10 books for the Try-Hard Girl who loves a good WWII read

As a Try-Hard Girl, you’re drawn to productivity and practicality, but even the most efficient, task-oriented, Type A woman needs a break. Even you. Even me. For me, getting a break looks like picking up a good book, and in this season of life, I’m increasingly drawn to books about World War II. Yet this fascination with WWII isn’t new.

As a little girl, I was fascinated by the military photographs of my two grandfathers. As a teenager, I was enthralled by WWII movies, mainly Memphis Belle, because I had a crush on Harry Connick Jr. In my 20s, I was shocked to see the horror of the war when I watched Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. In my 30s, I had two small girls so I didn’t think a thing about it. And now, in my 40s, I find myself, once again, captivated by the stories and history of WWII.

Why are we so drawn to this era? We return to the 1940s because it’s a time marked by good triumphing over evil, inventive military strategy, alliances forged out of necessity, and a case study in human behavior, both horrifying and heroic. We marvel at the courage of those in the Resistance, the fight for life by those in concentration camps, and the sheer grit of men on the front lines.

If you love a good WWII non-fiction work or novel, here are 10 books I strongly recommend.

The FCC requires that I tell you that I’m an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don’t worry there’s no added cost to you!

Any of the “About” descriptions taken from Amazon are noted with quotation marks.

P.S. You could win one of these books by commenting below by Wednesday, 4/17/19 by 9 p.m. CST just by telling me which one of these books you’d most like to read!

Fiction

1. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

About: “It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.”

Why you should read it: If there’s one book to add to your reading list, this is it. Inspired by the true story of the author’s family, you find yourself wondering how each member of the Kurc family will evade what seems to be inescapable circumstances. The story will cause you to celebrate the life you’re living.

2. The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester

About: The novel follows the lives of Estella, a 20-something seamstress in Paris, France during WWII, and Fabienne, her granddaughter in Sydney, Australia in 2015. “As Fabienne begins to learn more about her beloved grandmother’s past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and family secrets that will dramatically change her own life.”

Why you should read it: While some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic and the characters behaved in predictable ways, I found myself caring about what would happen to Estella; Alex, a British spy; Lena, an American heiress with a wounded past; and granddaughter Fabienne, who uncovers never-told family secrets. If you love fictional stories set in WWII, I’d easily recommend this one.

3. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave

About: Vivacious socialite Mary North signs up to serve in the war effort while wearing her Alpine sweater from her ski trip, fully certain she’ll be asked to spy. But when the War Office assigns her to teach, her assignment changes the trajectory of her life and the countless lives of those around her.

Why you should read it: Cleave’s book is based on love letters between his grandparents and the writing is exquisitely beautiful. My favorite line was this, “Never be afraid of showing someone you love a working draft of yourself.” If you enjoy gorgeous prose woven against a historical backdrop, get thee to the book store.

4. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

About:“The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.”

Why you should read it: This story tells of sisterly love, devotion to country, and the incredible choices everyday men and women make to survive. What is not to love about this book? The writing is beautiful. The characters are well developed. The ending will leave you in tears, but with a happy heart.

5. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

About: The story follows two main characters, Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German boy gifted with radios, over the course of 70 years. Doerr masterfully tells how the war connects people and tears them apart.

Why you should read it: If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live in and flee from an occupied zone, this is your book. Even at 510 pages, this book is a page-turner as you wonder whether each character will survive all the various ways they’re trapped.

6. The Gown Jennifer Robson

About: This fictional tale of the making of the wedding gown of Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth) follows the stories of dress embroiderers Ann and Miriam in 1947. It also tells the story of Ann’s granddaughter, Heather, who, in 2016, is trying to piece together an aspect of her grandmother’s life she never knew about it. Similar, but distinctly different from The Paris Seamstress.

Why you should read it: The characters! Ann, Miriam, and Heather are beautifully developed in real and authentic ways. They act like real people would act instead of how a movie script might dictate to produce a predictable ending. This was a lovely read and you’ll find yourself ready to read more and more.

Non-Fiction

1. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

About: “The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Nazi Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history…In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity.”

Why you should read it: If you’ve ever wondered how Hitler could come to power unopposed or how Nazi indoctrination was so effective, this book is for you. Larson outlines the mood of the people and the power of its elected officials + army in the days of the Third Reich. It’s a total page-turner and totally true.

2. Ravensbruck: Life and Death in Hitler’s Concentration Camp for Women by Sarah Helms

About: “While the core of this book is told from inside the camp, the story also sheds new light on the evolution of the wider genocide, the impotence of the world to respond, and Himmler’s final attempt to seek a separate peace with the Allies using the women of Ravensbrück as a bargaining chip. Chilling, inspiring, and deeply unsettling, Ravensbrück is a groundbreaking work of historical investigation. With rare clarity, it reminds us of the capacity of humankind both for bestial cruelty and for courage against all odds.”

Why you should read it: Y’all I could preach on this one! You should dive in because the women of Ravensbruck should not be forgotten. Because history cannot repeat itself. Because heroism and friendship and hope can be found even in a place of death and chaos. The horrors, inhumanities, betrayals, and cruelty associated with the Nazis are revealed through the lives of the women held here from 1939 -1945, and their stories must not be forgotten. Pick up this book. It’s hard to read, but it is worth knowing.

3. Winston Churchill: The Flawed Genius of WWII by Christopher Catherwood

About: “Revered for his strength of character when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill is painted as one of World War II’s most heroic figures-a characterization that overshadows his faults, which have had their own devastating legacy. This book examines the decisions and policies of Churchill between June 1940 and December 1941 that actually hindered the Allied cause, extended the conflict, and even destabilized several regions that remain in chaos to this day.”

Why you should read it: Churchill is the man who kept his country free and safe from Hitler for two years before the U.S. intervened. He’s the leader who united and encouraged a nation with his words and is a man who fascinates so many of us. But as strong as his strengths, Churchill had just as many powerful flaws. If you’re interested in learning more about the man, his mind, and military strategy, this is an interesting read.

4. Home Fires: The Story of the Women’s Institute in the Second World War by Julie Summers

About: “Away from the frontlines of World War II, in towns and villages across Great Britain, ordinary women were playing a vital role in their country’s war effort. As members of the Women’s Institute, an organization with a presence in a third of Britain’s villages, they ran canteens and knitted garments for troops, collected tons of rosehips and other herbs to replace medicines that couldn’t be imported, and advised the government on issues ranging from evacuee housing to children’s health to postwar reconstruction.”

Why you’ll love it: If you’re looking for a book similar to the PBS Masterpiece series, this is not it. If you’re looking for a book that shares how women made an incredible impact off the front lines, this is for you. The stories of how the WI cared for and logistically coordinated the relocations of thousands of children evacuating London are beautiful in their sacrifice and frustrating in their complexity.

Still need more to read?

• Ready to get lost in a story? Here are eight recommendations.
• Here’s a list of my favorite books from 2017.
• Want a book to throw in your knitting bag or front seat as you wait for carpool? Go here.
• Ready to learn a lot? Check out these 10 books.
• Here are the best books for spiritual growth according to your personality type. (Pssst… it’s a reader favorite!)

Want to win one of the books listed here? Just comment below with the book you’d like to win. One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 by 9 p.m. CST.

Pin for later