Fiction
A World War II Love Story
‘Everyone Brave Is Forgiven’ By Chris CleaveCleave weaves a fascinating love story full of passion and betrayal into the backdrop of London at war with Germany. Using historical records, as well as his grandparents’ love letters, Cleave recreates a chaotic world where love and victory seem out of reach.
An Affirmation of America
‘October Light’ By John GardnerOriginally published during the Bicentennial, this novel takes us to Vermont, where we meet James Page, age 72, hard-headed and hard-hearted, and his stubborn sister Sally, 80, who shares his house but not his values. During their uncivil war, Sally holes up in her bedroom and reads a “trashy novel” that stands in stark contrast to real life. The many references to the American past, the hilarious battles between James and Sally, and a finale of redemption mark this as one of Gardner’s finest books.
History
The Anatomy of a Victory
‘The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway’ By Brendon Simms and Stephen McGregorThe World War II Battle of Midway changed everything. Four Japanese fleet aircraft carriers were sunk. Japan’s advance stopped and its retreat began. This book offers a fresh look and interpretation of the events of the battle. It demonstrates that victory was more than a lucky accident. The U.S. Navy had the Douglass Dauntless dive bomber manned by professional and highly skilled pilots. It shows how and why superb strategic level management put aircraft and aircrews in the right spot.
How the Inklings Changed Literature
‘The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams’ By Philip Zaleski and Carol ZaleskiThe Inklings were the 20th century’s most influential literary circle, which met regularly for decades at Oxford, England. Three of its members, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams, legitimized fantasy as a literary genre. This book offers a fascinating examination of how the Inklings encouraged each other, offered one another companionship and constructive criticism, and how their writings impacted literature.
Raising Arms Against Royalty
‘The Siege of Loyalty House’ By Jessie ChildsCivil war gripped England in the mid-1600s. Chaos reigned with the parliamentary Roundheads pitted against the Royalists. Basing House in Hampshire was the stronghold of the Marquess of Winchester, ever loyal to King Charles I. Besieged three times between 1643 and 1645, this is the story of those tumultuous and traumatic events.
Classics
A Master’s Tribute to a Saint
‘Joan of Arc’ By Mark TwainIn this out-of-character novel, Twain explores the life of a girl whom he considered one of the most remarkable human beings ever to grace the planet. The story is told by Joan’s fictional page and secretary De Conte, our 82-year-old narrator who writes to pass on to his descendants the true Joan, her courage, her honor, and her purity in a corrupt and violent age. Twain’s years of study and detailed research give readers a factual account of her deeds and achievements. Twain considered this his favorite of all his books.
For Kids
The Peace Brought by Snow
‘Before Morning’ By Joyce SidmanIllustrated by the gorgeous scratchboard art of Beth Krommes, this sweet story tells of a child’s bedtime wish to let “all that is heavy turn light.” Snow falls, and with it comes the slow delights of winter. Preschool to third grade.
Patience and Perseverance
‘A Hat for Grandma: A Knitting Story’ By Madalina Hubert and Bella MaherYoung Amy wants to knit a colorful hat for her grandmother’s birthday. Learning to knit—and doing a good job—requires patience and perseverance. Can she do it in time, and will Grandmother like it? A sweet, family-centric story.
