Fly The Plane, Maddie.

[redbrunja]

I think Code Name Verity has ruined me for all other WWII romances because each time I try to read a novel set in WWII - novels that come with recommendations! - I am terribly, terribly disappointed.

Anyone have recommendations for good WWII romantic adventure novels?

Things I like:

• Ladies having agency and being active both within the narrative and within the world they're living in.
• Attractive gentleman who like ladies with agency.
• Actions! Adventure! Air raids! Passion! Longing!

Things I don't like:

• "romantic heroes" who have to be convinced that the heroine is his equal.
• the author's religious beliefs dripping from every page.

Comments

[empressearwig.livejournal.com]

Hm, well, have you read Montmaray?

And this is a straight romance and may fall under your do not like, though I enjoyed it for the sheer realism, His Very Own Girl by Carrie Lofty.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Montmaray but I've heard it recommended. His Very Own Girl was actually one of the WWII romances I didn't like - I didn't want to spent a book with the heroine convincing the hero that she had a right to fly, especially not when there was another character who was handsome, respectful, and helping her achieve her dreams.

[empressearwig.livejournal.com]

Then that pretty much taps me out because there's not a lot of YA or romance written about that time period. I do understand those objections to His Very Own Girl, but well, it just didn't bother me.

Do give Montmaray a try though. Sophie FitzOsborne is the bees knees.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Do give Montmaray a try though. Sophie FitzOsborne is the bees knees.

I just put it on hold!

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

They are working their way up to WWII, but Jo Graham and Melissa Scott's "Lost Things" series is very good. "Lost Things" is the only book out at the moment, but the others are on their way, and they are excellent. I'm beta-reading Book III right now, and it's the build up to WWII. I think Book IV will actually be the start of it (or nearabouts).

Flying, great characters, magic, archaeology (book I), etc.

Also, no romance at all, but THE BOOK THIEF is really, really good.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Lost Things looks good!

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

This is the book trailer: http://emilykatejohnston.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/waiting-on-wednesday-18/

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it yet but I've heard interesting things about Carrie Lofty's His Very Own Girl. It's actually a romance novel, but it breaks all kinds of genre "rules" as the heroine is a pilot for the Air Transport Authority (like one of the heroines of Verity, I believe?) and the hero is a medic and apparently it gets very realistic about depicting the war setting.

There's an interesting post about it at this excellent blog I recently discovered: http://wonkomance.com/2012/11/08/on-escapism-in-romance-a-case-study/

(Wonkomances, by the way, sound like the kind of books we're interested in! Unconventional and interesting heroines! Not your typical alpha heroes!)

Oops just saw your response up thread. I was actually going to add by the way that it seems like the hero might be a bit difficult about the heroine's job from comments. NVM.

I'm currently reading Cecilia Grant's books and they are SOOO GOOD, btw. Just put up a rave on my LJ this morning of the current one, with a little excerpt because the writing is very sophisticated and striking and different. <3

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

Whatever you do, don't read The Welsh Girl.

Right now, I'm reading Deathless. It's more of a Russian retelling of Persephone, but I'm enjoying it a lot so far. EDIT; Oh wow I completely forgot my point. It's not just WWII, but it has a lot of Russian History crammed into it.

http://www.amazon.com/Deathless-Catherynne-M-Valente/dp/0765326310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359358119&sr=1-1&keywords=Deathless (http://www.amazon.com/Deathless-Catherynne-M-Valente/dp/0765326310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359358119&sr=1-1&keywords=Deathless)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

You know, I was halfway through the book when I had to return it to the library. I really need to put it on hold again.

[purple_bug.livejournal.com]

Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but have you read The Night Watch by Sarah Waters? It's sadder than you'd probably like from a WWII romance, and it kinda goes in reverse chronological order, but I really enjoyed it. Cos Sarah Waters writes brilliantly.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

That looks sad but good... and a lesbian ambulance driver? I'm intrigued.

[nocturnalrites.livejournal.com]

Hi, there! Long time no hear, I know.

Have you ever read Shining Through, by Susan Isaacs? (Yes, I know they made a movie, but the book is completely different. Also better.) It probably falls more into the category of 'women's fiction' rather than straight romance, but the characterization's great and I bet you'd like it. And it does have an HEA. :) Oh, and it has all of what you required, in spades.

(Sorry for the edits.)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Shining Through looks very interesting! Thanks for the rec.

Oh, and it has all of what you required, in spades.


Then I'll love it. ^_^

[nocturnalrites.livejournal.com]

Let me know if/when you get a chance to read it. It's so seldom I actually get other people to read books I've really enjoyed!

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Anti-rec because you'll probably come across it looking for awesome ladies in WW II and it seems good at first glance: Flygirl. Starts out interesting, but then the engine stalls and it never gets off the ground.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I have read that, and your anti-rec is accurate.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Books like that that miss the mark annoy me more than ones that are outright bad. Like All Men of Genius -- how the hell do you write a book that makes steampunk seem implausible and be both pro-gay and anti-lesbian in tone?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

how the hell do you write a book that makes steampunk seem implausible and be both pro-gay and anti-lesbian in tone?

Wild guess, misogyny?

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Sort of, but it was really surprising to find in a book whose premise was about an awesome female lead. It was really really weird -- heroine is 17, an awesome scientist, and wants to go to a men-only mad scientist school, so she disguises herself as her brother. Both a 16-year-old girl and the 30-year-old headmaster fall for "him", but while the 16-year-old is dismissed by the text as being just a kid who doesn't realize she's not really in love, the heroine (one year older) totally is in love with the guy who stole her work, doesn't realize her gender, AND IS THE FREAKING HEADMASTER.

Also I don't think I'm a prude but there was no narrative reason to know the fetish of every secondary character.