Read the 1940s: November - Peace

From October's "Post War" topic we now move into November where we will read books about Peace, a timely topic coinciding with Remembrance ceremonies during the month. Also, this is our last monthly topic, as December will be a "wild card" month.

As usual, books can be fiction or nonfiction, Viragos, Persephones, books by Virago/Persephone authors, or books that otherwise embody the "Virago spirit." They can be set in the 1940s, or published in the 1940s. In short, there are no rules here -- participants can set rules to suit themselves. For questions, comments, and general chat about the theme read go to our General Discussion thread.

Visit the Book Recommendations thread for help choosing books that fit the theme & monthly topic. We also have a fabulous Google spreadsheet created by Heather/souloftherose, which compiles and classifies all the book recommendations mentioned on the thread. The spreadsheet includes a "categories" column that shows which topic(s) each book would be suitable for. Below are links to two different views of the data:
* Full spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-b4Y2YrG4VseFT5qn546IjWy0JYst7cOVIrmeBHB...
* Filtered on the "Peace" category:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-b4Y2YrG4VseFT5qn546IjWy0JYst7cOVIrmeBHB...

Note that the filtered view does not work on mobile devices, and it may take a few extra seconds to load in your browser. Please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions for the spreadsheet.

How will you celebrate Peace in November?

Thanks Laura! I have a few of the titles on the filtered list, and I really *will* try to get to one in November! :D

I've got Little boy lost still unread of the suggestions, so I will choose that.

I'm having a devil of a time finding a book on my shelves that will fit the "Peace" theme. I don't have any of the recommended books from our spreadsheet. Some time ago I created a list of my VMCs filtered on original publication date (i.e.; 1940 or later), which has been really useful even though many of these books, on closer inspection, are too modern for this theme read.

The closest one I can find is Fenny, which at least extends beyond the war:

"Now she was beginning to wake out of her apathy. It is not too late, she told herself, to do something different with my life!" The offer of a summer post as governess to the granddaughter of a famous actress seems a dazzling prospect to Ellen Fenwick, far removed from the fireside teas and prize-givings of her Yorkshire high school. And the Villa Meridiana, surveying the Tuscan hills, with their vines and rows of silvery olives, provides a dreamlike setting for the new life she anticipates. Here she tastes her first cocktail, cuts her hair, becomes "Fenny" - and falls in love. But in this closeknit expatriate community, relationships are often not what they seem: as fascism threatens the heart of Italy, Fenny is forced to come to terms with both emotional and political realities. Moving from 1933 to 1949, this is a stirring account of Fenny's development and of the experiences which shape the resilient woman she becomes. Taken from the back cover of the 1987 Virago Penguin edition.

This book has an average rating of 4.5 stars, so it looks like a good choice even if it's not an ideal fit.

How's everyone else getting on with this month's topic?

Laski's The Village fits the bill. Persephone. Do you have it? Or have you read it? So does Little Boy Lost by her. But I'm in the same boat. The 40s are one of my favorite eras and I've already read everything. :)

>5 romain: Of her works, I only have The Victorian Chaise Longue, which I enjoyed. But I'm adamant about reading from my shelves for this theme rather than acquiring new books.

I'm reading the final volume in Mark Hocking's WWII trilogy, Welcome Strangers, which follows the members of the extended Fairley family as they struggle to adjust to life after the war. I was originally intending to read for the post-war theme last month but didn't manage to fit it in.

I've just unintentionally read a book that fits this theme - Pirouette by Noel Streatfeild (writing for adults as Susan Scarlett. Published in 1948 it's set post-war and follows Judith Nell as she struggles to decide between a career in ballet or marriage - no possibility of combining the two! It also follows her family - father and elder brother back from the war and readjusting to civilian life, mother struggling with rationing to provide the special diet she believes Judith needs. It's an infuriating book from a feminist point of view, but deals well with the realities of post-war life.

Oh that sounds good, where did you get it?

>9 LyzzyBee: My copy is published by Greyladies. I think I bought it at the Haunted Bookshop in Cambridge some years ago. Unfortunately once their books go out of print they seem to go up astronomically in price.