Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 31, 1941: RAF first uses 4000-lb “Cookie” bomb against Emden, Germany. Rommel’s German troops attack British and take Mersa Brega, Libya.

Book Beat - Letters from Home

Readers often tell me they'd like to see more fiction set during World War II, so I like to highlight novels featuring this dramatic period in history. I e-met Kristina McMorris through a mutual writing friend, and we've enjoyed sharing research tidbits. I was thrilled at the chance to read her debut novel, Letters from Home, which released this month.

In Letters from Home, literature student Liz Stephens meets Private Morgan McClain at a USO dance. Although she senses a connection and attraction to Morgan, she believes he's interested in her perky roommate, Betty. Besides, Liz is practically engaged to her childhood sweetheart. When Betty, who is not particularly articulate, begs Liz to write a letter to Morgan for her, Liz reluctantly agrees, not knowing that the correspondence between Morgan and "Betty" will change both of their lives.

The novel follows Morgan through Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, Liz as she balances her father's expectations with her own dreams, Liz's roommate Julia as she juggles dual dreams of a career in fashion design and a home with her sailor fiance after the war, and Betty as she joins the Women's Army Corps and finds herself a hospital attendant in the jungles of New Guinea.

McMorris has written a romantic novel with compelling characters. The writing is lovely and the research is meticulous. I was completely drawn in to each of the subplots.

Warning for my more sensitive readers: there are quite a few cuss words, especially among the military men, and two steamy scenes on a "PG-13" level. However, there is a hopeful spirit rare in mainstream literature, and the characters actually pray!

I highly recommend this novel if you love to lose yourself in this time period, and I'm looking forward to McMorris's next book, also set during World War II.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1941: US seizes 65 Axis ships in US ports.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 29, 1941: British take Dire Dawa in Ethiopia.

Make It Do - Clothing Restrictions in World War II

During World War II, the United States didn’t ration clothing as the United Kingdom did, but restrictions were applied, and fashions adapted to use less fabric.

Why Clothing?

Eleven million men and women served in the US military during the war, and they all needed uniforms. This strained the country’s supply of fabric, particularly wool, and the garment manufacturing system. Since Japan produced the majority of the world’s silk, the war cut off the supply completely. Civilians were encouraged to purchase or make clothing from cotton, rayon, or rayon/wool blends.

Wartime Women’s Fashions

Clothing using less fabric became fashionable. Women’s suits took on a sleek, military look. Suit jackets were fitted, with padded shoulders, and rested between the waist and hip. Skirts took on a slim silhouette, often with an A-line flare. The peasant look was also popular, but without full skirts and ruffles. Also, millions of women entering the workplace popularized the “Rosie the Riveter” look—slacks became stylish, as well as turbans, snoods, and headscarves to keep hair away from machinery. Since metal zippers were unavailable, wraparound dresses and skirts were introduced.

Wartime Men’s Fashions

Before the war, when a man purchased a suit, it came with a jacket, a vest, and two pairs of pants. The wartime “Victory Suit” eliminated the vest and second pair of pants. Men’s suits were single-breasted, had narrow lapels, no cuffs, and no pocket flaps. Wartime necessity allowed men to wear mismatched jackets and trousers.

War Production Board Restrictions

On March 8, 1942, the US War Production Board (WPB) issued order L-85 with the goal of 15 percent reduction in the amount of textiles used in women’s wear. Skirt length and width were restricted, as well as the width of women’s slacks. The WPB prohibited pleats, ruffles, patch pockets, attached hoods and shawls, and full sleeves or skirts. Hems and fabric belts could be no wider than two inches, and garments could have no more than one pocket. Exemptions were allowed for bridal gowns, maternity clothes, and religious vestments. Home sewing was not restricted and became even more popular. However, patterns of the time tended to follow WPB guidelines.

Price Controls

The textile situation worsened in 1944. Manufacturing of civilian clothing fell 50 percent, and prices began to rise. To prevent rampant inflation, the Office of Price Administration instituted price controls on clothing on March 19, 1945, which were lifted on August 18, 1945.

Making Do

Mending was more than economical, it was a patriotic duty, and a fad for patched clothing emerged. Home sewers often pieced together garments from remnants, mixing and matching colors and patterns. Creative women cut down old garments to reuse the cloth and remade old clothing into wartime fashions. Due to the silk shortage, women shared wedding dresses and formalwear. With so many men off to war, wives were encouraged to remake their husband’s suits for their own use, and the old pioneer tradition of cutting down adult clothing for children’s use returned.

What do you think of 1940s fashions? Would you have resented the restrictions or enjoyed the chance to be creative?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 28, 1941: Battle of Matapan: British ships sink 5 Italian ships south of Crete, 3000 killed; Italian navy rarely ventures from port after this. Writer Virginia Woolf dies.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 27, 1941: Military coup in Yugoslavia deposes Axis regent Prince Paul. US signs 99-year lease on British bases in the western hemisphere in exchange for $7 billion in aid under the Lend-Lease agreement. US & UK sign ABC-1 Agreement to protect convoys and prepare for potential US entry into war.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 26, 1941: Italians attack British ships at Suda Bay, Crete with the first use of manned torpedoes with detachable warhead in history. US forms First, Second, Third, and Fourth Air Forces based in the continental US. British meat ration reduced to 6oz per week.

Cathedral

It was built for the praise of His glory.

The cathedral has stood for centuries, hinting at God’s unchangeable nature. Towering spires represent His greatness, carvings in stone and wood record His work through the ages, and stained glass reflects His brilliance and color and light. An organ shakes the air with powerful music for a powerful God.

I stand in this structure built for the Lord I love, but I am chilled and unsettled—because He is not there.

When my family visited Europe in summer of 2007, we visited many cathedrals. All ancient. All majestic. Most of them dead.

I came home struck by how a church can die if a single generation fails to reach the following generation, and impressed with the urgency and significance of the tasks God has given me.

Some of us work with children at home, on the job, or in ministry—teaching, loving, living our faith. Some of us interact with other adults, equipping them, comforting them, uplifting them to fulfill their own God-given purpose. Some of us do behind-the-scenes work necessary for the church to function. If performed with the Lord’s call and guidance and strength, all these roles keep our church breathing. All are vital. None are trivial.

“Let us not give up meeting together…but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 25, 1941: Yugoslavia signs Tripartite Pact with Germany.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 24, 1941: In North Africa Gen. Erwin Rommel launches the first attack of the Afrika Korps against the British, takes El Agheila, Libya.

Book Beat - Here Burns My Candle

If you want to see historical fiction done right, read Liz Curtis Higgs. She won me over completely with her compelling Scottish series based on the biblical story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel (Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes). I was thrilled to see her new series based on the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. Here Burns My Candle came out this fall, and the sequel, Mine Is the Night, released this month. Knowing my own impatience, I waited until the sequel was available before starting the first novel.

Here Burns My Candle does not disappoint. The story transports you to Edinburgh in 1745, on the verge of the Jacobite rebellion. Widow Lady Marjory Kerr lives with her two sons and their wives. With her highland background and former life as a gifted seamstress, Lady Elisabeth Kerr isn't accepted by her patrician mother-in-law and even shallower sister-in-law, Janet. When "Bonnie Prince Charlie" occupies Edinburgh during the Jacobite Rebellion, allegiances shift, and danger threatens the Kerrs' place in high society. As a string of tragedies hits the family, secrets are revealed and true character shines forth.

 Liz Curtis Higgs does it all well. Marjory and Elisabeth are beautifully drawn characters, full of strengths and weaknesses that make them come to life. The setting is scrumptious. I have been blessed to visit Edinburgh's charming streets in person, and it was a joy to visit them in print. Higgs' extensive research shows in every detail, but never detracts from the interpersonal drama. The dialect is delightful, and always understandable in context - if not, there's a glossary in the back of the book. The only weakness in the story is due to the fact that it's based on a biblical story. Therefore, if you know the book of Ruth, you know the essence of what will happen to the main characters. However, I was still driven along, wanting to know exactly how it would unfold and how the characters would grow and change. If you want to be transported to a different era with fascinating characters, you'll love Here Burns My Candle. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading Mine Is the Night.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 23, 1941: Heavy Luftwaffe attack on Malta leads RAF to withdraw bombers and flying boats.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 22, 1941: US 99th Pursuit Squadron activated, the first black unit in the Army Air Corps. Grand Coulee Dam opens in Washington state, the world’s largest source of electric power.

Make It Do - Shoe Rationing in World War II

During World War II, many items were rationed in the United States, including shoes.

Why Shoes?
Due to the serious rubber shortage (see http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2011/01/make-it-do-tire-rationing-in-world-war.html), footwear made of rubber or with rubber soles was rationed or unavailable. Also, the military had a high need for leather, not just for shoes and combat boots but for those popular leather flight jackets. As a result, civilians made do with less.

Rationing of Rubber Footwear
Starting September 30, 1942, men’s rubber boots and rubber work shoes were placed under rationing. To obtain a new pair, a man had to apply to the local ration board, prove he needed the shoes for essential industry—not for sport—and turn in the old pair. Galoshes and overshoes were not rationed because they used less crude rubber, but sportsmen couldn’t get boots, and sneakers were no longer produced.

Shoe Rationing

On February 7, 1943, the United States instituted rationing of leather shoes. Each man, woman, and child could purchase up to three pairs of leather shoes a year, using designated stamps in War Ration Book One, and later in Books Three and Four. To simplify the system, only six shades of leather were produced. However, the supply of leather continued to decrease. On March 20, 1944, the ration was reduced to two pairs of leather shoes per year. Shoe rationing continued until October 30, 1945.

Exceptions

The strict rule that the ration stamp had to be torn from the book in the presence of the retailer was lifted for catalog purchases. If you wanted an extra pair of shoes, you had to fill out a long application at the ration board, listing every pair of footwear you owned, and explaining why another pair was essential for your occupation and why another pair was required to prevent serious hardship.

What about Children?

No exceptions were made for children and their rapidly growing feet. Families pooled their stamps, and adults made do with fewer shoes to provide for their children’s needs. However, pediatricians and podiatrists complained publicly that shoe rationing would produce a generation of “foot cripples.”

Making Do
To make do with less, people took care of the footwear they already owned, keeping rubber boots clean, dry, and away from excess heat or cold, and repairing shoes and boots whenever possible. Shoes made of fabric, such as espadrilles, were not rationed and became fashionable. Women also turned to fabric purses and belts.

Some people did not make do. Theft and black market profiteering were a continuing problem. For example, on May 3, 1944, a man was arrested in Pittsburg, California for stealing seven pairs of shoes from a shipment. The June 8, 1944 issue of the Antioch Ledger reported his sentence—six months or $500.

How would you do with only two or three new pairs of shoes a year? Try not to hyperventilate.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 21, 1941: Italians in Jarabub, Libya surrender to British & Australians after 15-wk siege.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 20, 1941: British take Hargeisa from Italians in British Somaliland.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 19, 1941: In heaviest Luftwaffe raid on London since December 1940, 750 are killed.

RSVP

The rain sneaked under my hood as I ran my son up the walkway for a birthday party. I felt for the mother, who would soon have a houseful of sugar-addled, rainy-day-crazed kids.

“How many are you expecting?” I asked the hostess.

Her forehead puckered. “I have no idea. No one RSVP’d.”

A twinge of discomfort. No one? I knew I’d left my RSVP. “Didn’t you get my message?”

She flipped her hand. “Oh, we never check our machine.”

Huh???

On the invitation she asked for a response, she had an answering machine hooked up, but she never bothered to check her messages?

As I drove home, the windshield wipers protested, and I wondered if I’d ever been guilty of the same lapse of logic. Do I shoot God a list of requests, bustle through the day, and grumble about how God never answers my prayers?

I need to check my messages.

The Lord speaks to us in several ways—through His written Word, prayer, circumstances, and the voices of His people. Has a pastor’s sermon ever spoken directly to you? Has a Christian friend ever asked a question that cut to the core of your issue? Have you ever been barraged by verses and conversations on the same theme? That’s God speaking, and it’s exciting.

To experience this, we need to structure our lives so we have plenty of time in the Bible, in prayer, in church, and with God’s people. But we also need to live our lives expecting God to speak to us, tuning our hearts to listen to Him, and waiting in eager anticipation.

Excuse me, but I think I hear my Bible beeping at me.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 18, 1941: US and Canada sign joint defense pact.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 17, 1941: British begin to ration jam & marmalade (8oz per month). National Gallery of Art opens in Washington DC.

Book Club Beat - Same Kind of Different as Me

Welcome to Book Club Beat, where book clubs share about their discussions.

Book club name and/or location: Bibliovores, northern California.

Title and Author: Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent.

What it’s about:
A true story. Denver Moore grew up in Louisiana in the 1960's, working on a plantation as a modern-day slave. Ron Hall is an international arts dealer who moves between upscale New York galleries and celebrities. It seems unlikely that these two men would meet under normal circumstances. Until Deborah Hall, Ron's wife meets Denver and sees him through God's eyes of compassion. When Deborah is diagnosed with cancer she charges Ron with the mission of saving Denver. From this request, an extraordinary friendship forms between Denver and Ron, changing them both forever.

Were discussion questions available? Were they helpful?
Yes, in the back of the book. However, the book generated so much discussion, we didn’t need the questions.

What we liked about the book:
Everything. The book was beautifully written. It alternated between Ron’s and Denver’s stories—each voice unique and engaging. So many lines were hysterically funny, but we were all moved to tears as well. Most of all, the story drew us in, made us care, and challenged our attitudes. We loved seeing how God worked in each person’s life, how He spoke to them, how they obeyed—and the amazing results of that obedience.

Anything we would change about the book?
No.

Fun connections (did the story inspire food, decorations, etc.?):
Nothing directly related to the story. We did enjoy delicious corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Deep connections (this story made us think about the following discussion topics):
The book made us think about our attitudes toward the homeless, people different from us, and how we respond to God when tragedy strikes. We discussed how God calls each of us to different ministries. Not all of us are called to work directly with the homeless, but we’re each called to do something—and we’d better do it! And we’re each called to see all human beings as precious to the Lord and treat them accordingly.

Do you recommend this book for other book clubs?
Absolutely.

If you belong to a book club and would like your group to be featured on this blog, let me know! Pictures of the book club can be included if you'd like. Christian or "clean secular" fiction/nonfiction only please. The questionnaire is short, and I'll obtain the book cover and story blurb.

If you're looking for a book club, check out the Book Club Network at http://www.bookfun.org/ , an on-line meeting place for Christian book club members and authors. Over 900 members and it's only a few months old! Join the fun!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 16, 1941: U-100 first sub tracked by radar—attacked and sunk by British ship HMS Vanoc. In first successful amphibious landing of the war, British and Indian troops land at Italian-occupied Berbera in British Somaliland.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 15, 1941: German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sink 16 British ships in convoy over next two days. Severe blizzard in North Dakota and Minnesota kills 151. New songs in Top Ten: “Amapola” and “Georgia on My Mind.”

Make It Do - Rationing of Fats & Oils in World War II

Rationing was part of life on the US Home Front during World War II. Along with gasoline, sugar, coffee, processed foods, meat, and cheese—fats and oils were rationed. To help produce the glycerin needed by the military, housewives also collected kitchen waste fats.

Why Fats?Shortages of butter and oils began early in the war. Most cooking oils came from Pacific lands conquered by the Japanese, and the supply plummeted. Fats were also needed in higher quantities for industrial and military use. For example, the Navy used lard to grease their guns. In addition, the United States provided the fats needed by many of our allies for military and civilian use.

Rationing of Fats and Oils
By Christmas of 1942 a serious shortage of butter and other fats developed. The Office of Price Administration added butter, fats, and oils to rationing on March 29, 1943. Points were assigned to each type of fat based on scarcity. Grocery stores posted the required ration points along with prices. Lard was removed from rationing on March 3, 1944 and shortening and oils on April 19, 1944, but butter and margarine were rationed until November 23, 1945. Butter required a higher number of points than margarine, so “oleo” margarine became more popular. Naturally white, oleo came with a packet of yellow food coloring to mix in.

Ration Books
Ration Books Two, Three, and Four included blue stamps for processed foods and red stamps for meat, cheese, and fats. Each person received 64 red stamps each month, providing about 12 pounds of fats per year.

Glycerin Shortage
The vital substance of glycerin comes from fats. In the United States, most glycerin came from the production of soap—when fats and lye are combined, soap and glycerin are formed. Glycerin is a crucial ingredient in the manufacture of explosives such as nitroglycerin. It was also needed for other military uses—as a lubricant, in protective paint for planes and tanks, in hydraulics, in the production of cellophane for food wrappers, and in dyes for uniforms. In addition, glycerin is vital in pharmaceuticals as a solvent, protectant, and emollient. To free up some of the supply, glycerin use was restricted or removed from civilian products such as beverages, gum, antifreeze, tobacco, cosmetics, lotions, soaps, and shampoo. Pharmacists learned to use other solvents to make suspensions and elixirs. However, more glycerin was needed, so America turned to the housewife to provide more fats.

“Pass the Grease and Make the Ammunition”
“One tablespoonful of kitchen grease fires five bullets.” “One pound of kitchen fats makes enough dynamite to blow up a bridge.” Slogans like these prompted housewives to salvage cooking fats. In June of 1942, a national program was begun for collection—but it still wasn’t enough. To reward collection, starting in December of 1943, housewives received 2 red ration points and 4 cents for each pound of grease.

How were waste fats collected?
Housewives saved fats trimmed from meat (boiled down), pan juices, skimmings from stews and gravies, even water from boiling sausage (chilled and skimmed). The grease had to be free of water and juice, strained through a fine-mesh sieve to remove impurities, and stored in a cool and dry place, preferably refrigerated. When a pound had been collected in a tin can, the housewife took it in to her grocer or butcher, who would return her tin can—tin was scarce too!

How would you deal with rationed butter and oils—or saving your kitchen grease?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 14, 1941: Japanese fighters raid Chengtu, China in longest range for fighter operation of war so far.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 13, 1941: Luftwaffe bombs Scotland during night; Clydeside and Glasgow hit hard; 460 killed.

Blogoversary Giveaway Winners

Thanks, everyone, for celebrating my second blogoversary with me! Seventy people left comments on posts this week, either on the blog or on Facebook, so I decided to give away three books. My random number generator (my teen daughter, who prides herself on being random) pulled three names from a bowl: Katers, Leticia Glidewell, and Nora St. Laurent. Ladies, I've sent you each a message on Facebook.

May God bless you greatly!

Giveaway...Haven't Forgotten...

You may think I've forgotten to post the winner for this week's blogoversary giveaway. Not quite. Worked late last night, and now I'm off to my son's baseball practice and book club! I'll post it later today. Sorry for the wait.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 12, 1941: Premiere of Frank Capra movie Meet John Doe, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.

It's My Blogoversary!

Today I'm celebrating the second anniversary of my blog!

Leave a comment on any of this week's posts here or on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of your choice of my three novels: A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us (available now), or Blue Skies Tomorrow (coming August 2011). Please leave your email address in the following format: sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com, so I can contact you if you win. US or Canada only, please. I'll announce the winner on Saturday, March 12.

I started the blog only because my lovely website designer made me. She set it up in case I ever decided to blog, which I had no intention of doing. I started with random funny stories and devotions, then added the "Today in World War II History" posts in June 2009 to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Not until last September did I hit my blogging stride with posts on World War II on Mondays, book or book club features on Wednesdays, and devotions on Fridays. So it took me a while. I'm a slow learner.

The Lord chose this week to remind me I can do nothing on my own. On Saturday night my husband asked if I was teaching Sunday school the next day. Nope, I said. The next morning in church, we sang a song with the line, "When You call, I won't refuse." I smiled. Just like Moses and the burning bush. Just like the devotion I'd written that week...for the Sunday school lesson...I was teaching...that morning! I broke out in a cold sweat. Yes, an actual cold sweat. I turned to my husband and whispered the story to him. He gave me one of those "you're an idiot, but you're my idiot" looks, and I fled the church service (bad Sarah) and wrote up my lesson.

God used my idiot-moment to embellish the lesson. I shared the story with the fourth- and fifth-graders and drove the point home. God uses whiny Moses and doofus Sarah - and He can use you too. He uses us in spite of our weaknesses. In fact, I'm convinced He uses because of our weaknesses, so His power shines all the brighter.

Thanks to all of you who have accompanied me on my stumbling, rambling journey. May He do great things in your life!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 11, 1941: Lend-Lease Act passed by Congress and signed by President Roosevelt, to sell military supplies to Britain with delayed payment.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 10, 1941: British Halifax bomber makes combat debut in raid to Le Havre.

Book Club Beat - The Shack by William Paul Young

This week I'm celebrating the second anniversary of my blog! Leave a comment on any of this week's posts here or on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of your choice of my three novels: A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us (available now), or Blue Skies Tomorrow (coming August 2011). Please leave your email address in the following format: sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com, so I can contact the winner. US or Canada only, please. I'll announce the winner on Saturday, March 12.

Welcome to Book Club Beat, where book clubs share about their discussions. Today I have a special guest, Nora St. Laurent. In addition to running two "live" book clubs, Nora also coordinates the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) on-line book club, plus The Book Club Network, an on-line community for book club leaders, book club members, and authors (http://www.bookfun.org/).

Welcome, Nora! Please tell us about your book club meeting.

Book club name and/or location: Finding Hope book club, which meets in a bookstore in Georgia.

Title and Author: The Shack by William Paul Young.

What it’s about:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

Were discussion questions available? Were they helpful?

Yes, there are questions in the back of the book. However, since we had a visit by the author, we listened to him speak, and then he took questions from the audience.

What we liked about the book:

My group loved the book. After listening to the author explain parts of the book and why he wrote them, we loved it even more.

Anything we would change about the book?

To be honest not many of us liked the cover of the book. It was a book that I never would have picked up because of the cover.

Fun connections (did the story inspire food, decorations, etc.? Did you have an author visit or phone call?):

Several people brought fun food but none was inspired by the book.

We did have a visit by the author. He first came to the store and did a book signing. The line wrapped around the store and every person got his full attention. I delighted to watch people share what the book meant to them. When he was done signing, he gave each person a hug.

Word got out that William Paul Young would be speaking at our book club that evening, so we had to find another location to seat the larger crowd.

When he came to speak, he shared his amazing journey. His wife bugged him about writing a story to his children that they could keep. He decided to write a book about the important things in life he wanted to share with his kids. He wrote on a train to and from work, then went to Kinko’s and made booklets for his kids. His kids gave it to their friends, and someone said he should publish it as a book.

Deep connections (this story made us think about the following discussion topics):

This story sparked lots of discussion. People cried when they shared parts that deeply touched them.

Do you recommend this book for other book clubs?

Yes, there will be lively discussion. But there has been a lot of controversy about this book. People have asked me what I thought of William Paul Young. I thought he was sincere. It was amazing to see how many people were touched by his book. So, yes, I recommend it, but beware of the wide variety of reactions.

Thanks, Nora, for sharing about your book club meeting with us! Sounds very interesting.

If you belong to a book club and would like your group to be featured on this blog, let me know! Pictures of the book club can be included if you'd like. Christian or "clean secular" fiction/nonfiction only please. The questionnaire is short, and I'll obtain the book cover and story blurb.

If you're looking for a book club, check out the Book Club Network at http://www.bookfun.org/ , an on-line meeting place for Christian book club members and authors. Over 900 members and it's only a few months old! Join the fun!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 9, 1941: Italians launch offensive in Albania, but are repelled by the Greeks. Japanese establish intelligence network in San Diego CA to spy on US shipping.

Make It Do - Meat and Cheese Rationing in World War II

This week I'm celebrating the second anniversary of my blog! Leave a comment on any of this week's posts here or on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of your choice of my three novels: A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us (available now), or Blue Skies Tomorrow (coming August 2011). Please leave your email address in the following format: sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com, so I can contact you if you win. US or Canada only, please. I'll announce the winner on Saturday, March 12.

Rationing of meat and cheese was an important part of life on the US Home Front. A complex and constantly changing system kept grocery shoppers on their toes.

Why meat and cheese?
The United States produced meat and cheese for her civilians and military, and also for her Allies. During World War I, food shortages were a serious problem, with hoarding, escalating prices, and rushes on stores. When World War II started, the government reduced deliveries to stores and restaurants, instituted price controls, and urged people to voluntarily reduce consumption. Britain had already instituted a point-based rationing system and had found it effective, so the United States decided to implement a similar program in 1943. Rationing made sure everyone got a fair share.

What was rationed?
On March 29, 1943, meats and cheeses were added to rationing. Rationed meats included beef, pork, veal, lamb, and tinned meats and fish. Poultry, eggs, fresh milk—and Spam—were not rationed. Cheese rationing started with hard cheeses, since they were more easily shipped overseas. However, on June 2, 1943, rationing was expanded to cream and cottage cheeses, and to canned evaporated and condensed milk.

Ration Books
War Ration Books Two, Three, and Four contained blue stamps for processed foods, and red stamps for meat, cheese, and fats. Each person received 64 red stamps each month, providing 2 pounds of meat and 4 ounces of cheese per week. The stamps were printed with a number for point value and a letter to specify the rationing period—such as N8. Rationing calendars in newspapers declared which stamps were current and for how long. To prevent fraud, the stamps had to be torn off in the presence of the grocer. Stamps were good for one, two, five, or eight points, with no “change” given, so the shopper had to be careful to use the exact number of stamps. The system was simplified on February 27, 1944, when plastic tokens were issued as change.

Points
Each cut of meat was assigned a point value per pound, based not on price or quality, but on scarcity. These point values varied throughout the war depending on supply and demand. “Variety meats” such as kidney, liver, brain, and tongue had little use for the military, so their point values were low. On May 3, 1944, thanks to a good supply, all meats except steak and choice cuts of beef were removed from rationing—temporarily.

Shortages
As the Allies advanced, newly liberated countries required food their war-torn lands couldn’t produce. America stepped forward to meet those needs, but shortages resulted on the Home Front. For Thanksgiving in 1944, the supply of turkeys was short, and on December 31, 1944, all meats were returned to rationing. Even with tightened rationing, a serious meat shortage developed in the spring and summer of 1945. San Diego reported a 55 percent decrease in the meat supply, and in San Francisco, only lamb and sausage were available. For the first time, even chicken and eggs were in short supply. Things improved after the victory parades, and on November 23, 1945 meat and cheese rationing came to an end.

Making Do
Throughout the war, American housewives learned to make do with less meat. Chicken and rabbit hutches sprang up in backyards, and people were encouraged to fish. Patriotic citizens observed “meatless Tuesdays” and cut meatless recipes out of newspapers and magazines. Soups, stews, and casseroles helped stretch the meat ration, and housewives learned to adapt recipes to organ meats and poultry.

How would you like to deal with meat and cheese rationing?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 7, 1941: First British troops land in Greece to aid Greeks against Italians. Actor Jimmy Stewart inducted into US Army.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 6, 1941: German planes begin dropping mines in Suez Canal to disrupt British shipping.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago Today - Mar. 5, 1941: Britain severs diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, which has just joined the Axis.

Hesitate....or Go?

A call from God can be a scary thing. He asks you to do something new, weird, or dangerous—something you feel ill-equipped to do. Something that might turn your life upside-down.

Imagine Moses at the burning bush when God tells him to leave his life of shepherding, return to Egypt where he murdered a man, talk to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. New, weird, dangerous. Moses felt ill-equipped, and God’s task would turn his life upside-down.

Moses has objections. God answers them. And I paraphrase from Exodus chapters 3 and 4…
Moses: “Who am I to do this?”
God: “I will be with you.”
Moses: “Who shall I say sent me?”
God: “Say that the God of your fathers, ‘I AM WHO I AM’ sent you.”
Moses: “What if they don’t believe me?”
God gives Moses three miraculous signs for proof the Lord sent him.
Moses: “But I’m slow of speech and tongue.”
God: “Go! I will help you speak.”
Moses: “Please send someone else.”
Then God’s anger burned. He sent Moses’ brother Aaron to be his spokesman.

A little hesitation is normal and appropriate. After all, we have to make sure the plan comes from the Lord and not our own imagination. God honors those questions. But at a certain point, we need to bypass our fears, step out in faith, and act. The Lord will equip us for any assignment He gives us.

When God called me to write, it was definitely new and weird for this pharmacist/stay-at-home mom. I was completely unequipped, and even my early forays into writing turned my household upside-down. But whenever I found myself hesitating, I repeated God’s words to Moses in Exodus 4:12: “‘Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” That became my theme verse as I ventured into the strange new world of the publishing industry.

Are you facing a new, weird, or dangerous assignment from God? What can you learn from Moses?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 4, 1941: British & Norwegian commandos raid Lofoten Islands, Norway; destroy oil plants, free 300 Norwegian POWs and take 200 German prisoners.

Book Beat - The Gathering Storm

Bodie and Brock Thoene have set the standard in historical fiction with their exquisite attention to history and engaging plots and characters, so I was thrilled to read their newest novel. The Gathering Storm is the first novel in the Zion Diaries series, but it stands alone.

The Gathering Storm introduces the Bittick family, missionaries serving in Germany before World War II. Young Loralai comes of age in the early days of Nazi Germany, torn between an adolescent crush on Eben Golah, a mysterious older man, and her affection for Varrick Kepler, a Jewish classmate. Loralai marries Varrick to help him escape Germany. In Belgium, their safety is again threatened by the German invasion in May 1940. Loralai escapes to England, where she finds new purpose in helping Jewish refugees.

The Thoenes' attention to historical accuracy shines. The scenes where Loralai's family flee Belgium by car, by foot, and by boat are thrilling and emotional. I was also struck by the plight of the Jewish refugees, who escaped tyranny in continental Europe only to find a surprising amount of prejudice in Britain. Those who love fiction set in World War II will find much to enjoy in this novel. However, there is a plot element which is mystical/supernatural. I found this element intriguing and based on biblical truths, but if you like your historical fiction straight, this might not appeal to you.

I'm very much looking forward to the next novels in this series.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 2, 1941: Germans occupy Bulgaria on way to Greece.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1941: Bulgaria signs Tripartite Pact. Free French take Kufra Oasis, Libya after 22-day siege. Bread ration in Italy cut in half. US Navy establishes Support Force Atlantic Fleet to protect convoys.