The War I Finally Won

The War I Finally Won, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

32/60 | Started 06.27.26 • Finished 07.05.26 | 3.5 stars

So I read a few books between The War That Saved My Life and this sequel. Forgive me. But here we are with Ada and Jamie and Susan, post-London-bombing but right in the thick of WWII. I have to say, I did not enjoy this as much as the first book. Ada's struggles felt more pronounced than they were at the end of the first, almost like she went backwards when things started to steady out around her relationship-wise. I did love the friendship that developed between Ada, Maggie, and Ruth, but there was so much sourness from Ada the rest of the time. Susan remains a strong, loving support throughout everything, and I liked the addition of Lady Thorton to the household. There's also more about horses, along with themes of family, loss, grief, courage, and triumph. I'm glad I read it but it did not live up to the standard of the first book.

Someday I would be grateful. Right now I had no room.

The Calamity Club

The Calamity Club, by Kathryn Stockett

31/60 | Started 06.05.26 • Finished 06.27.26 | 4 stars

This one is not for the faint of heart. It's a story about resiliency in the face of economic instability and uncertainty. About taking matters into your own hands. About female friendship and the power of community. About double standards. About the inequalities between males and females during the 30s. Between blacks and whites.

But it's also about a brothel, sadly. Stockett's characters have a depth of development that makes them easy to picture, and easy to root for, despite what they've chosen for themselves (or had chosen for them). And (most of) the women of The Calamity Club use coarse language when referencing what goes on behind closed doors. However, I do think that everything ends with too neat of a neat bow, with no real consequences or fallout from actions taken. So I would recommend this one with a bit of trepidation, mostly because of the subject matter. Mind your personal triggers!

When the Cranes Fly South

When the Cranes Fly South, by Lisa Ridzén

30/60 | Started 05.31.26 • Finished 06.04.26 | 4 stars

This sad tale centers around Bo, who is home-bound due to his age and failing health. As Bo finds himself with ample time to ruminate about his life, he comes to various realizations about that way he's treated the ones he's loved, and the way they've treated him. Also important in the story is Bo's dog, Sixten. Bo is dedicated to the dog, but Bo's son believes he can no longer adequately care for the dog, and this becomes a point of serious contention between the two men. The conflict does, however, reveal to Bo some of the tensions in his relationship with his son over the years.