Historical Fictionistas discussion

The half wives by stacia pelletier

Rusty wrote: "Just finished The Hearth and Eagle by one of my favorite authors, Anya Seton. This is a very good story about a family that lived in Marblehead. The key character is Hesper Honeywood..."

I've read her Green Darkness but not this one. Looks interesting.

I finished Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly greatly to be recommended. Moving away from Poland and World War. I'm reading [book: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.

Margaret wrote: "I finished Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly greatly to be recommended. Moving away from Poland and World War. I'm reading [book: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain."

We apparently have crazy similar taste. I really enjoyed the Paris Wife. Recently finished the Zookeeper's Wife, and I am currently reading Lilac Girls. You can use that one for the challenge too, for 20.2.

It's lined up for 100!!

I must watch your reads for new books!! Glad Paris Wife is good it's been on my list to read for ever.

I'm also reading what Alice forgot by Liane Moriarty

Margaret wrote: "I finished Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly greatly to be recommended. Moving away from Poland and World War. I'm reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain."

Loved The Paris Wife!

James Patterson's "bookshot" The Witnesses.
I'm enjoying this novella format - like a good TV episode.

4★
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I picked up Katherine from the library yesterday. Will start today. Quite excited as I know many from this group loved it.

Just finished The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1960813320

Golden Hill caught me completely by surprise! A funny and sometimes poignant historical novel of mystery in 1746 New York. Quite a romp!

5★ my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Not a historical fiction, but I am reading We Never Asked for Wings .

My Name is Lucy Barton – Elizabeth Strout – 5*****
I love character-driven novels such as this one. Strout writes beautifully, with prose that reveals her characters to the reader with nuance and grace. Lucy’s recollections and probing questions lead her mother to reveal some of the “why” behind how Lucy came to be the woman she is.
LINK to my review

Finished reading "After You" and starting "The Couple Next Door"

Just finished The Summer Before the War. Next up: The Great God Pan, a classic :)

On book three, Lost Innocents, of "The Servant of the Crown Mysteries." Your detective is a 24 year old knight. 'Who done it' tales at the turn of 12th Century England. They read like short stories.

Just finished The Women in the Castle
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1898377535

I just finished Allegedly, Allegedly, which is a YA book about a 9 year old girl who girls a baby, allegedly. She is in baby prison until she is 16 and is then moved into a group home. She has covered for her mother but now that she is pregnant with her own child she wants the truth to come out. Sounds like a soap opera...but it is a dark story and how the mind works.


Then I read the 3rd book in the JD Robb series....what fun:) Immortal in Death


I am almost finished with The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness which is an excellent book that everyone should read. It shows why America has the highest number of jails and incarcerations in the world....and for very minor offenses. I cannot believe that crack and powder cocaine have such different sentencing. "just 1 gram of crack are given the same sentence as those found in possession of 18 grams of cocaine" which of course targets poor and mostly black people. It's an eye opening book and sad for the people who are caught up in a crooked system and seemingly will and can never get out of. Things need to change.


Next up is Desperation Road. I am in a few chapters and it has grabbed me already. I have no idea what it is about other than it has gotten very good reviews and supposedly has beautiful writing.

Recently read a non-fiction book, Into the Heart of Tasmania: A Search For Human Antiquity, by Aussie author Rebe Taylor.

Great research and stories the world should know. 4★
My review (including one of the stories)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just read Aussie author Kate Mildenhall's debut, Skylarking.

Late 1800s, lighthouse near Jervis Bay, NSW. Fiction based on true incident of teen girls, best friends.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm currently working on A Tale of Two Cities and just started Anansi Boys

I'm reading 101 detectives by Ivan Vladislavic a mixed bag of short stories.

I'm also ploughing through Sapiens by Juval Noah Harare. It started well but is getting a bit heavy going. I'm 30% through

Next up will be the summer before the war by Helen Simonson

Matt wrote: "I'm currently working on A Tale of Two Cities and just started Anansi Boys"

Going for quality! Two of my favorite authors for totally different reasons. I'm coming to the end of string of OK reads and decided I'm treating myself with a Neil Gaiman book next. Hope you enjoy your reads, Matt!

I'm finally nearing the end of World's End by Upton Sinclair. It's a long slog, but well worth it. His voice is so unique and witty, I could read 10,000 pages. And since this is just the first of his ELEVEN "Lanny Budd' novels, my wish can be fulfilled. But maybe not all at once.

Margaret wrote: "Next up will be the summer before the war by Helen Simonson"

Just finished that. Very good, esp if (like me) you are a rabid Anglophile who loves small-town British life :)

Just finished Lilac Girls, 5 ⭐️'s! On to A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Just finished Horseman, Pass By after Nathanial Hawthorne's The Blithedale Romance among some other women's fiction. Am almost done with The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, a little disappointing. Have The Postmistress by Sarah Blake standing in the wings.

Reading Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon, so interesting, lots to learn...

Recently read Small Hours by Jennifer Kitses. (I like the cover.)

Young couple, stretched to breaking by secrets, regrets.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Started Sully: My Search for What Really Matters.

No, I did not see the movie.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls – Anton DiSclafani – 3***
The story is told in alternating time frames: the events back home in Florida, and the events at the school during Thea’s year at Yonahlossee. As Thea related what is happening and how she felt, I found myself worried for this emotionally distant girl, who seemed unable to control her impulses or to recognize the potential consequences of her actions.
LINK to my review

April 30 - Currently Reading

TEXT – Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
AUDIO in the car – Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld
MP3 Player AUDIO - Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam

Eric wrote: "Started Sully: My Search for What Really Matters.

No, I did not see the movie."

I recently heard him speak. Just as wonderful & impressive.

Asunder: A Novel of the Civil War This is a good story set during the Civil War era.

I am currently reading Joanna Hickson's The First of the Tudors so far am loving it

After a long string of books ranging from "meh" to "okay," I'm taking a break and reading two of my favorite authors, so I know I'll get the pleasure I want: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories by Connie Willis. Started both yesterday and living up to the authors' reputations.

Ah, palate cleansers. Sometimes very necessary.

Faith wrote: "After a long string of books ranging from "meh" to "okay," I'm taking a break and reading two of my favorite authors, so I know I'll get the pleasure I want: Norse Mythology by [aut..."

I have to admit, I was not a fan of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I felt like he was trying to pull more out of the book... but in piece-meal. A friend of mine is a huge fan (who loves A.G.) and told me to try another one. So far I'm liking Anansi Boys. Norse Mythology is interesting, but I found the Lombard Laws more descriptive to the actual people of the time.

Epitaph – Mary Doria Russell – 4****
In a sequel to her earlier novel, Doc, Russell explores what REALLY happened at the OK Corral. I love Russell’s writing. She does extensive research and is not content to give us only one side of the issues, or one facet of the characters. The novel focuses on Josie Marcus and Wyatt Earp, but every character fairly leaps off the page.
LINK to my review

Enjoyed the characters, plot, and black humour in serial killer mystery Ragdoll by Daniel Cole.
4.5★

Now waiting for book#2! My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Great God Pan -- not at all what I expected, but very good. I will seek out more books by him.

Now working on Darconville’s Cat (a lot of fun, but very intellectually demanding -- I've never had to work quite so hard for a laugh!) and Grass for a group read.

I'm reading City of the Lost which is a real departure for me. I'm not at all drawn to crime fiction, but picked this up on a friend's recommendation. It happened to coincide with a sleepless night, and I'm liking it more than I expected.

I recently finished an older HF book, I have always like Jean Plaidy. Gives you a good novel. I have been watching Victoria and wanted to know more about the monarchs that preceded her.

Just started In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen, enjoying it so far...

I'm about halfway through Katherine. The writing is descriptive and the narrative brims with details. But I'm finding the romance a bit too syrupy for my taste.

Dad to the rescue! (Handy for Father's Day.) Delightful! 5★
Daddy Long Legs.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl. Up next is Strange Gods: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri - for the mini challenge. My four day weekend has just began & I'm ready to make tracks into my pile of library books!