By: CHRISTINA CLARK
Staff Writer
clark66@umail.iu.edu
Letters, archival material and personal histories make up IU South Bend’s Veterans Book Club current book of focus.
The Veterans Book Club at IU South Bend will meet Feb. 8 to discuss their current read, “Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and its Violent Climax,” by Joseph E. Persico. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Fireside room just off the campus Grille in the Administration Building.
“One of the veterans who attends our book club recommended this particular title,” explained Vicki Bloom, dean of library services. “It is a great choice.”
The author reconstructs an intimate experience for the readers.
Persico “reconstructs very personal stories about soldiers suffering in the trenches at the brink of death, along with the generals and politicians who orchestrated their everyday activities,” Bloom said.
The book choice arrives at a timely moment as well, as 2018 is the one hundredth anniversary for the end of the “The Great War.”
Though the war took place over 100 years ago, the history and experiences hold much knowledge for us to learn from, according to Bloom. The war involved 20 countries and took place on five continents, giving a geographical picture to the name.
“New technologies were introduced into battle for the first time, such as submarines, machine guns, gas and airplanes. This changed the fate of all future wars,” explained Bloom.
“It confirmed the unpredictability of war,” she said. The recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were not anticipated to last as long as they have. World War I lasted only four years.
The Veterans Book Club is open to anyone interested, not just veterans. Books are available to those interested in reading and joining the discussion through Vicki Bloom at vdbloom@iusb.edu.
