Allies at War: How the Struggles Between the Allied Powers Shaped the War and the World (Tim Bouverie)

In Allies at War: How the Struggles Between the Allied Powers Shaped the War and the World,  author Tim Bouverie explores one of the most consequential partnerships of the 20th century: the fraught alliance between Winston Churchill (Great Britain), Franklin D. Roosevelt (United States), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) during World War II. Bouverie focuses on the inner tensions and political maneuverings that shaped the Allied war effort and ultimately the postwar world.

Much of Allies at War is devoted to the personalities and backstories of Churchill, FDR, and Stalin, plus the ministers that worked for them. Bouverie delves deep into the ego clashes, mistrust, and miscommunication that characterized the “Big Three,” revealing how mutual suspicion, especially between the Western leaders and Stalin, often complicated military and diplomatic strategy. Naivety in understanding the Soviet Union’s political and military motives also played a role in how their partnership developed and ultimately fizzled. Churchill emerges as the emotional, often stubborn statesman; Roosevelt as the charming but at times naive optimist; and Stalin as the cold, calculating tactician with his own brutal vision for Europe.

Bouverie’s book weaves together military history with political drama. Drawing on a wide array of primary sources, he manages to balance narrative momentum with analytical insight, offering a nuanced portrait of how this uneasy alliance held together just long enough to defeat Hitler, before breaking apart into the Cold War divide. Allies at War offers a very good study of the limits and necessities of diplomacy in an era of global crisis. It is well-suited for students of WWII and international relations.

MY RATING: 4.5

The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe's Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II (Adam LeBor)

In The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe’s Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II, author Adam LeBor offers a powerful and deeply researched account of Hungary’s descent into chaos during the war Focusing on Budapest from 1940 to 1945, LeBor begins with the city’s period of deceptive calm before chronicling its tragic descent into anarchy, murder, and brutal fighting during 1944 and early 1945.

The book explores how Hungary, initially a reluctant ally of Nazi Germany, slowly surrendered to growing antisemitism and authoritarianism. LeBor pays special attention to Regent Miklos Horthy, who resisted deporting Hungary’s Jews for a time, but ultimately lost control when German troops invaded in March 1944. Hungary was absorbed gradually into Germany’s political orbit because of Germany’s promises of restoring lost territory in the aftermath of World War I but also due to its own antisemitic undercurrent in politics with a series of laws limiting Jewish representation in a number of professions. Horthy’s ambivalence and dithering as a leader is one of the key takeaways from this book, as LeBor points out there were numerous opportunities for Horthy to cut deals to switch sides in World War II or to remain neutral before being pulled into the war during 1940.

LeBor details both acts of courage, like those of diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, and horrifying cruelty, especially during the reign of the Arrow Cross militia, which deposed Horthy in October 1944. These fanatical fascists unleashed brutal violence, executing Jews on the banks of the Danube and terrorizing the city during the siege of 1944-45.

At just over 500 pages, The Last Days of Budapest is a gripping and sobering read. It’s essential reading for anyone interested in how quickly a country can descend into lawlessness and anarchy and in the human cost of indifference and extremism. 

MY RATING: 4.5

The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice (Simon Parkin)

The siege of Leningrad during World War II resulted in the deaths of over 700,000 civilians from starvation and related food scarcity, not to mention the additional deaths of soldiers who fought the Nazis in defense of the modern-day city of St. Petersburg. Within the city stood an old palace that had been converted by scientists into a laboratory that housed the world’s largest collection of seeds. This collection was put together by a team of Soviet scientists under the direction of Nikolai Vavilov, who Stalin’s government considered a dissident because of his cooperation with other scientists in the West around crop research. Vavilov was taken into custody by the NKVD (predecessor to the KGB) early in World War II, which meant the scientists would be without their leader as the Nazi siege started up in 1941.

Simon Parkin’s The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice is a gripping tale of the perseverance and dedication of these scientists to safeguard these seedlings during the siege and to ensure the collection could survive potential theft, destruction, and one of the harshest winters on record. The story of these scientists parallels what the city went through, often in graphic detail, over the winter of 1941-42 and in the balance of World War II.

The Forbidden Garden is arguably one of the best books I have read in the past year. It read very quickly and kept this reviewer captivated and wanting to turn the page. It’s a great tribute to the dedication of scientists to continue their research and ensure they do everything they can to keep their seed collection intact and to survive the war.

MY RATING: 5

Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin: The Glider Pilots of World War II (Scott McGaugh)

The Waco CG-4A was a military glider that was used by the Americans in World War II to carry troops and cargo behind enemy lines while also taking out enemy military installations. These planes could fly independently or get towed behind a larger cargo plane and were used to carry out high-risk military operations. They became known as “flying coffins” because of the risk of being shot out of the sky, or simply crashing due to turbulence and weather. Scott McGaugh captures the stories of these brave men who flew in these planes in Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin: The Glider Pilots of World War II. 

McGaugh’s book goes into detail about the use of these military gliders in the European theater of World War II, as well as the stories of those who flew in these risky missions from their debut in Sicily in 1943 to their final use in the late stages of World War II in 1945. Their most critical contributions arguably occurred in the Battle of the Bulge, delivering medical goods and gasoline to troops that were surrounded by Germans.

McGaugh highlights the stories of these battle-tested individuals, bringing to the forefront unsung and often anonymous individuals who contributed to the Allied victory in Europe. His detailed analysis of their contributions, along with transcribed oral histories, brings to life another chapter in the history of World War II.

MY RATING - 4

Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945 (Richard Overy)

The years before and after World War II marked a major change in political power in the world. Empires rose in the run-up to conflict and fell violently during it; other longstanding empires in Europe teetered and eventually weakened dramatically as colonies in Africa and Asia declared their independence. The 1930’s and 1940’s were a period of tumult, captured brilliantly by Richard Overy in Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945.

Overy recasts World War II as a longer conflict, starting in 1931 with Japanese aggression into China, continuing through the 1930’s as Italy and Germany both tried to expand their territory, seeking room to grow, power, and influence. The author’s exhaustive work focuses more than on the military costs of conflict, getting into the economic and civilian impact in great detail. Blood and Ruins covers World War II from both the Pacific, European, and North African theaters of conflict, including details on the violent behavior of many soldiers as conflict raged over Eastern Europe.

There are many, many, many books on World War II, covering specific battles, politicians, or military figures. However, Blood and Ruins is a great work that summarizes a dramatic and climatic war that changed so much of our history. The author does a wonderful job breaking down the battles, the causes, and the effects at a level that readers can easily digest. Coming in at nearly 900 pages, it is a lengthy read that is light on pictures and heavy on detail. However, for fans of history and individuals who study military conflict, this is a must-read book.

MY RATING - 5

The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah)

After I finished Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, I had to sit with it for quite a few days before writing the review. It affected me deeply; every character stays with you long after the story is done.

France in 1939 -- as the readers, we know what's coming. The characters may have an inkling, but they could never guess the magnitude of what stands before them. Vianne Mauriac's husband is sent to the Front, but she never believes that the Nazis will invade France. When the inevitable happens, Vianne is forced to take in an enemy officer; every day brings one danger after another.

Vianne could not be more unlike her sister, Isabelle. While Vianne wants to keep her head down and not draw attention to herself, Isabella wants to help the resistance any way she can, no matter the consequences. She also falls deeply in love with a fellow fighter, Gaeten.

One can't even imagine all the dangers faced in The Nightingale, and it is made all the more horrifying by the fact that much of this really happened. But through Isabelle's determination to fight and Vianne's motherly desire to save her daughter at all costs comes a book that is also powerfully uplifting. I couldn't recommend it more.

MY RATING - 5

All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

A few weeks ago, a fellow blogger wrote an article about those books that you feel that you SHOULD HAVE liked but it didn't turn out that way. Anthony Doerr's immensely popular, Pulitzer Prize winning All the Light We Cannot See is unfortunately one of those novels for me.

It certainly started off strong, with alternating timelines and short chapters introducing us to the memorable characters. Marie Laure is a blind girl living in Paris with her father. He wants to teach her to be self sufficient, and so builds a model of her neighborhood so she can get to know every feature. When the Germans arrive for occupation during World War II, Marie Laure and her father escape to Saint-Malo but not before taking something very valuable with them. In Germany, Werner lives in an orphanage with his sister. His propensity for fixing radios makes him attractive to the Hitler Youth, and it's obvious to the reader that eventually his path will cross with Marie Laure's.

Doerr's writing is lyrical and beautiful, and I wish I could say that the book kept my interest after the beginning. We know that the characters will meet towards the end, but I found it a tedious journey to get to that point. I simply couldn't get through more than one or two chapters every few days. While the ending was interesting and illuminating, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that it was over. But reading other reviews, my opinion is definitely in the minority.

MY RATING - 2

The Jersey Brothers (Sally Mott Freeman)

Sally Mott Freeman's The Jersey Brothers is a historical account of her own father and uncles’ service in World War II. The three Mott brothers were all Navy men, each assigned to different places throughout the War. Each brings a gripping account along with their experiences. World War II dramatically changed the Mott family in several ways, and the author takes great care to shape not only the Mott brothers' experience but also that of those that served with them.

The Jersey Brothers shares a great tale of the Mott and Cross families and how the three Mott brothers grew, each having different experiences in the Naval Academy and thereafter, setting the stage for how those experiences would shape them in the theatre of war. The biopic bounces between each brother: one worked for President Roosevelt for much of the war, the second served on the USS Enterprise, and the third was a prisoner of war in the Philippines. 

Ms. Freeman’s inaugural book incorporates letters to family from people who served with the Mott brothers, along with originally sourced material.  All is sequenced well to ensure the reader remains interested throughout the pages. It’s a riveting book that personalizes World War II and the struggle many families went through as brothers served and were separated in conflict.

MY RATING - 4

Churchill, Roosevelt & Company (Lewis E. Lehrman)

Lewis E. Lehrman’s Churchill, Roosevelt & Company covers the stories of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt but also pulls their advisers and lower level government officials in to weave the narrative of the Americans and British during World War II.  While the Churchill-FDR relationship was unique in its flow and ebb through both men’s leadership of their respective nations, the management of that relationship and the Allied War effort by individuals such as John M. Keynes, Lord Halifax, Anthony Eden, Harry Hopkins, and Generals Marshall and Eisenhower played a more critical, substantive role in ensuring the two countries collaborated in their efforts to defeat the Axis Powers.

Lehrman compares the two leaders’ styles in managing and dealing with the Soviet Union during and especially after World War II, and shows how both countries were able to use each other (and each other’s strengths) to their advantage. The author skillfully moves between the British and Americans, weaving in tails of espionage and intrigue along the way to add extra spice to the historical narrative.

Above all, Churchill, Roosevelt & Company reinforces a most powerful lesson that all of us should remember: Relationships matter. The book shows many examples of how government policy and decision-making was influenced by interpersonal relationships by second and third level diplomats and lower level government advisers. While Churchill and FDR garnered the headlines, the dirty work in the trenches required that personal touch that Churchill and FDR were not always able to maintain during the balance of the war effort.

MY RATING - 4

Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe (Robert Matzen)

Robert Matzen’s Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe is a detailed account of the beloved actor's military service in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  Stewart was drafted and chose to serve, pitching his developing love of flying to serve his country as part of “The Greatest Generation” of numerous military veterans who sacrificed time and their lives in various war theatres around the world.

Stewart is a favorite actor in this household, with It’s a Wonderful Life one of the films that endears us to him.  Our appreciation of Stewart and his down-to-earth demeanor led me to want to review this book.  Matzen did not disappoint, going into great detail to highlight not just Stewart’s service in the military but bringing attention to several stories on the Allied front as they served under him in England and on several bombing missions over Europe.  Sprinkled in were accounts from the German front, specifically highlighting a German Luftwaffe General’s story as the war unfolded.

Mission captures Stewart’s guarded, quiet, personality at its core and how World War II changed him and so many other men who fought in it.  He was pained by the battles and the loss of men under his watch, bearing those scars for the duration of his life.  Mission spends little of its pages devoted to Stewart’s years after World War II but does a great job of capturing the essence of Stewart and how he treated those under his command with the same respect and decency that would have made Mr. Smith proud in Washington.

MY RATING - 4

Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)

Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity was published in 2012, but it was only recently that I had even heard of it.  Apparently, I must have been living under a rock: once I read about the book and perused the reviews that made it out to be the best thing since sliced bread, I thought I better get going on it.  But while it was definitely well-written and creative, this was one of those novels that I just couldn't give a better than average rating.

Many reviews say that they can't write much about this World War II novel since it would be giving too much away, so I'll go along with that.  However, except for one twist (and even that isn't very surprising), the plot events are not that difficult to guess.  Many lines give clues to the eagle-eyed reader about what they can expect later on in the story.  Readers should also anticipate a lot of flight terminology that can be confusing after awhile.

I think this is one of those books that I'll say "It's not you, it's me."  I am definitely in the minority on Goodreads to give it an average rating, but I've read much better World War II books (Sarah's Key especially).

MY RATING - 3

India's War (Srinath Raghavan)

Srinath Raghavan's comprehensive work India's War delves deeply into the role that India played in World War II. India in the 1930's and 1940's was still under British rule, and its geographic position in South Asia put it on the edge of two theatres of battle - Japan in Southeast and East Asia and the African battles that raged as close as Ethiopia.

Raghavan's book is well-researched and detailed, talking about the recruitment of India's armed forces and the "rogue" army that was raised and sought out Japanese and German support.  All of this amid the specter of political drama that was playing out as the leading factions in India's dueling nationalist movements quarrelled with the British colonial government as the nationalists sought further self-control and power.

The author focuses significant time on World War II, but very little deals with the consequences of war with regard to the political turmoil that overtook India and Pakistan in the late 1940's and continues to this day. While the seeds for division and partition were being sewn during World War II, and the author does talk about this, it feels like the immediate aftermath of the war and how India's military shaped some of the civil strife during the India-Pakistan partition was only given brief consideration. More information on this would have been beneficial.

This is a solid but unspectacular work that misses the mark in a few areas but properly mentions the contributions of India's armies to the British war effort.

MY RATING - 3

Eisenhower's Armies: The American-British Alliance During World War II (Niall Barr)

Eisenhower's Armies by Niall Barr recounts the British-American alliance during World War II, focusing on the relationship between the British and Americans in combating the Axis powers in Western Europe.  It's the story of two different nations, one on the rise and one who fought gallantly in the early wars of  the war, and how these armies had to learn to live, work, and fight together despite tactical and philosophical disagreements on how to fight the war.

Barr, whose specialty is 20th Century History, delivers painstaking details of the relationship between the United States and Great Britain. If you like insight, the author goes way beyond World War II and talks about the history of American-British military relations going back to the Colonial Era.  While important for context, the depth and breadth of what was covered by Barr was arguably excessive if you value a quick read.  At 470 pages, this book can grind into some level of detail and would require an occasional re-read or two to get points across.

It would also have been a benefit to see more coverage devoted to the air campaign and coordination between the United States and Great Britain.  While some coverage was devoted to the importance of the British air support in North Africa, more could have been devoted to the coverage of the last year of conflict, specifically in how the United States and Britain worked together effectively through air sorties in the Battle of the Bulge and the attacks the Allied forces provided in advance of the invasion at Normady.  This could have been provided at the expense of an exhaustive back story into the relationship between the Americans and Brits.  Nonetheless, the book is an effective historical account of the "Special Relationship" and its evolution over time.

MY RATING - 3

1946: The Making of the Modern World (Victor Sebestyen)

1946: The Making Of The Modern World by Victor Sebestyen provides a play-by-play of the events of the first full year after the end of World War II.  The year was action-packed, full of international drama from an unsettled Europe to an emerging Cold War showdown between the United States and the Soviet Union.  Sebestyen does a very effective job capturing the year in context of a radically changing political landscape.

One of the best features of the book is Sebestyen's occasional, but poignant, use of footnotes within the book.  Whether it was to portray an individual's eccentricities in a greater context or to refer the reader to an additional author and their work related to a specific 1946-related event, the footnotes added tremendous value and were used wisely throughout the book.

Sebestyen captures the emerging political landscape in 1946 by weaving in past context where appropriate, showing how decisions made by global leaders were scrutinized and how the world went from being united against Fascism to being divided between democracy and communism as the two major political systems that governed the world for nearly forty years.

The 380-page book is well-sourced and a fast read.  Sebestyen should be applauded for not just recapping the year but for his ability to weave in the personalities of Stalin, Truman, Churchill, Attlee, and other global leaders to provide context in how and why events of that year played out.  Given how much change has taken place in our recent times, it's important to point out that the mid 1940's provided even more rapid change and instability.  The author illustrates that quite well in his book.

MY RATING - 4

The Clover House (Henriette Lazaridis Power)

The Clover House, Henriette Lazaridis Power's debut novel, has been listed in the "If you liked Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key, then you'll love..." recommendation column.  However, with the exception of both being historical fiction books about World War II, I found little comparison.  While Sarah's Key is gripping and heartbreaking, holding your attention until the very end, The Clover House does so only in waves.  However, wartime Greece is thoroughly researched by Ms. Power to deliver a multi-generational, textured story.

Callie is a Greek American living in Boston with her fiance, Jonah.  She grew up in the United States, but her mother, Clio, took the first opportunity to move back to Greece after her husband passed away.  When Clio gets a call that her Uncle Nestor not only has died, but has left all of his earthly possessions to her, she heads back to the land of her heritage.  Clio is desperate to keep a secret from Callie, but Nestor seems determined to let the secret be known even in his death.

The book alternates between Callie's modern-day adventure and Clio's adolescence in Greece.  I felt like The Clover House would have worked better if the reader was able to experience what happened through Clio's eyes first, rather than hearing about it secondhand through Callie's chapters.  However, even though the book is a little dry and takes awhile to get going, I encourage the reader to stick with it for a fascinating look into Greek history.

MY RATING - 3

Flora (Gail Godwin)

Have you ever read a book waiting with bated breath for something to happen, and when something happens, EVERYTHING happens? Such is the case with Gail Godwin’s Flora. 

The title character is a simple-hearted but overly emotional woman who is asked to stay with a young girl, Helen, during the summer while Helen’s father goes off to do a job.  All we know at the beginning is that this job is somehow related to World War II, which is when this novel is set.  Helen is not keen at all on this, having just lost her beloved grandmother.  To make matters worse, her father forbids Flora from letting Helen see any friends or go anywhere due to a polio outbreak.  Helen is prone to jealousy and normal “tween” feelings, especially when the local grocery delivery man takes a liking to Flora. 

There is no outlined plot to Flora, so if you like your novels with tons of action, this is not the book for you.  In a nutshell, the reader is let into the fishbowl of Helen and Flora’s summer, which is interspersed with colorful characters and historically significant developments.  However, the main relationship, between Helen and Flora, isn’t fully fleshed out.  By the time something major happens (and believe me, you’re waiting a long time), it seems like an afterthought by Godwin.  Perhaps she wanted to lull the reader into a state of contentment, but for me, it just wasn’t enough substance.

MY RATING - 3

The Secret Keeper (Kate Morton)

I wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend Kate Morton’s The Secret Keeper as the best book of 2012 (so far).  Not many people I know are familiar with the Australian’s work, and I wouldn’t have been either if I had not gone looking for similar books to Diane Setterfeld’s The Thirteenth Tale.  The Distant Hours, The Forgotten Garden, and The House at Riverton all received a well-deserved 5 from me for their unbelievable depth and layering.  Even though The Secret Keeper is not Morton’s usual “Gothic English mystery” genre, it’s still historical fiction and absolutely jam packed with breathtaking suspense.

Weaving effortlessly and seamlessly between present day and World War II England, The Secret Keeper is the story of secrets, betrayals, and utter heartbreak.  It begins in the early 1960s with teenage Laurel lazing the day away in a treehouse.  While the rest of her family is a little ways away having a birthday party, Laurel sees Dorothy, her mother, who is carrying Laurel’s baby brother, stab and kill a strange man.  Due to Laurel's lies, the matter is swept under the rug with no repercussions for Dorothy.  Fast forward to present day, Laurel and her siblings are called back to their hometown to be at their dying mother's bedside.  However, Laurel desperately wants to solve the mystery of the man's murder before Dorothy passes away. 

The Secret Keeper, as are all of Morton’s books, is one giant puzzle.  Morton plays tricks on the brain, and if you don’t pay attention to each and every detail, she will get you!  There were so many little nuances and questions throughout this novel that I kept thinking to myself there was no way Morton would answer them all.  But she never, ever leaves a stone unturned.  By the time you finish, you are left with a story that completely makes sense and has you asking yourself why you didn’t see it coming all along.

MY RATING - 5

Elizabeth the Queen (Sally Bedell Smith)

Events related to Queen Elizabeth II and/or London have been in the news quite a lot lately, from the much-watched royal wedding in 2011 to the Summer Olympics in 2012. 2012 also marks 60 years on the throne, which was only surpassed by Queen Victoria. Even though there has just lately been a renewed interest in the monarchy, she has done her job and put duty above everything else since her ascension to the throne in 1952. Imagine the weight of your country (and the robes...and the crown) being put on your shoulders at the age of 25.

Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth the Queen is a thoroughly researched, 537-page biography. It begins with the story of her parents, famously depicted in the the award-winning movie, The King's Speech. The Queen grew up during World War II, repairing army trucks, never one to refrain from getting her hands dirty. When her father died, her reign began, and continued through 12 (and counting) prime ministers (the first being Sir Winston Churchill) and the many, many dramas of her children and family.

Bedell Smith wrote Elizabeth the Queen for 2012, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year. At times, it can read slowly, and some things were not really necessary to include (I don't need to read graphic details of the Queen watching horse intercourse.). Smith is also extremely flattering to the Queen and presents her in an always positive light, even though there have been controversies along the way. However, it is fascinating to read about the ins and outs of the Queen's life, from her sumptous events to her comfort in routines. This is a very worthwhile read.

MY RATING - 4

Auf Wiedersehen: World War II Through the Eyes of a German Girl (Christa Holder Ocker)

As a teacher, I was extremely interested in reading this book. I thought it would be a quick read and something that I could use with my students during our unit on World War II. I was mistaken on both of these counts.

Ms. Ocker is "Christa", telling the story of her childhood in Germany during the collapse of the Third Reich. It begins with her family being forced out of their comfortable home in Gorlitz and made to move to a boardinghouse in Apolda. Christa tries to have a normal childhood with puppet shows and puppy love crushes. Getting to America is their goal where new opportunities abound. There are a few profound passages where Christa intersperses what she is doing on any given day compared to what is going on in the concentration camps in other parts of the country.

This book is definitely not for children, as some descriptions are in graphic gratuitous detail. While I wanted to like this book, I felt like it was better served as a private journal. Ms. Ocker wanted us to know what life was like as a German girl during World War II. She succeeded in that fact. However, I felt like she was trying to make the reader feel sympathy for her for having to eat horse meat and for giving up her favorite puppet to a Russian soldier. Knowing the atrocities that Jewish people faced in concentration camps, I personally found this difficult to do.

MY RATING - 2

This review can also be found at www.bookloons.com.