I’ve been getting my grandma books lately, but I struggle with finding a good one I think she’ll enjoy. Two that I got her in the past that she loved were Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini.
I know she likes stories about WWII – real or historical fiction – and a good mystery. She’s read a few Harlan Coben and James Patterson books.
Any help is appreciated!!
by SnooMacarons5664
18 Comments
One of the best books our book group has read in the past couple years is “A Woman Of No Importance” by Sonia Purcell. It’s the true story of an American woman named Virginia Hall who worked as a spy during WWII for England and also the US. It’s just excellent in every way.
How about {{The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George}}?
{{The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen}}
I recommend **Code Name Verity**, a historical fiction novel by Elizabeth Wein, published in 2012. It focuses on the friendship of two young British women, in World War II – a spy captured by Nazis in German-occupied France and the pilot who took her there.
The All Girl’s Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. Part of it takes place now, and the rest is flashbacks to female pilots in WWII (and some wing walkers before they volunteered for the military). Absolutely wonderful book and my mom, my grandma, and I all loved it.
You’re welcome. We all loved this book so much. I’m sure your grandma will, too.
if you can find Monica Dickens’s book one pair of feet she might like that. it’s a factual account of Dickens’s year (2 years) as a nurse-probationer at an English teaching hospital, during the war. nurses used to pretty much learn on the job in those days, like skilled trades people. Dickens is a descendant of Charles and was a debutante, but she decided she’d like to do nursing as her contribution to the war effort.
she left about a month before she became fully qualified, because “I want to go build a tank.” 😂
morning glory, lavyrle spencer
the color of water james mcbride
the good earth pearl buck
pillars of the earth series ( five big books ) ken follett
stones from the river ursla hegi
the mermaids chair and secret life of bees by sue monk kid
the kite runner
the cape cod mysteries by phobe atwood taylor are fun short books that take place on old cape cod…..
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The lost girls of Paris is a WW2 fiction piece based on true events. It was really interesting learning more about the history behind the story once I finished the book as well
I bet she would love The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. Great mystery about female code breakers in England during WW2. It’s based on real people, although the plot is fabricated. I couldn’t put it down!
Both about 1936 Olympic teams — Fast Girls, and Boys in the Boat.
Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce, set in WW2 about a young woman who wants to be a journalist and ends up working at a women’s magazine (if she likes it there are 2 sequels)
Elly Griffiths Brighton Mysteries are post war cosy crime and a fun read. The first is the Zig Zag Girl.
Maybe {{Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand}}
She wrote *Seabiscuit* too.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is a WWII book on my Goodreads. I’ve heard great things.
The Women by Kristen Hannah is new and about nurses who served in Vietnam
Lastly, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. About a midwife in the Ming dynasty. I’m planning to gift it to my mom who is 71.
Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or Tattooist of Auschwitz for good WWII era historical fiction
*The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds* –Caroline Van Hemert
HF: *A Town Like Alice* by Shute