Why I Love Maine by April Smith

I am pleased to today welcome April Smith to HIstorical Tapestry as part of the blog tour for A Star For Mrs Blake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In choosing the setting for A STAR FOR MRS. BLAKE, there was no doubt in my mind it would take place on the coast of Maine.  Even though I grew up in the Bronx and live in Los Angeles, Maine is where my heart is.  When our children were young, each summer my husband and I would  rent a different house for a couple of weeks in the fishing village of Stonington.  It was isolated and pristine.  Organized activities for kids were non-existent,  so our days were made of old-fashioned adventures – exploring the coastal forest and granite outcrops, riding the mail boat to Isle Au Haut, baking pies and boiling lobsters, picnics on the river – even making our own Play Doh!  Trust me, I thought a great deal about using the actual name of the town in the novel, but local friends encouraged me to do so.  They want more tourists, they said, and ultimately I acceded to their wishes, knowing my readers respect history and would leave only footprints.

My romance with Maine started with a high school fascination with the lyrical poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1928.  She was born in Rockland, Maine and spent her girlhood in Camden.  She and her husband, Jan Boissevain, bought a place off the coast called Ragged Island as a summer retreat, where she wrote of swimming naked in the icy waves.  Come to think of it, that might have inspired the scene in A STAR FOR MRS. BLAKE where Cora and her lover, Linwood Moody, do exactly that!  In fact, I was so inspired by Millay’s bold, pre-feminist take on politics and sexuality (she was bisexual and had an open marriage) that years later I made a pilgrimage to Steepletop, her last home, in Austerlitz, New York, which was once the Millay Colony For the Arts and is now open to the public for garden tours.

The main character in my book, Cora Blake, is a librarian who manages the tiny library housed in a cottage in Stonington, which is still there.  She is one of five women from New England who travel to France to visit the graves of their sons who were killed in WWI and buried in the American cemeteries overseas.   They are called Gold Star Mothers – the gold star means you have lost a child in war, a tradition that continues today.  Back in 1931 Congress authorized funds to pay for first class trips to Europe for Gold Star Mothers and Widows, and almost seven thousand American women made the pilgrimage.  They were organized by where their sons fought and died.  The only thing these ladies share with Cora is that their fallen hero sons were all part of the Yankee Division, and fought together.

It was important to anchor the reader in Cora’s world before she took off for New York, Paris, Verdun and the cemetery in Meuse-Argonne, and again, Maine filled the bill.  Even today you can find purity and simplicity in its small-town way of life -- a culture that is the quintessential American mix of fierce independence and deep concern for neighbors.  Those were the qualities I wanted Cora Blake to take with her on this journey of a lifetime – just as my experience of the vivid clarity of coastal Maine has sustained heart and soul over the years.

To share your thoughts of Maine with April Smith please visit www.aprilsmith.net. 

About the Tour

Tour Schedule: http://francebooktours.com/2014/03/19/april-smith-on-tour-a-star-for-mrs-blake/
April Smith's website.
April Smith on Facebook
April Smith on Twitter.
Sandra Gulland on Goodreads


About the Book 

In 1929, The U.S. Congress passed legislation that would provide funding for the mothers of fallen WWI soldiers to visit the graves of their sons in France. Over the course of three years, 6,693 Gold Star Mothers made this trip. Smith imagines the story of five of these women, strangers who could not be more different from each other. One of them is Cora Blake, a librarian and single mother from coastal Maine. Journeying to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, the lives of these women are inextricably intertwined as shocking events – death, scandal, and secrets – are unearthed. And Cora’s own life takes an unexpected turn when she meets an American, “tin nose,” journalist, whose war wounds confine him to a metal mask.

Fact Fiction Friday ~ Battle of Verdun

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

21st February 1916 ~ The Battle of Verdun begins in France in 1916. The battle was to last ten months, covering a front of 15 miles. More than 700,000 men died. The book to accompany the fact is this biography of The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916 by Alistair Horne.

The Key to Lawrence by The Cargills

Background

Next year, 2014, will be the one hundredth anniversary of the start of World War 1, which contemporaries called the Great War. Two years from now on May 7, 2015 will be the centennial of the sinking of the Lusitania. Key to Lawrence, an historical thriller by Linda and Gary Cargill, commemorates this anniversary. The authors start out the novel with the last voyage of the Cunard ocean liner from May 1, 1915 to May 7, 1915 when the vessel sank in the Irish Sea six miles from land.

Many mysteries remain about the sinking of the famous ship. The greatest is the mysterious second explosion which took place within minutes after the German torpedo hit the liner at exactly 2:10PM British time. It seemed to have no cause and hastened the demise of the Lusitania which sank and disappeared beneath the waves in only eighteen minutes. By 2:30PM it was history.

 Robert D. Ballard in his book, Exploring the Lusitania: Probing the Mysteries of the Sinking That Changed History, postulates that vapor pockets from the coal-fired engine caused the big explosion. But it's only a theory, and no one really knows. If Captain Turner knew he was kept quiet by Cunard and the British government for the rest of his life. They even appeared at the inquest and pulled him out of it the day after the sinking. 

The British government remains the only entity who might actually know the true fate of the ship. They are the only ones who would know what was actually being carried in the hold other than a fortune in famous paintings for Sir Hugh Lane. Were there guns? Ammunition? Something else that might attract German attention?

The Lusitania is as elusive today as it was one hundred years ago.

Book Synopsis for Key to Lawrence

Who is that sinister-looking stranger who keeps eying Miss Dora Benley on the Lusitania pier on May 1, 1915? At dinner the first night in the grand dining room he sends her a threatening note. He orders her to hand over her father's birthday package. She carried it aboard, a gift from Sir Adolphus Ware, the car magnate her Robber Baron father is sailing to England to meet over a tire deal. If she doesn’t obey, the wastrel threatens to blow up the ship. There's nothing inside the package except an empty humidor! Dora had better figure out what's going on, or the saboteur will send her to the bottom of the Irish Sea. 

Book Trailer





The Key to Lawrence is going to be available to download free of charge for Kindle users at Amazon.com
and Amazon.co.uk from midnight on Christmas Day for 5 days.

The author has kindly provided me with a free copy in exchange for a review. Sadly, because of some family health issues I have not finished reading the book, but a review will appear on Historical Tapestry shortly. Why not download a copy over the Christmas period and share your thoughts on the review?

Letters from Sky by Jessica Brockmole

If you had of asked Margaret Dunn she would have sworn that she knew her mother Elspeth fairly well. Sure, she had questions about the identity of her father, and why her mother would never talk about him, but she knew for sure that Elspeth was the type of woman who lived a very regimented life, never leaving her adopted home town of Edinburgh. She knew that Elspeth grew up on the isle of Skye but Margaret had never even been to visit her family that still lived there, such was her mother's reluctance to leave Edinburgh.

All of the known things were challenged when, in the aftermath of a bomb that hit near their house, Margaret finds a letter addressed to someone named Sue from a young man named Davey. Who is Sue, and why has mother saved the many letters between the two of them? When her mother disappears not long after, leaving only one letter, Margaret needs to try and find out more about where she has gone and in the process about the person that her mother was when she was younger.

Before she disappeared though, she cautioned Margaret about falling in love during war, particularly with a young man who is destined to head to the front. Margaret is corresponding with her close friend Paul who has signed up as a pilot, and it is clear that their feelings are getting stronger, very quickly. We follow Margaret and Paul's story through their correspondence, as they talk about their lives but more particularly as Margaret shares all that she learns about her mother's earlier life.

As much as I liked Margaret and Paul's story and letters, really the heart of this novel is about Elspeth/Sue and Davey's romance. Their relationship started when David sent a fan letter to one of his favourite poets, Mrs Elspeth Dunn who lives on the Isle of Skye with her husband and family. When she writes back to him, there is little clue of the importance and depth of the relationship that will grow between the two of them despite the fact that Davey lives in faraway America. Soon the two are sharing everything from stories about their lives, favourites memories, books and so much more. It is clear that there is a very strong connection between the two of them but it is only when Davey signs up as an ambulance driver on the battlefields of France that there is any chance of them actually meeting.

I found the details of Davey's life as an ambulance driver quite fascinating. Because America had not yet entered into the war, Davey and his friend had to make their own way to France, and then, in theory, they were supposed to be behind the battle lines. Despite this, Davey often finds himself much closer to the bullets and thus gives Elspeth much more to worry about. When they do get the chance to meet up, the interludes are often bittersweet, but they do force her to face her fears. Before Davey, she was terrified of leaving her small island, but in order to see him she can and does get on the boat, more than once.

One of the things that I couldn't help but dwell on as I read the book was the tragedy of seeing two generations in a row facing war and the associated impacts. There was a definite sense of history repeating itself. As Elspeth and Davey carry on their romance predominantly through letters with Elspeth back in Scotland and Davey working as as ambulance driver on the battlefields of France, so too did Margaret and Paul romance each other years later. It is a very poignant reminder that the war to end all wars really wasn't that at all.

It may seem to be an obvious comparison to make, but I couldn't help but think of the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society book that made such a big impact when it was released a few years ago. That doesn't mean to say that they are very similar but the epistolary nature of both of the books, along with the, albeit different, islands and WWII setting lend some similarities. There is a different feeling, but if you liked Guernsey, then there is a fair chance that you will like this one too.

Poignant, romantic, surprising, heartbreaking and optimistic, this was a nice read that brought a tear to the eye and a smile to the face.

Rating 4/5


Tour Details

Link to Tour Schedule: http://tlcbooktours.com/2013/04/jessica-brockmole-author-of-letters-from-skye-on-tour-july-2013/
Jessica Brockmole's website.

Jessica Brockmole on Facebook

Jessica Brockmole on Twitter.

About the book

A sweeping story told in letters, spanning two continents and two world wars, Jessica Brockmole’s atmospheric debut novel captures the indelible ways that people fall in love, and celebrates the power of the written word to stir the heart.

March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence—sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes, and deepest secrets—their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.

June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.

Sparkling with charm and full of captivating period detail, Letters from Skye is a testament to the power of love to overcome great adversity, and marks Jessica Brockmole as a stunning new literary voice.

Thursday Threads - ANZAC Day Reading

Here in the UK & parts of Europe are at the start of Thursday, those in the US & Canada are still (probably asleep) and those in Australia, New Zealand are approaching the end of Thursday. For those Down Under it has been a public holiday in honour of ANZAC Day. The day on which thanks and memory is given to those men and women who joined the various forces and played their part in the First World War.

Last year I spent 5 weeks in Australia and did manage to revisit the War Memorial in Canberra. I took lots of pictures and I am going to share just 2 with you here. The first shows the Austalian & New Zealand losses from just this one campaign. The War was to rage for a total of 4 years. A generation completely lost.

Australian War Memorial - Oct 2012
Taken  by Julie Goucher

Outside the main exhibition is the Wall of Honour. There listed are the names of every individual that was lost during the Great War.

Australian War Memorial - Oct 2012
Taken  by Julie Goucher

So, the question for this week's Thursday Thread is

"Have you ever visited a museum or exhibition that has stimulated your reading and if so what did you read and why"

One of the reasons I found this particular visit so special was that I spent the day with my Cousin and her young daughter. On this Wall of Honour is the name of my Cousin's Great Uncle, a man who lost his life during the Second World War, but his memory lives on because his sister, my Cousin's Grandmother has a photograph of her brother on her wall. As we looked for his name and then explained the details to young G, we were enabling the past to head into the future. I found that very moving, as I did seeing the names of my own family commemorated on this wall.

Stimulating my reading has of course happened as I explore the details of the regiments of those lost soldiers and read about the Gallipoli Campaign. Furthermore, I turn to my trusty & faithful companion

In Memoriam by Edward Thomas

"The flowers left thick at nightfall in the wood

This Eastertide call into mind the men,

Now far from home, who, with their sweethearts, 

should

Have gathered them and will do never again"

Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Just before Christmas Maisie and her employee, Billie see a man commit suicide in the street. The man was clearly a War Veteran and events very quickly turn Maisie back to her nursing days during the Great War. Soon after an anonymous letter is received by the police threatening violence if the comments in the letter are not adhered to.

Soon, Maisie is seconded to the Police as she and the police try and unravel the circumstances of the two issues. Is that deceased man part of the conspiracy to cause chaos in London? Next some animals in an animal shelter are found dead, the potential result of inhaling a poisonous gas, and then on the back of another letter some birds are found dead.

Maisie springs into action as she and Billy try to discover the truth whilst confronting their own fears. Billy meanwhile, is still struggling with his wife Doreen who can not move past her grief following the death of their little girl and soon Doreen is admitted to hospital to receive treatment.

In this book, which I think is one of the best, the author has tackled some real issues for the early 1930s. There has clearly been research done into early offerings by the War Office and poisonous gases and the 1930s treatment of those who were suffering from some kind of mental illness.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education, and in marketing communications in the UK.

She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, and Among the Mad, as well as five other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book. She now lives in California and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Book Tour Hosts

Monday, March 4th: The House of the Seven Tails – Maisie Dobbs

Monday, March 4th: BookNAround – Birds of a Feather

Wednesday, March 6th: Peppermint PhD – Pardonable Lies

Thursday, March 7th: Melody & Words – Birds of a Feather

Thursday, March 7th: The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Anglers Rest – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Lavish Bookshelf – An Incomplete Revenge

Friday, March 8th: Olduvai Reads – Maisie Dobbs

Friday, March 8th: 5 Minutes For Books – Pardonable Lies

Friday, March 8th: In the Next Room – An Incomplete Revenge

Friday, March 8th: Anglers Rest – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: The Road to Here – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: A Bookish Way of Life – The Mapping of Love and Death

Friday, March 8th: The Book Garden – The Mapping of Love and Death

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

This year the tenth book in the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear is being released. To celebrate, there is a month long blog tour called The Month of Maisie which will focus on the whole series, with the first seven books in the series being featured in this first week of the month, leading up to the newest book at the end of the month.

Because I was a bit slow in jumping on board this series, I have just read the fourth book, Messenger of Truth. Once again, investigator/psychologist Maisie Dobbs is asked to investigate a murder, or perhaps I should say possible murder. The young man who died was Nick Bassington-Hope, a young man who was forging a name for himself as an artist of some repute. When he died he was alone in an art gallery setting up for the installation of what he thought was going to be his greatest work yet. By all appearances he had been high up on the scaffolding when he fell and died. The police were called and it was declared to be an open and shut case of accidental death.

His twin sister, Georgina, is not convinced though. She believes that there was foul play and that her brother may have been murdered. The art piece that he was installing was one that he knew would upset people but no one was going to see it before the big unveiling at the art gallery. In fact, no one even knows where the major piece is. There is an American buyer who is keen to purchase, but Nick had made it clear that he wanted it to be donated to a public institution like the War Museum.

In the course of trying to work out how Nick Bassington-Hope died, Maisie is pulled in several different directions. There is his arty but dysfunctional family who draw Maisie into their colourful lives and to the darker London underworld, his friends who lived near the seaside in converted railway carriages (that sounded rather fab!) complete with strange goings on, as well as Nick's own history as a war artist and the legacy that left on his psyche, and the strange behaviour of the police.

Personally, Maisie is still recovering from an emotional breakdown the year before, a floundering romantic relationship and an icy distance to her mentor who has previously meant so much to her and been so helpful when he has acted as a sounding board for her in the past.

One of the things I really enjoy about this series is the way the legacy of World War I is explored. Just over 10 years after the war has ended, life continues to be heavily influenced by those dreadful years and now there is additional hardship as the effects of the Great Depression really begin to affect the lives of many, especially Maisie's assistant Billy. I also like the way that Maisie continues to develop as a character. It is clear that she has a lot more development to go too, which makes her an interesting character to read about. She clearly still is impacted heavily by her war time experiences, and sometimes she is not willing to concede that. She is a career driven woman in a time where the norm was still to get married and have children, but the times are changing and not only because there is a shortage of eligible men thanks to the war.

While I do enjoy these books, there are things that don't always work. For example, Maisie relies a lot on 'intuition' to help her move her cases forward - things like being able to sit in the space of a person and see their actions to help her find clues - and whilst this might be interesting, it doesn't always make sense when something comes completely out of the blue. Ultimately, the solution to the mystery made sense, but the pieces fell together in quite a rush in some ways. The other story lines also got a bit distracting at times too.

I did have reservations about this instalment, but they are not strong enough to prevent me from continuing on with the series. I just read the synopsis for the latest book and I have to say that I was intrigued. What a pity I still have five more books to read in the series in order to get to it!

Rating 4/5

Synopsis

London, 1931. When controversial artist Nick Bassington-Hope is found dead, the police believe it is an open and shut case and his death from a fall is recorded as'accidental'. But his sister is not convinced, so she turns to Maisie Dobbs for help, drawn by the investigator's growing reputation for her unique methods of solving crimes.

Moving from the desolate beaches of the English coast to the dark underbelly of post-war London, and full of intriguing characters, Maisie's new investigation entertains and enthrals at every turn.

Adapted from my original review

You can read Kelly's thoughts about this book here, and Julie's here.

Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

This is the fourth book in the Maisie Dobbs series. This series gets better and better and as the character develops and takes further shape, we as readers are drawn in all the more to a great series.

The central character is Maisie Dobbs, a former nurse during the Great War. Now, though Maisie is a private investigator working in London and owns her own business, car and home. A rarity for the 1930s, this book is set during 1931. During this page turner Maisie is asked by Georgina Bassington-Hope to investigate the death of her brother, a former soldier and artist who died tragically whilst he is setting up an art exhibition. Nick has experienced war. His way of coping with the events he witnessed, first as a front line soldier and then as a war artist, is to paint what he sees and this does not always bode well with those around him. As Maisie investigates she encounters secrets, war stories, smuggling and does eventually seek out the truth.

Meanwhile, her associate Billy encounters a tragedy of his own and Maisie breaks off her relationship with her latest suitor.

The author has captured the essence of a "modern woman", perhaps Maisie was a woman before her time as she sets out on the road to independence and maintaining that independence. Very well researched and despite being a fictional book based upon tragic life events and the aftermath.

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the county of Kent, England. Following higher education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, Jacqueline worked in academic publishing, in higher education, and in marketing communications in the UK.

She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and while working in business and as a personal / professional coach, Jacqueline embarked upon a life-long dream to be a writer.

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, and Among the Mad, as well as five other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book. She now lives in California and is a regular visitor to the United Kingdom and Europe.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Book Tour Hosts

Monday, March 4th: The House of the Seven Tails – Maisie Dobbs

Monday, March 4th: BookNAround – Birds of a Feather

Wednesday, March 6th: Peppermint PhD – Pardonable Lies

Thursday, March 7th: Melody & Words – Birds of a Feather

Thursday, March 7th: The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Anglers Rest – Messenger of Truth

Thursday, March 7th: Lavish Bookshelf – An Incomplete Revenge

Friday, March 8th: Olduvai Reads – Maisie Dobbs

Friday, March 8th: 5 Minutes For Books – Pardonable Lies

Friday, March 8th: In the Next Room – An Incomplete Revenge

Friday, March 8th: Anglers Rest – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: The Road to Here – Among the Mad

Friday, March 8th: A Bookish Way of Life – The Mapping of Love and Death

Friday, March 8th: The Book Garden – The Mapping of Love and Death

HT Recommends - WWI in Historical Fiction

Our HT Recommends feature is becoming a regular one at every thematic event we have. As in previous entries we thought it would be interesting to have a post listing the main HF titles where WWI plays a role, be it an important or secondary one. We tried to make an exaustive list and we left out books by contemporary authors on purpose. If you have any HF title dealing with WWI and that we missed do let us know in the comments and we will add it to our list. Enjoy!

Lyn Andrews - Angels of Mercy

Patricia Anthony - Flanders

Pat Barker - Regeneration

Pat Barker - Eye in The Door

Pat Barker - The Ghost Road

Pat Barker - Life Class

Sebastian Barry - A Long, Long Way

Rosalind Belben - Our Horses in Egypt

Maggie Bennett,  - The Carpenter's Children

Emma Blair -  Forget-Me-Not

William Boyd -  An Ice Cream War

Joseph Boyden - Three Day Road

Colin E. Demet -  Iolaire and the Beasts of Holm

Margaret Dickinson -  Suffragette Girl

Robert Dinsdale - The Harrowing

Marc Dugain -  The Officers’ Ward

Helen Dunmore - Zennor in Darkness

Robert Edric - In Desolate Heaven

Nigel Farndale -  The Blasphemer

Sebastian Faulks-  Birdsong

Timothy Findley - The Wars

Thomas J. Fleming - Over There
Ken Follett - Fall of Giants

Mackenzie Ford - Gifts of War

Alexander Fullerton - The Blooding of the Guns

Alexander Fullerton - Sixty Minutes for St.

Alexander Fullerton - Patrol to the Golden

Alexander Fullerton - Flight to Mons

Robert Goddard - In Pale Battalions

Ron Graham - Flight of Youth

Hilary Green - Daughters of War

Hilary Green - Passions of

Philippa Gregory - Fallen Skies

Jessica Gregson - The Angel Makers

Nicholas Griffin - Dizzy City
Paul Gross - Passchendaele

Ray Grover - March to the Sound of the Guns

Rosie Harris - Whispers of Love

Cynthia Harrod- Eagles - The White Road

Cynthia Harrod- Eagles - The Burning Roses

Cynthia Harrod- Eagles - The Measure of Days

Cynthia Harrod- Eagles - The Foreign Field

Cynthia Harrod- Eagles - The Fallen Kings
Jaroslav Hasek - The Good Soldier Svejk

Susan Hill - Strange Meeting

Audrey Howard - Whispers on The Water

Audrey Howard - All The Night Ends

Audrey Howard - All The Dear Faces

Jonathan Hull - Losing Julia

Meg Hutchinson - Friendship's Bond

June Hutton - Underground
Frances Itani - Deafening

Reina James - This Time of Dying

Marjorie Jones - The Lighthorseman

Guy Jonhson - Standing at The Scratch Line

Maureen Lee - Martha's Journey

Elizabeth Lord - All That We Are

Tom Keneally - Daughter of Mars

John MacNintch - The Brother Keepers

Kevin Major - No Man's Land

David Malouf - Fly Away Peter

Henning Mankell - Depths

James Meek - The People's Act of Love

Deborah Moggach - In The Dark

Alan Monaghan - The Soldier's Song

Alan Monaghan - The Soldier's Return
Jojo Moyes - The Girl You Left Behind

Anton Myrer - Once An Eagle

Pamela Oldfield - Loving and Losing

Heather Parkinson - Accross Open Ground

Michelle Paver - The Serpent's Tooth

Anne Perry - No Graves As Yet

Anne Perry - Shoulder The Sky

Anne Perry - Angels in The Gloom

Anne Perry - At Some Disputed Barricade

Anne Perry - We Shall Not Sleep

Richard Powers - Three Farmers on Their Way to A Dance
Ron Rash - The Cove

Robert Radcliffe - Across the Blood-Red Skies

Piers Paul Read - Alice in Exile

Douglas Reeman - The Last Raider

Douglas Reeman - The Horizon

Derek Robinson - The Goshawk Squadron

Derek Robinson - War Story

Derek Robinson - Hornet's Sting

Phillip Rock - The Passing Bells

Phillip Rock - Circles of Time

Phillip Rock - A Future Arrived

Robert Ryan - Empire of Sand

Jeff Shaara - To The Last Man

Danny Scheinmann - Random Acts of Heroic Love

David Semmel - 11th of Av

Susan Sherman - The Little Russian

Jody Shields - The Crimson Portrait

Richard Skinner - The Red Dancer: The Life and Times of Mata-Hari

Wilbur Smith - The Burning Shore

Nick Stafford - Armistice

Fred Stemme - The Liutenant's Whistle

Charles Todd - A Duty to The Dead

Charles Todd - An Impartial Witness
Charles Todd - A Bitter Truth
Charles Todd - An Unmarked Grave
Barbara Tuchman - The Guns of August

Penny Vicenzi - No Angel

Kate Walbert - A Short History of Women

Paul Watkins - In the Blue Light of African Dreams

Gene Wilder - My French Whore

Beatriz Williams - Overseas
John Wilson - And In The Morning
Jacqueline Winspear - Maisie Dobbs ( see also Maisie Dobbs )
Jacqueline Winspear - Birds of a Feather  ( see also Birds of a Feather )
Jacqueline Winspear -  Pardonable Lies  ( see also Pardonable Lies )
Peter Yeldham - Barbed Wire and Roses 

 Frank Yerby - Tobias and The Angel

Louisa Young - My Dear I Wanted to Tell You

WW1 Week - Strangers in a Strange Land Belgian Refugees 1914 - 1918

Written to accompany the exhibition of the same name located in the In Flanders Field Museum in Ieper this book tells the fascinating account of the people of Belgium.

Thousands of Belgians fled their homeland to avoid the occupation of German forces during the First World War. Many fled into the neighbouring countries such as France and The Netherlands who were, in accordance with policy at the time placing Belgians of fighting age into internment camps where they could be joined by their families. It was a matter of time before The Netherlands were simply out of room and France was no longer safe and so many thousands sailed across the Channel to the United Kingdom.

This book tells the story, initially with a series of chapters explaining the historical events and is accompanied by quotes from people who recalled the events. There are also some amazing photographs of not just Belgium, but also of France and the United Kingdom and of course the refugees.

Upon the end of the First World War many Belgians returned home and were ridiculed by fellow Belgians because they had not endured the occupation of the German forces and I was very aware of a similarity with a book I read about those who fled the Channel Islands for the United Kingdom in the Second World War.

A fascinating book, both in terms of written subject matter and photographic substance.

This post has previously appeared at Anglers Rest due to my taking part in War through the Generations

An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd

An Unmarked Grave (Bess Crawford Series, Book 4) by Charles Todd

Completion Date: June 15, 2012
Reason for Reading: Next book in the series/TLC Book Tour.

World War I nurse and amateur sleuth Bess Crawford matches wits with a devious killer in this exciting and suspenseful adventure from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.

In the spring of 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic spreads, killing millions of soldiers and civilians across the globe. Overwhelmed by the constant flow of wounded soldiers coming from the French front, battlefield nurse Bess Crawford must now contend with hundreds of influenza patients as well.

However, war and disease are not the only killers to strike. Bess discovers, concealed among the dead waiting for burial, the body of an officer who has been murdered. Though she is devoted to all her patients, this soldier's death touches her deeply. Not only did the man serve in her father's former regiment, he was also a family friend.

Before she can report the terrible news, Bess falls ill, the latest victim of the flu. By the time she recovers, the murdered officer has been buried, and the only other person who saw the body has hanged himself. Or did he?

Working her father's connections in the military, Bess begins to piece together what little evidence she can find to unmask the elusive killer and see justice served. But she must be as vigilant as she is tenacious. With a determined killer on her heels, each move Bess makes could be her last.

Where this is the 4th book in a series, it makes it harder to talk about it. So, I am going to share some brief thoughts instead.

• I continue to enjoy the setting of this series. I appreciated the fact that there are actual scenes from the home front, but there are also moments from the field.
• Bess is an interesting character. Sometimes I find her a bit too perfect, but ultimately she has grown on me with each book. I like her much more now than I did in the beginning.
• One thing that I can't help thinking about is how every guy that she meets seems to fall in love with her. It's almost getting overdone. It might be time for her to have feelings for a guy, too.
• I really enjoyed how much of Simon there was in this book. I find we are really getting to know him and I really like him. I continue to be curious what role he was play in Bess' future.
• I think this might be my first novel set during the Spanish Influenza. I thought it was an interesting addition to the story. It touched many lives while it was spreading through the ranks.
• This makes me think about how I enjoy the details about WWI that are scattered throughout the books. It talks about gas masks, the dangers of the gases used, etc. It's also more from a medical viewpoint which is different from the norm.
• It is nice that characters from other books are at least mentioned even if they do not appear in the actual book. It gives underlining story-lines. They are always nice.
• My biggest problem with this book, though, was the ending. I actually got confused because I found it was a bit out of left field and very rushed. I am not quite sure I found it believable. It was page-turning, though. It was a mixed reaction ending.
• I look forward to the next book in the series!

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour and for my copy of this book.

Bess Crawford Series:
A Duty to the Dead
An Impartial Witness
A Bitter Truth
An Unmarked Grave

This also means I successfully completed the Bess Crawford Read-Along. I am bad with read-alongs... So big deal! The book counts for the War through the Generations and Historical Fiction Reading Challenges.

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford Series, Book 3) by Charles Todd

Completion Date: June 5, 2012
Reason for Reading: Carry on with the series.

World War One battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is featured for a third time in A Bitter Truth . Bess reaches out to help an abused and frightened young woman, only to discover that no good deed ever goes unpunished when the good Samaritan nurse finds herself falsely accused of murder.

1.) How did A Bitter Truth stack up for you against Bess' previous two adventures?
I always find that I have a hard time initially getting into this series. It has happened with all three books so far, but once I am engrossed in the story things seem to go rather well. I have almost entirely read the three books in one sitting each. I actually think the series is getting better, though. The writing is improving and the overall stories. They are getting to know Bess Crawford better with each book and as a result, the readers is able to get more and more lost in the stories. My one little problem remains, though. I sometimes find Bess Crawford too morally superior. It doesn't always strike me as believable. I know this was different times, but not everyone does the right thing every time. I was amazed when there was a chance for Crawford to do 'the right thing' in this book and instead she did the nicer thing. There are some times where 'the right thing' isn't necessarily the right thing. I think if she had done what her first instinct was in this case I would have lost all respect for her as a character.

2.) I really enjoyed the mystery in this novel, and confess I was quite confounded as to who the killer was, until the very end. How about you?
I think the mystery is where the writing evolution is the most apparent. In the first book I solved the mystery very early on in the story. In this one I was a bit more hesitant about my conclusion. I had theories and kept reading to find out if I was right or not. They are getting better at throwing situations in to make you look in different directions only to find out that it was a 'red herring'. I like being surprised and such, so I am glad things are getting more complicated.

3.) The plight of orphans in the war is brought to the forefront in this novel - what do you think of Lydia's and Bess' feelings and plans for Sophie?
I had a really hard time with my thoughts on this. On the one hand, I agreed with Lydia. But then I had other moments where Bess was more likely right. I think that Sophie should be with her family instead of the nuns, but I understand that the nuns would also be distraught thinking that something had happened to the child. It is an example of Bess' moral superiority. I was left thinking right or wrong, I could not imagine bringing a child out of the horrors of France only to bring her back again. I just couldn't agree with Bess on that issue despite also understanding where she was coming from. I was glad with how things played out because I ultimately thought they were the best for the child at that time. I also appreciated the glimpse at what it was like for orphans of WWI. It is something that gets buried in other aspects of the war experience.

4.) I was struck by the passage in chapter 15, when Todd speaks of the evolution of the war: "The days when men lined up in their dozens to be the first to enlist had long since passed. Now the reality of the trenches had scoured away that bravado, and in its place were these recruits, afraid of shaming themselves in front of their mates but probably wishing themselves anywhere but here." How did you see the war changing people and events in the novel?
When I look back on the two major wars I am always impressed with the men and women that rushed out to join up in the beginning. Especially for WWII because they had often grown up hearing about the first war from their parents and yet they still wanted to fight. I often toy with how I would have felt in the same situation. In the beginning, though, it is the heroic thing to do and a chance to vanquish the enemies. Later on, it is still important but you become more aware of what it is really like and only do so because it is right or because your friends are doing it. Then, there was the idea of the 'white feather'. Citizens would present men of the correct age with a feather branding them as cowards. It made it even harder to stay out of the mix. By the time this book takes place, though, the lustre is off the war. It is dragging on, the death toll is high, and people are attempting to desert which has devastating repercussions if they are caught. Alternatively, they sometimes shoot themselves in certain areas to get necessary leave or get out entirely.

5.) Simon Brandon plays an even greater role in this book than the last, though I don't think Bess sees his interest as more than professional or familial. What do you think his intentions are? And do you think Bess recognizes them?
I am not sure what to make of Simon. I really like him and I think he really likes Bess from different things he has said and such, but now there is this Aussie thrown in the mix. I think it will depend on if he is in the next book where Simon fits into everything. Bess seems to like the Aussie and he seems to like her. I hope that Simon continues to play a role in the books and I guess we will see how things go.

This book counts for the War Through the Generations Challenge and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

No Graves As Yet by Anne Perry

On a sunny afternoon in late June, Cambridge professor Joseph Reavley is summoned from a student cricket match to learn that his parents have died in an automobile crash. Joseph’s brother, Matthew, as officer in the Intelligence Service, reveals that their father had been en route to London to turn over to him a mysterious secret document—allegedly with the power to disgrace England forever and destroy the civilized world. A paper so damning that Joseph and Matthew dared mention it only to their restless younger sister. Now it has vanished.
What has happened to this explosive document, if indeed it ever existed? How had it fallen into the hands of their father, a quiet countryman? Not even Matthew, with his Intelligence connections, can answer these questions. And Joseph is soon burdened with a second tragedy: the shocking murder of his most gifted student, beautiful Sebastian Allard, loved and admired by everyone. Or so it appeared.
Meanwhile, England’s seamless peace is cracking—as the distance between the murder of an Austrian archduke by a Serbian anarchist and the death of a brilliant university student by a bullet to the head of grows shorter by the day.

I have been a big fan of Anne Perry's historical mysteries since I first discovered her books but so far my reads have been limited to her two 19th century London series and those titles Christmas spinoffs. She has however, written in different periods and settings and I am glad that this HT event has given me the opportunity to start her WWI series that starts with this title. The series is comprised of 5 books each of which set in one of the war years from 1914 to 1918.

As mentioned in the synopsis the story starts with Reverend Joseph Reavley, and his siblings Mathew, Judith and Hannah,  dealing with the sudden death of his parents. That they have met with an accident right after his father has talked with Mathew about a mysterious document that may change England's role in an upcoming conflict seemms like a weird and unfortunate coincidence till the two brothers discover evidence of foul play in their parents death...

Unable to discover the document Joseph returns to Cambridge where he is a professor only to be met with the murder of one of his students. In such a closed environment everyone suspects everyone and it seems Sebastien Allard wasn't such an upstanding young man as Joseph thought which might have led to his murder. Shocked and feeling a bit betrayed by his inability to see the victim clearly Joseph investigates what really happened and why.

I did enjoy the idea behind this series very much. I think Perry does a good job of telling the events that precede the War. The Irish problems and the Boer war are mentioned several times and the events in continental Europe described as they were happening. I think, however, that how she chose to tell her story made for a very slow paced action that might not appeal to everyone and that made it easy for me to leave the book aside for periods of time and pick others in between. 

I found that when Joseph focused in Sebastien's murder we almost lost sight of what had happened to his parents. However that should have been our primary concern as it seemed more relevant to the political situation. One could imagine that both cases were related but while I didn't find the conclusion as obvious as all that it also wasn't the big closure I was expecting. I did like that sense of security that is fast coming to an end that she manages to convey and the discussions on pacifism and idealism that the characters engage in. Perry leaves a big cliffhanger at the end but instead of annoying me it also made me want to pick up the next book and see how things develop. I hope it is as interesting, albeit more engaging, than this one...

You can find the other titles in the series here

Grade: 4/5

An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd

An Impartial Witness: A Bess Crawford Novel (Book 2) by Charles Todd

Completion Date: April 19, 2012
Reason for Reading: Next book in the series/Bess Crawford Read-along.

World War I nurse Bess Crawford, introduced in "A Duty to the Dead," returns in an exciting new mystery in which a murder leads her into the clutches of awily killer.

Today I am posting my answers to the questions asked about the second book in the Bess Crawford series. Tune in on May 29 (or thereabouts) to see my thoughts on book 3.

1) As in A Duty to the Dead, long-seated familial animosities and jealousies play a role in the crimes committed. What did you think of the Garrison and Melton families? How do they compare to Bess' family, or to the families of soldiers and nurses created by war?
This book just seemed like drama, drama, drama. That is not necessarily a bad thing, it kept things interesting, but it seemed like everyone was having some sort of a problem in this book. I find that sometimes Bess and her family are shown as just a bit too perfect. They always seem to get along and Bess is always on a quest to do the right thing. There doesn't seem to be enough flaws to round out the characters. I think that is why despite enjoying the series, I am still a bit leery of Bess. It is something I have been trying to put my finger on since I read the first book.  It could also be because the other people in the book are so flawed it makes for almost a black and white comparison. And, when everything comes out in the end you can't help thinking 'Seriously?'. It is amazing how people can act, I tell you. The Garrison and Melton families were interesting, but it seemed like everyone was a bit crazy. There were some sympathetic moments, but it is sad that things played out the way that they did.

2) Simon Brandon plays a far greater role in this novel than he did in A Duty to the Dead. What do you make of that and do you think his intentions stem from his duty to Bess' father, or from his affections for Bess herself?
I am so glad you asked this question because I have been thinking a lot about Simon Brandon. I think he is going to continue to become more and more of a central character. And, I think it is clear from some of the scenes that it has more to do with his affection for Bess than loyalty to her father. I think this is one of the interesting things about this book because I am curious how the authors will choose to play it out.

3) Simon strives to curtail the risks that Bess takes throughout the novel. This advice of his struck me particularly: "We have to move on. Put the living first. There are already enough monuments to the dead." Do you think Bess's drive to right the wrongs she sees puts her at odds with this advice, to her detriment?
That was an interesting piece of advice and I suppose it makes sense, but I can also see where Bess is coming from. The police are getting no where with the case and she feels like since she was one of the last people who saw the victim alive, it was her responsibility to make sure her story was told. If she was a victim of a war than yes, there would be lots of monuments. She died senselessly, though, and she needed someone on her side. Sometimes Bess might go a bit too far, and it does seem like to her detriment, but ultimately it all plays out in the end and I think that redeems everything.

4) Do you think there is any such thing as an "impartial witness?" Bess admits to adding her own perspective and interpretation to what she sees at the railway station. Later, Mrs. Hennessey is referred to by Bess as an "impartial witness," presumably because she's completely in the dark about what's been happening. But what do you think of the phrase, and what do you think the authors mean us to to think of it?
I don't think there is such thing as an impartial witness. No matter what happens, you are going to put your life experiences and opinions into play when addressing a situation. I think it just happens no matter how hard you try. The authors, though, it is hard to say what they were thinking. I think it is likely they were trying to show there is really no such thing as someone that is impartial, but that could just be my opinions clouding things.

5) What did you think of the ending of the novel? Were you expecting a confrontation, or confession, that you didn't see? And if so, why do you think it was written that way?
Well, firstly, I solved the mystery in this one. I had this feeling and I was happy to see that I was right come the end of the book. There were a few moments where I doubted myself, but ultimately I thought I had the right guy. Secondly, I thought the book played out well in the end. I wasn't really disappointed by the ending. It was just the best way to finish everything up.

6) Did you learn any new phrases while reading An Impartial Witness? For me it was "Well, it's shank's mare, then," which Sister Benning says to Bess when they have to walk behind the ambulance of wounded soldiers on their way to safer ground. Turns out that "shanks mare" is an Irish phrase referring to having to hoof it on your own two legs.
I had the same one. I had no idea what 'shanks mare' meant. It was the first I had ever saw it used in a book, so I had to look it up. It's a rather entertaining phrase!

Bess Crawford Series:
A Duty to the Dead 
An Impartial Witness
Bitter Truths
An Unmarked Grave

This book counts for both the War Through the Generations Challenge and The Historical Fiction Challenge.

Something for Everyone in WWI Literature - A Guest Post by Anna Horner

One of the most fascinating things about the War Through the Generations reading challenges that I co-host with Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit has been learning how war affects everyone and every aspect of life. There are so many books covering so many different things for any given war, and it's impossible to read them all. Here are some of the categories I've discovered during my reading and my favorite titles for each.

In the Trenches

Trench warfare was hell. I can't imagine what the soldiers endured, and some of the descriptions are graphic enough to make one physically ill. But some of these books are beautifully written, including Strange Meeting by Susan Hill, a novel about two young men who forge a close friendship in the trenches.

(from my review) "Hill writes with a fondness and tenderness for these characters, and her portrayal of two men who love one another (not romantically…at least I didn’t take it that way) feels authentic under the circumstances. She shows men who are both brave and scared and who turn to one another so that they do not feel alone in such a dark moment in their lives."

Homefront

Some of the homefront stories are just as fascinating as those depicting the soldiers on the front lines. My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young is a favorite of mine because it not only focuses on the soldiers, but also on the women left behind. This period in history was one in which women were becoming more independent and embracing their sexuality. Moreover, she delves into the ways in which war altered relationships and goes into great detail about the emergence of facial reconstruction surgery.

(from my review) "My Dear I Wanted to Tell You is a novel that really gets to the heart of what it means to go to war and how nothing will ever be the same again for both the soldiers and their loved ones, even if they are lucky enough to come home. Young doesn’t shy away from describing the horrific things that happen in war, including the fear that prompted some soldiers to go to great lengths to escape the fighting, and she also emphasizes the home front, from the misinformation in the newspapers to the impact of the war on a marriage."

Romance

There really is something for everyone when it comes to war novels. Without blogger recommendations, I never would have come across Overseas by Beatriz Williams. It's a time-travel romance set mainly in New York City in 2008, but the storyline set during 1916 on the Western Front was the most interesting. It's not a perfect book, but the author had me hooked!

(from my review) "At the same time that Williams takes readers through all the ups and downs of Julian and Kate’s relationship, she also transports them back to the Great War, telling the story of Captain Ashford, a famous war poet, and the woman who loves him so much she’ll do anything to prevent him from going back to the front. The way in which Williams merges the two stories kept me on the edge of my seat, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, she’d surprise me again."

Children's

It's important to introduce children to topics like war in a way that doesn't overwhelm them with the horror but doesn't sugar-coat things either. Telling the story through the eyes of a child with whom they can relate is also a plus. Marcia Williams accomplishes all of this and more with Archie's War, a scrapbook by the fictional Archie Albright complete with doodles, letters that can be opened and read, and mementos from World War I. (And when you've finished this one, you'll have to read the next book, My Secret War Diary, which is another scrapbook-like novel set during World War II and told from the point of view of Archie's daughter, Flossie.)

(from my review) "Williams does a wonderful job merging the history of the war with the antics of a young boy, who at a tender age must learn about loss, fear, shell shock, and hunger but also finds hope and happiness in the countryside. ... Williams personalizes the war, letting readers see what happened through the eyes of a young boy who feels so very real."

Where to Start

I know this blog focuses on historical fiction, but I must mention just one non-fiction book. If you don't know much about World War I, you must read The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedman. It's a condensed history of what led up to the war and the major battles and is intended for middle-grade readers. It's less than 200 pages, with numerous black-and-white photographs. It's the perfect introduction to the war for both adults and children alike!

(from my review) "Freedman provides a comprehensive and detailed account of World War I, with chapters devoted to trench warfare, the war at sea, and the battles of Verdun and the Somme. Most interesting was the chapter on the new weapons employed during the war, such as machine guns and tanks. Freedman tells how barbed wire played a major role in trench warfare, how poison gas was introduced, and how developments in aviation led to the first dogfights and eliminated the need for reconnaissance missions by the cavalry."

Even though 2012 is almost over, there's still time to participate in the WWI Reading Challenge at War Through the Generations (the lowest participation level requires you to read just 1 book!). But even if you don't take part in the challenge, we hope you'll check out the book reviews and recommended reading lists on the site.