by Anthony Doerr
This epic WWII story is one of the best you will ever read. The characters stand out as very real, and the setting in France comes to life. Like another favorite, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, this book will become one of my most highly recommended historical fiction novels. It has been made into a limited series, which is also quite good- but of course the book is better! I read this one back in 2016 but re-read with my book club. Still 5 stars! - Libby H
My go-to recommendation for historical fiction. Primarily set in France during World War II, the story shifts between two characters, Marie-Louise, a blind girl living in Paris, and Werner, a German orphan with a gift for building and fixing things.
There are some books that stay with you long after you have finished them; like you lived in them instead of merely reading them. The experience is felt and not easily put into words...which makes writing a recommendation a little difficult.
Maybe the most beautifully written novel I have ever read, richly detailed but never feeling too dense. I cannot recommend this book enough! - Tim F