Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past.
~ T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets (also quoted in All Clear)
I should have saved my post about military bands for this Monday, it being Memorial Day and all, but I didn't plan ahead.
I will tell you about Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis, which are primarily set during World War II. They are really one book divided into two parts. I wouldn't say these books about time-traveling historians are for everybody, but they were completely my cup of tea. I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of them. They are some seriously complicated books. I loved learning details about life during the war.
At the heart of these stories, though, is an exploration of what it means to be a hero. Really beautiful books for Memorial Day, or any day.
Can't wait to share these books with my dad! Thank you, Connie Willis.
Addendum: I didn't mention Willis' Doomsday Book because it didn't fall under my Memorial Day theme, but I *loved* it. It explains how the time-travel process works, and I'm sending it to my dad first.
I'm reading her "To Say Nothing of the Dog" right now. Also time travelers in that one.
ReplyDeleteBlackout by Connie Willis; audible version; didn't have a plot until 3/4 of the way through, lots of characters, characters didn't use much in the way of common sense, lots of technology errors.... and yet I still really liked this story. Mostly set in WW II London during the Blitz, Willis (despite her research errors) sets an evocative scene and builds compelling story-lines. I will definitely be listening to the second half of the story All Clear.
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