The Rainbow: A Novel by Yasunari Kawabata, translated by Haydn Trowell
People are living in post-war Japan. A family comes to terms with different relationships and a father with multiple mothers. A train and rainbow play an important role. The book p=pretty much happens, with out much to draw me in.
Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II by Evan Thomas
The United States had an atomic bomb. Japan was still fighting. Should the bomb be used to end the war? This book explores the decision made by American and Japanese to end the war. There was a delicate balance made to help allow the Emperor to end the war without losing power. Did the bombing save lives? Maybe? But situations also changed. Fire bombing or an invasion may have been worse for both sides. Dealing with Japanese culture and an unwillingness to surrender was a huge challenge to navigate when ending the war. The Russian involvement was also forthcoming. This book brings in the "bigwigs", but the big focus is on the underlings that are steering policy. It provides a different view of what led to world-altering decisions.
How Finland Survived Stalin: From Winter War to Cold War, 1939-1950 by Kimmo Rentola translated by Richard Robinson
Finland had an odd position during World War II. They were aligned with Germany, but never part of the Axis powers. They fought the Winter War against Russia. German alignment was seen as a necessary defensive measure. Stalin had underestimated the ability of Finnish army and suffered significantly during the hostilities. The Finns paid were willing to pay reparations and cede territory. However, they were not pushovers. They refused to become a Soviet satellite. They maintained their culture and political system. They were one of the few European capitals that was never occupied during the war. Stalin seems to have some respect for the Finns and was willing to let them be. The book was original written in Finnish and relied on many Russian sources that are now locked away again due to the Ukraine war.
Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan by Richard Overy
The United States is unapologetic in the use of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. It is believed that the bomb saved half a million American lives - more than the Japanese lives lost in the explosions. We often second guess the use today. However, the important question to ask is why did America of the time choose to drop the bomb? Americans were tired of the war. Germany had surrendered and Americans wanted to go home. However, Japanese kept fighting what seemed to be a losing cause. The American public now saw Japanese as less than human and wanted to do whatever it took to end the war as soon as possible. The atomic bomb seemed like a great solution.
The firebombing of Tokyo was the most destructive conventional bombing in history. More people were immediately killed in this bombing than immediately by either of the atomic bombs. The Japanese initially dismissed the atomic bombs as just another big bomb. It is uncertain whether this bombing changed the timeline of the Japanese surrender. However, they did finally surrender not long after the bombing, leading to a cause and effect alignment in the minds of Americans.
This book is an interesting exploration of the bombing that looks at it from the lens of 1945 America while tying in modern knowledge of the Japanese mentality. It does a good job of exploring how people felt and why things were done as they were.
The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson
In Weimar Germany, queer clubs were popular and somewhat accepted. This book paints Germany as an LGBT Utopia that was only brought down by the rise of Hitler and Nazis. The book paints a picture of revisionist history that was extremely black and white. It feels like a revisionist Germany painted to look like the modern world. It is pretty short.
Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor by Christine Kuehn
Grandpa was Nazi spy with interesting history in Hawaii. There were rumors of "baby spy" in the family that would go try to get intel. This book is part memoir and part family history. The author explores the skeletons in his family's closet. They were raised as an all American family. However, Grandpa was executed as a spy. (Though the family gives other reasons for what happened.) The book is an interesting exploration of interrelated bits of World War II history.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
During German-occupied France, two girls tried to live their lives. Their lives were changed with the Nazi occupation and gradually clamping down on rights. They work in different ways to help the resistance. They help guide allied soldiers to Spain to return home and also shelter Jews in their home. One is caught and spent time in a concentration camp. The book is told as flashbacks from the modern woman who is in poor health. She has not told her children much about her efforts or her the assumed name she had. Her son only learns when they are there to talk with others. This provides a bit of sentimentality towards a past life, even when it is something you would like ot have forgotten.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, Elizabeth Sherrill and John Sherrill
A Dutch family lived in Haarlem shortly before World War II. The father was a clockmaker and stressed service and work in the community. There were conflicts breaking out in Europe. However, it seemed that the Netherlands would remain neutral as before. The family occasionally saw Jews in need and had helped them out. After the Dutch army capitulated, the Netherlands came under Nazi occupation. The family helped out more Jews. They became involved in the Dutch underground. At one time a sympathizer proposed they kill a Dutch informer. They would not go that far. They were eventually caught and brought to a concentration camp. The author's sister was also keeping her faith and looking positive. She was even grateful for the fleas they had. (It would later turn out that the guards had let them meet in peace because they didn't want to go to the flea-infested room.) They would maintain their faith in the camps until they were freed. The later half of the book emphasizes Christian thought and maintaining love and faith even under difficult circumstances.
The Korean War: A History by Bruce Cumings
While subtitled "a history", this book is just as much a meta-history of the Korean war as a history of the conflict itself. There is a significant review of past writings about Korea. It explores how the war was perceived at the time and how perceptions have changed, especially after Vietnam. The actual western "Korean War" is placed as one small chapter in an ongoing conflict between Korea and Japan, with significant Chinese, Russian and American involvement. Korea itself has had well-defined boundaries for centuries. The division between North and South Korea, however, the divicsion between North and South Korea was based on an arbitrary line created by Americans. The North had been dominated by anti-Japanese freedom fighters, while the south had more collaborators. The sides both were filled with corruption and committed numerous atrocities during the conflict. Neither side could really lay claim to the title of "good guys". South Korea has looked into the atrocities with a truth and reconciliation commission. The North remains autocratic and continues to be officially at war with the South. The goals of the Koreans are not the same as the goals of other countries in the conflict. The western forces had little respect for Koreans themselves, and ended up fighting an indeterminate conflict that gets lost between the "success" of World War II and the "failure" of Vietnam. Korea continues to live with this small episode in the ongoing conflict.
The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II by David Nasaw
In my mind, American history went from the Great Depression to World War II to the 1950s. This misses out on an entire half-decade of history in the late 1940s. This was a time of transition from active combat to peacemaking and rebuilding abroad. Millions of troops also had to be returned home and reintegrated in society. Those at home had to rapidly adjust to the many changes. This was not an easy process. Just the logistics of getting troops home was a huge challenge. The troops also suffered from many physical and mental injuries. The mental part was barely understood and people were often expected to just get over the trauma. Southern black troops had to return from places where they were considered normal people to places were they were treated as sub-humans. Families had big adjustments as people that were gone for years are now back home. There were significant divorces and challenges adjusting to this new reality.
The book can get a little confusing as it pivots from discussing conditions as they were experienced at the time to reanalysis of conditions based on modern understanding. However, it did bring out some interesting points. Family life was starting to disintegrate. The seeds of the 1960's civil rights movement and counterculture appear to have been sewn during the war. The southerners still held significant influence as they tried to maintain their white supremacy. The many veterans benefits were actually a compromise. There was a desire to extend many of these programs to everyone, but this was quashed in part to appease the south. Black veterans supposedly had access to these programs. However, states controlled implementation leaving those in the south with little opportunity. Nearly a century after the civil war, the experience of slavery was still spreading its claws.
The post war boom was also not something that was expected. Many expected a recession after the war. It was hard to find jobs for those returning. Most women returned to the home (often willingly), freeing up jobs for returning veterans. Veterans were supposed to be entitled to their previous job. They also received benefits such as tuition coverage and living allowance or unemployment benefits. (These plans were slowly rolled out and changed over time. Initially, only those that were in school could get college help, but later it was expanded to everyone for 4 years of school.) There was post-war labor unrest that eventually calmed down and led to the post-war boom. There were huge shortages of housing after the war. It took a few tries before a boom in production took place. The divorce boom preceded the baby boom. The path from the end of hostilities to economic boom was far from foreordained, with many veterans suffering in both the short and long term.
Ruin and Renewal: Civilizing Europe After World War II by Paul Betts
What is civilization? The definition has changed over time and space. In the early 19th century, Germany was seen at the forefront of progressive civilization. They even thought of themselves as spreading "civilization" through less civilized areas of Europe. Even concentration camps were justified as ways of cleaning out impediments to civilization. The rest of the world did not buy this and after Germany was defeated German "civilization" was in the trash can. Both the US and Russia had differing views of civilization that they tried to enforce within the world.
The European powers also wanted to return to their colonies after the war ended. They did not notice the irony of fighting a war in defence of "local freedom" only to decide to resume controlling their colonies. The locals saw the value of freedom and wanted it for themselves. The colonies achieved independence in various ways. Some had fought the colonizers. Others had a more peaceful handover. In some cases the colonizers acted "bitter" and took out much of their know how and "stuff" during the handover. In other cases, there was a more knowledge transfer. These colonies were also involved in the battles between the communists and capitalists both before and after freedom.
During the postwar era, global civilization came out. UNESCO was an organization to help protect global heritage. Other organizations such as the EU and the UN spanned multiple countries. Science and arts organization also worked together across country lines. Multiculturalism and identity sparked a backlash with a response of closed borders, nationalism and far right organizations. Where does civilization go from here? Have we learned the lessons of the past, or will we continue to cycle through the same problems again?
Despite warning signs, the US military was caught off guard by the Pearl Harbor invasion. Luckily, the aircraft carriers were at sea, somewhat limiting the total damage. This book is a quick introduction to the attack as well as World War II in general.
Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen
A young girl (Lidia Durr) is living with her family in Poland at the outbreak of World War II. Her father is a former officer in the Polish army and goes off to help protect his country. However, the country quickly capitulates as it is attacked by both the Russians and Germans. The Germans occupy Poland and put an end to school. (Somehow law and order seem generally in place.) Jews are rounded up in a ghetto. Poles that attempt to support them are shot. However, Lidia still wants to do what she can to help them out, especially as she remembers a family friend who is Jewish. They try to sneak things in when delivering potatoes.
The family loses their house and their savings to the Nazis. Mother most work a job to feed them and they move to a smaller house. Lidia goes to an underground school. Her brother joins the underground fighters. The Jews fight back through a ghetto uprising that is defeated. Later the Poles launch the Warsaw Uprising to take back the country. They have some moments, but they don't succeed.
In an afterward, the author mentions that the story was based on the real-life experiences of Lidia Durr. It is a terrifying story of a society that is marginalized as well as the marginalized of the marginalized.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank
Anne Frank received a diary for a birthday and started writing in it. Later he family had to go into hiding to avoid capture by the Nazis. She heard that people were looking for records from war experiences and started to edit her diary as a publishable form. The original diary is similar to what we have as an "edited" version. This version includes much of the original diary. Much of it feels like "too much information". There are cruel discussions of other people as well as sexual discussions. You can see that her feelings are evolving at the time as she is growing up. She is close to her father. She doesn't care much for her mother or some of the other people. (Though it was her father who survived to be able to publish it.) She was a blabbermouth in school. Later she hoped to be a writer. There was a lot of anticipation about "after the war". Alas, most of them were caught and died shortly before liberation.
The war is almost an afterthought in this diary. There are occasional updates on the Russian front or the capitulation of Italy. However, much of the discussion has to do with the individual people that are hiding in the "annex." There are a few scary break ins. They have to deal with sickness and interpersonal challenges. She develops a crush on a boy and compares it to a similarly named boy she had a crush on before. People living in close quarters for extended periods of time have challenges. The fact that they could be hauled away to concentration camp if unfriendlies discover them makes it even more difficult.
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
An American Jew goes back to Ukraine to find more information about his ancestors. He has a picture with a name on it and some maps. He recruits some Ukrainian guides and after much searching they finally find somebody that recognizes people in the picture. However, it is not exactly what they think it is. Interspersed with this story is the background of the ancestors and their village. They were not exactly perfect moral citizens, but had plenty of foibles.
What makes this story interesting is the narrative style. It is told from the point of view of the tour guide. He is an optimistic young guide who speaks English and would love to travel abroad. However, his family have done the same things in Ukraine for multiple generations, so he will stay put. He sees things from a hyper-local point of few, while trying to be more global. There is a huge amount of humor that pops out mostly unintentionally. He wants to present himself as the hypermasculine person that he thinks he should be, but is not. He has plenty of knowledge, but little understanding of social situations, especially with foreigners. Yet, in spite of this, he is an optimist and helps the American to complete their quest - even if the dog Sammy Davis Junior Junior keeps causing trouble.
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
In this alternate history, Charles Lindbergh defeats FDR in 1940 on a strong "no Americans in World War II" program. The book is told from the view of a Jewish boy he sees a gradual rise in anti-semitism in the US. There are plans to send urban Jews to farms to adopt American culture. While most Jews are against the administration, one Rabbi supports Lindbergh and rises high in the administration. The narrator has ties to all sides, with one brother going to a Kentucky farm, while another brother joins the Canadian army to fight Nazis. (This brother loses a leg and returns home a cripple.) Matters get worse, with a Jewish candidate being killed in Louisville. Then Lindbergh flies solo out there and disappears on the way back. The vice president eventually takes power and declares martial law. There are rumours that the Jews had him killed, whiles others that the Germans were behind it. Eventually, FDR gets elected to be president and America joins World War II. There is a possible history presented that Lindbergh was a puppet of the Nazis due to them kidnapping his son. However, Lindbergh refused to be as harsh with the Jews as they wanted so he was disposed of.
The story is a long look at life of northeastern urban Jews. People can easily turn to anti-semitism. However, legal and cultural protections do limit how far it could go in America vs in Germany.
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
In this second book in the series, the girl has her club foot fixed. They also learn that their mother has died. They didn't like her, but feel said that she is gone. Other people are willing to take care of them. They end up with a well-to-do lady. A German Jew comes to live with them. They struggle with getting along with her. Is she a Spy? How can she get away with not believing in Jesus? World War II continues on and there are struggles with using rations and trying to enjoy things like Lamb. They see destroyed neighborhoods and hear about some of the bad things being done by the Germans. The afterward talks about code breakers, though this seems to be a tangential relationship. The discussions of Jews and religion seem to have a very modern tone to them, but does provide some insight into the issues with Jewish refugees.
The Magician: A Novel by Colm Tóibín
This book is a fictional biography of Thomas Mann. this encompassed some rather significant world events, from the time leading up to World War II, the war and then the aftermath. He was a left-leaning German who was married to a Jewish woman. He thus left Germany and eventually became an American citizen. The novel covers interesting events, such as immigration authorities considering his map and writings to be potentially enemy spy documents (because they were written in German.) There are also interesting relationships between family members and other items. How much of this is actual events? How much truly expresses his life in a non-factual manner? And how much is just pure novelation of a time period in Germany using a known figure as the centerpiece?
Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
This seems to be mostly a history book, but written in novel form to be "flexible". The narrator's father was in a Japanese internment camp. The Japanese at the time were keen on fighting to the death. However, the atomic bomb helped to kill their resolve and dad was free. He later had an awkward meeting with the jailor that involved a hug photo op. This pivots to a few related topics. There was H.G. Wells and his life and affairs and his use of "atom bomb". There are German scientists and their research into the bomb. They stopped because it would take "too long" and Germany expected to be fully victorious by 1943. It also jumps to life in Tasmania. It was once a cruel prison colony that lead to killing of many of the aboriginal population, something that would later be termed genocide. There is also talk of World War II movies and how they are more a projecting of the creator's thoughts than actual experiences. Life of father and family is also brought in. It interestingly jumps from topic to topic to give something of a coherent story.
