What a glorious, long weekend we’ve had. Maybe you enjoyed a day at the lake (I did!), a backyard barbecue (my neighbors did!), or an extra-long bike adventure (KB1 did!). While I’d never turn down a boat ride or a hamburger cooked on the grill (I’m iffy on the extra-long bike ride), I like Memorial Day because it means, no matter what the weather, I can justify spending more time reading.
I know. Weird.
Memorial Day is the official launch of summer–all things outdoorsy and active. But I can read outside, so…
In honor of the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military, I’m serving up a feast of delicious historical fiction based on World War II.
I have so many favorite historical fiction novels based on World War II that I had to give it its own category. I’ve been fascinated with World War II since I was a young girl and read Anne Frank’s gripping memoir, The Diary of a Young Girl.
(BTW, I’ve written a separate post about my favorite non-fiction books that will appear in an upcoming blog. Spoiler alert: Anne Frank shows up.)
I had a grandfather and an uncle who served in WWII, so maybe that’s another reason why the period captivates me. Having known them puts a real face on the entire subject. I’m connected to it.
(one of my all-time faves!)
It’s not just me
Books about WWII regularly top the best-seller lists. I think they are more popular than ever.
But, why?
For one thing, the stories pull us in because of their continued relevance to our own society. Plus, they naturally have a good guy vs. bad guy element. I am especially drawn in when the bad guys have hints of goodness in their character and vice versa.
And, inevitably, they cause us to question ourselves. How would we react in an unbelievably stressful situation? Would our courage fail? Would we break under intense pressure? Do we have enough grit to persevere?
Of course, we can’t know, but I think it’s good to ask the questions. Some honest self-assessment can trigger change.
Even though I know the overall outcome of the war, the individual stories are fraught with tension. I turn the pages wondering if the main character will make it. Actually, I’m wondering how he will make it. What will he have to overcome?
So, without further ado…
My Favorite World War II Historical Fiction Novels
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
- The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
- A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
- The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
My (Maybe) TBR list
Of course, I haven’t exhausted the fiction on this topic. For instance, I have never read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. It’s not like the other books are cheerful, but this one strikes me as particularly poignant. It’s too easy to let myself relate to it via memories of my two sons as young boys and our four grandsons. But, maybe I will.
The other book I probably will eventually read is The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel by Heather Morris. When the pandemic hit, I just didn’t have the heart to take it in. You know?
I’ just finished reading The Paris Library: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles. The further into it I read, the more I liked it. And I’m definitely going to read The Huntress: A Novel by Kate Quinn.
What about you? Do you like to read historical fiction based on WWII? What are some of your favorites? Leave a comment!