Tag Archive: world-war-ii



A Dangerous PlaceA Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As with the rest of the series, this book taught me as much as it entertained me. The new German language and dialects are added to the English, and now in Spain, there are Spanish language and accents, making the world larger while honing in on the imminent war. Orlagh Cassidy manages to carry off all the new characters with the seeming ease she portrayed of the many accents of the British Isles.

The world is getting more dangerous. Refugees flock to safety as they see the writing on the wall. Little wars are starting alongside the larger menaces of the globe. Maisie seeks out killers in whatever way she can while avoiding getting sucked into any of them. Her health and safety are in jeopardy.

I am so grateful to have the chance to listen to this audiobook via Libby. And thankful that my friend, Kay, recommended these to me.

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Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, #2)Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun series so far. Each book is a quick read and not too deep, so great as a bedtime book. Orlagh Cassidy (Narrator) gave a bit of authenticity to the writing that simple text-to-speech could not. The British text-to-speech voice reads these stories well, but a human voice is better when it comes to different dialects. Granted, I don’t know one dialect from another, but Ms. Cassidy’s switching from formal to cockney or other voices helped keep the characters separated.

This mystery had me going. I couldn’t figure out who did it or why. But the author, Jacqueline Winspear, told the tale with intrigue. She builds the world to help readers feel they are in post-war English towns. The feathers were a curious touch. Why? Was it important? Eventually, it will all be solved by our Maisie Dobbs, who is graceful and respectful of her fellow humans and their psychological intricacies.

I was happy to find this audiobook on Libby. I think the series is quite enjoyable. I think you’ll like it, too.

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Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1)Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My friend Kay recommended this series. She’s right. These are fun and engaging.

This first installment came from Libby and was in Kindle form. That meant that I could listen to it with text-to-speech. Since I have my Fire set to a British female voice (think Mary Poppins), it fits quite nicely with this story.

War is a horrid thing. This particular war in England and Europe was one of the worst. Yet, for women, it became a way to escape the housewife, childbearer, whore classification most women were forced into. With the men fighting, the jobs were open for women to learn and show their abilities. Sadly, when the men came home, most of the women lost that step up to being wholly human.

Some women did find careers to move on. Maisie Dobbs is one of the ones it worked for.

This first book lays the groundwork for Maisie’s history and sets up the world she’s in. She’s a woman of spirit that can solve mysteries and make friends with all classes of people.

I have already started book two. I am in for the ride!

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Salt to the SeaSalt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading Lily’s Promise about World War Two atrocities, I wasn’t sure I could get through another. But this seemed to be a different take. And it was written as a Young Adult novel. So, I was curious. Then I was surprised.

Jorjeana Marie (Narrator), Will Damron (Narrator), Cassandra Morris (Narrator), and Michael Crouch (Narrator) all brought Ruta Sepetys’ book to life. I’m not a historian, so when others start to spout names and facts of the time leaves me drowsy and mind-numb. But right off, Ms. Sepetys presents characters that seem plausible. I found I cared for all of them, even the not-so-loveable ones. Well, there was one I couldn’t stand, but he wasn’t a very good person. The rest were flawed humans just trying to survive.

I had never heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff ship, which proved to be in existence. When I mentioned it to my husband, he had never heard of it either, and he’s a bit more of a history buff, so that added something that rang true to the story.

Being a Young Adult book doesn’t make this immature but helps readers like me gentle into the story.

Again, this was a Libby Audiobook, which made it even better. I hope you get the chance to read it. It’s worth it.

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Lily's Promise: Holding on to Hope Through Auschwitz and Beyond—A Story for All GenerationsLily’s Promise: Holding on to Hope Through Auschwitz and Beyond—A Story for All Generations by Lily Ebert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading the book about Masha the cat, still wiping the tears streaking down my face, I hesitated to start reading Lily’s Promise. How could I read something about the Holocaust and not feel so depressed and helpless? I was wrong. Yes, the subject matter was as sad and maddening as you can imagine, but the spirit of Lily, her sisters, and family brightened and encouraged my own spirit.

Look, I know it was one of the hardest things for a person to go through. We can only hope no one has to deal with that kind of thing again ever in history. But when you think of our inconveniences that strike us daily, cost of living, etc., and remembering to live with it all with as much grace as we can muster for those around us, thus even lifting our lives to staying alive and doing our best with what we’ve been given. And to rise even higher for those around us. Saving more than life, saving love. That is the wealth in this book.

Lily, great-grandmother, and Dov, her great-grandson, bring their perspectives to current thoughts about the Holocaust, and memories that most have tried to forget and hide bring the light. It is a beautiful book.

While Lily does some of her own reading, Anna Cordell (narrator) takes over the heavy vocal challenges. Dov reads his parts as he is used to podcasting with his great-grandmother.

I highly recommend this read, especially as an audiobook. I was lucky to find it on Libby.

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All the Light We Cannot SeeAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Now I can’t wait to see the movie! This was a good book! Anthony Doerr wrote beautifully, and Zach Appelman could do all the characters very well. In fact, when he did the female voices, I didn’t hear the belittling tone I usually hear when a male portrays a female.

This was a scary step to take after the heavy historical facts of Rachel’s book. I was so worried that I couldn’t handle what happened to the beloved characters in the book. It doesn’t end with a happily ever after, but it felt real yet enlightening and full of love.

To show how captivating this story was, I didn’t get to sleep until 4:30 this morning, and I had a long drive to stay awake for today. So far, the strength of the characters in the book sustained me. Maybe by this weekend, I can watch the show.

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Prequel: An American Fight Against FascismPrequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been finished with this book for a few days. It is so heavy in history that I couldn’t bring it all in. I may have to buy it and reread it. Luckily, I could read it by Libby audio.

Rachel does her own narrating. That made it better. She can take you back in historical situations so that you know more than names and dates (the things taught to me in history classes of my youth). She can almost take you back to the time the first dinosaur thought of the inconvenience of that leaf and how it led to the conflict of World War II. Her deep research is evident.

There were far more people involved in that war than we were taught in school. And much of what we got had to be taught cleaned up in a way that not just kids but everyone could take it in. There was a reason most veterans of that war said nothing about what happened. They only knew the bit of the war they were in. It was truly a World War, and many people were involved in many aspects. This book covers a lot of them. And how people in many countries, even ours, were placated to or induced into beliefs they might not readily have fallen for otherwise.

I highly suggest everyone read this. I think it could be a textbook for a true history class. I know many won’t want to read it. That’s okay. For those open to try, please do so.

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The StorytellerThe Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jodi Picoult has written another winner. A well-written story told by all these narrators made this experience feel alive. Some of that was great, but the story is about actual horrific historical events. Mozhan Marno (Narrator), Jennifer Ikeda (Narrator), Edoardo Ballerini (Narrator), Suzanne Toren (Narrator), and Fred Berman (Narrator) made me think of the old radio shows. I never got to listen to them, but there have been a few vacation road trip replays.

I have to admit that reading this at bedtime was often a mistake. My dad had been in a concentration camp as a prisoner of war. I learned about what really happened just before he passed. As children, he told us it was like Hogan’s Heros, and that was how he learned German. A nice guard taught him. But the reality was far different, and he wasn’t Jewish. Just a US infantry grunt. Like most of them, he was an 18-year-old draftee. Too young. They all were. But somebody had to fight the monsters.

The Storyteller is a good title for this book. I highly recommend this read. I got this audio copy from Libby.

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Rose Among Thornes: an inspiring World War II historical fictionRose Among Thornes: an inspiring World War II historical fiction by Terrie Todd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a bit of a surprise. Though a Christian fiction, it was uplifting, not preachy, and often about church music. That has always been my favorite part of church. The main character is a pianist, so I could relate in many ways to her need to practice when there was no piano around.

The above theme runs through the book set in WWII, Canada, and then Japan. The bigotry towards the Japanese since Pearl Harbor is shown to us through Rose and her family. That is another theme.

Though this is fiction, I heard enough stories from my dad and other WWII vets that this felt quite true. And for those who like romance, there is a little of that. Not sickeningly so, just something positive to look forward to.

I enjoyed the book. Maybe you will, too!

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The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War IIThe Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m so sorry I am finished reading this book! I wanted to live with these characters. No, I didn’t want to live during a war, especially while bombs were dropping. But I love living with book people who love to share books with those they love. Oh, yeah. I already live that, sans bombs!

Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator) keeps the story live. Not even a moment did I remember real life while in the book.

I love stories about females during World War II, but they are often soft mushy girls who do not seek their inner strength. They often fall in love with the guy and become arm candy or the like. Not our main character here. She seeks her own worth and, in the process, finds a fellow book lover, even before she has become addicted to the same.

Please, if you get the chance, try this book. I think you may love it as much as I did. I was lucky to pick it up on Libby, but I am seriously thinking of getting my own copy for when I want to curl up in a guaranteed good read. I hope you love it as much as I do.

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