Review: Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War by Heather Webb and others

Title:Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War

Author:Heather Webb, Jessica Brockmole, Hazel Gaynor, Evangeline Holland, Marci Jefferson, Kate Kerrigan, Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig

Published:March 2016, William Morrow Paperbacks

Format:ARC Paperback, 368 pages

Source:Publisher

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month . . .

November
11, 1918. After four long, dark years of fighting, the Great War ends
at last, and the world is forever changed. For soldiers, loved ones, and
survivors, the years ahead stretch with new promise, even as their
hearts are marked by all those who have been lost.

As families come back together, lovers reunite, and strangers take solace in each other, everyone has a story to tell.

In
this moving, unforgettable collection, nine top historical fiction
authors share stories of love, strength, and renewal as hope takes root
in a fall of poppies.

My thoughts:I don’t tend to read too many anthologies, but when I saw who was contributing to this one I thought I would give it a try. I was fortunate enough to be able to see six of the nine women on launch day discuss the book and I became even more intrigued.

What makes this anthology so interesting is that Heather Webb, who spear-headed this project, came up with the idea of having the authors all write about this one topic – that being Armistice Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. What’s absolutely amazing is just how different and how captivating each of the stories are. As short as they are, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in them and want them to continue because you get caught up in the little worlds that these authors have created. 

I have to say that despite the heavy topic, I really loved each and every one of them…they look at the emotional and physical effects of the war, and at times left you feeling emotionally drained, but they were good stories. And, I felt I learned a little bit (death masks? never heard of those before!) – again, one of the things I love about reading historical fiction.

Of the nine authors, I had only read three before this. I had heard of two others and the rest were all new to me…and now, I will definitely be going back and reading all of their works. These short stories were great morsels of introductions for me and I can’t wait to pick up full-length novels and get more acquainted with them. 

Jennifer Robson, Lauren Willig, Heather Webb, Beatriz Williams, Jessica Brockmole & Hazel Gaynor at Wilton Library, CT – Book Launch for Fall of Poppies,  3/1/16