Welcome to Litsy!

This story of subterfuge and political prison during WW2 is a perspective that borders on witty and charming. Not at all what I expect when reading about accounts of that war. These womens‘ clever, bawdy, deeply ironic humor had me dark-laughing time and again.

No matter our awareness or intention, words have more power than we ever give them credit.

@Cinfhen Thanks for sharing this title!
#LGBTQ+ #resistance #war #paperbullets #jeffreyjackson

A really fascinating true story of two women, one Jewish the other not, who quietly but passionately defied the Nazi‘s by both creating & distributing anti-Nazi leaflets and by living their lives as step-sisters but in truth were lovers. I found the writing a little dry, but Suzanne Malherbe & Lucy Schwab were completely compelling. Moving from Paris to Jersey hoping to avoid the German occupation, Suzanne & Lucy soon find the Germans 👇🏼

Super fascinating true story of two spirited rebels who defied the Nazi‘s with their quiet resistance. Thanks for sharing @TrishB #Pop22 #SapphicBook #NF22 #ImARuleBreaker Halfway point. Writing is a little dry but the story is too interesting to be boring.

The true story of principled resistance undertaken by two middle-aged lesbians, Frenchwomen living on Jersey, after the Channel Islands were occupied by German troops during WWII. They risked imprisonment and death by secretly distributing creative bits of literature designed to undermine the commitment of German soldiers to the war. It‘s a compelling and inspiring account of nonviolent political action. #LGBTQ

Empathy always requires seeing others—even enemies—as part of oneself and connected to one‘s own fate rather than as radically different. It breaks down the barriers between self and other, linking everyone‘s wellbeing in an understanding of a common human condition.

Throughout occupied Europe and in Germany, members of resistance movements knew that the written word was essential to the fight against Hitler. Jewish groups maintained underground newspapers to sustain their communities, including 47 such periodicals in Nazi-controlled Warsaw.

But a poem, story or photograph could have a profound psychological effect on its audience, because it could change how people looked at the world, provoking them to think. The result would be revolutionary. Lucy called it the “indirect effect.”

“I believe that colonialism is morally wrong, on the same moral level as theft, burglary and murder, that colonialism is business—a rather unsavoury kind of business—with a camouflage of heroism and adventure. And moreover, now that I know what it is like to be colonized, I have strong personal feelings against it.” —Suzanne Malherbe, during the German occupation of Jersey during WWII

These were the initials LS and SM, with the middle letter of their names shared. In this simple configuration, Lucy showed just how closely they were joined. Pronounced phonetically, the letters create the phrase “elles s‘aiment” (“they love each other”).
[Lucy Schwob + Suzanne Malherbe #LGBTQ]

Concurrent audio and print nonfiction, both addressing the role of writers and artists in resisting war and oppressive ideologies.

Putting these 2 together as they are the perfect pair. The fiction and NF versions of the 2 artists lives. I highly recommend both. I love these 2 women, brave, awesome and determined not to be put in a box by society and oppression.
They deserve to be better known.

#weeklyforecast
Finish The Nameless Ones and Paper Bullets.
Probably start The Man who Died Twice.
Feeling sad and uninspired but I‘m sure it will pass.

#bookreport
Not the most productive week, too much work and too much home!
Finished A Marriage of Lions and loved it.
About half way through Paper Bullets, didn‘t want to carry it round over the weekend so will pick up again when I get home.
Started The Nameless Ones on the train.
Not much reading is getting done at the moment!

#kindledeals #kindledeal #ebooksale

This is the story of two French women who left Paris to live on the island of Jersey just prior to the start of WW 2. As soon as the Nazis took over the Channel Islands, these two women decided to resist by writing messages for the troops to find. These messages urged them to stop fighting and desert the Nazi forces. Soon caught, both were jailed and tried. Quite an appealing story of courage and danger. Five stars.

Fascinating history of the resistance of two women on the island of Jersey during WWII. Well-written, consistently absorbing. Jackson is very good at understanding and explaining a variety of contexts (Bohemian/gay Paris in the 20s and 30s, occupied Jersey, Jersey itself), and is very respectful of Lucy and Suzanne‘s sexual and gender identity. Highly recommended.