Book Ideas

Hi Guys,
I'm new to the forum so I hope that I am posting in the right spot and in the correct format .

I love reading novels and stories about WWII and I really like books written during that time period. I've been reading this young adult series: Dave Dawson War Adventures by Robert Sydney Bowen....the books were meant for boys but I'm enjoying them, haha. I know there is a series out there for girls about a military nurse as well.

My question is: Does anyone know of any other books and/or series of books written during WWII? I know R. Sydney Bowen wrote some about a flyer named Rex Randall but I'm sure there must be other authors. Although not written during the war, 2 of my favorite novels are the Winds of War and War and Remembrance....those books really capture the epic scale of the conflicts....but books written during the war seem to capture the honor, morals and ethics of that particular time....a different world.....

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Annie

 

Oh, thanks Biak! I just read a description of Once an Eagle and it sounds epic! I love sprawling novels covering the 20th century....so many incredible, horrible and heroic things happened throughout...and I'll read through the forum for other ideas, thanks!

Annie

 

There is always Guadalcanal Diary. Tregaskis had a good way of telling the story of the Marines.

 

Not novels but two non-fiction books could be made into movies. Adam Makos' A Higher Call about a Luftwaffe ace Franz Stigler who declines shooting down Lt. Charlie Brown's crippled B-17. Decades later the two pilots meet and becomes friends. Along the same line is A Tale of Two Soldiers by Max Gendelman. Gendelman is an American Jew who hides his religion when he is captured at the Battle of the Bulge. Ultimately he is sent to work at a satellite PoW camp which is based on a farm. While there he is befriended by the farmer's son, who is a wounded Luftwaffe pilot sent home to recover. They conspire to escape with the Luftwaffe pilot in uniform escorting his prisoner west to the Allies lines. Gendelman and the other GI's part of the agreement is to get the Lutfwaffe pilot safely accepted as a PoW. It works and both survive the war. Post-war the two men are reunited and renew their friendship here in America where the pilot is now a successful MD.

Remember, if you don't want to spend $$$, use your library card and get them through inter-library loan.

 

Years ago, I read "The Corps" series by W.E.B. Griffin, when I was on deployment. Years later when my son was deployed, he had me send him my old paperback copies to read and, and once he finished each they were passed around between his buddies, to the enjoyment of all.

• Book I, Semper Fi (1986) - Main action takes place between January 2, 1941 and January 17, 1942.
• Book II, Call to Arms (1987) - Main action takes place between December 18, 1941 and August 30, 1942.
• Book III, Counterattack (1990) - Main action takes place between December 7, 1941 and August 9, 1942.
• Book IV, Battleground (1991) - Main action takes place between June 4 and August 25, 1942.
• Book V, Line of Fire (1992) - Main action takes place between Spring and October 11, 1942.
• Book VI, Close Combat (1993) - Main action takes place between October 11 and November 19, 1942.
• Book VII, Behind the Lines (1996) - Main action takes place between April 7, 1942 and February 8, 1943.
• Book VIII, In Danger's Path (1999) - Main action takes place between November, 1941 and May 5, 1943.
• Book IX, Under Fire (2002) - Main action takes place between June 1 and September 29, 1950.
• Book X, Retreat, Hell! (2004) - Main action takes place between September 28 and November 3, 1950.

Griffin also has a series called "The Brotherhood of War" but they cover US Army officers from WWII through Vietnam, IIRC only the first book takes place in WWII. Good series though, worth the read and I always humped at least one in my ruck for reading.

He had two series on the OSS. Read a few, and they were decent reads.

Guadalcanal Diary is a good book and was very popular during the war.

 

Wow! You guys gave me some great ideas! I definitely have my reading list for the next year, lol....I've read some of the Corps books and loved them...especially the first one that covers the China Marines...I wish there was a documentary about the marines in China and Smedley Butler's marines fighting on the banana plantations but I can't find one....

Although they weren't written 'during' the war, I also loved the 'Station' books by David Downing. They are about an American with a German son and girlfriend living in Berlin....I don't know for sure but I think they paint a pretty good picture of life in Germany....I especially loved the one that takes place during the Battle of Berlin...I can't remember which title that is.

The reason I want to read things written during the war is because clearly Americans had a different mindset then. Call it propaganda or just pride in country, they knew why they were fighting and most of America was behind them. I think some people forget that people were different back then and saw war through a different lens.....

 

Brainwashed - American sent to Germany by parents, gets some schooling and gets drafted
Panzer Gunner - Canadian visits Germany and is drafted into the 7th Panzer. Post war he manages to return to Canada.

 

Yes, an Arethusa class light cruiser; Forester mentions two twin 6" turrets forward and one aft.

The action is based on the Second Battle of Sirte in which one of that class, Penelope, participated.

 

There's another book variously titled Three Corvettes or Montserrat at Sea comprised of memoirs of his experiences during the war and several short stories, well worth a read.

 

What about Brave Ship, Brave Men? I thought this book put you both on deck and below decks.

 

Also, Beach Red. A veteran of the 25th Infantry Division, he said Beach Red was as close to his own experience as he had read. The book was written in 1945, so the memories were red hot.