more than letters on a line today

  When We Had Wings Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner 3.5 stars         I have read a lot of books about WWII, but this is the first one set in the Philippines and the battles that ensued there. With the writing from three established writers (all new to me) I had anticipated more depth. Granted I did learn more about Corregidor, that the Philippines was originally a Spanish colony, and that the military and civilians were pretty much left to their own devices for their survival. The three nurses, Eleanor, Penny and Lita all ‘escaped’ their individual difficult lives and headed to a war that did it’s best to destroy them, physically and emotionally. Their friendship as the centrepiece for their survival is commendable but I did not feel the attachment to the characters that I expected. There were also instances when the dialogue was more congruent with current times, too casual and flippant. That in itself, stopped the flow of my reading, as it jus...

  The Diamond Eye Kate Quinn 4.5 stars Pub March 2022           Kate Quinn does it again with her combination of historical WWII and her creative license. The mix is seamless and the amount of research is definitely to be applauded. Quinn traces the true story of Mila from a university student studying history into a Russian sniper. The book moves at a riveting pace covering the invasion by the Germans but also spends time on the complexity of a woman who was also a mother, a student, a lover, a sniper and a hero. Mila's friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt is a touching part of the story, one's dedication to her husband, the other's to the motherland. Each one appreciating the strength the other displays. A truly well-told historical story, although no more ironic words could have been written in light of the current situation between Russia and the Ukraine.  I will never apologize for fighting the war that came to our doorstep in 1941. Germany invaded u...

The Book of Lost Names Kristin Harmel 4 stars for sure       A beautifully written and touching telling of the people who provided counterfeit documents (and life) to citizens escaping the war. This was a vivid description of the making of the documents and the making of people as many reinvented themselves to save others. The irony of self-preservation vs chosen selfless acts are interwoven in an emotional story that shows the wide scope of what fear and hatred can do. But also the goodness of people and what they sacrifice to remain that way. "She just wanted a place to sleep for the night where she wouldn't have to worry about the Germans taking the pieces of her away one at a time until there was nothing left of her at all." The Book of Lost Names is about the 'Book' which is the testimony of lives saved so that no one forgets who they were. (Can't say more, but you will discover the beauty behind it.) Eva, Remy, Pere Clement, Mamusia and Leo Traub lead th...