Hey all!
Over the years, I’ve read thousands of books. I’ll never mention many of them here because neither you, Reader, nor I, have that kind of time. But I do have a special place on the bookshelf of my heart for WWII fiction.
When I first read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I cried in a way I hadn’t cried since a certain wizarding headmaster was cut down by a certain potions teacher. It quickly moved up on my list of favorite books ever, and I told – and still tell anyone who has missed it – everyone with whom I had a book conversation to read it. It is often the first book I suggest anytime anyone asks me for a reading recommendation, regardless of the genre they are looking for.
The Nightingale shares the story of two sisters and their experiences during WWII. There is certainly no shortage of WWII fiction but this one somehow stands out for me. In one storyline, we read the tale of Vianne, who is left behind as her husband heads for the frontline, and is made to live among the German soldiers who requisition her home and take over her village. Meanwhile, headstrong Isabelle heads for Paris and finds herself embroiled deep in the Resistance efforts, taking unbelievable risks as she works alongside a network of individuals helping Allied soldiers get home.
This is a beautiful book. It has a little of everything…love, loss, humor, new life, untimely death, heroism, secrecy. The story of this family and their loved ones, and how each of them takes on the war, is one of the best things I’ve ever read.
For something to sip on, I would recommend a glass of your favorite champagne or French wine.
If you like(d) The Nightingale, here are some other WWII titles I’ve read over the past several years and would recommend, in no particular order:
The Alice Network – Kate Quinn
All the light we cannot see – Anthony Doerr
Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
The Baker’s Secret – Stephen Kiernan
Code Name Verity – Elizabeth Wein
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (also a movie!) – Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Ashes in the Snow (previously published as Between Shades of Gray; not to be confused with 50 Shades of Gray – these are 2 VERY different books) – Ruta Sepetys
Atonement – Ian McEwan
The War that Saved my life – Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Daughter of Molokai (But make sure you read Molokai first) – Alan Brennert
AND! For more discussion of WWII, you’ll want to check out our upcoming podcast episode #4.
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Thanks for checking in,
Jaclyn