In need of a new WWII book.

[Elissa]

Laura wrote: "Fiction: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Nonfiction that reads like a novel: Operation Mincemeat"

I thought I had posted this, but I don't see it... I would also recommend Operation Mincemeat for sure.

[Kaydee]

Madelynn wrote: "My favorite book is The Auschwitz Escape . I'm looking for more books to read. I loved The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Book Thief . Recommendations ..."

Those are some of my favorites as well!

Besides what others have already mentioned,

I loved I Am David by Anne Holm, though it is YA.

The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom by Corrie ten Boom is my favorite non-fiction WW2 story.

17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis and the Biggest Cover-Up in History by Andrew Morton is another interesting non-fiction.

[C.P.]

I think Lauren Belfer's A Fierce Radiance deals with Pearl Harbor, among other things.

[Jan]

I just finished “In Farleigh Field”. It is set in Kent during WWII. Spies, MI5, Bletchley.

[Margaret]

I’m really enjoying Assignment Bletchley by Peter J Azzole

[Margaret]

Assignment Bletchley a WW2 story of Navy intelligence, Spies and Intrigue

[Peter]

Margaret wrote: "I’m really enjoying Assignment Bletchley by Peter J Azzole"

Margaret wrote: " Assignment Bletchley a WW2 story of Navy intelligence, Spies and Intrigue "

Work on the sequel, "Book 2," is well underway!

[happy]

I really like P.T. Deutermann's "WW II in the Pacific" books







I think is his best one.

[Nancy from NJ]

As a student and teacher of the Holocaust I have read many of the books mentioned here and others as well. I really loved The Invisible Bridge and especially when we visited Budapest. I also suggest The Feast of the Skeletons by Chris Bohjalian which tells the story of a German family during WWII. Another title by Ronald Baldwin is Karolin's Twins. I could go on and on but for now I will leave you with one of my favorite books, Stone fro the River by Ursula Hegi, a German woman, who has written several other books about Germans and how future generations deal with this subject.

[Nancy from NJ]

In my previous post I failed to mention any of the biographies or biographies written by and about people who survived or perished. I was privileged to have met Ellie Weiss several times and often reread Night. While as a Jew, I feel it is very important to never forget, our world has seen many Holocausts and I just shake my head and say why.

Myriam - I found the story of your mother in law inspiring and couldn't help but remember visiting both Auschwitz and Birkenau. As we walked the grounds we saw groups of Israeli students and teachers holding Israeli flags and singing Hatikva, Israel 's national anthem. It was an unforgettable moment to think of how this country with many displaced people who had no home to return to rose like a Phoenix from ashes.

[Shaun]

Elissa wrote: "Laura wrote: "Fiction: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Nonfiction that reads like a novel: Operation Mincemeat"

I thought I had posted this, but I don't see it... I would also recommend Operation..."

I would also recommend Operation Mincemeat or anything by Ben McIntyre Ben Macintyre, although his work is not fiction. I often find well written books such as these just as entertaining as historical fiction.

[happy]

IMHO, Ben Macintyre is probably the best person writing on the Spy war in WWII right now. To my knowledge, all his stuff in NF, but fascinating. I just finished his

about the disinformation campaign prior to D-Day

about the Soviet Double agent who rose to the highest levels in British Intel (MI 6), about half is centered on WW II

and

- the creation and operations of the SAS in WW II

[Kristin]

One I haven't seen mentioned that I really enjoyed was Gone to Soldiers

[Esmay]

The Book Thief is one of my favourites too. I think you might enjoy Ben Elton's Two Brothers as well. And maybe All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr?

[C.P.]

I just read When It's Over by Barbara Ridley, which I loved.

[Judithe]

A God in Ruins I don't think it's on this thread yet and it's excellent.

[Anthony]

Three of the best:

[Margaret]

Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

[Sally]

I recently finished The Perfect Horse: the Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis. Highly recommended.

[Herman]

Here are two which I think are excellent

Hitler in Hell" by Martin van Creveld [image error]
and

Like a Man by David Chacko about the clandestine mission to successfully assassinate SS Obergruppenfuher Reinhard Heydrich

[D.B.]

I highly recommend The Nightingale!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Stacey B]

D.B. wrote: "I highly recommend The Nightingale!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I recommend an extremely short novel "A Nazi on Trial in God's Court" by Roberta Kagan

[Stacey B]

Stacey wrote: "D.B. wrote: "I highly recommend The Nightingale!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I recommend an extremely short novel "A Nazi on Trial in God's Court" by Roberta ..."

The Nightingale was also good.

[Stacey B]

Stacey wrote: "Stacey wrote: "D.B. wrote: "I highly recommend The Nightingale!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I recommend an extremely short novel "A Nazi on Trial in God's Cou..."

The Nightingale was great. :)

[Kathy]

Dem wrote: "Madelynn wrote: "My favorite book is The Auschwitz Escape . I'm looking for more books to read. I loved The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Book Thief ...."

Was just reading back over some of these posts, and I saw A Long Long Way was listed. That is one of my favorite books. Which then made me think of Three Day Road, another great piece of literature about war (in this case WWI).

[Dana]

The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan for the European war, and Goodbye, Darkness by William Manchester for the Pacific. The Brass Ring by Bill Mauldin, the cartoonist's autobiography. And of course anything by Ernie Pyle.

And for fiction, James R. Benn's Billy Boyle series is terrific, especially his author notes at the back.

[Sharon]

I recommend Alison Pick's first novel, FAR TO GO. I read it a few years back, and was very moved by it. I just started BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan, and so far I'm finding it quite compelling. I'll keep you posted as I read further!

[Stacey B]

Sharon wrote: "I recommend Alison Pick's first novel, FAR TO GO. I read it a few years back, and was very moved by it. I just started BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan, and so far I'm finding it quite compel..."

Both were great book. I like your "picks".

[Pam]

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Oringer is one of my favorites. I also enjoyed The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure.

[Anne]

My favorite (and one my all-time favorite books) is ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doer. Also liked CHARLOTTE GREY by Sebastian Faulks, and the two Herman Wouk sagas WINDS OF WAR and WAR AND REMEMBRANCE. Oh, and GONE TO SOLDIERS was a surprise from Marge Piercy. A good look at WWII from women's perspectives.

[Stacey B]

Anne wrote: "My favorite (and one my all-time favorite books) is ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doer. Also liked CHARLOTTE GREY by Sebastian Faulks, and the two Herman Wouk sagas WINDS OF WAR and WAR AN..."

I had forgotten about Winds of War and War and Remembrance.
My favorites as well. Good call!! :)

[George]

I really liked City of Thieves by David Benioff

[Ginbquik]

One ofmy all time favorites and I believe too litte known.

Gone to Soldiers

An ensemble cast which is more than half women, provides unique perspective on multiple fronts, including women's air transport service, oocupied france, merchant marine convoys, OSS, Detroit defense factories and more. Despite vast scope, enirely readable and personal.

[Renee]

I am looking for more stories of Italy and Greece during WWII. any suggestions?

[Liz]

Hi Renee, you might have read Captain Corelli's Mandolin but if not, it, I really recommend it - set on Cephalonia. The book is different to the film.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Ginbquik wrote: "One ofmy all time favorites and I believe too litte known.

Gone to Soldiers

An ensemble cast which is more than half women, provides unique perspective on multiple fronts, including..."

So glad you posted this one as I own it and will now bump it up on my TBR list!

I can also recommend Bird's Eye View by our own Elinor Florence. Fascinating novel about Canada's contribution to the war effort in WWII with a very appealing female lead.

[Mary]

Have you tried the Sφαγείο Sαλονίκης?

Also another good choice is

[[deleted user]]

A wonderful love story & also very interesting as it focuses on a little written about point of view (Italy in WWII) & from one of my new favourite authors (she’s brill, I savour every word) -

Thanks for all the recommendations - I’ve added lots to my TR list! Can’t wait to get onto them.

[Stacey B]

Catriona wrote: "A wonderful love story & also very interesting as it focuses on a little written about point of view (Italy in WWII) & from one of my new favourite authors (she’s brill, I savour every word) - [boo..."

That is a great book. I also love the author as well.

[Christianne]

I read A TON of wwii hf, here are a few good ones not previously mentioned:

Mischling by affinity konar

The girl from the train by irma Joubert

Broken Angels by Emma Liviero

The Dressmaker’s War by Mary Chamberlain

The Milliner’s Secret by Natalie Meg Evans

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

Anya by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer

But Those Who Save Us By Jenna Blum is one of my faves :)

[Renee]

Renee wrote: "I am looking for more stories of Italy and Greece during WWII. any suggestions?"

Beneath a Scarlet Sky This book is set in Italy. It's being made into a movie.

[Louise]

I just finished The Unwritten order: Hitler’s role in the final solution by Peter Longerich - it’s more of an academic journal / read but it’s very detailed and very interesting read and interesting to see another side to it and new facts as well

[C.P.]

As I just mentioned in another thread, I recently finished and loved Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz, about the (ultimately successful) struggle of Soviet female pilots to be taken seriously during World War II.

[David]

Rachel wrote: "It's not fiction, but I am really enjoying Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory - story of WWII operation to convince..."

I enjoyed Beneath a Scarlet Sky. Unbelievable bravery. Looking back on this true story now, it seems to be the jumping-off place for the novel The Nightingale, the story line of which mirrors many of the events of Sky. What I'd like to find (or have you voracious readers find for me) is a more obscure WWII novel that you believe deserves more respect, something that rivals these bestsellers for quality of story and storytelling.

[David]

Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "Hi Madelynn!

I adored Code Name Verity, Prisoner of Night and Fog, Sarah's Key, Between Shades of Gray, Salt to the Sea..."

Jasmine wrote: "There are so many good ones! I also really enjoyed Sarah's Key. Some others that I loved include The Nightingale, Lilac Girls, All the Light We C..."</i>

Loved [book:Code Name Verity. Here's my GR review from a year ago. "I listened to the audio book and then had to actually "read" it a couple of years ago. And I don't do that, regardless of how good a book is. Different experiences but both well worth my time. I just noticed I never reviewed it. Short summary: It's brilliant. Brave, enlightening, heart-wrenching. And that's not the minority opinion. Read it."

[Becky]

How about this one by Chris Cleave?
EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN
LOVED IT!
Everyone Brave is Forgiven
Book by Chris Cleave
A spellbinding novel about three unforgettable individuals thrown together by war, love, and their search for belonging in the ever-changing landscape of WWII London.It’s 1939 and Mary, a young socialite,... goodreads.com

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

I just remembered 2 novels that might interest those who love fiction set during WWII. The Last Convertible by Anton Myrer and Csardas by Diane Pearson. Csardas is probably out of print but is one of my favorite novels. It takes place in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during WWI & WWII.

[Kathy]

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is a WWII story that I had never heard. It is historical fiction, and is about Pino Lella who helped Italian Jews escape over the Alps, and then later became a driver for the Nazis (and a spy for the Italian Resistance)

[David]

Michel wrote: "If you like stories about brave women serving in WW2, I would suggest [book:We Band of Ang..."
I've heard (and read) good things about Night Witches.

[C.P.]

For an unusual perspective, you might try The Circumstantial Enemy: An astounding, based-on-true-events WW2 thriller by John Richard Bell. The hero is a Croatian nationalist who through a series of choices with consequences outside his control finds himself flying for the Luftwaffe, then ends up in a POW camp in the US. Meanwhile, his best friend and the woman they both love are on the opposing side, fighting for Tito, communism, and the unification of Yugoslavia.

An interesting and insightful look at what it's really like to get caught up in a multinational conflict in which the moral boundaries are at once brutally clear and, in other respects, disturbingly vague.