Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Given that today is Remembrance Day, which commemorates the end of World War I and is also known is Armistice Day or Veterans Day depending on which country you live in, I will be sharing ten books about this war in my post. I tried to pick books about this subject that aren’t as well known.
War isn’t something I like to read about, so this still fits the original “books outside of my comfort zone” theme as well!
1. The Wounded World: W. E. B. Du Bois and the First World War by Chad L. Williams
2. The First World War in Posters, from the Imperial War Museum, London by Joseph Darracott
3. Chronicle of Youth: The War Diary, 1913-1917 by Vera Brittain
4. Falsehood in Wartime: Propaganda Lies of the First World War by Arthur Ponsonby
5. The Forbidden Zone: A Nurse’s Impressions of the First World War by Mary Borden
6. The Poems of Wilfred Owen by Jon Stallworthy
7. Love Letters of the Great War by Mandy Kirkby
8. 1915: The Death Of Innocence by Lyn Macdonald
9. Bill the Bastard: The Story Of Australia’s Greatest War Horse by Roland Perry
10. Sword and Blossom: A British Officer’s Enduring Love for a Japanese Woman by Peter Pagnamenta
May we someday live in a world where war is nothing but a distant memory.
I’ve read a good book or two set during the first and second wars. It’s been a while now though. Like you, I don’t like to read about this historical period a lot but there are some great stories in the era. 🙂
Absolutely, and I’m glad you get it.
I rarely read about war either, so this list is a good one. My brother recommended a classic about WWI, All Quiet on the Western Front, and it was spectacular, I thought.
I would never have believed we would still be having wars in 2025 when I was a little girl…
I’ve heard good things about that book!
And, yeah, that’s what I thought as a kid, too.
I don’t read wartime books normally either. Like Deb though, I loved All Quiet on the Western Front.
I really should try that one sometime!
“May we someday live in a world where war is nothing but a distant memory.” I really hope one day that this can be true, even if it doesn’t happen in our generation or when we’re alive but at least for future generations to come. Great choice of topic for today!
Aww, thanks, Dini. We should remain hopeful!
There are some good war stories, but no good if they aren’t your cup of tea!
Here’s a link to my TTT post
https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/%f0%9f%93%9a-toptentuesday-10-books-outside-my-comfort-zone-reading-tuesdaybookblog-booktwitter-bookx/
That’s a good point.
Lovely way to commemorate the day!
Thank you.
You took this week’s prompt in a direction I wasn’t expected, but a really good topic choice and interesting books to highlight.
Thank you. 🙂
I have not read any of these, yet. There are two I hope to read soon:
1. Bill the Bastard
2. The Poems of Wilfred Owens
Great and timely list.
Thank you.
Ah, interesting choice of theme to go with the date. I’m not a huge fan of WWI/WWII books, though I did read an interesting one about the health system in the UK during WWII (Fighting Fit by Laura Dawes), which worked for me since that’s one of my interests!
That sounds good. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t enjoy reading books about war either.
I’m glad you get it!
My favorite genre is historical fiction, especially those based around World War II. It’s tough to read at times, but I still love learning something new about that era while I’m reading, and that’s happened a lot lately. Love your list, Lydia!
Thank you, Stephanie.
I feel like I get overloaded with WWII fiction but I don’t read nearly as much WWI fiction.
Yes, I feel the same way.
Lovely.
On WWI, I also recommend this one: https://wordsandpeace.com/2014/05/08/book-review-a-star-for-mrs-blake-i-love-france-94/
I did something special for today: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/11/11/scifimonth-2025-science-fiction-a-z/
Thank you for sharing!
A great tribute to the day.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/ten-graphic-novels-ive-read-in-2025/
Thanks. 🙂
I think the only book about WWI I’ve read is Mrs. Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles.
Cool!
I don’t usually read about war either. You chose some interesting titles.
Thank you!
Really nice post! I haven’t read any non-fiction about WWI, although I’ve read several novels with that setting. The Forbidden Zone sounds very interesting. The nurses’ perspective must be very powerful.
Thank you. Yes, I think it would be!
This is a very appropriate twist on today’s topic. I’ve only read a couple of paranormal fiction books about WWI, I think. I generally avoid war books of all kinds.
(The two I’ve read are Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal, which is a historical fantasy, and Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey, which is much more fantasy than historical.)
Thank you for sharing and for your kind words! Those both sound like good reads.
Interesting selection here. I don’t read a lot of non fiction but I did read a book called 1914 a few years ago which I loved.
We picked the same theme this week
Isn’t it fun? 🙂
I’m curious about 1914.
I have to be in the right mood because they can be very hard to read sometimes. Although, right now, it’s even more impossible to wrap my brain around! Great topic!!
That is totally true, and I can’t blame you for that one bit.
Definitely not the kinds of books I seek out myself, but probably really interesting reads.
🙂
When I saw that you had chosen WWI, my thought was immediately that this was probably outside your comfort zone. That is quite understandable but commendable that you still give it a try. It is important that the past doesn’t get forgotten, otherwise we will be in the same mess again and again. So, thanks for this.
And thanks for visiting my post:
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/top-ten-tuesday-books-outside-my.html
It’s cool you knew that in advance.
And, yes, totally agreed there.
Great list, I haven’t yet read any of these but love books about World War I because there is so much material about WWII out there.
World War I is definitely not given the attention it deserves!
While not directly about WW1, I can recommend 1913 by Florian Illies as an evocation of the world which the war tore apart.
Thank you for sharing. It sounds interesting.
I have tried to leave a few comments on your blog, but I can’t remember my password for that site anymore. 🙂