April 17, 2018
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Highly Rated WW1 and WW11 Reads
*Linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Free Choice (check out her post for the top 10 books her mom loves!) and Words on Wednesday. If you’ve clicked over from either of those posts, Welcome! Please look around and enjoy your stay.
I read a lot of histfic and one of my favorite sub genres is WW1 and WW11 histfic. Listed below are 10 of my highest rated and favorite histfic reads (1 is nonfiction) that have also received high star ratings on Goodreads. In addition, I included some honorable mention because there are more than 10 reads that are memorable to me for various reasons. Not all titles are reviewed because I read them before publishing this blog (in which case I’ve provided the Amazon link).
Listed in order of their Goodreads star rating.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
WW11
My Rating: 4
Goodreads: 4.56
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
WW11
My Rating: 5 (a recent favorite!)
Goodreads: 4.41
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
WW11
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.41
Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand
WW11 (nonfiction)
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.39
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
WW11 (YA)
Brief Review Here (scroll down page)
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.36
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
WW11 (YA)
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.36
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
WW11
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.3
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor
WW1
My Rating: 5
Goodreads: 4.18
The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P Kiernan
WW11
My Rating: 4
Goodreads: 4.04
The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff
WW11
Brief Review Here (scroll down page)
My Rating: 4
Goodreads: 4.01
Honorable Mention
(other favorites that might have been in my top 10 on a different day):
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (WW1 time period)
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (WW11 time period)
Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
A Link I Love:
10 Ways To Woo a Reluctant Reader
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I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along, promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.
Let’s Discuss!
I’d love to hear all about what you’re reading!
What are your favorite WW11 hisfic or nonfiction reads?
Have you read any of these titles? Which are your favorites?
I haven’t read any of these but I’ve been trying to expand my historical fiction reading and a lot of these are on my TBR. Great list!
My TTT: https://tsundokubooks.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/top-ten-books-i-wish-would-be-adapted.html
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! There are so many great reads in the histfic genre! Happy reading! And you have a great topic for your top Ten!!
Great List. I also love many of those books! I really need to get my hands on, Lilac Girls!
Top Ten Tuesday
Thanks for stopping in and commenting! Lilac Girls is a great read but one of the most difficult. I had to scan some concentration camp sections….I especially liked the latter half of the book which focused on hope and restoration and the heroic efforts of Caroline.
Thanks for coming by! Yeah, I feel like I’m going to have to be in the right mindset to read that one. Thanks for the info about it!
WW1 and WW2 are a tough topic for me to read — they always always break my heart. Going to take a closer look at the books here, I never can tell which ones speak to me!
Yes this is a difficult sub genre of histfic and some are easier to read than others. For example, Lilac Girls was one of the most difficult I’ve read; whereas Chilbury Ladies Choir And Last Christmas in Paris were easier and lighter (no concentration camps). Baker’s Secret was also a lighter read. Good luck! I’d be happy to offer more perspective on ones I’ve read if you have questions.
Excellent list and timely topic! I was just talking to my daughter last night about her history class. They’re studying the portion of time between WWI and WWII.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping in and commenting! Salt to the Sea and Book Thief are YA selections…has she read them? Thanks for leaving your TTT link!
No, she’s been bogged down with required reading (I swear, TWO books a quarter?), but I’ve read The Book Thief and think she might like it. I’ll have to look into the other for her for the summer. Thanks!
I don’t know her age but there’s also The War That Saved My Life ( and the sequel The War I Finally Won) ….both middle grade. Happy reading!
Excellent list–I love this type of book and these time periods. I’ve read many of these.
Thanks for stopping in and commenting! I’m happy to hear we’ve enjoyed some of the same books!
The Book Thief is one of my favourite books. I also really enjoyed Salt To The Sea.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/top-ten-tuesday-155/
I’m happy to hear we enjoy some of the same books! Thanks for commenting! Thanks for leaving your link.
We definitely do. No problem 🙂
Hi Carol– Historical Fiction is one of my favorites– and this is such a great list (I’ve read 10 of the the combined lists you shared). And great link on how to woo readers– I’m doing a little MOPS talk on reading with kids and took notes! thanks!! Love you blog! xo
Your Mops talk about reading sounds great! Have fun!
I didn’t care for The Book Thief, though it is my daughters favorite. However I would like to read We Were The Lucky Ones. Nice topic!!
https://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2018/04/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-book-covers.html
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I hope you enjoy We Were The Lucky Ones! Happy reading!
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