auschwitz - Surviving Auschwitz is unforgettable. Loved Summer of My German Soldier and Bright Candles a YA book about the Danish Resistance.
ReplyDeleteMy granddaddy Wayne served in WWII in the Navy and was survived Okinawa. I always wondered how he managed it.
I know I'm months and months too late for you to see this but maybe you trained your blog to whistle when you get comments. My favorite book on war was Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks (also loved Atonement -- who didn't?). The movie with Cate Blanchet didn't exactly stay to the story line but it was close enough to enjoy. Preferred the book ending of course.
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