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16th out of 86 books
—
46 voters
French Letters Book One: Virginia's War
by
Jack Woodville London (Goodreads Author)
Virginias War is the poignant novel of a small Texas town where, during WWII in 1944, there was a bit of tarnish on the patriotic bunting and not everyone was eager to join up for the fight. It was there one morning that unexpectedly-pregnant Virginia Sullivan read in her fathers newspaper that she supposedly had eloped with a soldier who had already gone off to the war, a...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
February 1st 2009
by Vire Press
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By 1944 the small town of Tierra, Texas was used to the war. The young boys played war games, arguing over who would be on the side of the Allies and who would be the Nazis for the day. The nearby air base added some excitement with their frequent air training exercises. And above all, Tierra, like every small town around the world, gossiped.
In early 1944 the gossip was all about Virginia Sullivan. In the seven years that she has been the sweetheart of Will Hastings, she has never made him any p...more
In early 1944 the gossip was all about Virginia Sullivan. In the seven years that she has been the sweetheart of Will Hastings, she has never made him any p...more
2nd Runner Up in Military Writers Society of America 2009 Book Awards, January 9, 2010
By Kathleen M. Rodgers "Author" (Colleyville, TX USA) -
This review is from: French Letters Book One: Virginia's War (Paperback)
Award winning author Jack W. London is a gifted storyteller! The prologue's opening scene at a funeral sets the stage for a story that is full of small town rumors and gossip and secrets galore. Chapter One opens with twelve year old Sandy Clayton and his friends playing war games in t...more
This engaging trilogy, French Letters, opens with a scene from a small Texas town, affected like most of the country, by World War II. Populated by characters both engaging and exasperating, the action is never dull. From a bump on the nose to a baby bump, the activities in one small town easily fill the first book in the series, “Virginia’s War: Tierra, Texas, 1944.” And by the end of the first book, readers will be wishing that they already had the next volume in hand.
The main circumstances of...more
The main circumstances of...more
In this, the first book in Jack Woodville London's French Letters series, you will see how literary fiction is done. This book reminds me a bit of “Home Fires Burning” by Bob Inman. From this book it is easy to see why London was named writer of the year by the Military Writer's Society of America.
This book follows the intertwined lives of the residents of Tierra, Texas while their young men are off fighting World War II. From the young boys, to an able bodied young man whose influential father...more
This book follows the intertwined lives of the residents of Tierra, Texas while their young men are off fighting World War II. From the young boys, to an able bodied young man whose influential father...more
An engaging and edgy look at life in a small town during World War II is what you'll find in "French Letters - Virgnia's War: Tierra, Texas 1944", the first book of a planned trilogy by Jack Woodville London.
In the little town of Tierra, Texas, the young boys play war while the men are already off fighting Hitler and the Nazis. But Virginia has a war all her own. Dealing with a spiteful brother, a manipulative father, and a dark secret that threatens to be revealed, she lives her life under the...more
In the little town of Tierra, Texas, the young boys play war while the men are already off fighting Hitler and the Nazis. But Virginia has a war all her own. Dealing with a spiteful brother, a manipulative father, and a dark secret that threatens to be revealed, she lives her life under the...more
I enjoyed French Letters for it's unique take on WWII. Here we see the war and rationing and evasion of rationing through the eyes and actions of the adults and youngsters of small town USA. The story is well written and certainly holds the reader's attention. I came to care about the characters, liked some, loathed others and wanted to know what would happen to all of them as the action played out. Kudos to the author for that.
The enjoyment of the story is marred somewhat by formatting glitche...more
The enjoyment of the story is marred somewhat by formatting glitche...more
What a wonderful summer read, especially before the Fourth of July.
London transports the reader to a small town in West Texas in the midst of World War II.
In the beginning of the novel the reader experiences an "Our Town" type of innocence with the characters and Tierra, Tx. A few chapters into the book, London escorts the reader backstage and shows the realities of everyday life on the homefront; corrupt city officials, an unplanned pregnancy, meddling neighbors, and living without the luxuri...more
London transports the reader to a small town in West Texas in the midst of World War II.
In the beginning of the novel the reader experiences an "Our Town" type of innocence with the characters and Tierra, Tx. A few chapters into the book, London escorts the reader backstage and shows the realities of everyday life on the homefront; corrupt city officials, an unplanned pregnancy, meddling neighbors, and living without the luxuri...more
This is a wonderful first novel by Jack Woodville London. The characters in this book brought back so many memories of growing up in a small town soon after the end of World War II.
The impact of the war on the lives of rural America as sons left to fight on foreign soils and daughters stayed behind to manage an interrupted life is richly told in Mr. London's intriguing story.
I highly recommend this book.
The impact of the war on the lives of rural America as sons left to fight on foreign soils and daughters stayed behind to manage an interrupted life is richly told in Mr. London's intriguing story.
I highly recommend this book.
Jack London really understands small town life, and has done an incredible amount of research so he could add details to make this story come to life. Waiting for the 3rd in the trilogy!
Jack Woodville London - MWSA 2011 Author of the Year!
Feb 24, 2009
Stephanie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
WWII buffs, historical readers, Texans, mystery lovers, and people from small towns
Shelves:
book-reviews
This is the first in a historical fiction trilogy by new Texas author
Jack London. In French Letters, we find humor and a mystery with a minor romantic element. The dialog is authentic to the WWII era and west Texas, where this first installment is set. Both men and women will enjoy this story and learn or remember something about this era
as they read it.
Jack London. In French Letters, we find humor and a mystery with a minor romantic element. The dialog is authentic to the WWII era and west Texas, where this first installment is set. Both men and women will enjoy this story and learn or remember something about this era
as they read it.
At times I didn't want to finish the book, seemed to go on and on. But, the story was good enought to continue on. History good, waiting for the next one by Mr. London!
Apr 07, 2013
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 cents | 1 | 1 | Jul 27, 2011 07:26pm | |
| DABWAHA 2010 Finalist | 1 | 3 | Mar 24, 2010 07:36am | |
| Texas Bookshelf review by Will Howard | 1 | 2 | Feb 04, 2010 08:42am | |
| Jack on KFDA | 1 | 2 | Nov 30, 2009 12:05pm | |
| Outstanding Review | 1 | 3 | Oct 12, 2009 01:01pm | |
| Talking with Heroes Radio Interview | 1 | 4 | Sep 10, 2009 08:42am | |
| Meet Jack! | 1 | 3 | Sep 09, 2009 07:59am |
Jack Woodville London is a former US Army captain, a respected trial-attorney, a noted World War II historian, and an internationally-acclaimed author. A graduate of West Texas A&M and the University of Texas Law School, Jack’s foundation in writing began when he was elected managing editor of the University of Texas International Law Journal in 1970.
Since then he has authored an extensive arr...more
More about Jack Woodville London...
Since then he has authored an extensive arr...more
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