Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday #46

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Books For Readers Who Like WWII!

I'm actually going to split this week's TTT between five books I have already read and loved, and five books I want to read and heard good things about. I didn't want to do a broad genre, and I also wrote a post on books about autism/social disorders for a similar TTT.


Read, Loved, and Bawled Over

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I don't know how much I have to stress this (cough HOLLY and SHANNON), but this is an amazing, beautiful book about a young girl, her love of reading, and a boy who wants a kiss. MY HEART. Viewpoint: German

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - A recent read that also destroyed my heart and left me wanting for more. The way the novel pulls everyone and connects them together in the smallest ways is just beautiful. Viewpoint: Both

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - HAHA there will always be a little part of my heart that weeps for this novel. Viewpoint: Allied Forces

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein - It's not even fair how many sad and heartbreaking historical fiction books Wein churns out. This is a companion to Code Name Verity, so of course it's freaking sad. Viewpoint: Allied Forces

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - I read this around two years ago, and although it doesn't take place during the war, it's in this letter format that talks about WWII. From what I remember, I would say it's about a literary club that was formed as an excuse for the residents of Guernsey when they were caught breaking curfew in German occupied land. I think. This is actually a nice, heartwarming read. Not heartbreaking. Ha. Viewpoint: People on this occupied...island


Need To Read ASAP

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys - Heard a lot about this, and it's been on my TBR before I started blogging. I haven't read any reviews on it though but it has a high avg. rating so yes?

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - I can't believe I haven't read this yet! It's Anne Frank!

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman - Saw a lot of reviews of this last year! It's an interesting concept, which is why I am so interested in it. I don't think I've heard anything that's sad about it, but with my luck...

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen - Hey I requested this off Netgalley without knowing it was WWII. So yay! Not really sure what the connection is to the war, but it's Sara Gruen! Who wrote Water for Elephants, so I kind of have good expectations.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - It's either this, or Boy With The Striped Pajamas. Either way my heart probably can't handle either but ah well. What do I have to lose at this point? (Besides my tears)

Others in the Genre You May Be Interested In:

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosenay || Maus by Art Spiegelman || Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli


As you can see, I have a thing for WWII and books that break my heart. Have you read any of these? 

Comments (25)

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This is an intimidating list! Because here's the thing: I am very fascinated by WWII books, my grandfather fought in WWII, and my dad has always been kind of obsessed with it but the feels scare me. I remember reading Diary of a Young Girl when I was well, a young girl (probably around 10? I know I was in elementary school) and I just couldn't stop crying (obviously, who can?) and I just don't know if I can take it. I mean, I don't think that ANY of these books are going to give me the warm fuzzies. But I will read them. I WILL. I have The Book Thief and Code Name Verity, so it is just a matter of time really. Also, I worry that if I don't read them soon, you are going to lock me in our closet or something at BEA until I have read one. Very unique list idea!
1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Aww, is that why you've been putting off The Book Thief? Well, I mean it does give you the warm fuzzies up to a certain point, and then everything crumbles from there. But still, the feels.

I recently gave my copy of The Book Thief to my dad to read. He hates fiction so I don't think it will turn out well. But we'll see. AND YES I WILL LOCK YOU IN THE CLOSET. You can sleep on the floor.
Number the Stars is one of my favorite books!
1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Yay! I wanted to read it in elementary school, but I don't know why I didn't.
I'm overdue for another WWII read; I love that time period! Great idea for today's post!
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Read Name Code Verity and LOVED it! I want to read all the others by Elizabeth Wein !! *-*
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
YES they're all good! Well, Rose Under Fire haha. I can't wait until her newest book comes out :)
Okay so I'm one step closer because I actually OWN Code Name Verity now, but we'll see when I get the courage to sob my eyes out ;) And oh hey I own Prisoner of Night and Fog as well! So many books to read X_X
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOT READING IT hahahha. It's amazing. And beautiful. AND FULL OF DECEPTION :)
The Book Thief is an amazing novel .. You should defo. read Anne Frank's diary! It's quite sad and inspiring, great post x
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Yes I need to read that! I'll have to look for some way to get my hands on it :)
Oh, I love this category! You've already convinced me about All the Light We Cannot See, and Code Name Verity was one of my favorites from last year. Have you heard of the movie A Very Long Engagement? It is with Audrey Tautou and is in French, and about WWI, but you might dig it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344510/?ref_=ttmd_md...
1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
No I have not heard of that movie, but thanks! I haven't watched many WWII/WWI/war movies just because they mostly focus on the war itself rather than the people that were affected by it. Thanks Anne :) You should read All the Light We Cannot See
I love WW2 books, and I have read most of these. All I can say-
1. *tears* Code Name Verity /The Book Thief
2. *gush* ANNE FRANK YOU HAVE NOT READ ANNE FRANK??
3. Between Shades of Grey is super cool. read it.

And all the rest I really need to read!
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
I HAVE NOT READ IT I AM SORRY. I just never saw it and was never given the opportunity to read it. One of these days I will. AND I WILL READ BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY TOO :)
Well, this is when I realise that I probably read no book set in WWII. Yeah. Probably none. But I did watch some movies though!! The Imitation Game, for instance, two weeks ago :) Great list though! And The Book Thief and Code Name Verity are definitely on my list :)
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Woahhh Lola why not hahahha. Hey I watched The Imitation Game too, which was really good :) YOU NEED TO READ BOTH OF THOSE BOOKS asap :D no pressure
This post gives me the feels. I adored WWII fiction more than anything and just gah, SO MANY FEELS. Prisoner of Night and Fog, Between Shades of Gray and The Dairy of a Young Girl are definitely some of my favourites, not just for WWII fiction either. REAAAAAAAAAD THEM VAL.
1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
I DO TOO. Look at us, we are twins. Do you know any other good WWII reads? GIMME RECS THANKS.
This list is awesome!I am a huge fan of books set in world war 2,as I am kinda obsessed with that particular war.I've only read The Book Thief from the books you've listed above,but I just added the others to my TBR!
Thanks for the recs anyway,Val :)
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1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
Yes I am too! And yaya I'm glad you added them all to your TBR! That's awesome hahah! Look at me convincing people :D
I love historical fiction books in general, but I especially love books that take place during WWII. I loved reading The Book Thief, Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire. All of those books are so beautifully written and so painfully honest. Prisoner of Night and Fog, Number the Stars and The Diary of Anne Frank are also really great books. The Diary of Anne Frank is a little different since it's in diary form of course, but I still enjoyed reading it. I've heard great things about All the Light We Cannot See, but I haven't read it yet. I must get my hands on it now.
1 reply · active 524 weeks ago
You need to read All The Light We Cannot See, it is also very beautifully written, and has a ton of imagery in it AND IT'S ABOUT A BLIND GIRL :) The Diary of Anne Frank isn't fiction, so I think that would make me bawl even more.
I personally like all the books because they have interesting subjects which attracts me a lot. Although i don't own any book but i like all of them.
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