It’s hot and I have not been doing as much cooking, but I have been reading. What have I been reading this month? As usual, historical fiction.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you will probably enjoy these captivating reads. I found that each book offered a unique journey into different eras and settings, blending rich storytelling with memorable characters.
I now read on my iPad. I download most of the books that I read for free from the Hoopla library or I purchase on Amazon. In the beginning I missed having a book in my hand, but like everything else, I adjusted. Less clutter and I can take a whole library of books with me when I travel- all in my iPad.
I’ve read most of Kristin Hannah’s books, and I enjoyed them all. Her writing is beautiful and her storytelling is captivating. The Women was no exception. It will take you into the emotional depths of the Vietnam War and the slap in the face that our boys and women faced coming back home to America. I highly recommend it.
1. “The Women” by Kristin Hannah
“When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.”–(taken from Amazon write-up).
The Goddess of Warsaw was a book that I could not put down. I read it in two days and was on the edge of my seat every minute. If you are looking for an exciting book- this is it. It says it’s fiction, but I couldn’t help wondering if it were actually based on a true story of someone in Hollywood.
2. “The Goddess of Warsaw” by Lisa Barr
“The Goddess of Warsaw is an enthralling tale of a legendary Hollywood screen goddess with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. When the famous actress is threatened by someone from her past, she must put her skills into play to protect herself, her illustrious career, and those she loves, then and now. ” (from the Amazon write-up)
The Boy with the Star Tattoo
The Boy with the Star Tattoo was a story of 2 generations of characters starting in 1942 and ending in 1969 whose lives were inter twined (but they didn’t know it) because they were all orphans from WWII. It is a fascinating story of orphaned Jewish children that were hidden from the Nazi’s during the Holocaust by non-Jews and then Jewish organization’s quest to find these lost children after the war and return them to their Jewish roots- taking them to live in the land that was to become Israel. Truthfully, the information was fascinating, but the storyline went back and forth and could be a little hard to follow if you put the book down for a few days.
3. “The Boy with the Star Tattoo” by Talia Carter
“From acclaimed author of The Third Daughter comes an epic historical novel of ingenuity and courage, of love and loss, spanning postwar France when Israeli agents roamed the countryside to rescue hidden Jewish orphans—to the 1969 daring escape of the Israeli boats of Cherbourg.” (from Amazon)
I found that each of these books offered a distinct perspective on historical events, wrapped in engrossing stories.
What have you been reading?
What have you been eating?
Today I’m making my zucchini, corn, and lime soup chilled zucchini corn lime soup link which I originally published in August of 2018. It can be eaten hot or chilled (I love it chilled) and the fresh corn is cut off the cob and is added raw and crunchy. Of course zucchini is prolific right now and perfect for this soup.
Sharing on Sunday Salon (link to Sunday Salon)
