war

La Brigantessa by Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli

Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli’s ambitious debut novel, La Brigantessa has already garnered awards and nominations, such as the Winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Historical Fiction and Finalist for the 2019 Fred Kerner Book Award. No doubt more recognition will come (best cover art?) for her and La Brigantessa. Update: La Brigantessa’s cover did win an award! See: https://miramichireader.ca/2019/09/2019-very-best-book-awards/

The historical background of this engrossing book is General Garibaldi’s campaign against Rome that led to his wounding and imprisonment after being defeated in the Calabrian mountains of the Aspromonte in 1862.… Continue reading

Patriots, Traitors and Empires: The Story of Korea’s Struggle for Freedom by Stephen Gowans

all the wars fought in the twentieth century, the one I was least familiar with was the Korean War. Odd, because my father-in-law served in Korea with Canadian Forces. With Baraka Books’ 2018 release of Patriots, Traitors and Empires by Stephen Gowans came my opportunity to learn more about the history of Korea, how it came to be divided into North and South and so on.… Continue reading

Letters from Beauly: Pat Hennessy and the Canadian Forestry Corps in Scotland, 1940-1945 by Melynda Jarratt

the Second World War, hundreds of New Brunswick woodsmen joined the Canadian Forestry Corps to log private forests in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Canadian war effort. As the call to war was answered by woodsmen in England and Scotland, it left a skills gap that needed to be filled. So, England looked across the Atlantic for experienced woodsmen. Patrick “Pat” Hennessy of Bathurst was one of them.… Continue reading

Beaumont Hamel, Newfoundland Park by Nigel Cave

The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of WWI. Over one million were killed or wounded from July to November 1916. To commemorate the role of Newfoundland and Labradorian troops fighting near the village of Beaumont Hamel one hundred years ago, Flanker Press has acquired the trade book rights to Nigel Cave’s Beaumont Hamel, Newfoundland Park. The Dominion of Newfoundland (they didn’t become part of Canada until 1949) purchased the 80 acre site of Newfoundland Park after the war, a decision which led to the creation of the finest trench park on the Western Front.… Continue reading

A Beckoning War by Matthew Murphy

According to statistics released by the American Veteran’s Administration, U.S. WWII veterans are dying at the rate of 492 per day. The numbers are likely similar for Canadian service personnel. Either way, in a few years there won’t be many veterans left. Perhaps that is why interest in the Second World War seems to be increasing, whether it be in film or book, fact or fictional.  … Continue reading

Remembrance by Alistair MacLeod

RemembranceRemembrance by Alistair MacLeod

My Goodreads rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first experience reading an Alistair MacLeod story, but it won’t be my last. It is somehow very satisfying to experience a well-written short story (hence the 5 stars). Somerset Maugham was a master at the genre, and so is Mr. McLeod if this, his last published work, is any indication.

Giving a synopsis of the story would give too much away, but it takes place on Remembrance Day, and the tone of the story is appropriately sombre.… Continue reading