The Wartime Sisters
Book Review - The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO
I can’t wait to meet Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Wartime Sisters, on January 28 at 7pm Central at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters. I’ll be chatting with Lynda about her latest book, our mutual interest and research in WWII, and living the life of an author. The Novel Neighbor will be selling copies of her book and Lynda will be signing copies after the event. Click here for more information about this event.
Can’t make it to St. Louis in January? Then join us for February’s Virtual Book Club discussing The Wartime Sisters with Lynda Cohen Loigman! As always, you are welcome to join even if you haven't finished (or started!) the book. Pour yourself a glass of wine and login to a friendly, casual discussion centered around books and reading. Click here for more information about the virtual book club on February 27.
Reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO
Whew, now that all of the logistics are out of the way, let’s talk about this great book! I read a lot of WWII novels since I spent most of grad school researching WWII. But if war novels aren’t really your thing, you’ll be happy to know this is much less of a war novel and more of a study on the complex relationships of siblings. The story centers around Ruth and Millie, sisters who are as different as night and day. Ruth is the oldest, she is responsible and level-headed. Millie is the youngest, she is strikingly beautiful with a sensitive soul, perhaps a bit naive. When their parents die unexpectedly, the sisters drift even further apart until one day Millie shows up on Ruth’s doorstep with all of her belongings in a worn-out suitcase.
Reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO
Although the book wasn’t heavy with historical information about the war, there was unique information that you don’t often see in WWII novels. The majority of the story takes place in Springfield, Massachusetts at the armory which once served as an arsenal for weapons sent from France in WWI and was converted to manufacture weapons during WWII. At one point in its history, women accounted for over 40% of the armory’s workers. Many of the characters were inspired by actual women Lynda read about during her extensive research of the building. The Springfield Armory is now the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, click here to visit their website.
Reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO
We took these pictures shortly before Christmas on a weekend getaway to Kansas City. My brother-in-law and several friends live there, so we try to visit when we can. Plus, Kansas City is amazing! These photos were taken on the Plaza. Our hotel was a short walk to the plaza so we walked there each morning for coffee at Kaldi’s. During our short time there we visited the Napoleon exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, shopped the stores on the Country Club Plaza, visited with friends and family, went antique shopping at the West Bottoms, toured Union Station, and grabbed an afternoon cocktail at Tom’s Town. For more information about Kansas City, check out my Literary Travel Guide.
Reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO
