Literature is indeed a fun and deep place to delve in. There are a lot of genres that showcase stories that are full of substances and lessons. This realm does not only houses books about adventure but also novels about war. These works are called war novels, which belong to military fiction. However, not all war stories are products of the authors’ imagination for others are true to life tales that are being put into writing and belonged to a different category — which is memoir.
Most war novels are catered by the historical fiction or nonfiction for these battles greatly contributed to the history of the world. Some of them highlight the horrible or bittersweet events of war with a touch of imagination while others narrate a story of a person that has experienced fighting or living in or near a warzone. So, if you are a fan of war novels — both fiction and nonfiction, here are some of the most wonderful stories that will touch your hearts:
All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See is a historical novel authored by Anthony Doerr. It is a 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction awardee. This was published by Scribner in the year 2014 and is available in both hardback and softback covers. The story is set in the Military Administration in France — also known as occupied France, during the WWII. Following the tale of a six-year old French blind girl named Marie-Laure LeBlanc and an eight-year old German orphan boy named Werner Pfennig, the book slowly brings the readers into a chaotic but touching story of these children whose paths slowly crossed. All the Light We Cannot See has been one of the most successful books because aside from being a Pulitzer and Andrew Carnegie awardee, it was also reviewed positively by well-known book critics, including The New York Times Book Review and The Boston Globe.
Weapons of War
First published last February 05, 2018 and republished last July 10, 2019, Weapons of War by Robert Wright is a touching tale about a soldier who has bravely fought in the Vietnam War. It is a memoir-like novel for it narrated how a 20-year old boy remained strong during the Second Indochina War or the Resistance War against America. The content was in the form of letters personally written by the author. Because of these dedicated words to his distant beloved, Wright provides kind and sympathetic knowledge towards the spirit of man and everything one needs to continue being strong and brave during trying times. The book also showcase how the author documented his service to his country and how he is grateful to the US Army for the role bestowed to him and molding him into a better and more responsible leader. With that being said, Weapons of War is a moving testimony to the greatness of faith, love, and hope.
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl is the personal journal of Anne Frank, which she kept while concealing herself with her family for 2 years during the Nazi invasion in Netherlands. It was originally written in Dutch; thus, it was originally published by Contact Publishing in the year 1947 under the title Het Achtehuis. Dagboekbrieven 14 Juni 1942 – 1 Augustus 1944. Anne Frank died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp because of Typhus fever in 1945. Her journal was recovered by Miep Gies, a Dutch citizen, and handed it to the only survivor of the Frank family — which was Otto Frank. Anne’s diary instantly received a lot of attention and was later on patronized by people all around the globe. Moreover, it was published in over 60 languages and has been one of the bestselling autobiographies worldwide. It also inspired the drama titled The Diary of Anne Frank, which was staged last 1955 and was made into film in 1959.
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak wrote one of the most touching historical novel called The Book Thief. It was published by Picador last 2005 and was under the Novel-Historical Fiction category. The book was eventually recognized as an international bestseller. It was translated into over 60 languages and has 16 million copies worldwide. It follows girl named Liesel Meminger who was fostered by a couple during the Word War II. Hans and Rosa Hubermann loved Liesel like their own offspring. They educated her and even sent her to school eventually. It was a tough time for the Nazis regime was rough and horrifying. The situation became tougher when her foster parents started to hid a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement. What makes this book a hit is not just because of its bittersweet story but also because of its peculiar narrator, which is Death. Furthermore, the book tackles themes of death, literacy, and love. Because of its wonderful tale, it received 9 book awards and was adapted into film.
Alex Writes 