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Jill G. Hall's avatar

These are great titles that have become classics. I'm so glad readers during the ward had them during the Blitz.

The Unread Shelf's avatar

I love that War and Peace shows up not because it's great but because it'll last you dozens of nights in a shelter. Length isn't a literary quality anymore, it's a supply calculation, alongside the thermos and the carrot. And you don't stop to point at it, which is exactly right.

Leslie R. Schover's avatar

Noel Streatfield’s “Shoes” books were favorites of mine as a child, especially Ballet Shoes with Posy Fossil.

Kathryn Lang Slattery's avatar

I love that you are familiar with Streatfield's children's books! As a child being raised by a very strict mother, I always liked stories of orphans. Two of my favorites were Heidi and Nancy and Plum.

Leslie R. Schover's avatar

Oh dear! My mother actually encouraged my reading and used to help me find library books that she read as a girl.