Where does Ukraine find such courage and toughness to stand up for months against Russia’s invasion?
I’m no expert on Ukraine, but we can understand a nation’s current behavior better by learning about its past through the eyes (and words) of people who lived through that time.
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv, a recent novel by Erin Litteken, offers a compelling fictionalized story of a Ukrainian family, offering a window on the dealings of Stalin’s Soviet Union (Russia’s name then) with Ukraine in the 20th century (certainly an influence on the events of 2022).
This time-split novel begins in two times and places:
Wisconsin, 2004: Cassie, a Ukrainian-American, and her young daughter, Birdie, move in with Cassie’s Ukrainian grandmother, Bobby, after Cassie’s husband dies suddenly. Cassie struggles to understand her grandmother’s peculiarities, even as she grieves her husband’s death and faces the challenge of a possible new relationship.
Ukraine, 1929:Dictator Joseph Stalin begins to create collective farms and control agriculture in the Soviet Union by eliminating kulaks (prosperous peasants). Katya, her family and community try to maintain their lives and values as their situation grows worse by the day.
Characters:
They’re developed well, each with a unique perspective, strengths, and flaws.
Their interactions create anengaging story that kept me reading.
I especially related to Katya, one of the protagonists, who struggled between her desire for justice and her need to stay silent to survive.
Strengths:
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv, Erin Litteken’s debut novel, is a page-turner, providing a vivid portrayal of life in a fictional Ukrainian village around the time of Ukraine’s Holodomor (the Great Famine created by Stalin).
Weakness:
As the granddaughter of a Ukrainian refugee, the author understandably sympathizes with her Ukrainian characters. However, the novel would come across as more balanced if the Russian soldiers and collaborators showed more doubts about their actions, remorse, and perhaps a hint of compassion for their victims.
Content review:
This novel describes horrific cruelties inflicted by Stalin’s soldiers and local collaborators, so I suggest it to mature readers.
I recommend The Memory Keeper of Kyivto readers who wish to understand this period in Ukraine’s history, and who aren’t put off by descriptions of violence and cruelty.
Reader, can you suggest other books about Ukraine?
Have you heard of (or seen the movie about) the Monuments Men, the special force of Americans and Brits assembled after Germany’s World War II defeat?
They rushed to recover artwork stolen and hidden by the Nazis. It’s a suspenseful story that has found its way into numerous novels.
The Roses Underneath, set in Wiesbaden, Germany, in August, 1945, explores a less widely-known aspect of this story: the involvement of German civilians in the effort to return stolen art to its rightful owners.
This novel, the first in the Anna Klein trilogy by C.F. Yetmen, reveals the conflicts and complications faced by Germans as they interacted with the American military that defeated the Nazis.
During World War II, Germans had been treated as traitors if they opposed the Nazis.
Now, to gain the trust of Americans (and secure employment to rescue them from destitution), German civilians need to prove their loyalty to the mission of the Monuments Men.
Characters:
I appreciated this novel’s realistic portrayal of its characters, revealing both their virtues and faults. The difficult decisions they faced force readers to consider the choices they would make in such situations.
Anna Klein – the protagonist, she’s torn between love for her idealistic socialist husband and her fear of what will happen to her young daughter and herself as the Soviet Army advances
Amalia – Anna’s intelligent six-year-old daughter who would have preferred to stay with her father in Soviet-occupied Thuringia
Captain Cooper – an American architect working for the Monuments Men, he becomes Anna’s boss; his moral compass and gut feelings guide his actions, frequently causing problems in the military chain-of-command environment.
Emil Schilling – a disillusioned German soldier who lost his fingertips to frostbite in Leningrad, he returns to Germany and scrounges for employment
Frieda Schilling – Emil’s sister who provides daycare for Amalia
Oskar – orphaned German boy Anna discovers hanging around a villa; he resists Anna’s efforts to help him
Ludwig Schneider – German art dealer who tries to hide his thefts of art during the war so he can work for Monuments Men
Gerhard Heinrich (aka Schenk) – former gallery owner whose greed threatens Anna
Madeleine Wolf – best friend of Anna’s deceased mother ; she takes in Anna and Amalia after they walk to Wiesbaden
Strengths:
Exciting story set in an eventful era
Dives deeply into the period and the Monuments Men
Distinct characters with complex motivations and stories
Weakness:
Anna took chances that didn’t seem believable for a cautious woman who’d been living under Nazi rule for years.
Content review:
Contains some profanity and mention of sexual exploitation during and after World War II
Bottom Line:
This novel entertained me with its panoply of characters and plot twists, educated me about the plight of Germans after World War II, and challenged me to think about how I would respond in similar circumstances. I recommend it to readers who enjoy an exciting history-based story with depth of setting and characters.
In my own writing news:
If you’d like to be among the first to read my latest novel, I’m looking for fans of historical fiction to join my team of beta readers and early reviewers. Please contact me here!
Reader,can you recommend books where vanquished people become heroes?
If you could free someone from slavery only by lying and breaking the law, would you do it?
Many American Quakers (and others) faced this choice in the 1800s (until the Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery in 1863)—should they help enslaved people escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad?
Quakers valued every human.
So why would they have conflicting views about participating in the Underground Railroad’s efforts to smuggle escaped slaves to freedom?
This novel, set in the antebellum era, shows the surprising turns of Honor’s life as she confronts the realities of slavery, unexpected challenges, and wrenching decisions. The Last Runaway portrays Underground Railroad participants (and their opponents) as complex, fallible individuals facing danger and difficult choices (far from depictions as one-dimensional heroes).
Women immigrants’ fraught position in this era emerges clearly in this novel. When a foreign-born woman found herself alone in the U.S., even within an established community from her original culture, she was likely to face extremely limited choices:
In the best situation, she would marry a kind, compatible man
Frequently women had to marry whomever was locally available
If marriage wasn’t an option, she could survive only by becoming a servant or prostitute
Characters:
Honor Bright, the protagonist—I admired this young English Quaker who travels to America with her sister. She survives major shocks and increasingly takes agency of her life.
Donovan—the villain, a slave catcher who is romantically interested in Honor. Occasionally, he shows a spark of humanity, making readers wonder if his feelings for Honor will turn him into a hero.
Belle Mills—Donovan’s sister, an intelligent, free-spirited woman in many ways the opposite of her brother; she runs a millinery shop. In many ways, she’s the true heroine of the story because of the sacrifices she makes for others.
Judith Haymaker—Quaker matriarch; she appears cold and heartless, until readers learn her backstory.
Jack Haymaker—Judith’s young adult son; the story shows his maturing process, over time making his character more sympathetic.
Mrs. Reed—formerly enslaved woman who escaped, settled in Ohio and assisted Underground Railroad; her initial wariness and evolving relationship with Honor reveal the complexity of her character, as well as how Honor matures. Her strength and hard-earned wisdom eventually made her a sympathetic character.
Strengths:
The Last Runaway is a poignant story of how individuals dealt with the harsh realities of their times. The specific details bring to life the setting and era.
Weakness:
Given the extreme risks of participation in the Underground Railroad, the author’s portrayal of several of the Quaker characters in a negative light, relative to their sympathy for Honor or their position on helping slaves escape, seems a bit harsh.
Content review:
This is a story for adults, with sexual content woven into the story.
Recommendation:
The Last Runaway is a fascinating but emotionally difficult novel, forcing readers to consider how they would have navigated the few choices and stark consequences Honor found in the U.S. in the mid-1800s. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy such a challenge.
Reader, two questions for you:
Would you have risked your future or even your life to help an enslaved person escape to freedom?
Have you read other novels about the Underground Railroad that you recommend?
Behind the marble statues, were Martha and George Washington truly the heroic figures revered in legends?
In honor of Mother’s Day (in the U.S.), we focus on Washington’s Lady, a novel about Martha Custis Washington, a woman who perhaps should be known as “Mother of our Country” (for the support she gave her husband, George Washington, commonly called “Father of our Country”).
Washington’s Lady brings to life this famous couple and their era. This novel clearly shows the great sacrifices both Martha and George made in the struggle for independence from England, including separation for months at a time, and the emotional and financial costs to their family.
The author paints a vivid word portrait of Martha, beginning with her days as a young widow and mother, followed by the unfolding of her life with George and the years after his death.
Characters:
My take on Martha:
Initially, Martha didn’t evoke much sympathy from me, because of her wealth and expensive tastes.
Martha’s coddling of herson, Jacky, contrasts with her strict treatmentof her daughter, Patsy. This emerges as her major flaw in this story. Jacky’s portrayal as a spoiled child made me hope he would mature and change. The consequences of his upbringing become clear as time passes.
As the story progresses, Martha matures through her struggles, dealing with difficult family members, deaths of many loved ones, and her restricted position as a woman of her time.
Ultimately, Martha’s character shines, especially as George’s partner and helpmate, sacrificing 16 years of life together at Mount Vernon with her beloved husband for the cause of independence and the new nation.
George’s character is more realistic and human than in legends, but he still comes across as an amazingly high-mindedfigure whose sense of duty and honor evokes admiration.
Strengths:
This novel tells an engaging story, humanizing both Martha and George, and provides insights into the couple’s personalities, spirituality, family members, and the course of the American Revolution.
Weakness:
In this era, the lack of complete written records about some characters and events can leave mysteries in the minds of readers (not the author’s fault, though).
Content review:
Washington’s Lady contains descriptions of wartime injuries, and it doesn’t shy away from revealing characters’ flaws and misdeeds, but bedroom doors remain closed.
Recommendation:
I recommend the well-crafted Washington’s Lady to readers who, like me, enjoy a vicarious journey through individuals’ lives and historic events, seen through the eyes of participants.
Keep reading for a brief interview with Nancy Moser, the author of Washington’s Lady!
Reader, can you recommend a great historical novel about a mother?
Happy Mother’s Day to you if you’re a mother! May we all reflect on the contributions our mothers or mother-figures have made to our lives!
Washington’s Lady, by Nancy Moser
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH NANCY MOSER:
What drew you to Martha Custis Washington as the protagonist for a novel?
My husband and I took a trip to Williamsburg and Mt. Vernon. Walking around in that atmosphere, seeing the workers in costume . . . it really made me want to write about that time period. I’ve always been patriotic and I’ve always been impressed with the risks the first colonists were faced with. The choices. Freedom is the bedrock of our country, so finding out about the men and women who created that freedom was enticing.
I chose Martha instead of George because I was writing a Women of History series (shameless plug here: I started out with Mozart’s Sister about Nannerl Mozart, then went on to write Just Jane about Jane Austen, and How Do I Love Thee about Elizabeth Barrett Browning.) I was looking for honorable women to write about. Martha fits that bill. People know about George, but little about her. Plus, she’s always depicted as this petite, rather frumpy in-the-shadows woman. That’s not the kind of woman George would be attracted to. So I set the record straight.
You mentioned that Martha burned her correspondence with George. Without these letters, what research sources enabled you to create such a complete portrait of their relationship and life together?
I found a dozen history books about the Washingtons, the war, and the colonists. The people in those books shared the common attributes of courage and purpose. My own relatives fought in that war. When I write I always put myself in the shoes of the characters. I feel what they feel. Knowing the history and feeling all the emotions they must have felt . . . it helped me bring Martha to life.
Here are a few of the books I mentioned in the Fact or Fiction at the back of the book: The General and Mrs. Washington by Bruce Chadwick, Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty by Helen Bryan, Martha Washington by Patricia Brady, and The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life by Harlow Giles Unger.
What was your biggest surprise in researching this story?
How much George and Martha had to be apart. All those winters. All those years where she was left alone at Mt. Vernon. That, added to all the personal losses she endured . . . she had to buck it up and play the very difficult hand she’d been dealt. She didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t call a therapist, read a self-help book, arrange for grocery delivery, or even call George. She had to depend on herself and her God. It made me wonder if I would be so strong.
When you write about real people from the past, how much do you need to alter their life details to make their stories work as novels?
That depends. Many times there are conflicting historical details. As I mentioned in the Fact or Fiction section, during such times I had to make a choice of which version to believe. And of course, there’s the huge issue of what they said because much of what I write is dialogue. That’s where I had to make it up. Yet since I knew the history I could write logical conversations that would lead the story in that direction. How I’d love to talk to Martha and George today. They would be in awe of what their country has become, but they’d also be appalled. We need to regain our courage to fight for what is right and good. We have the potential. Every day I pray that our country taps into its strong, indomitable roots.
What were the most challenging aspects of writing this novel?
The research! I’m more of a seat-of-the-pants writer. I take a basic idea, cast the story, then let the characters take over. I’m usually surprised by the ending! But with these women of history I felt a huge responsibility to portray their lives as correctly as I could manage. I wanted to honor them while I showed the world their strengths and weaknesses, their triumphs and mistakes, their doubts and faith, and their sheer gumption to do the best they could. I was their voice.
I have a plaque in my office that says, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Unfortunately, that’s true. It was hard to find honorable women to write about because the ones who are listed in history books (that would have name recognition to readers) are the ones who bucked the system in ways that were often scandalous. My ladies were women of good character and strong faith. I was honored to write about them.
What did you enjoy about writing this novel?
I grew to really like Martha. I got her. Sometimes for fun I think about having Martha in the car with me as I do errands. All the things I’d show her as I wore jeans and comfy shoes, as I put on my sunglasses. No corsets or petticoats in sight! She’d marvel at the paved roads and traffic lights; the cars with air conditioning, cup holders, massaging seats, and music (or movies!); the grocery stores with hundreds of thousands of things to choose from. Then we’d go home and put the food away in the fridge and freezer, and I’d make her some lasagna or enchiladas, defrosting the meat in the microwave. Then we’d watch this miraculous thing called a television while I emailed a friend on the other side of the world. I’d send them a selfie of Martha and me . . . Wouldn’t that be fun?
What would you like readers to take away from reading Washington’s Lady?
The sacrifice of the colonists who fought for us. They had no idea if their ideas would work, if they would be victorious or hanged as a traitor, but they fought anyway. We’re all comfy in our lives right now. We can get involved or choose to let someone else do it. Each of us needs to dig deep and find our own courage to sacrifice and risk and strive to make things better.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
The common thread in all my forty-some novels is that God has given each of us a unique purpose. The trick is to find out what it is. Seek God, discover your purpose, and the rest will fall into place.
Thank you, Nancy Moser, for sharing your writing process for Washington’s Lady!
As I write, Poland is playing a heroic role—welcoming, sheltering, and educating refugees from its besieged neighbor, Ukraine.
Much of the world admires this generosity. Is it simply charity on Poland’s part?
Both fiction and non-fiction can help us understand Poland’s attitude.
The non-fiction side:
Experts point to Poles’ sense that they face a common threat from Russia.
Poles viewUkrainians as freedom fighters against Russia, and they relate to that identity.
Poles’ welcome of Ukrainian refugees feels like self-defense—that they’re helping Ukraine struggle against Russia’s invasion.
Why should Poland feel threatened?
Poland’s geography—its proximity to Germany and Russia placed its people and culture in harm’s way for invasion by both powerful armies.
Poland suffered grievously during and after World War II. Not many of us were alive then, but eyewitnesses and historians have provided detailed accounts.
Historical fiction can immerse us in past events and eras through the eyes, ears, and emotions of people who lived or might have lived through those times.
This month, we feature a short discussion and review of The Warsaw Orphan: A WWII novel by Kelly Rimmer. This 2021 publication was inspired by Irena Sendler, the heroic Polish nurse who saved thousands of Jewish children.
Reader, what heroic actions have inspired you?
May the heroic deeds we read about inspire us to act courageously to help those in need!
The Warsaw Orphan, a compelling novel set in Warsaw during and after the WWII German occupation, skillfully weaves together the contrasting lives, interactions, and story arcs of its protagonists:
Elzbieta/Emilia—almost 14
She lives in a comfortable apartment
Her life appears stable, but she must conceal her true identity
Roman Gorka—the teenage son of a Jewish family forced to cram into the ghetto
He works at a sewing machine to make uniforms
He’s idealistic about changing the world, but must pay a heavy price under Poland’s repressive conquerors
Two sympathetic supporting characters immediately emerge:
Sara—a nurse and social worker whose hidden work is smuggling babies and children out of the ghetto
Chaim (aka Pigeon)—He becomes Roman’s best friend and rescues him, time after time
Later in the novel, two other characters’ personal journeys also elicited my sympathy:
Truda—Elzbieta’s adoptive mother
Uncle Piotr—a wealthy businessman who deals with the Nazis to make profits
He supports Elzbieta’s family and sacrifices for them
Author Kelly Rimmer portrays her characters with historical accuracy as complex, fallible people, and readers will identify with their struggles.
A warning: with its many tense scenes and threats to the characters, this novel was difficult to put down.
Content review: This novel describes the violence of war, including sexual violence, and a detailed portrayal of conditions in the Warsaw ghetto.
If you persevere through the difficult moments of this time and place, The Warsaw Orphan will reward you with powerful emotional experiences.
Sometimes the unlikeliest people rise to the moment and surprise the world with their heroism, whether it’s
a Hebrew shepherd boy named David whose only weapons are a sling and stones
a mild-mannered newspaper reporter named Clark Kent
or a comedian-turned-president of a threatened nation
This month, we focus on one such unlikely scientific hero: Rosalind Franklin, an early-20th century British biochemist.
Her passion for science led her down a challenging and improbable path for a woman in that time.
Her research in France and England led to groundbreaking discoveries in science and medicine:
DNA (brought revolutionary advances in understanding disease pathways and genetic disorders, as well as the formulation of new drugs)
RNA (brought great advances in understanding viruses blighting agricultural crops, as well as the virus that causes polio)
What inspired me, a non-scientist, to read Her Hidden Genius, Marie Benedict’s fictionalized account of Rosalind Franklin’s life and scientific career?
Rosalind Franklin was an underdog—a woman forging a scientific career in an era when society and her family pressured her to choose a more traditional, family-oriented life
Her perseverance, work ethic, and scientific rigor, in spite of the skepticism she faced as a woman scientist in her era
Author Marie Benedict maintains an even-handed perspective on Rosalind and the controversy relating to other scientists’ use of her findings without giving her credit. Other writers have portrayed Rosalind either in a negative light or as a saint.
Her conflicts with others revealed hercore principles
Well-painted settings, in Paris and London
A well-written story that humanized Rosalind and held my interest
Strong characters:
Heroes of the story were Rosalind and the men and women who supported her in her life and the race to map the structure of DNA.
The scientists and family members who treated her badly came across as villains. Their attitudes and behavior weren’t uncommon in that era, but still shocked me.
Fyi for this novel:
You’ll encounter basic scientific explanations of Rosalind Franklin’s projects, since science played such a big role in her life
Content Rating—mild + for brief kissing
My recommendation:
If you enjoy a story that immerses you in an earlier time period, takes you inside the main character’s psyche so you experience the highs and lows of her emotions and life, and if you have at least a passing interest in how science progressed, Her Hidden Genius is a book for you.
