Why am I passionate about this?

Each of these novels, in their own way, forces us to confront the realities of war and power, showing how fragile humanity truly is. They’ve inspired me to reflect on how interconnected we are, especially regarding the scars of conflict. I am reminded of the John Donne poem that inspired Hemingway’s title, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)–which begins: “No man is an island, intire of its selfe; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the maine.”  War doesn’t just affect the soldiers: war has its hooks in us all.


I wrote...

Catbird

By Julia Marie Davis,

Book cover of Catbird

What is my book about?

My new book is a fable that fuses a backyard drama in nature with the complicated emotions we all feel…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of All Quiet On The Western Front

Julia Marie Davis Why did I love this book?

This book is one of the most haunting accounts of war I've ever read. Through the eyes of Paul Bäumer, a young German soldier, Remarque immerses you in the horrific realities of World War I. The sheer brutality of trench warfare, the disillusionment with nationalism, and the emotional devastation of losing comrades all play out in a way that feels as immediate now as it must have been when the book was first published. My grandfather fought in the First World War, and though he never spoke about it, I believe the emotional scars he carried shaped who he became. All Quiet makes me think about how those invisible wounds persist today—worldwide. War may evolve regarding weapons and strategies, but the psychological impact is chillingly consistent.

This novel isn’t just about the battlefield. It’s about the inner lives of soldiers and the way war corrupts not just bodies but minds, leaving permanent scars. It’s an anti-war message that transcends time. And though Remarque insisted his book wasn’t political, it’s impossible to read without feeling its condemnation of the conflict’s senseless destruction.

By Erich Maria Remarque,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All Quiet On The Western Front as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

THE GREATEST WAR NOVEL OF ALL-TIME

Why read this copy of All Quiet On The Western Front?
Erich Maria Remarque's compelling depiction of World War I, "All Quiet on the Western Front," is now available in an enhanced and reasonably priced edition. Ideal for both reading clubs and students, this annotated version offers insightful chapter summaries and stimulating questions.

Immerse yourself in the heartbreaking story of Paul Bäumer and his comrades as they deal with the harsh realities of trench warfare. Readers can dive deeper into the themes of grief, disillusionment with war, and companionship with our annotated edition.

Use…


Book cover of Slaughterhouse-Five

Julia Marie Davis Why did I love this book?

Vonnegut’s book is a unique combination of satire, science fiction, and raw war critique. Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist, lives out the trauma of surviving the Dresden bombing by becoming "unstuck in time," drifting through different moments of his life, from past to future. This strange, nonlinear structure mirrors how we process trauma in fragments and waves, never in a neat, chronological order. The randomness of death, the meaninglessness of war—all these themes come together in a way that’s both absurd and deeply moving. As we witness terror and violence continually unfold across the globe, the echoes of Slaughterhouse-Five feel ever-present.

The phrase “So it goes” serves as a refrain throughout the novel, after every death—reminding us of the inevitability of loss in wartime, no matter the scale. This book hit me hard with its dark humor and cynical commentary on the glorification of war. Vonnegut forces you to laugh in the face of tragedy and grapple with how we justify violence as a society. I love Vonnegut’s perspective: Bokonon, Bokonon, Bokonon.

By Kurt Vonnegut,

Why should I read it?

28 authors picked Slaughterhouse-Five as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A special fiftieth anniversary edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s masterpiece, “a desperate, painfully honest attempt to confront the monstrous crimes of the twentieth century” (Time), featuring a new introduction by Kevin Powers, author of the National Book Award finalist The Yellow Birds
 
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time
 
Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous World War II firebombing of Dresden, the novel is the result of what Kurt Vonnegut described as a twenty-three-year struggle to write a book about what he had…


Book cover of Behind You Is the Sea

Julia Marie Davis Why did I love this book?

I had the pleasure of studying with Susan Muaddi Darraj during my master’s program, and her latest work is an incredible exploration of the immigrant experience, especially for Palestinian Americans. This book centers on the personal experience of families living in Baltimore, spanning generations, as they confront the dislocation and identity crises that come from living between two worlds. Darraj’s portrayal of exile and the trauma of displacement feels especially poignant given our current global crises, where the concept of “home” is increasingly complicated for so many.

What resonates with me most is the way Darraj explores both the personal dimensions of power. Whether through the lens of nation-states, family dynamics, or cultural expectations, there is a delicate balance that individuals must navigate to survive. This is a deeply personal meditation on how identity is shaped in the aftermath of conflict and how, even when geographically distant, the weight of history and war continues to impact lives in profound ways.

By Susan Muaddi Darraj,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Behind You Is the Sea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An exciting debut novel that gives voice to the diverse residents of a Palestinian American community in Baltimore-from young activists in conflict with their traditional parents to the poor who clean for the rich-lives which intersect across divides of class, generation, and religion.

Funny and touching, Behind You Is the Sea brings us into the homes and lives of three main families-the Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars-Palestinian immigrants who've all found a different welcome in America.

Their various fates and struggles cause their community dynamic to sizzle and sometimes explode: The wealthy Ammar family employs young Maysoon Baladi, whose…


Book cover of Ocean Stirrings: A Work of Fiction in Tribute to Louise Langdon Norton Little, Working Mother and Activist, Mother of Malcolm X and Seven Siblings

Julia Marie Davis Why did I love this book?

This book spans generations and continents, from Grenada to North America, exploring the intergenerational legacies of colonialism, revolution, and survival. Collins writes–using fiction and poetry–about the immigration journey of Louise Langdon Norton Little, mother of the activist Malcolm X, a Grenadian woman born in a small rural village in a deeply colonial society that offered little to no education for working-class children.

She emigrated to the US through Canada and became involved in the black civil rights movement led by activist Marcus Garvey. She embraced the black civil rights and the women’s revolutions while struggling with the realities of home life and inequality within the sexes. With minimal facts to go on, Collins, a distinguished Canadian novelist, creates a profoundly moving work that reveals the heroism and tragedy of a life spent battling sexism, racism, and colonialism while finding her voice and purpose.

Collins illustrates how the violence of the past ripples through generations, affecting not just those who experienced it directly but their descendants as well. It is no wonder that Little’s son became Malcolm X. This novel reminds us that history is not just something we read about—it lives on in the bodies and minds of those who carry it. Much like the characters in Ocean Stirrings, people around the world continue to fight for their identity, their autonomy, and their right to exist in a world still shaped by the scars of colonialism.

By Merle Collins,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ocean Stirrings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The mother of the revolutionary firebrand Malcolm X was a Grenadian woman born at the turn of the 20th century in a small rural community in a deeply colonial society where access to education had only just begun for the children of working people. She emigrated to Canada and then the USA, where she became involved in the struggle for Black dignity and human rights then led by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Malcolm X and others of his siblings have testified to their mother's powerful influence on their lives. Within the sparse facts of Louise Langdon…


Book cover of Missionaries

Julia Marie Davis Why did I love this book?

This book is an eye-opening look into modern warfare, particularly in the context of Colombia and America’s military involvement there. Klay, a veteran himself, writes with a moral clarity that brings home the idea that war is never just a localized conflict—it’s part of a much bigger web of power, politics, and personal ambition. The novel follows multiple perspectives, from American soldiers to Colombian civilians, each grappling with their role in the chaos.

What I found most compelling is how Klay shows the ripple effects of violence—how decisions made in one corner of the world can devastate communities thousands of miles away. This book intimates tough questions about the ethics of intervention and how far-reaching the consequences of these decisions can be. It’s an intimate, often painful look at how war transforms individuals, and it challenges us to think about the cost of global conflict—not just for those on the front lines but for society at large.

By Phil Klay,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Missionaries as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Expansive, explosive and epic' Marlon James
'A courageous book' New York Times Book Review

A BARACK OBAMA BOOK OF THE YEAR

Neither Mason, a US Special Forces medic, nor Lisette, a foreign correspondent, has emerged from America's long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan unscathed. Yet, for them, war still exerts a terrible draw - the noble calling, the camaraderie, the life-and-death stakes. Where else in the world can such a person go?

All roads lead to Colombia, where the US has partnered with the local government to stamp out a vicious civil war and keep the predatory narco gangs at…


Explore my book 😀

Catbird

By Julia Marie Davis,

Book cover of Catbird

What is my book about?

My new book is a fable that fuses a backyard drama in nature with the complicated emotions we all feel as we navigate the wake of continual geopolitical turmoil. Written at the start of the Ukraine invasion, I found myself witnessing the unfolding tragedy of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with outrage and shock. 

At the story's heart is the protagonist, a woman of European heritage whose identity fuses with the battleground. Through her eyes, the reader processes the harsh realities of war and the profound sense of survivor's guilt that comes from witnessing the suffering of others while residing in relative safety. Catbird unfolded in real-time as I grappled with my own emotions and perceptions of the world at that time.

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Broken Mirror

By Cody Sisco,

Book cover of Broken Mirror

Cody Sisco Author Of Broken Mirror

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Cody's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

A fractured mind or a global conspiracy? Uncovering the truth can be hell when nobody believes you… and you can’t even trust yourself. 

"A fantastic science fiction thriller with a sincere and important message.”—Kirkus Reviews. 

“A breathtaking, deeply dark alternate-history Earth with complex characters, layered worldbuilding, and twist after twist after twist.”—Julianna Caro, Reedsy Discovery.

Broken Mirror is the first volume in a queer psychological science fiction saga that looks at the stigma of mental illness and the hellish distrust and alienation that goes with it.

Broken Mirror

By Cody Sisco,

What is this book about?

Broken Mirror: the start of a smart, complex, and imaginative cyberpunk alternate history saga. Literary science fiction from a fresh, young voice.

In a skewed mirror universe, a mentally ill young man searches for his grandfather’s killer.

Someone killed Jefferson Eastmore. His grandson Victor is sure of it, but no one believes him.

Diagnosed with mirror resonance syndrome and shunned by Semiautonomous California society, Victor suffers from hyperempathy, blank outs, and sensory overload. Jefferson devoted his life to researching mental illness and curing Broken Mirrors like Victor through genetic engineering, but now that he’s gone, Victor must walk a narrow…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Western Front (WW1), Malcolm X, and Colombia?

Malcolm X 10 books
Colombia 39 books