blurbing code name verity

[boxofdelights]

I've noticed that people recommending Code Name Verity are hesitating to tell you why they think you'll like it, because they don't want to spoil anything. When some_stars asked for recs for YA, not necessarily genre, I came up with:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Not SFF. WWII British spy and her best friend and pilot are shot down in France. The spy is captured and tortured. You are reading her narrative of how she got there. She's writing it for her interrogator. You can try to figure out where and why she's lying, or just let the narrative pull you headlong. It's brilliant, and absolutely wonderful either way.

I think I should also mention that it's going to hurt. I knew going in that it wasn't going to have a happy ending, and I still sobbed at that point -- you know where, if you've read it -- big stupid out-loud sobs.

Elizabeth Wein felt the need to say:

Disclaimer

IT’S A BOOK ABOUT A PILOT. IT HAS PLANES IN IT. For some reason, this seems to take some people by surprise.

My husband did not care much for Verity after the first chapter, because she's a coward. "No, she's British," I said. "She's gallant. Stiff-upper-lipped and self-deprecating."

If you've read it, what would you say? If you haven't, does this make you want to?


I'm still not managing life very well, but my self-esteem got an immense boost from your responses to my last post. Thank you.

Comments

[amaebi]

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a bit more traction. *love*

And that sounds like an excellent book.

Not having read it, I'm unjustified in the remark I'm making anyway: Action despite fear is the heart of courage.

I hope to see you soon, if you've time. Chun Woo starts school on Monday.

[boxofdelights]

Sleep schedule still fucked, obviously. But I'd love to see you.

[amaebi]

I've read the novel now. I am staggered at your husband's approach to reading this, and from this in general. So staggered that expressing it will sound really rude, and I'll do it in person on the ambient air only. :D

The planes bothered people? too technical or what?

I continue floundering here, but Chun Woo's in school and Hebrew's started and the gutters are fixed in Fort Collins and the bedrooms are painted here and would you like to have lunch on Tuesday? I could stick around till 3:30.

[boxofdelights]

Tuesday would be good. Want to pick a place we've already been, or should I look around for something new?

[amaebi]

Whatever you fancy. Just let me know.

*love* :)