"A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

A Separate Peace by John Knowles is the story of two roommates at a boys boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II. It’s about their rivalry, friendship, and how the boys try to stay separate from the war. Gene, the introverted intellectual who tells the story is jealous of his roommate, Phineas (Finny), a natural athlete who is outgoing and a natural leader but a poor student.

I read this book a long time ago for school and decided to re-read it now because I remember liking it. I especially liked the parts with Finny and enjoyed it again. It has some fun parts, but mostly is sad, especially what happens to Phineas.
 (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo is Historical Fiction

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo is an interesting read.  First off, it is told by a lady in a nursing home to one of the nurses and her son who visits her.  She is looking back to when she was 16 and telling the story about how they had an elephant in their garden during World War II and their walk across Germany to avoid the bombing of their city, Dresden.

I loved War Horse so when I found out Michael Morpurgo wrote this book too, I was eager to read it.  It is quite a story and I loved how it was told.  Although it is fiction, it is based to actual people and events.  This book has adventure and a bit of romance.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Here is the link to the actual story this book is based on:  Story of how Belfast Zoo's Baby Elephant Was Kept In Backyard of Home During Second World War Blitz to be Made into Film

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Wings of a Dream" by Anne Mateer

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer is about Rebekah, a young woman in Oklahoma who desires adventure and is determined to get out of the small town in which she lives with her mother and father.  She is a bit jealous of Will, her older brother who is a soldier during WW II because he gets to travel.  She is attracted to a pilot who she dreams of marrying one day.  When her aunt becomes ill and Rebekah goes to nurse her, she gets her adventure, just not the one she dreamed of.  She discovers her aunt was helping raise four little children while their widowed father served his country overseas. 

This is a good Christian historical fiction book that I enjoyed reading.  It is based on a real situation that actually happened and focuses on Rebekah’s search for God’s will for her life.  It is a clean romance that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. 

(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

:When Books Went To War" by Molly Guptill Manning is Fascinating

When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning tells the true story about our soldiers in World War II and the effort that was made to get them books to read.  I found this book fascinating.  The people who lead the drive are true behind-the-scenes heroes.  I enjoyed finding out what books our men and women fighters in the war liked best.  If you are looking for a good true historical book, this is it!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey From Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken:  An Olympian’s Journey From Airman to Castaway to Captive (The Young Adult Adaptation of Unbroken) by Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing and fascinating non-fiction novel.  With never a dull moment, Louie Zamperini’s adventurous story kept my attention from beginning to end.  Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any worse for him, they do!  It’s hard to believe he actually survived drifting on a life raft in the Pacific ocean for 47 days and then being tortured and humiliated as a POW. 

I highly recommend this to anyone!  It is well researched and very informative, giving me insight into a life of a POW that I had no clue about.  Unimaginable horrific things actually happened to our POW’s during World War II.  I was afraid this was going to read like a history book, but it really doesn’t.  It is very well written and stayed on my mind long after I put it down.   I found it astonishing that Louie lived to be 97 after all he went through. 

(Karen's review, 5 stars)

 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr is Fantastic

This novel is actually two stories and both are excellent!  Story one is about a blind young girl living in Paris.  When the Germans come to take control of their city, her father and her escape.  Story two is about a young German orphan boy who is an expert in putting together and fixing radios.  He is soon enlisted in the German army.  When the two stories collide near the end, I could hardly put this book down!  It's a fantastic read and my book of the month so far.  It sort of reminded me of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Dog Who Could Fly" by Damien Lewis is one of the Best Books I Read This Year!

The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis is the true story of airman Robert Bozdech and the bond he forged with a dog named Ant during World War II.  I loved this book!  It is an incredible story of how Ant even went on flying missions with his master.  You do not have to be a dog lover to appreciate this book though.  Please read this book--it's a story you need to hear!  It doesn't get any better than this!  This is my book of the month so far and will be in my top 10 for the year!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Winter Horses" by Philip Kerr (UPDATED)

Watch this video to see Gerard and I discuss this book:


The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is based on a true story, or I would like to believe that it really happened.  Read the book, then you decide.  It is about an old man and a young girl who save two horses that might be the last of their kind.  It takes place during World War II.  I liked both the main characters, the old man and the young girl.  I also liked the animals in the story--both horses and especially the dog!

This is a real page turner that I loved!   Give it a chance.  If you liked War Horse, you will like this one too because it's similar.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is a moving historical novel about Kalinka, an Ukrainian Jewish orphan girl who saves a couple very special Przewalski’s (pronounced “shuh-VAHL-skeez”) horses during World War II with the help of an old man named Max, a loyal wolfhound named Taras, a kind German army Captain and a kind Russian Major.  The wild horses did their part in the struggle to survive as well.

This is an amazing story that made me cry three times!   It addresses the wide range of how low and how kind people can be.  Part of the book I especially enjoyed were the words of wisdom Kalinka remembered her grandfather saying.  It is a wonderful story about a girl’s special connection with a couple wild horses and a great dog too!  Although it had several very sad and disturbing parts, I loved it!  It is a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. 


Join in with Mama Kat's Vlogging prompt:  Book Review.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!