What's your favorite WWII historical fiction novel?

General
1

What’s your favorite WWII historical fiction novel?

1 Like
2

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

3 Likes
3

We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter Fabulous!! Great writing, fascinating journey following multiple members of a Polish family as they find their way through the war and after.

3 Likes
4

There are sooo many good WWII novels out there, but my favorite might be Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I read it probaby 10 years ago & I’ve still been unable to get it out of my mind. Great writing, great characters, and unexpected.

5 Likes
5

There are so many! But the ones that have really stuck with me are The Green Valley by Mark Sullivan and The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe. I love Jennifer Ryans’s novels about the British Home Front & enjoyed the Elena Standish series by Anne Perry, and Susan Elia MacNeal’s series fearturing Maggie Hope (well, most of them–there were a couple of clunkers)

2 Likes
6

Books by Kristen Harmel, Pam Jenoff, and Ronald Balson are my favorite WWII authors.

7

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

3 Likes
8

Came here to say this!

2 Likes
9

The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah

1 Like
10

All the Light We Cannot See and The Book Thief

3 Likes
11

A keeper of Happy endings - Barbara Davis, and of course The women by Kristin Hannah.

12

Yes there are so many and I agree with the others that picked -The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See

1 Like
13

Have read several recently published WWII novels with my book club and can’t say that I liked any of them. I much prefer nonfiction to fiction when it comes to WWII. John Toland’s Adolph Hitler (2 volumes) published in 1976 is very good. Am currently reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer as a long read at a few pages a day. The comparisons to politics and government today in the US are uncanny and beyond scary.

14

Hands down Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.

15

Haha, @Jill_D, I don’t think that one’s WWII… :winking_face_with_tongue:

16

No, not WWII. It is a supposing kind of story about Shakespeare and his son, Hamnet. Hamnet and Hamlet were the same name back then and the author wondered for years about Shakespeare and his wife’s grief over losing him. Possibly a play was named after Hamnet/Hamlet. Who knows, but an awesome story.

17

Agreed :slight_smile: I recently re-read and I appreciated it even more the second time around. This book was on TIME magazine’s list of 100 best YA books and Rolling Stone’s top 40 YA books. I am especially drawn to books with strong female characters.

18

Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave was excellent, and I highly recommend the audio. Also really enjoyed many of the book already mentioned especially The Book Thief, The Rose Code (also great on audio), and All the Light We Cannot See. Recently started The Nightingale.

19

I’m surprised to learn that Code Name Verity is classified as YA, @Karen_Belyea. It seems as if the subject matter is pretty mature, but I guess the writing is certainly accessible for teenage readers. I don’t think I would have been able to read it when I was a kid - too upsetting. It’s definitely not a light/happy read!

20

There are many and it’s hard to pick a favourite. Kristin Hamel has written some amazing stories , which are all very well researched. The Book of Forgotten Names, The Winemaker’s Wife,