Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 108

Today in World War II History—January 3, 1943

German Army 7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 mountain gun in the Caucasus Mountains, southern Russia, 21 Jan 1943 (German Federal Archive: Bild 183-B23252)

80 Years Ago—Jan. 3, 1943: Soviets take Mozdok and Malgobek in the Caucasus region of Russia.

In Tunisia, Germans defeat French and take Fondouk Pass.

The post Today in World War II History—January 3, 1943 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

“Who am I?” That’s the question Sebastien Trovato asks himself. Found as a baby floating in a basket on a canal in Venice, raised by an unlikely troupe of craftsmen and women, and now as a young man rotating between islands, between guilds, he doesn’t know where he belongs. Until Mariana washes ashore during a storm, and he knows he belongs with her.

Almost a century later in San Francisco, Daniel Goodman knows the answer to that same question. Who is he? He’s a thief. A thief who has disappointed his adored mother. A thief who has lost his only good trait – his ability to create art. When an entrepreneur presents him with the chance to go to Venice, his mother’s hometown, to draw the buildings – and to find the finished version of the unfinished Book of Waters – of which Daniel owns one of the few copies. In Venice he meets the ebullient bookseller Vittoria, who’s drawn to Daniel’s quest – and to his troubled soul.

As Daniel delves deeper into the Book of Waters and into the tale of Sebastien and Mariana, will he find what he needs to make himself whole?

Once again, Amanda Dykes has penned a story of myth and legend and utter beauty. Each sentence makes you want to pause to absorb the deep thought and the superb use of language – yet the characters, the story propel you to turn the pages faster and faster. Sebastien and Daniel are such appealing heroes, each wounded and searching, but good at heart, and their quests for identity and meaning and redemption linger long after the story ends. Savor each page of All the Lost Places.

The post All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—January 2, 1943

80 Years Ago—Jan. 2, 1943: In Libya, the port of Tripoli is closed to Axis ships due to Allied bombing.

New songs in Top Ten: “Moonlight Becomes You,” “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.”

The post Today in World War II History—January 2, 1943 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—January 1, 1943

Program for the 1943 Rose Bowl Game (Savannah Morning News)

80 Years Ago—Jan. 1, 1943: The Rose Bowl returns to Pasadena: Georgia beats UCLA 9-0 in both schools’ first appearance in the Rose Bowl and UCLA’s first bowl game.

Incoming California Gov. Earl Warren (and future Supreme Court Justice) serves as Tournament of Roses grand marshal, but the parade is canceled again due to the war; Tournament theme is “We’re in to Win.”

Premiere of Disney cartoon “Der Fuehrer’s Face,” starring Donald Duck.

The post Today in World War II History—January 1, 1943 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—December 31, 1942

Painting of the Battle of the Barents Sea, 31 December 1942, by Irwin J. Kappes, 2009; the ship depicted is the German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt (Via Wikipedia Creative Commons)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 31, 1942: Battle of the Barents Sea: German cruiser force fails to stop Allied convoy JW-51B, the last major German naval sortie with surface ships; this defeat will lead to Grand Adm. Erich Raeder’s resignation from command of the German Navy.

Submarine USS Nautilus evacuates 29 civilians from Teop Island in the Solomons, including 14 nuns who had evaded the Japanese for 9 months.

Times Square New Year’s ball drop is replaced with a moment of silence due to the blackout.

The post Today in World War II History—December 31, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—December 30, 1942

Diagram of combat box bomber formations used by US Eighth Air Force, summer 1943 (US Army Air Forces diagram)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 30, 1942: US Eighth Air Force based in England first uses “combat box” formation to better protect bombers from German fighters.

Henry Kaiser opens Kaiser steel plant in Fontana, CA.

Frank Sinatra performs at New York’s Paramount Theater to screaming fans, his breakout performance.

The post Today in World War II History—December 30, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—December 29, 1942

German mountain troops in the Caucasus region of southern Russia, winter of 1942-43 (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-031-2417-09)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 29, 1942: German army begins retreat from the Caucasus region.

Japanese begin withdrawal from Buna area of New Guinea.

The post Today in World War II History—December 29, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan

In the 1930s in Salzburg, Austria, Elsa Mayer-Braun is a rising opera star, falling in love with her brilliant, arrogant, and magnetic conductor, Wilhelm Hoffman. Meanwhile, in London, young Hattie Featherstone is a secretary, a civil servant, longing for more. When she and her sister Vera hear a gramophone record of Elsa singing, a love for opera is born in them. Impulsively, Hattie and Vera travel to Salzburg to hear Elsa in person – and strike up an unlikely friendship with the opera star that deepens over time.

But times are darkening in Austria, and Elsa’s new husband, Wilhelm, darkens before her eyes as he befriends Nazis and seeks to gain prestige in the new German regime. Elsa longs to help her Jewish friends escape to England, but how? Could Hattie’s obsession with opera be of any help?

Against the glorious backdrop of Salzburg and London is set this lovely tale of women using the meager tools at their disposal to accomplish great good. The friendship between Elsa and Hattie runs like a ribbon of steel through the story, as they strengthen and bring out the best in each other. Inspired by real events, The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is a keeper!

The post The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—December 28, 1942

British troops parading in Djibouti, French Somaliland, Dec 1942 (public domain via WW2 Database)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 28, 1942: French Somaliland switches allegiance from Vichy to Free French, the final French territory in Africa to do so.

Nazi doctors at Birkenau concentration camp begin sterilization experiments on female prisoners.

The post Today in World War II History—December 28, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—December 27, 1942

Gen. Andrei Vlasov with soldiers of the Russian Liberation Army (German Federal Archives: Bild 183-N0301-503)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 27, 1942: Anti-Stalin Soviet POWs form Smolensk Committee to persuade Soviets to fight for the Germans; 50,000 will do so in Russian Liberation Army under Gen. Andrei Vlasov.

Gen. Henri Giraud replaces assassinated Adm. François Darlan as high commissioner of French North & West Africa.

NFL Champions Washington Redskins are defeated by All-Star team in final All-Star football game.

The post Today in World War II History—December 27, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.