Some ROCKIN’ Good Reads!

Last week I suggested three classic Non-Fiction books, all of which took place during WWII. Moving along into Historical Fiction, I know I am approaching a favorite genre of many of my friends. Recently, the book stores have been deluged with WWII novels. At one point I said, ‘I am done; I cannot read one more book from this era!’ Then I would see a book cover that would attract my eye, a favorite author would publish something new, or a review would speak to me, and I would have my face and my mind back into a 1942 narrative of espionage, war and amour. I’m giving you the best of these books to consider. One of these books will surely be a welcome “cup of tea” for you!

Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” First of all, if you watched the Netflix version of Kristin Hannah’s “Firefly Lane” please try to forget that she is the author of “The Nightingale!” As much as I love a good Netflix series and as much as I love Kristin Hannah as an author, the first half of the series that I watched did not do justice to the novel or to Kristin Hannah’s writing! Whether or not you watched the series please pick up this book with a clean slate of expectations, and you will be educated, inspired and absorbed in this engrossing story of two sisters in wartime France. I haven’t lent my copy to anyone yet who did not tell me she LOVED it. This is Kristin Hannah’s masterpiece; she gives human flesh and heart to the occupied French and the moral and practical struggles they endured on a daily basis, provided they were blessed or lucky enough to survive from day to day. Hannah’s greatest strength as an author is her portrayal of female familial relationships, mother-daughter, and sisters. (More on this in later blogs). If you have a sister or if you wish you had a sister, you will be moved by the story of Vianne and Isabelle. “The Nightingale” is a story of love, commitment, endurance of the human will, and the indestructible bond between sisters.

Martha Hall Kelly’s “Lilac Girls” Similar to many Historical Fiction novels, “Lilac Girls” is based on the endeavors of an actual person; New York socialite Caroline Ferriday researched, revealed to the world, and provided some measure of healing to concentration camp survivors known as the Ravensbrück Rabbits. Yes, that is rabbits as in objects of Nazi experimentation. Caroline Ferriday is one of the three major characters in this book. The other two are fictional, although equally compelling. Kasia Kuzmerick is an innocent Polish girl who becomes further and further involved in the Polish resistance. Herta Oberheuser is an idealistic German doctor who will experience the collision of her sense of duty and devotion to justice in a crossfire. The three separate narratives of each woman intertwine appropriately. Despite the detailed secrets of Nazi horror, ultimately this novel engages the reader in a story of love, and redemption, making it an absolute must read.

Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See” ** Winner of the Pulitzer Prize** I saved the best for last. This book has earned far more acclaim than what I can humbly offer it on my little blog site.

“Mesmerizing… Exquisite… The written equivalent of a Botticelli or a Michelangelo.” –The Portland Oregonian

“Stunning… Uplifting… Not to be missed.” –Entertainment Weekly

“Hauntingly beautiful.” –The New York Times

“Each and every person in this finely spun assemblage is distinct and true.” –USA Today

“Intertwines secret radio broadcasts, a cursed diamond, a soldier’s deepest doubts into a richly compelling package… Irresistible.” –People

“Gorgeous… Moves with the pace of a thriller.” –San Francisco Chronicle

“Enthrallingly told, beautifully written.” —Amanda Vaill, The Washington Post

“Dazzling . . . Startlingly fresh.” —John Freeman, The Boston Globe

“Intricate . . . A meditation on fate, free will, and the way that, in wartime, small choices can have vast consequences.” —The New Yorker

“Brims with scrupulous reverence for all forms of life. The invisible light of the title shines long after the last page.” —Tricia Springstubb, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

I hesitate to add anything, but I do want to give you a glimpse into the plot and subject matter. The novel takes place in occupied France and in Germany, and it beautifully develops two different characters, one of whom is Marie-Laure. She lives with her adored grandfather who works at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Since she became blind at age six, he has created a miniature version of their neighborhood for her to touch and explore, and it allows her to apply her knowledge of the miniature to the world around her so that she can navigate it safely. The second character is a sweet German orphan boy named Werner who has a unique talent with the technology of the time, specifically radios. Werner is sent to a Hitler youth camp, where he is completely out of place in the ultra-competitive environment which has been intentionally designed to accolade the tall and strong Arian and to ridicule and punish the diminutive. However, eventually the Nazi’s notice Werner’s unique talent and assign him to use his radio skills to assist the reich. Werner and Marie-Laure will cross paths in the highest manner of suspense with a fitting conclusion. I read that Anthony Doerr spent ten years writing this novel, and I can see why. His detailed and tender depiction of his characters, his historical accuracy, and his beautiful prose are brilliant.