Devon Book Club discussion

Regeneration Trilogy (Pat Barker), All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Remarque), To The End of the Land (David Grossman), The Lie (Helen Dunmore); just a few of the books that remind us of the tragedy of war, of the debt we owe to those who lost thier lives in our defence, and of the importance of learning from all conflict

My favourite genre, WWI fiction. The 'big name' you didn't mention of course is Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks.
Regeneration trilogy (with The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road) is some of the best of the genre in my opinion.
As mentioned in my 'welcome forum' post, this year I have also read another Pat Barker - Toby's Room - and My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young, both of which take pioneering facial reconstruction surgery and visual artists as their themes.

I'm looking forward to reading a different perspective in the form of A God in Every Stone.

Anna wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading a different perspective in the form of A God in Every Stone."

Read that a few months ago. be interested in your thoughts on it when you read it. I like Kamila Shamsie - though I preferred Burnt Shadows.

A comment from the Facebook page recommending Testament of Youth. Has anyone read it?

Ian wrote: "Regeneration Trilogy (Pat Barker), All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Remarque), To The End of the Land (David Grossman), The Lie (Helen Dunmore); just a few of the books that remind us of the t..."

Haven't read it for many years, but really liked All Quiet on the Western Front.

Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "Regeneration Trilogy (Pat Barker), All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Remarque), To The End of the Land (David Grossman), The Lie (Helen Dunmore); just a few of the books that remind..."

agree All Quiet on the Western Frontis a wonderful book. Very moving. not just the account of life in the trenches but especially the scene when he returns to the relative normality of his village, and where life has not really changed. The sense of disconnect with the horror and reality of war was palpable. Also, told from a German soldiers perspective is a reminder of the accident that is nationhood.

Still on the German topic, but slightly different. Do you remember Heimat on the TV some years ago. I don't know if it was originally a novel, but have only seen the film. Loved all the detail of German life. It was beautifully filmed.
The other German production which I loved was that of the U boat and its crew in WW2. Das Boot, I think it was called.

Carol wrote: "Still on the German topic, but slightly different. Do you remember Heimat on the TV some years ago. I don't know if it was originally a novel, but have only seen the film. Loved all the detail of G..."

I do remember - no idea whether it was a book though