Gone to Soldiers
This sweeping New York Times bestseller is “the most thorough and most captivating, most engrossing novel ever written about World War II” (Los Angeles Times). Epic in scope, Marge Piercy’s sweeping novel encompasses the wide range of people and places marked by the Second World War. Each of her ten narrators has a unique and compelling story that powerfully depicts his or her personality, desires, and fears. Special attention is given to the women of the war effort, like Bernice, who rebels against her domineering father to become a fighter pilot, and Naomi, a Parisian Jew sent to live with relatives in Detroit, whose twin sister, Jacqueline—still in France—joins the resistance against Nazi rule. The horrors of the concentration camps; the heroism of soldiers on the beaches of Okinawa, the skies above London, and the seas of the Mediterranean; the brilliance of code breakers; and the resilience of families waiting for the return of sons, brothers, and fathers are all conveyed through powerful, poignant prose that resonates beyond the page. Gone to Soldiers is a testament to the ordinary people, with their flaws and inner strife, who rose to defend liberty during the most extraordinary times.
Gone to Soldiers
Holocaust Literature: Lerner to Zychlinsky, index
Review: "This encyclopedia offers an authoritative and comprehensive survey of the important writers and works that form the literature about the Holocaust and its consequences. The collection is alphabetically arranged and consists of high-quality biocritical essays on 309 writers who are first-, second-, and third-generation survivors or important thinkers and spokespersons on the Holocaust. An essential literary reference work, this publication is an important addition to the genre and a solid value for public and academic libraries."--"The Top 20 Reference Titles of the Year," American Libraries, May 2004
A Collar Well Worn
"A Collar Well Worn" is the work of an ninety year old Catholic priest who spent more than thirty years each in civilian ministry and another thirty years as an Air Force chaplain. Rev. Paul F. McDonald has knitted together sixty years of events from the 20th century, by describing stories about those periods, the geography and history of places where he lived and served, some of the notable people he had known during fifteen assignments and a few dozen temporary duty assignments in Western Europe, the Pacific region, and the United States. He served the Catholic Church and his Country, during and after the dynamic times of the Second Vatican Council, 1962-65, during this time he listened to his people in a collaborative ministry in bringing about the necessary pastoral and liturgical changes. Such reforms, and others, continue to shape a revitalized church, and a resilient people who feel empowered as the 'people of God' to work with all people of good will. Surely, such an abundance of experiences provide a panorama of a life's journey in the service of God, Church, and Country, during which time he was proud to wear "A Collar Well Worn."
Waking Up from War
Voices and stories of veterans, their families, and their care providers, reveal what is necessary for postwar healing This book argues that the elements that contribute to healing war trauma—including safety, connection, community, dialogue, mutual respect, diversity, and compassion—can help build a stronger nation. But this message comes with a warning and a challenge not just for caregivers, veterans service organizations, governmental departments, Congress, and the White House, but for all Americans. War creates incalculable suffering—not only among those on the front lines, but also among those left behind. For every soldier killed or injured on the battlefield, countless others are affected—particularly relatives and friends—often in isolation and silence. As a nation, the U.S. must do everything it can to repair the injuries caused by war, whether physical, emotional, or moral, both for those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and for the country itself. Only after the nation provides the top-quality care our veterans have earned will we be able to begin to end our reliance on war and truly build a durable peace.
