Do you ever read books on a particular theme together?
Lately I have been reading a great deal about World War II and the lives of families on the homefront, especially in England. I feel that I have a great deal to learn from the thriftiness, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency of those who survived the Great Depression and the Second World War.
Probably my favourite recent book on this subject is Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall's
The Ministry of Food: Thrifty Wartime Ways to Feed Your Family. As the author points out, issues such as reducing waste, growing our own food and eating seasonally are now issues all over again, if for different reasons than during the War:
Today, instead of fighting Hitler, we are combating economic recession. But unlike our forebears, we are fighting on several fronts – against waste, junk food and the depletion of fossil fuels. In hard times the battle for survival can be exhilarating, and it does bring rewards: the satisfaction that comes from self-sufficiency; pride in seeing children grow up strong and healthy; and the friendships that develop through co-operation with neighbours. (p.13)
Written as part of a 2010 exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London, The Ministry of Food is a wonderful combination of social history, cookery book and gardening guide. It is filled with fascinating anecdotes, recipes and posters from the period. Highly recommended.
Also of interest to those wanting to learn from wartime thriftiness are two smaller books;
and Eating for Victory: Healthy Home Front Cooking on War Rations. These books are fairly basic compilations of official Second World War Instruction leaflets. I have only read Make Do and Mend so far, and while I found its tips and hints fascinating (I didn't know there were so many ways to darn a garment!), I felt it could have benefited from an index. 
The next book on my reading list is Nella Last's War: The Second World War Diaries of 'Housewife 49'. As stated on the back cover, "In September 1939, housewife and mother Nella Last began a diary whose entries, in their regularity, length and quality, have created a record of the Second World War which is powerful, fascinating and unique." While this Mrs Last's wartime diaries were first published in 1981, I have only learnt about them recently and can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy.
What are you reading at the moment?
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