Peruse any local bookstore, and you'll find shelves lined with historical fiction novels set during WWII. Recreations of famous battles, fictionalized versions of real people, and even soaring romances set amongst the rubble of the war are all available to read. The sheer volume of works centered around the subject can be overwhelming. I've always been fascinated with the history of that time, but I've had mixed results with reading the fiction inspired by it. It was with cautious optimism that I accepted a copy of author Luis Alberto Urrea's latest WWII epic Good Night, Irene from his publisher. It was a wonderfully written novel that separates itself from similar fares by focusing on solid character work and meticulously researched scenes.
The Second World War saw many Americans looking to support the cause in whatever way they could. We've heard countless stories of brave men called to fight for their country, but what about the women? They didn't simply sit at home, waiting for their husbands to return. No, many women participated in the war efforts at home and abroad. Good Night, Irene follows one such group.
Irene has just called things off with an abusive fiance when she decides to join the Red Cross. The year is 1943, and she is enlisting to serve overseas. Lacking the medical training that would be required to be a nurse, Irene is instead placed into a group of women nicknamed the Donut Dollies. She has been paired with Dorothy, a tall, farm-raised woman who is Irene's complete opposite. As they are planted in Europe, their task is simple. The pair drive around the war zone frying donuts, serving coffee, and spreading a bit of hometown goodwill to the men fighting for freedom. What begins as an adventure of a lifetime soon becomes much more real. The realities of war are at hand, and nothing can shield these women from that fact.
Luis Alberto Urrea was inspired to write this novel in part by the life of his late mother. He writes in a forward to the book that at the time of his mother's passing in 1990, she left her journals and scrapbooks that revealed the truth about her time in the great war. That personal connection to the story reveals itself within the careful consideration taken to bring each character to life. Urrea inhabits his novel with real people who you can't help but root for. He combines these characters with heart-racing scenes of the war that more than drive the novel's plot. My only real complaint with this one is that the ending was a bit more sentimental than I anticipated. That doesn't make it bad, but it was a bit of a different tone given everything that preceded it. As I read, I was struck by the similarities of that time with the present day. War is still a plague to humanity, and the reverberating impacts of it continue to ripple across generations. Good Night, Irene is a brilliant tribute to the Greatest Generation and a sobering reminder of the horrors of war.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2023, 33)
Sounds like a dangerous road to take
ReplyDeleteEven with a relatively mundane task, there was no escaping the perils of war.
DeleteI tend to like stories set during WWII if they have some kind of unique element which this one certainly does. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI agree. There are so many in the genre that I have to find something to hook me in. This one did just that.
DeleteYou're right, there is a lot of fiction written set in this time period. I wonder why there isn't more for WWI. This does sounds like a really good one especially with the author's history.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it has something to do with the time that has passed. Urrea's mother was in the war, so that inspired this story. There probably isn't a lot of person to person communication left about WWI.
DeleteI can't keep up with all the WWII historical fiction that's published these days. Some of it starts to feel repetitive after awhile. And it's easy to miss the really good novels hiding among all the mediocre ones. I'm glad Good Night, Irene turned out to be one of the really good ones, and that you found it! I know a little about the Donut Dollies, but have never read a good novel about them. So I'm looking forward to giving this book a try. :D
ReplyDeleteApparently much of the documents around the Donut Dollies was burned in a fire in the 70s. This means that most of their history is passed along orally.
DeleteI know even something simple like donuts & coffee would bring some amount of joy to the soldiers. Sounds like the author's personal connection to the story makes it stand out. I haven't read a WWII novel in a while, and this one sounds very good. Fantastic review!
ReplyDeleteThat sense of normalcy that they bring is so starkly contrasted with the realities of the war. It makes for some powerful moments!
DeleteI love the inspiration for this novel. What a lovely way to remember his mother.
ReplyDeleteRight?! I think that personal connection to the story really shines through in his writing.
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