Ahhh. My favorite era! I love the music and fashion of the 1940s. I know the 40s are often associated with World War II and the Holocaust- especially the first half. I tried to offer a mix but many of my suggestions circle around those themes.
On the first Tuesday of the month, February through November, we’re highlighting books & films from/about specific eras that we recommend! (Television shows, too, sometimes!) There’s no commitment or link-up during those months on your end, but in December we’ll host a recap/link-up for the entire year!
This is a weird one… I really like this era but my recommendations don’t reflect that, lol.
B O O K S
How do I have NO books to recommend?! I’ve read stories from this decade, but I couldn’t think of any that were recommendable. Sorry, guys. *shrug*
M O V I E S
(1940) I don’t know why, but I just love The Philadelphia Story. I think Katharine Hepburn is such a stunning, inspirational human being and I remember loving her fire when I saw this movie for the first time. I also think it’s a cute romance. Plus, Cary Grant. Me-OW.
(1941) No beating around the bush, Pearl Harbor is definitely a war movie. But it’s another one that we just really love. Plus, the musical score from this movie is incredible. I love the music.
(1943) You don’t get to be a member of our family unless you’ve seen A League of Their Own half a dozen times. My husband loooves this movie and we always watch it when it’s on. I have a HUGE crush on Geena Davis and I love the different roles and personalities from all the women in this film. If you haven’t seen it YOU SHOULD!
B O N U S
I haven’t seen many episodes, but I agree with the vast population that loves The Crown. For some reason the royal family sucks me right in. (Yes, I will be waking up at the crack of dawn for Harry & Meghan’s wedding.) I can’t wait to watch more episodes of this show!
On the Shelf…
There are so many things I want to read & see set in this era!
The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)
The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)- My aunt just recommended this one to me on Sunday!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows)
Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)- I’ve seen this book rated highly on reviews everywhere!
We Were the Lucky Ones (Georgia Hunter)- I’ve only heard amazing things about this book.
Foyle’s War– a British mystery television series set during WWII
Fleming– a mini series about the man behind Bond: Ian Fleming
Bomb Girls– I watched an episode or 2 and loved this. I need to finish it!
Island at War– another wartime mini-series
I know, I know. I need to get busy!
Be sure to hope over to Alexandra’s blog and check out her recommendations!
Throw on your poodle skirt and leather jacket, and meet us at the sock hop next month to dive headfirst into the 1950s! We’re rockin’ and rollin’ our way into the next decade and we hope you’ll join us!
Check out our recommendations from the 1910s, 20s, & 30s, too!
Life as Louise 
Two WW2 books I recommend (although I can’t remember their precise time-frame) are The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (have tissues ready) and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Both are war stories but neither specifically deal with the Holocaust. Code Name Verity is on my TBR as well. A League of Their Own is so good. And I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I have never seen Philadelphia Story, something I ought to fix!
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I found Salt to the Sea on sale one day in a book store and bought it so that one is actually sitting on my shelf somewhere. I’ve heard good things about The Nightingale, too. I will pick them both up eventually 😉
I just really love both Hepburns (Audrey and Katherine). I feel like they used their fame to help other people and break minority (women) stereotypes!
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So I don’t think that I was obsessed with the royals until I started watching The Crown and then I became obsessed! There’s a documentary on Netflix called The Royal House Of Windsor that’s also really interesting if you watch The Crown and can’t wait for the next season!
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I’ve loved William and Kate for a while (and I woke up waaay early to watch their wedding in college), but my real obsession started after reading The Royal We. It was such a dramatic and entertaining and enthralling book. I know it was fiction, but it sparked my love for that whole family 😀
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I love love love The Philadelphia Story! One of my favorite classic movies.
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Also – CASABLANCA! Classic classic classic.
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Also, I’ve never seen Casablanca all the way through… Just bits and pieces. I should change that.
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Me, too!!
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I really love WWII-era fiction, and The Book Thief and Code Name Verity are both favorites of mine. I do recommend!!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Yay! I can’t wait to dive into them!
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The Book Thief is so good, you will love it. Also, 100% agree on League of Their Own…it’s just so good!
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I’m going to go reserve The Book Thief from my library right now. Too many people have recommended it to me for me to put it off any longer. Lol
A League of Their Own is a cinematic masterpiece!
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I think my favorite book set in the 1940s (it goes all over the place including the future but the majority of it is in the war years) is Blackout/All Clear. It’s fiction but I loved the books. The Book Thief was a close second. I watched the movie as well but the books are always better.
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I will have to check out those two books! Thanks for the recommendation!
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The Book Thief is one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve ever read.
It’s so good! (my review: https://wp.me/p2DYTl-Uf )
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Oh man… I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Ha. It’s definitely on my list to read, though!
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Here I am … days later… life balance is hard right now. LOL. At least my post was scheduled for the correct month. Little wins… lol. I feel like that every month.. that I don’t have much to recommend and I ran out of time to read another 1940’s book. I love Pearl Harbor as well and really must see A League of Their Own someday soon!! I HIGHLY recommend Guernsey. 1) it’s short, 2) it’s very good, 3) it will be on Netflix in August 4) it is written in a resilient tone which means it’s not super hella depressing, even when it’s sad! — which may not sound like high praise but for me … is… lol! I have almost nothing on the 1950’s… so hopefully I can change that soon! LOL XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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No worries, friend!! Sometimes life totally knocks us off balance and you’ve just gotta prioritize! Don’t stress over it- especially blogging. We’re all doing it for fun so don’t make it stressful 😉
I feel like I run low on recommendations, too. I love historical fiction but I read a lot of OLD h/f (like 1400-1800s, lol). It can be tough to find stuff from the last century!
Guernsey sounds so good! I can’t wait to read it! I need to focus on 1950s stuff, too, though! Ha!
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