Category: War

Adult Fiction, Books, contemporary, fiction, Historical, Romance, War

Melanie Hudson’s “The Night Train to Berlin” shows us that it pays to have a little faith

Melanie Hudson writes incredible and beautiful love stories during war time. Her novels are honest and brutal yet hopeful and strong at the same time. In times of dark violence, times where there seems to be no rulebook for what might be unacceptable to do to another human being, Hudson gives us something to root for. She reminds us that there is still good in … Continue reading Melanie Hudson’s “The Night Train to Berlin” shows us that it pays to have a little faith

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Adult Fiction, Books, fiction, Historical, Romance, War

Melanie Hudson’s message about love in “The Last Letter from Juliet”

The Last Letter from Juliet by Melanie Hudson is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. Truthfully, it sat on my to-read shelf for a while, but I was completely blown away by it when I finally sat down to read it. It has everything you could want from a historical fiction love story: adventure, danger, and passion. Hudson manages to give … Continue reading Melanie Hudson’s message about love in “The Last Letter from Juliet”

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academic, Books, Classics, fiction, Historical, War, Young Adult

“The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne: The rest of us live on the other side of the fence…

There are countless of Holocaust stories that have been written, but arguably the most popular one is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. If it’s not deeply remembered for the novel then it’s because the film was a worldwide sensation. It’s a heart breaking story full of innocence and naivety and, yet, laced with the irrevocable loss of childhood and life in what was a … Continue reading “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne: The rest of us live on the other side of the fence…

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Adult Fiction, Books, fiction, Historical, Romance, Uncategorized, War

The Extraordinary love story of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” told by Heather Morris

For those of us who never lived through the Holocaust, the horror of what happened to those who suffered can seem insurmountable. It’s the kind of traumatic event that we cannot even begin to imagine, a pain so deep that we cannot begin to fathom. We can try to understand, but unless we lived through those horrors ourselves, no amount of imagination could possibly compare … Continue reading The Extraordinary love story of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” told by Heather Morris

Paige Beresford3 Comments
adventure, Biography Memoir, Books, Cultural, Historical, Nonfiction, War

“Prisoner of the Japanese: From Changi to Tokyo”: Tom Henling Wade’s moving memoir of survival and courage in the face of horror

Over the past six months I’ve noticed that my reading style has changed – the books I read now are totally different from the ones I usually read. Six months ago I was reading my usual dystopian future, romance, adventure novels. Now, I find myself drawn to stories like Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Right now, … Continue reading “Prisoner of the Japanese: From Changi to Tokyo”: Tom Henling Wade’s moving memoir of survival and courage in the face of horror

Paige Beresford1 Comment
Adult Fiction, Books, contemporary, drama, fiction, Historical, War

Jodi Picoult’s “The Storyteller”: A heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story that shows the strength of the human spirit

I’m going to start by saying that I am a massive fan of Jodi Picoult. Her novels are inspiring, gripping, enthralling and full of love, plot twists and the unpredictable nature of human life. Her characters are strong, yet sometimes beautifully flawed — which is why we love them so much and find them so relatable. Her ability to write is sensational, and the fact … Continue reading Jodi Picoult’s “The Storyteller”: A heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story that shows the strength of the human spirit

Paige Beresford1 Comment
Books, Classics, fiction, Historical, War, Young Adult

The heart of humanity in “The Book Thief”

How do you write a fresh story about the Holocaust? Australian novelist Markus Zusak has cracked it with The Book Thief, which has become a number one international bestseller. Although this book is classed as young adult fiction, I strongly suspect it was written for adults when it was originally published in Zusak’s native Australia. Some readers could argue that a book so difficult and sad … Continue reading The heart of humanity in “The Book Thief”

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