Category: WWII (Page 2 of 3)

‘THE CHELSEA GIRLS’

July 13, 2019 /

I requested early access to The Chelsea Girls: A Novel by Fiona Davis because I loved this author’s previous book, The Dollhouse. Thank you, NetGalley!

This new work of historical fiction is set in 1950’s New York. The Chelsea Hotel is a haven for artists, actors, and creative types. Hazel (an aspiring playwright) and Maxine (an aspiring actress) live there after returning from a USO tour in Italy where they entertained soldiers towards the end of WWII. While Hazel pens a play inspired by their time in Italy and Maxine (now a big star) takes the leading role, the novel moves into McCarthyism and its quest to find communist infiltration in the “arts” and the effects, immediate and longer-lasting, of these investigations.

“Screenwriters became typists to earn a buck. Brilliant actors sold shoes to make a living.”

‘AMERICAN DUCHESS’

April 4, 2019 /

I’m excited to write my first recommendation since publishing my spring reading list for:

American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt by Karen Harper.

An intriguing story, this work of historical fiction was a lighter read until the last sections. It tells the story (from first person perspective) of Vanderbilt heiress Consuelo who was forced by her mother Alva to marry the Duke of Marlborough. Consuelo’s character, as it is written here, is likeable and she navigates her circumstances admirably, becoming a champion for the underprivileged.

I had already read and enjoyed a prequel to this book though it was by a different author: A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts. which focuses on Alva but follows Consuelo’s marriage from afar.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL SOCIETY

January 12, 2019 /

This book about the German occupation of the island of Guernsey during WWII was published in 2009, but caught my attention as a new movie feature on Netflix. And I’m always looking for additions to my WWII historical fiction reading list.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – A Novel

The novel reads as a series of letters. At first, the letters were a bit confusing as Juilet Ashton corresponds with her publisher and friends. But then, she receives a letter from Guernsey (territory of Great Britain in the channel islands) because her address was inscribed on the inside of a Charles Lamb book that made its way to the island. Juliet begins corresponding with the letter writer (Dawsey Adams) and the other members of his informal literary group called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers How delightful if that were true.”
the guernsey literary and potato peel society (2009)

This is how I relaxed after holiday craziness.

‘THE RAGGED EDGE OF NIGHT’ – more WWII fiction

December 29, 2018 /

WWII is a favorite genre of mine. Although a couple of years ago I read SO MUCH of it that I needed to take a break from it, but not before I started this WWII fiction reading list that I add to occasionally.

Today I am happy to add this book to my running list of WWII historical fiction that I recommend:

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker

LOVE AND RUIN

December 1, 2018 /

One of my favorite reads over the past few years has been The Paris Wife so when my cousin reminded me that this author, Paula McClain, had a new book out about Ernest Hemingway’s third wife Martha Gellhorn, I was on it, immediately. This new books is:

Love and Ruin: A Novel

I didn’t previously know much about Martha Gellhorn, but this woman was a real journalist and author in her own right without being tied to Ernest Hemingway. She was his second wife between Pauline and Mary. (The Paris Wife is about his first wife Hadley.)
Continue reading

‘THE KENNEDY DUBUTANTE’

October 26, 2018 /

I enjoyed The Kennedy Debutante as much as any book this year!!

This novel focuses on the life of “Kick,” the daughter of Joe Kennedy Sr, American Ambassador to the Great Britain, and sister to Joe Jr., Jack, Bobby, etc. She was charismatic and beautiful, and she captivated London society in the late 1930s when the family was stationed abroad. The book begins as she and her sister Rosemary are “presented” to the King and Queen as debutantes. Another fun work of historical fiction I read this year covers this annual spectacle.

‘THE LOST VINTAGE’ – WINE & WWII

July 16, 2018 /

This summer I have been pleasantly surprised by the books on my summer reading list, and I have been reading more than ever because these books are keeping my attention, one after another.

Today I’m recommending The Lost Vintage: A Novel.

I admit this book initially caught my attention because it’s about wine!!

Kate is trying to earn her Masters of Wine (M.W) which is awarded after an extremely strenuous and comprehensive exam; only around 300 people in the world hold a M.W. She will have to identify wine blindly naming the exact region it is from and its vintage. Ironically, she is doing well in identifying all varieties except for wine from the region of her family’s vineyard (Burgundy). It’s almost like she has something against Burgundy…

Alas, Kate will need to visit her family’s property in Burgundy to study this wine. And conveniently her first love runs the neighboring winery. This part of the story did not disappoint. But there was a whole other aspect of this story I was not even expecting:

‘The Room on Rue Amelie’ – new WWII fiction

April 12, 2018 /

It’s been awhile since I have been able to recommend new WWII fiction, but I just finished and enjoyed this new book by Kristin Harmel: The Room on Rue Amélie.

I have read A LOT of WWII historical fiction and keep a running list of the books in that genre that I recommend.

For better or worse depending on what type of books you prefer, Harmel’s new book is lighter reading than many of those in my list referenced above; it reads more like a romance, but its plot and themes are deeper being set in a turbulent and horrific time.

The Prague Sonata – a musical journey

December 10, 2017 /

Culturally and emotionally fulfilling, The Prague Sonata: A Novel is a quest set around music and war.

A young musicologist receives a gift of a hauntingly beautiful 18th century sonata manuscript, with the request she locate the other two movements to the sonata and put it into the hands original owner who separated it during WWII to protect it from the Nazis. The work is clearly the composition of a master composer but who?? And because the manuscript obviously has value she isn’t the only one trying to locate it.

Manhattan Beach – loved it!

November 15, 2017 /

If you read the goodreads reviews on Manhattan Beach you will see varied and strong opinions. Many people who loved Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, A Visit from the Goon Squad, did not like this one. But you can count me in the group who loved this newer book, only the second I’ve read off my fall/winter reading list. In fact I was excited to also add it to my WWII reading list.

“With the atmosphere of a noir thriller, Jennifer Egan’s first historical novel is a world of gangsters, sailors, divers, bankers, and union men.”

As the above note from the publisher implies, a lot is going on in this book. There is a family story, a strong woman helping the war effort story (the main character is the first female Naval diver), a love story about the sea, and a gangster plot that is integrated into all these other stories. It is sometimes a light read and sometimes not. Parts of it reminded me of several different books, but taken all together I have not read anything like it ( a good thing!).

For me it all worked, and in fact it is one of my favorite books of the year though I still feel my favorite is out there somewhere waiting for me to read it…

Category: WWII (Page 2 of 3)

‘THE CHELSEA GIRLS’

‘AMERICAN DUCHESS’

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL SOCIETY

‘THE RAGGED EDGE OF NIGHT’ – more WWII fiction

LOVE AND RUIN

Love and Ruin: A Novel

‘THE KENNEDY DUBUTANTE’

‘THE LOST VINTAGE’ – WINE & WWII

‘The Room on Rue Amelie’ – new WWII fiction

The Prague Sonata – a musical journey

Manhattan Beach – loved it!

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