MEMORIAL DAY
By: Maggie Laubscher
Memorial Day is a singular American holiday, one where we pause and take a breath to remember those who’ve died fighting in our military. Don’t forget the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. And to those who have served our military, we see you, we salute you, and we thank you.
Need a book recommendation? In honor of Memorial Day, we’ve rounded up our favorite books inspired by the art and sacrifice of war. These books aren’t all specific to American war, we chose to highlight our favorites across the globe. After all, at the end of the day, war is universal and we are all in this together. Love you, Nellies!
The things they carried by tim o’brien
A beautiful series of short stories about the Vietnam War, this classic novel is worth a read or a revisit. It draws you in as a reader, making the stories personal yet universal at the same time. One of our favorite quotes from it that seems especially relevant for Memorial Day: “War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead.”
Regeneration book trilogy by pat barker
This series of three novels from the 1990s addresses World War I and its devastating impact. It includes Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, and The Ghost Road, the last of which won the prestigious Booker Prize. Barker is a fantastic author and her work is described as direct and sometimes blunt. Publishers Weekly said of the trilogy that it’s "a triumph of an imagination at once poetic and practical."
The time of doves by mercÈ rodoreda
This 1986 novel set during the Spanish Civil War clips along at a beautiful pace. It centers around a young female shop owner and how she navigates through this turbulent time in history. Rodoreda is a powerhouse of a writer; if you haven’t dipped into her words, now is the time. From Gabriel García Márquez, “The most beautiful novel published in Spain since the Civil War.”
SAND QUEEN BY HELEN BENEDICT
Set during the Iraq War, this 2012 novel paints a searing portrait of life for female soldiers. In writing the novel, Benedict interviewed female soldiers and Iraqis. The resulting story is one of courage, hope and heartbreak. From Booklist, “Funny, shocking, painful, and, at times, deeply disturbing, Sand Queen takes readers beyond the news and onto the battlefield.”
SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE BY KURT VONNEGUT
A Vonnegut classic from 1969, this anti-war novel was ahead of its time in blending genres. It follows American soldier Billy Pilgrim through World War II, including the Dresden firebombing and his time as a prisoner of war. The New York Times wrote at the time, “You'll either love it or push it back in the science-fiction corner.” It’s also been included in Time magazine's ‘100 Best Novels’ list.