The Books We Read » World War I

Remembering the Bones by Frances Itani

Cindi — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:44:32 +0000

This book is a little bit slow but I felt it was worth the read. Remembering the Bones follows Georgie Witley, an 80 year old woman who has been trapped in a ravine by a car accident as she waits for rescue. I liked this book and felt it was an interesting way of writing a life story. As Georgie deals with her current circumstances and desperately hopes someone comes across her or her car she begins to think over the life she has lived. It reminded me of your life flashing before your eyes but in a slower more thoughtful way. I enjoyed the portrait of her life that her thoughts and memories paint. I enjoyed replaying the moments that shaped and changed her and brought her to this moment in time. It makes me wonder what moments I would remember if my life were laid out before me. I thought the book was well written and had no major complaints. Some people may find the end off putting, as it is open for interpretation. There is some mild language and sexuality but nothing shocking.

Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Clarissa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:14:26 +0000

I was thinking of my favorite love stories and I remembered this one. So I picked it up and read it again. And I still love it. It is still so good. This is the last book in the Anne of Green Gables series. The whole series is worth reading, but I just love this one. Rilla of Ingleside is set during World War I. It was published in 1921. I kept thinking that the author must have gone through her war journals to write it. The war is like another main character in this novel, it’s more than a setting or a back drop. I learned a lot. She was able to keep the story interesting and personal as well. This is a novel about the women who “kept the faith” at home, for their men on the front. This is a beautiful coming of age story featuring Rilla, a young, naive beauty. Rilla’s parents are Anne and Gilbert. Anne is still a part of the story, but really, this one is about Rilla. Honestly, you could easily read this one without reading the others, but they are all worth reading.