This list is a bit of an interesting one, in my opinion, as it is about books that are both true and fiction at the same time, or rather fictionalized versions of true events and people. More specifically about things that happened during WWII which is a fascinating if sad time frame to read about. I had a bit of a hard time with this selection as I wanted to pick three books that fit my criteria for the list while also being different enough there would still be something to appeal to everyone on it. While all of these books are based on either true events or true people, they are not necessarily accurate or faithful to those events or people though they all still provide an interesting read.
- Schindler’s List
My first choice is going to be the most accurate of the three I have chosen and though it is categorized as fiction it feels and reads more like nonfiction. It is Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally. You have probably heard of the movie even if you haven’t heard of the book. This one is based heavily on true events and people as it is about a German businessman who purposely set out to deceive the Nazi party about what was going on in his factories and work camps in regards to the Jewish population assigned there. He went out of his way and to great expense to take care of all the ones he could. I will admit that this is also the saddest one of the three I have chosen by a wide margin but that it is still a fascinating read as it helps show how humanity and empathy are still there even in the darkest of circumstances. This is not necessarily an easy read considering the content but it is worth the consideration nonetheless. As I said it is considered a fictionalized version of events but only because the author acknowledges how hard it is to verify specifics of what happened. This will not be the case with my other two choices.
2. Code Name Helene
My second choice is quite a bit different though in many ways still on the sad side of things and it is Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon. This book tells the slightly fictionalized story of a journalist working in France prior to the war who fell in love and married a Frenchman. Refusing to leave him behind they end up staying in France during the occupation but secretly helping the resistance wherever possible. It is told in two different timelines so it also tells the story of what happened after she had to leave France and then decided to return with the British Intelligence service and work even closer with the French Resistance. As you can imagine this book is not quite as dark and depressing as the previous one tends to be but it does still have its moments. I say that because it deals with the atrocities committed by the Nazis in France during the occupation. It does have a different feel to it than the previous book as this one feels more like a fictional story than a real story and is presented as such. In many ways it stays faithful to the persona of the journalist turned spy even as it fudges dates and other similar details in order to weave a compelling story.
3. The Underground Library
My final choice is the most interesting one for this list as it is only loosely based on a true event. The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan tells the story of a library in London that moved to the underground after it was bombed during the Blitz. Here’s the thing, there was an actual library that did exactly that but it was not the library depicted in the story and it was not staffed by the characters in the book. This means that the book is more inspired by then based on though it still provides an interesting read nonetheless. There are a few other smaller things throughout the book that are similar but overall the story itself is fictional which sets it apart from the other two books on my list. I honestly wasn’t sure about including this one but it still felt like a good choice. It feels a lot like the second book as it reads like a story, makes sense considering it is one but still. A good choice though and helps highlight the diversity of events and people that were around during the war as well highlighting the resolve of the people. Each of these books covers a different area and different series of events as well so it provides a nice coverage. Hopefully you will find something interesting to read out of the three. As always, let me know what you think in the comments.