Three must-read novels about World War II

John Eilermann. Many novels are set during the time of World War II. A good number of these novels were masterfully made, giving readers a glimpse of what life was like during that time in history. Here are three WWII novels voracious readers shouldn't miss.

'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah

John Eilermann. A lot of critics and bloggers praised this 2015 novel about two French sisters. While so many writers have attempted to write about the French Resistance, this novel was able to capture the events and people's experiences in one part of the world during the war. The book also showed how two women did their part during this turning point in history.

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'Code Name Verity' by Elizabeth Wein

John Eilermann.. This 2012 novel shows the friendship between British spy Verity and pilot Maddie during the time of Nazi-occupied France. What captured readers was how the novel showed women’s roles during the war. The main characters both showed courage and resolve even as they face danger. The book was shortlisted for a Carnegie Medal and became a Michael L. Printz Honor Book in 2013.

'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr

This book, published in 2014, received the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Set in Europe, the story shows the lives of two teenagers from Germany and France facing life's changes and challenges due to the war. The author also finds a way for the paths of these two characters to meet, making the story truly interesting. John Eilermann.

A Quick Dive Into Nick Hornby’s Works

English novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and lyricist Nick Hornby has produced a number of memorable works, foremost of which are his novels “High Fidelity” and “About a Boy” and screenplays for films “An Education” and “Brooklyn.” Here’s a quick look at the writer born in Surrey, England, in April 1957 and who attended Cambridge University.

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Hornby’s fiction is known to be a thorough navigation of male crises, weaknesses, and even obsessions. His 1998 novel “About a Boy” zeroes in on the growing relationship between a 30-something man and a 12-year-old boy, while “How to Be Good” is an exploration of marriage, parenthood, and contemporary morals that affect these two central themes. His early works are marked by 30-something male characters who struggle with emotional maturity and move about with uncertainty in their careers and personal lives. 

It’s interesting to note that his characters are often semi-autobiographical, and sans harsh judgment or condemnation of the careless decisions they often make. His later novels such as “Juliet, Naked” in 2009 and “Funny Girl” in 2014, however, offer more insight into female characters while they continue to highlight men’s search of strong emotional connections. 

Hornby’s empathy for these celebrated characters (which mostly enjoy both critical acclaim and public popularity) extends to what he does in his personal life. When not writing, he is involved in the London organization TreeHouse School for children with autism, which he helped establish in support of his eldest son, as well as a writing mentoring program for the youth. 

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John Eilermann from St. Louis, Missouri, is currently in college pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. Growing up, he read books by Nick Hornby, Roald Dahl, C.S Lewis, and many others. Read more articles like this here.