Band of Sisters

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I should really get a copy of this book for myself. Willig has such a clear sense of place and character in this novel, and I love stories of women banding together and doing important things. Ten out of ten. #reread #historicalfiction

KristiAhlers She is one of my favorite authors. She is a total auto buy for me. 2y

kissmehardy @KristiAhlers This was my first Lauren Willig! Got any recs? 2y

KristiAhlers All of them lol. She has a new one coming out in April or May I can't remember and it was really good. Pink Carnation and the following in the series are really good. And the books such as Glass Ocean written by her, Karen White and Beatriz Williams are so good. I believe they have at least three books together. 2y

kissmehardy @KristiAhlers I need to look out for that new one - I remember the summary sounded interesting! And I'll check out some of her others in the mean time. 😊 2y

7 likes4 comments

julieclair

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

🎶🎵 On the sixth day of #12BooksOf2022 my book log gave to me… my favorite book of June 2022!
@Andrew65

Andrew65 An excellent choice. 2y

25 likes1 comment

rebbyj

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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Fun.

1 like

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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megnews I think these experiences will leave their mark and change them for the better. They aren‘t confined to societal expectations for women. They won‘t be satisfied with less than what they want to do in life. 2y

sblbooks I don't think they'll be content to sit at home sipping tea and going to balls after this experience. 2y

megnews @sblbooks agree! 2y

CoverToCoverGirl Definitely suffragettes in the making. I‘m with @sblbooks tea and fancy balls just wouldn‘t cut it. 2y

5 likes4 comments

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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sblbooks Maybe not Furious, but I can understand being upset. I don't think any really ever understood that what she did was wrong. I would say part generosity and part because she needed Kate there to help her. 2y

megnews @sblbooks I agree. I think Emmie needed her. I understood Kate‘s upset but it seemed she held a grudge a bit to long about it. 2y

sblbooks @megnews I agree Kate was very prideful about it she should have been more grateful. 2y

CoverToCoverGirl I thought Kate was more irate than the perceived offence merited. I always felt Emmie‘s heart was in the right place. 2y

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megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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megnews I think some soldiers were very willing to help them because of their gender. But it also put them in the danger of assault that happens in times of war. Not to mention the danger of the war itself and being women they were not armed. No real way to defend themselves if needed. 2y

sblbooks @megnews Yes! It's also more challenging because people don't take them seriously at first. 2y

megnews @sblbooks very true 2y

CoverToCoverGirl I totally agree @megnews 2y

3 likes4 comments

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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sblbooks Yes, a working class immigrant background does still carry a stigma. An education helps but hard to get when you don't have the money to pay for school. There are a few that can get scholarships but not that many. 2y

megnews @sblbooks I agree. People still look at immigrants as undocumented, as not as smart maybe because of the language barriers, and the jobs they may take are looked down upon despite our need for those services. Education is helpful but not always the great equalizer we like to tout it to be. 2y

CoverToCoverGirl Again I agree! 2y

3 likes3 comments

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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sblbooks, julieclair

megnews I think they made something of themselves apart from their mothers. I think it took more courage and also set them apart from their social classes in ways that will stay with them (for good imo) for their whole lives. 2y

3 likes1 comment

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

I think it was just the 3 of us this month. Sorry I ran into July for discussion. Haven‘t been able to keep up with life lately. Questions from readinggroupguides.com. The rest of the questions are marked with spoilers. #overbookedclub

sblbooks, julieclair

sblbooks I think @CoverToCoverGirl read it as well. 2y

sblbooks I think a few of the girls would have joined up regardless of how tough it is. Of course there are some that would not have. I would not have been able to physically do that kind of work. 2y

megnews Oh I‘m sorry I missed @CoverToCoverGirl ! 2y

megnews @sblbooks I can‘t say I would have put myself in harms way like that. 2y

CoverToCoverGirl I think some would have gone regardless. Me, I‘m not adventurous so travelling overseas in the midst of a war, probably not. I would have volunteered to do my part from home. 2y

23 likes5 comments

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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Finished this a few days ago and forgot to post. This book did what great historical fiction does—taught me about a part of history I knew nothing about. I really enjoyed reading about these women who stepped out of their comfort zones and did what no one expected. I will post #overbookedclub discussion questions Friday or Saturday.

sblbooks, julieclair

julieclair You are so right… great historical fiction teaches us about times/events we know little about. Almost all the books we have read this year have fallen into that category for me. I would be hard pressed to chose a favorite. Looking forward to our discussion! 2y

48 likes1 comment

julieclair

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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Amazing historical fiction, based very closely on the true story of a group of Smith College alumnae who volunteered as aid workers in France during World War I. Much of the material was drawn directly from actual letters (now in the Smith archives) sent home by the women to their families. These women did their best to care for the very old and very young folks devastated by the fighting in the Somme region. ⬇️

julieclair Their grit, ingenuity, bravery and dedication made me proud to be a woman, and an American. Excellent on audio, narrated by Julia Whalen, one of my favorite narrators. Can't wait for the #OverBookedClub discussion. Great choice, @megnews ! 👍 3y

kspenmoll I want to read this! 2y

julieclair @kspenmoll I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 2y

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julieclair @kspenmoll I wish I could mail it to you, but I listened to it on audio! 🤷 2y

kspenmoll @julieclair Sounds like I should look into audio 2y

julieclair @kspenmoll I really enjoy audio, because I can “read” when I‘m doing other things, like driving or housework. But of course there‘s nothing like holding a real book in your hands! 📚 2y

21 likes6 comments

sblbooks

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

🌟🌟🌟🌟
A novel based on the true story of the Smith College relief unit. 18 female alumni go to help French civilians during World War 1. It started off slow, but I ended up really liking this one. #OverbookedClub @megnews

29 likes

LitsyEvents

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

repost for @megnews and sblbooks:

Next up for #OverBookedClub

LitsyEvents #BuddyRead 3y

SilversReviews Let me know how you like it….I couldn‘t get into it. 3y

37 likes2 comments

megnews

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

#OverBookedClub

sblbooks, LitsyEvents

Chrissyreadit Borrowed from library! Fingers crossed I get my reading act together 🤣 3y

CoverToCoverGirl Yes please! 3y

39 likes2 comments

Sills

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

Seventeen young alumnae known as Smith College Relief Unit were sent for reconstruction in France during WWI. The villagers are in dire conditions-those still alive. Half a year later the Germans fierce constant shelling threatened them to extreme survival. But these were American women albeit from high society "Band"ed sisters in arms determined to leave France better than they found it. Think sorority sisters on steroids-the best of the best!

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SilverShanica

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 210.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

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booksaremyfavorite

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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I am a huge fan of historical fiction. This one has to do with the women of Smith College heading off to the war. I enjoyed it.

11 likes1 stack add

SaraHasClass

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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I like historical fiction that tells of an event "off the beaten path" of standard history. I was really excited to find this story, about a group of college women serving people living in war torn France during WWI. Instead it's about a group mostly socialite women battling insecurities from the past. Imitating the author I might say, "This book is rather dull, Miss Litsy, & I shan't recommend it. Now I must quite go & fix my unruly hairpins."

4 likes

Desiree.Reads

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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Band of Sisters stands out in the crowd of 20th Century-based, historical war fiction. Excellently researched and solidly told, Sisters is chock-full of believable characters, each with their own personality, and from varying backgrounds.

For the full review, please pop on over to https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3795668010?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

11 likes

Reecaspieces

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

My audible reads wrap up is on my blog. Check it out!

https://reecaspieces.com/2021/04/30/my-audible-reads-for-april-wrapup-audibleboo...

39 likes

Reecaspieces

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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I listened to this in audible. I loved it! Check out my review. https://reecaspieces.com/2021/04/28/band-of-sisters-by-laura-willig-wmmorrowbook...

41 likes

seigakuFIGHTo

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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Such a lovely book! The focus on sisterhood and the growth of the women was wonderful. An easy read to get sucked into and hard to escape from at the end.

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kissmehardy

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

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All the blurbs for this book made it sound a little too targeted to my tastes and they were RIGHT. Emmie, Kate, and Julia were so fun to follow, and I loved watching the Smith Unit come together to help their French villagers and become a real team. There were a couple of minor pacing things I personally didn't love, but otherwise, no complaints! #historicalfiction

3 likes

bookishkai

Band of Sisters | Lauren Willig

I‘ve been looking forward to this one! Even though it‘s about Smith and I‘m a Mount Holyoke alum, there is a universality about historically women‘s colleges that feels familiar. I like this already. And it seems not much has changed in regards to feelings about Harvard men!

Suet624 My mom went to Smith and my dad went to Harvard. :) 4y

bookishkai @Suet624 my dad was a Yale man. As was my grandfather, but my grandfather married my grandmother when he was 20 so there were no women‘s college hotties for him. And the worst men, according to tradition, were Dartmouth men! 4y

Suet624 That‘s right! I remember my parents talking about Dartmouth men. 4y

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