The series that starts with Churchill’s Secretary. Rhys Bowen also has a light mystery series called Her Royal Spyness set during that period. The British Library and Poisoned Pen Press are republishing a bunch of Golden Age mystery fiction a lot set in that time period.
I just finished The Life of Objects about an hour ago. It is really good A young Irish girl goes to live with wealthy Germans just before the war and stays with them throughout. It is written like a memoir and might be considered “flat” like reporting but I found it fascinating. It got better and better as it went on.
Code name verity, salt to sea, goodnight from London, everyone brave is forgiven, the Paris spy, a bridge across the ocean, a woman in Berlin, the nazi officers wife, the rape of Nanking, lilac girls, the Alice network, the orphans tale, all the light we cannot see, Sarah’s key, atonement, letters from home, girl in the blue coat, from sand and ash, stolen journey, the book thief, the boy in the striped pajamas, the Alice network, winter in Madrid, in farleigh field, eye of the needle, night. Got these recommendations from another post.
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay, Songs of the Night series by Jack Cavanaugh, Rosey Corner series by Ann Gabhart, The Ring by Danielle Steel.
These were good reads from that list: Everyone Brave Is Forgiven, The Nazi Officers Wife, Lilac Girls, The Alice Network, The Orphans Tale, Sarah’s Key, The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Eye of the Needle.
The best I’ve read are The gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Cemetery of forgotten books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (even though the action takes place immediately after WWII, at least in the first book; the next books turn back in time depending on certain characters’ stories).
WINTER ON THE MERSEY by Annie Groves. “Kitty, on active service as a WREN (Women’s Royal Naval Service), has been transferred from London back to her native Merseyside in 1944. There she meets up again with Frank Feeny, the officer who has always had a place in her heart. Britain is on the verge of victory. But will Kitty embrace the future and learn to love again?”
@Kim I stayed up until like 3a each night! I used to do that all the time when I was younger, it’s so fun [and exhausting!] to do that every once in a while.
@Meghan I like to do that when there’s no school. I wouldn’t be able to work. My principal boss-lady would frown upon that. ? zzzz ? zzzz Summer’s coming!
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
It’s memoir, not fiction but . . . Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning.
We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
Secrets for a charmed life.
The Storyteller – Jodi Piccoult
The series that starts with Churchill’s Secretary. Rhys Bowen also has a light mystery series called Her Royal Spyness set during that period. The British Library and Poisoned Pen Press are republishing a bunch of Golden Age mystery fiction a lot set in that time period.
The nightingale
All quiet on the water front (Ww1)
The book thief
Alone in Berlin
The boy in the striped pyjamas
Great suggestions! I’ve read 2 of them. The Nightingale is on my list.
memoirs of a geisha too , it’s got a little bit of the WW in it too but it’s based in Japan rather be than Germany or British etc
@Sean read it & loved it! I couldn’t put it down.
@Tina me too, it’s one of my favourites
@Tina me too, it’s one of my favourites
All the light we cannot see
Read it! Great book.
Jacqueline Winspear’s Masie Dobbs series and Susan MacNeal’s Maggie Hope series.
Saw Jackie Winspear speak about her latest Maisie Dobbs novel last week (April 3, 2018).
@Komet I just finished it yesterday … wonderful, as always!
Code Name Verity
Loved it!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys – reading it now and loving it! (My 8th grader read it for school and loved it)
I just finished The Life of Objects about an hour ago. It is really good
A young Irish girl goes to live with wealthy Germans just before the war and stays with them throughout. It is written like a memoir and might be considered “flat” like reporting but I found it fascinating. It got better and better as it went on.
Code name verity, salt to sea, goodnight from London, everyone brave is forgiven, the Paris spy, a bridge across the ocean, a woman in Berlin, the nazi officers wife, the rape of Nanking, lilac girls, the Alice network, the orphans tale, all the light we cannot see, Sarah’s key, atonement, letters from home, girl in the blue coat, from sand and ash, stolen journey, the book thief, the boy in the striped pajamas, the Alice network, winter in Madrid, in farleigh field, eye of the needle, night. Got these recommendations from another post.
Sarah’s Key is one of my absolute favorites! Lilac Girls was really good too.
Wow..Eye of the Needle! Great book! When I saw the movie the island was exactly as I imagined it while reading! Blast from the past!
Great list!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
The Women in the Castle is another good one.
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay, Songs of the Night series by Jack Cavanaugh, Rosey Corner series by Ann Gabhart, The Ring by Danielle Steel.
The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Diary of a Young Girl
Read all of those! Thank you.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is non-fiction but reads with more intensity and emotion than any novel I’ve read. ❤❤❤
just got it last month. look forward to reading it next january for WWII month
@Crystal it is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read of any genre. I hope you love it too.
Who is the author? I can’t find a book by this name. Help!
@Judy Check out this book on Goodreads: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664353-unbroken
Wow. Lots to read
Thanks all.
The Tulip Eaters is excellent!
I just looked this up. now it is on my must find and read list
The Book Thief, All the Light We Cannot See
Anything by Len Deighton. (No relation)
The Book Thief
The nightingale and lilac girls are on my list of faves!
Playing with fire by Tess Gerritsen!
Sophie’s Choice, All the Light We Cannot See. The Nightingale.
Under the scarlet sky
The Alice Network
These were good reads from that list:
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven, The Nazi Officers Wife, Lilac Girls, The Alice Network, The Orphans Tale, Sarah’s Key, The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Eye of the Needle.
Check out this book on Goodreads: A Pledge of Silence https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23744300-a-pledge-of-silence
Lilac girls, The book theif, From sand to ash, The Undesirables and Room on Rue Amelie were also really good.
Herman Wouk’s books.
Evelyn Anthony write several books about Ww11.
Stranger at the Gates
The Rendevous
The Cold War
The Tamarind Seed
The Doll House
These books were fantastic. She is an English writer.
The Mother by Maxim Gorky
Winds of War and War and Rememberance
The best I’ve read are The gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Cemetery of forgotten books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (even though the action takes place immediately after WWII, at least in the first book; the next books turn back in time depending on certain characters’ stories).
Following I love wwll stories/books
Me too! But I prefer 1500-1900 historical fiction ???
Check out The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17345258
This one was good!
Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk.
Hilary Mantel is my favorite author for historical fiction
Unbroken by Laura Hillibrand. Completely wonder book.
Great book!
YES!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark @Amber.
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky. I’ve just started it and am enjoying it so far 🙂 C x
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Hear hear ??♀️
The One Man is great.
Commenting to follow comments. Hist Fic is my favourite genre and I’m always on the lookout for suggestions.
THE CRUEL SEA by Nicholas Monsarrat. One of the BEST novels I’ve ever read. Full stop.
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
The Bakers Secret
WINTER ON THE MERSEY by Annie Groves. “Kitty, on active service as a WREN (Women’s Royal Naval Service), has been transferred from London back to her native Merseyside in 1944. There she meets up again with Frank Feeny, the officer who has always had a place in her heart. Britain is on the verge of victory. But will Kitty embrace the future and learn to love again?”
Couldn’t put “All the Light We Cannot See” down – 500+ pages, read it in 2 days.
I’m reading it now but it will take more than two days with those pesky work distractions and the kids. ? I’m glad you loved it!
@Kim I stayed up until like 3a each night! I used to do that all the time when I was younger, it’s so fun [and exhausting!] to do that every once in a while.
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris.
@Meghan I like to do that when there’s no school. I wouldn’t be able to work. My principal boss-lady would frown upon that. ? zzzz ? zzzz Summer’s coming!
“Fools and Mortals” by Bernard Cornwell or any of his books.
Jacquline Windspear
All the Light We Cannot See, The Lilac Girls, The Nightingale
Loved the Lilac Girls! Read All the Light. Just waitlisted The Nightingale at my local library. Thank you.
Thank you!!
The Zion Covenant Series by Bodie Thoene! Amazing!! The first one is called Vienna Prelude.
Suite Francaise- terrific
The Nightingale by Kristine Hannah.
Just finished Farleigh Field good easy read
The Sixth Lamentation.
Books by Leon Uris