On November 11 we marked another Remembrance Day. This year was a particularly tough one because we couldn’t stand together in solidarity with veterans at one of our community ceremonies. We couldn’t thank veterans for their sacrifice in person. As with so many things this year, we marked the occasion of Remembrance Day in a much more solitary fashion than usual.
Though it can’t make up for what we have missed out on, we can always continue our reading and learning and thinking about the horrors of war, so that we remember; so that we never forget. There are some great new fiction and nonfiction wartime titles that came out in 2020 that are definitely worth checking out while we spend some quiet time reflecting at home.
Released in February 2020, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson takes a deep dive into the life of Winston Churchill (and the city of London) during the Blitz. If you haven’t yet discovered Erik Larson, now is your chance. He is a fabulous non-fiction writer and this title doesn’t disappoint. The story begins when Churchill takes office and describes in great detail how he unified his country and his family – using his masterful leadership – through the horrors of the war. This book is a must read.
Another great option is The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner. It is based on the true stories of Jewish children who were forced to hide during the war, but ultimately weaves a beautiful and heartbreaking tale about a mother’s love and the courage, determination and resistance required to try to keep a child safe.
If something a little lighter is more your speed right now, give The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly a try. It’s a wartime romance, but it’s really about friendship and how three friends find themselves entangled in the war and the horror of one friend being threatened with internment.
We also have lots of wartime reads for children that help to explain what happened during the great wars and why we remember. One of our Community Hub Technicians held a virtual story time for Remembrance Day this past week that included two excellent choices for children: A Poppy is to Remember by Heather Patterson and Ron Lightburn and Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion by Jane Barclay and Renne Benoit. Both of these titles are available to check out at the Library.
Most of these books are also available in cloudLibrary. As always, if we can assist you in finding these or other titles, or if you would like to sign up for a library card, we would love to help. You can stop in to any of our four branches, call us at 345-8275, or email us at comments@tbpl.ca.
Jocelyn Knoester – http://www.tbpl.ca. If you have a comment about today’s column, we would love to hear from you.
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