The first readalong of this year’s Literature and War Readalong 2016 is very special for several reasons. It’s the first time, I’ve included a short story collection. Then it’s the first book that deals with more than just one conflict. And— I’m particularly pleased about this— the author, Vanessa Gebbie, will join the discussion. Needless to say I’m really looking forward to the discussion and hope that many of you will join.
Since it’s a short story collection I’ve added the first sentences of the first three stories:
The Return of the Baker, Edwin Tregear
Unlike so many, I came home in July. Some of the lads got off the train at Exeter, some at Plymouth. I must have gone to sleep. I woke at Penzance, my stop, when someone shouted, “End of the line, mate.”
Storm Warning
I was on leave.
Telephone call from Istanbul, 3am, Wednesday. Woman’s voice. “StormWarning.”
Gas Gangrene
For the soldiers buried at Tyn Cot Cemetery, Flanders
It’s a sick joke, mate, looking back. You people think gas gangrene was some sort of bloating, a passing blackening of the lungs, a momentary seizing up, that it went as the clouds dispersed.
And some details and the blurb for those who want to join
Storm Warning: Echoes of Conflict by Vanessa Gebbie, 120 pages, UK, 2010, WWII
Here’s the blurb:
Storm Warning explores the echoes and aftershocks of human conflict in a series of powerful stories in which the characters are tested, sometimes to breaking point. Gebbie pulls no punches, exploring the after-effects of atrocity and sometimes, the seeds of atrocity itself.
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The discussion starts on Monday, 29 February 2016.
Further information on the Literature and War Readalong 2016, including all the book blurbs, can be found here.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Just ordered! Looking forward to this!
Wonderful news, Charlene.
Thank you, Caroline. Looking forward to it. 🙂
Great. Me too.
Thanks for recommending this book. I just downloaded it.
That’s wonderful.
All those extracts indicate that the authors have found a strong and very direct narratorial voice. They do sound good….
I agree. I read a few stories already and the voice is strong.
How cool that the author is joining in! I look forward to the discussion, Caroline.
It is so cool. 🙂
I am glad that you are doing a short story collection. This sounds different.
I look forward to your posts on it.
Thanks, Brian. I think it was about time to add short stories.
I will try hard to join in! I somehow missed your announcement of the readalong and only now checked out your selections. They look great! I’m curious to find out how you like Billy Lynn; I think it’s a great book. And Alles Umsonst was a Christmas present, so I will save it for the readalong. I’m excited!
I’m so very glad that you will join and that you like the choices. I’m looking forward to all of the titles. It’s a short lust but quite diverse. So great that you will save Alles umsonst.