“We shall fight on the beaches”

This week we have a look at World War I and II fiction

Does it feel to you like there is a proliferation of WWI and WWII fiction popping up recently? Authors like Kelly Rimmer, Martha Hall Kelly and Kate Quinn have all come into my reading sphere in the past few years. I really enjoy books by all of these authors. Are these your thing?

I know someone who exclusively reads WWII fiction as their genre of choice. I also know someone who refuses to read another WWII fiction book again (because they have already read so many and want to learn about other periods of history). I sit firmly in the middle. I like to read these every so often – but not back to back, and I like to mix them up with other types of books. Some of my favourites in this genre include The Happiest Man Alive (not fiction but WWII related) by Eddie Jaku; The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, all by Heather Morris. I have mentioned these books before.

This week we take a look at The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. If you have read this already and enjoyed it, I recommend The Huntress (also by Quinn).

In The Alice Network, Kate Quinn weaves a powerful tale of courage, redemption, and friendship. Set against the backdrop of WWI and the post-WWII era, this novel pays tribute to the heroic women who played a vital role in espionage during the Great War.

The story alternates between two timelines, introducing readers to the fearless Eve Gardiner, a spy in the real-life Alice Network during WWI, and Charlotte "Charlie" St. Clair, a pregnant American socialite searching for her lost cousin in 1947. As their paths cross, the two women form an unlikely bond, and together, they embark on a dangerous journey to unravel the truth about their pasts and the fate of the women they left behind.

Quinn's character development is one of the standout features of the novel. Eve's transformation from a naive young woman to a hardened, battle-scarred veteran spy is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Charlie's journey from a sheltered girl to a woman of strength and resilience, fuelled by her quest for justice, is equally captivating.  The author has done an exceptional job of intertwining fact and fiction, lending credibility and depth to the narrative.

I found this a little slow to begin with but I hung in there, and I wasn’t disappointed. It soon picked up momentum, and I couldn’t put it down. The Alice Network is a compelling tribute to the unsung heroines of WWI, delivering a poignant story of friendship, courage, and the human spirit. Recommended for fans of historical fiction, strong female characters, and espionage, this novel will leave a lasting impression.

Next up we have Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. This book is similar in many ways to The Alice Network, particularly in that the protagonists are three strong and resilient women, and the character development is exquisite. This book centres around the protagonists WWII experience and the period afterwards. This book is inspired by the true story of American socialite Caroline Ferriday and her efforts to help the "Rabbits" – Polish women who were subjected to horrific medical experiments at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. I thought I knew about the brutality and inhumanity of WWII, but before reading this book I didn’t know about the Rabbits. It is truly horrendous what these women were subjected to.  

The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of three main characters: Caroline, an aspiring actress turned philanthropist; Kasia, a young Polish girl caught in the horrors of the war; and Herta, a German doctor assigned to Ravensbrück. Kelly masterfully weaves these three storylines, exploring the vastly different experiences and moral dilemmas faced by each woman. One of my favourite things about reading is the opportunity that books present to look at life and experiences through other perspectives – Lilac Girls does this beautifully.

The emotional journey of the three protagonists is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, making for an unforgettable read. Despite the heavy nature of this book, it is ultimately an inspiring story of hope, courage, survival and the bonds that connect us.

I would love to know your recommendations in the WWII genre, because life is too short to read bad books.