Ep 731 - Still Life (Inspector Gamache #1), by Louise Penny

Published in 1939, 'Johnny Got His Gun' is a stark and profoundly troubling masterpiece about the horrors of World War I. The novel follows Joe Bonham, who awakens in a hospital bed after being caught in an artillery shell blast, realizing he has lost his arms, legs, and face but retains a functioning mind. The book reflects on the myths and realities of war through Joe's memories and hallucinations. It became the most influential protest novel of the Vietnam era and an undisputed classic of antiwar literature.

Still Life by Sarah Winman tells the story of Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, and Evelyn Skinner, a 64-year-old art historian, who meet briefly in Tuscany in 1944 during World War II. This encounter sets off a chain of events that transforms Ulysses' life and those of the people around him. The novel spans several decades, following Ulysses as he returns to London after the war, navigates his relationships with his wife Peg and her daughter Alys, and eventually returns to Florence. The story is enriched by an ensemble of characters, including the eccentric patrons of the Stoat and Parrot pub, and Claude, a witty and charming parrot. The book explores themes of art, culture, and the power of human connections, set against the backdrop of historical events such as the 1966 Florentine floods.

The novel follows a newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State who must navigate the administration of her political rival while responding to coordinated terrorist attacks threatening global stability. As the conspiracy unfolds, the Secretary assembles a team to counter a scheme designed to capitalize on America's recent diplomatic disengagement, requiring them to operate in high-stakes international environments with limited institutional support.