WHY WE REMEMBER & READ

Remember. Honour. Give thanks. Every November, the appearance of bright red poppies on lapels reminds us of the sacrifice of others. It’s an opportunity for us all to pause, even for one precious minute, and think about the selfless, the heroes, the generous brave who have fought—and are still fighting—for our peace and protection. And for the book lovers among us, we can remember by reading and immersing ourselves in stories of that unimaginable era and allowing our hearts to bubble with gratitude…

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

May we never forget.

As a fiction author, I truly appreciate the power of story. I also have a fascination and fondness for WWII fiction—it is history, yet not so terribly long ago. For many of us, our grandparents were right there, up close and personal. We are blessed to still even have a few in our midst who experienced the war first-hand or have at least relayed to others many vivid details of life in those turbulent years. When we take time to read about it, even in a fictional account, it helps to keep their memories alive. It keeps us humble and grateful.

I have a stack of fiction books I can recommend, including these:

If you’re curious, you can find my Goodreads reviews on them here:

THE NIGHTINGALE, EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN, and THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS.

It seems fitting to highlight this one today as it’s a story based on remembering the lost:

THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES by Kristin Harmel

(Click for my affiliate link on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca for no extra cost to you—affiliate details are here.)

MY REVIEW: “Inspired by a true story from WWII, this split time book beautifully portrays the power of resilience and remembrance. When Eva, a semi-retired librarian, stumbles upon an image of a precious book from her past, she knows she must leave Florida and make a return trip to Europe where painful memories will be unearthed. Only Eva can reveal the truth about her days in war-torn France as a young forger helping Jewish children flee to the safety of Switzerland—and the book that holds the names of those who must never be forgotten.”

Friend, as we pledge not to forget the sacrifices made by others, may we rest in the assurance that we have a God who never forgets. That you and I are not forgotten by Him either:

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” Isaiah 49:16a

None are forgotten by the Father.

How can He possibly forget us when we are engraved on the palms of His hands?

Just like those who have gone before us, we are seen, we are loved, we are known by Him. In 2020 and always.

Remember.

P.S. If you would like TWENTY fiction book recommendations, I have a freebie for you! Sign up HERE for my monthly newsletter and receive my 20 FICTION FAVORITES suggestions, complete with reviews!