When We Were Young and Brave
When We Were Young and Brave is a fictional account of the WWII internment experiences of the children enrolled at the Chefoo School, a mission school in China. Though the events of the book closely follow the accounts of internment on Weihsien Paintings, Gaynor brings the events to life in a way only an excellent author can.
A Bend in the Stars
A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum is about Vanya, a physicist on a quest to prove Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and Miri, Vanya’s sister and Kovno’s first female surgeon. The book begins in 1914, just before the start of WWI. Vanya is on the brink of fixing Einstein’s field equations for general relativity.
Band of Sisters: A Novel
Band of Sisters, a novel by Lauren Willig, tells the story of the Smith College Relief Unit, a group of women who traveled to northern France during World War I to provide aid and support. Through the eyes of the main character, readers experience the challenges and triumphs of these brave women as they navigate a war-torn landscape and form deep bonds with each other. The novel is both humorous and poignant, offering a unique perspective on the role of women in wartime.
The Great Alone Summary and Review
After losing yet another job and inheriting a house in Alaska, Ernt Allbright, a former POW, moves his wife, Cora, and his daughter, Leni, to Alaska. The Allbrights get a crash course in homesteading. The sunny Alaskan summer combined with the manual labor helps Ernt’s PTSD. Leni and Cora are hopeful that things will get better, but Leni quickly realizes that Ernt’s good mood won’t last long.
Alias Grace Summary, Analysis, and Review
Alias Grace is a novel by Margaret Atwood based on the real-life 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery. Grace Marks and James McDermott were convicted of the crime. McDermott was hanged, and Marks had her sentence commuted and ended up in the Kingston Penitentiary. No one knows for sure whether or to what degree Grace Marks was involved in the murders. Alias Grace gives readers a chance to decide for themselves whether this “celebrated murderess” was guilty or not.
Searching for Gertrude
Searching for Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty follows two characters, Rudolf and Rosalyn in their attempt to find Rudolf’s lost love Gertrude. Gertrude’s family leaves Germany in 1933 after Germany appoints Adolf Hitler as chancellor.
In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills
In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills is a heart wrenching family saga. Following the intertwining sagas of three diverse women, In the Shadow of 10,000 hills illuminates the search for family and personal peace in post-genocide Rwanda.
Carnegie’s Maid Review
Mr. Carnegie, as Clara refers to him for most of the book, lives with his mother, Margaret, and his brother, Tom, in Homewood. As Clara serves Mrs. Carnegie, she struggles to keep a secret and fend off polite advances from Mr. Carnegie. Her situation isn’t helped by Mrs. Carnegie’s difficult demeanor.
The Nightingale
The Nightingale follow two sisters as they get tangled up in occupied France during WWII. Is the Nightingale a true story? Sort of. The characters are fiction but Isabelle was based on someone real.