Memorable books is an interesting distinction, rather than, say, best books, or favorite books. Memorable books could be awful, or disappointing, or better-in-you-memory-than-they-really-are! But I have chosen books that have stayed with me for all the right reasons. So these might be better, or worse than I remember them – reader beware. But these are a small selection of books that make the cut every time I move (and I move a lot – and have boxes of books in storage all over the world).
CODE NAME VERITY, Elizabeth Wien
A perfect book about true friendship, daring, and suspense in WWII. I’m not sure why it was marketed as a YA book, because the protagonists weren’t teenagers, but this is a fantastic edge-of-your-seat twisty story about two women fighting in WWII.
THE LAST DAY, Glenn Kleier
This was probably the first book that made me seriously stop and think about what I was reading. It’s a little dated now – its a mystery around the Y2K change, and the possible arrival of a new mesiah. When it came out, I recommended it to loads of people and everyone liked it.
CONFESSIONS OF A SPY, Pete Earley
This is a non-fiction book about a reporter given unusual access to a CIA traitor who had caused many lost lives. Aldrich Ames tells his story to Pete Earley. A fascinating tale of how an American became a spy for Russia, and how he was eventually caught.
A WHEEL OF STARS, Laura Gilmour Bennett
Before THE DA VINCI CODE and before Kate Mosse’s LABYRINTH (which has SUCH a similar story I can’t believe no one questioned it at the time), it’s the story in present day (well 1988) and the 13th century about the hiding and search for the holy grail. It’s a simple romance, and not elaborate or clever or sophisticated—but it’s a good solid book upon which all others on the subject seem to have been based.
SHINING THROUGH, Susan Isaacs
This is another great book about a woman fighting in WWII. There was a reasonably okay movie made of the book in the late 80s with Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffiths, but the book is better (of course). Layers of emotion and betrayal and loyalty percolate through this book as the shy, young, jewish Linda Voss is sent into Nazi Germany to retrieve some intel for the allied forces. It’s a gripping unputdownable novel.
Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She’s lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled for the time being, in Germany. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference…well, she already considers you kin.
Emmycurtis.com – Twitter – Facebook – Bookbub – Goodreads
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Jannie Lund - Romance Author 