Everyone with a cavernous, cluttered old attic dreams of finding treasure there. And that’s exactly what happened to Joshua Gerstein on a visit to his parents house. The WWII letters referred to in the subtitle of Love and Kisses, Charlie are copies of the real-life correspondence sent by Gerstein’s grandfather, Charlie Fletcher, to his family during his time serving in the Second World War, and found stashed away in an attic.

The letters are set out in strict chronological order, from the time of Charlie’s enlistment in the fall of 1943 right up to his discharge and return home in March 1946. The account is enriched with photos, images and commentary from Gerstein to explain Yiddish and military expressions and to add historical context. Through his own voice, we get to know an honorable and likeable young man who is devoted not only to his country and fellow soldiers, but also to his family and his Jewish heritage.

Charlie carefully recounts his day-to-day life for his parents so that they won’t worry about him. He describes his living conditions, the food he is eating, the friends he is making and the dates he is going on. He even marks religious festivals so that they know he is still dedicated to his faith.

As you might expect from true letters, much of the content is personal and provides a deep look into one persons life and thoughts. Charlie held administrative posts, so he was able to avoid the front line. But there are moments when the reality of war creeps in, such as when he meets Polish Jews who survived the death camps. Unlike other WWII books this one keeps things focused on Charlie. This provides a thoughtful look at a mans life, in a moment in time, which happens to be a momentous moment in history.

Love and Kisses, Charlie is a sensitive and personal account of one soldiers life and shows how, even though we are far from home, we still carry our family and faith with us. I highly recommend this interesting book to anyone interested in history, or readers looking for a memoir that is stirring and thought-provoking.

Pages: 634 | ASIN: B0BHL2XLFZ

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/11/love-and-kisses-charlie/