Historical Fictionistas discussion

Reading All things Bright and Beautiful which is a welcome relief from the depressing 2 other books that I just read which were the Brothers Karamazov and Thousand Acres

Alexw wrote: "Reading All things Bright and Beautiful which is a welcome relief from the depressing 2 other books that I just read which were the Brothers Karamazov and Thousand Acres"

I loved that whole series. They were among the few books that my father also enjoyed, so we could share our thoughts. Enjoy!

Reading Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters, a pretty enchanting read at this point, especially since I dreamt of being an archeologist when I was a kid lol. I like the pseudo Victorian style, the setting of course, though I fear the suspense part may be too lightweight. But I have hope :)

@53: You know that’s the first of a series, right? Though it was written a couple of decades before Peters came back and wrote a gazillion more. I never read the whole series, but they are very funny. Peters also wrote a number of humorous thriller-romances in the ’70s that I enjoyed a lot.

I'm reading . I didn't know much about her and I am finding this book really interesting.

Christine wrote: "I'm reading The Owl Killers. I've become fascinated by beguines, women in medieval and early modern northern Europe who lived in religious community, but did not take vows, so I foun..."

Huh. Never heard of these women, how interesting. These are real things, not invented for the book?

Yes, there were Beguines. Here's a book written by a Beguine. Marguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Souls translated into modern English.

I just finished The Thorn Birds (which I loved) and just began Madame Bovary for a book group.

Shomeret wrote: "Yes, there were Beguines. Here's a book written by a Beguine. Marguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Souls translated into modern English."

I was so excited when I first learned about Beguines. I'm persistently interested in choices for women in pre-feminist, pre-industrial societies, and I couldn't believe I'd gone so long without hearing of this one.

Currently I am reading The Red Car by Marcy Demansky. This is the third book I will have read in 2017.

Shomeret wrote: "Yes, there were Beguines. Here's a book written by a Beguine. Marguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Souls translated into modern English."

Fascinating. Thank you!

I'm reading America's First Daughter by Laura Kamoie]

Superb, perfect debut novel by Aussie author Jane Harper - The Dry. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Country Victoria, drought, mysteries, memories - WOW!
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Miss Jane
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1766571105

I just finished A Place Called Winter. It was really, really good.

I'm finishing up Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill & I'm just starting The Anatomist's Apprentice.

I am currently reading The Far Side of the Sun by Kate Furnivall, set in Bahamas in 1943...the Duke of Windsor is one of the supporting characters.

Blueberry wrote: "I just finished A Place Called Winter. It was really, really good."

Really liked that book too Blueberry.

Patricia wrote: "I'm finishing up Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill & I'm just starting The Anatomist's Apprentice."

Have that on my list Patricia. Look forward to reading it.

Lynne wrote: "Reading Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters, a pretty enchanting read at this point, especially since I dreamt of being an archeologist when I was a kid lol. I like the pseudo Victorian s..."

Love the Amelia Peabody series. I've read up to book 7 and they are such good comfort reads.

Finished Gibbon's Decline and Fall -- so good! Very sad that she died recently :(

Today, finished The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels, two of which I'm sure I read before and two of which I had no memory of every having read. So good at tapping into our collective psychoses.

Now, taking a 180-degree turn and re-reading Washington Square, in a lovely old edition from 1881 with illustrations by George du Maurier (related to Daphne? I don't know, but one wonders!).

I've just finished At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier. (If this entry looks klutsy, it's because I'm not familiar with how to add a title & author.
I liked the characterization & sense of place. I found the lengthy narratives about planting, nurturing, harvesting, etc. boring, but then I've never been inclined to grow things.

Dem wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm finishing up Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill & I'm just starting The Anatomist's Apprentice."

Have that on my list Patricia. Loo..."

I too have Clementine on my to-read list! Hope to get to it soon :)

I'm reading a novella Barks and Purrs by Colette. It's a funny conversation (with occasional dark humor) between a bulldog and a cat.

Anthony wrote: "I'm reading Trout Bum. It's not historical fiction, but it helps me beat cabin fever after knee surgery has me hobbling around for far too long." Great title.

Just finished 'A Whole Life' by Robert Seethaler.

I'm currently reading Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal. It's historical because it takes place during WWI, but its premise is paranormal. It deals with British spirit mediums who relay messages from soldiers who've recently died to the military authorities.

I just finished - Forgetting Foster by Dianne Touchell (AU) ★★★★ 9th Jan 17


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

It's hard to believe Trevor Noah, the well-known comedian and presenter of The Daily show (used to be Jon Stewart's), had such a scary upbringing in apartheid South Africa. Everybody had a tribe . . . except him.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

4.5★
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Half way through The Heaven Tree and I think I'm going to give up on it. It was absorbing in the beginning, but there's something too heavy-handed about the way the characters are drawn. The relationship between the protagonist and Adam was unsettling too. There was this subtle undercurrent..., perhaps an unrealistic sensitivity, almost a homo-erotic feel, though I'm certain that's not what the author intended. It just didn't work for me. I know this is a favourite for many, so sorry if I've offended anyone.

I'm currently reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Started an ebook ARC Poseidon and Cleito. First two chapters are intriguing.

Melissa wrote: "I'm currently reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King"

What do you think so far?

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "It's hard to believe Trevor Noah, the well-known comedian and presenter of The Daily show (used to be Jon Stewart's), had such a scary upbringing in apartheid South Africa. Everyb..."

Wow, that looks fascinating. His mother sounds like quite a woman!

I always read multiple books upfront so started James Joyce's Dubliners and reading You by Caroline Knepes. The first one is an easier read than I expected and the second is very disturbed indeed...

I finished "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and started "How to Click with People: The Secret to Better Relationships in Business and in Life

How was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jayme? I do like the title!

Just finished a debut by Aussie author Anna Snoekstra.

Only Daughter is about a young woman impersonating a girl who disappeared in Canberra many years earlier.

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

Finished The Hound of the Baskervilles (so good!) and have started A Room With a View.

Michele wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I'm currently reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King"

What do you think so far?"

So far, I am loving it! This is actually my first Stephen King book, and I think he is doing a pretty great job of portraying the late 50's early 60's. It's definitely a chunker but I'm flying through it and far from bored!

Abigail wrote: "How was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jayme? I do like the title!"

I loved it, you should read it.

When Books Went to War - Molly Guptil Manning - 4****
While Nazis were burning books in Europe, Americans were trying to get more books distributed to the men fighting in the war. Manning does a wonderful job of including the history of the times and the challenges faced by the Council, including efforts to censor the books that would be included. I was completely fascinated and engaged from beginning to end.
LINK to my review

Constellation of Vital Phenomena – Anthony Marra – 4****
I had considerable difficulty getting into this novel. Perhaps it was because I was listening rather than reading, but Marra’s moving back and forth in time, and changing points of view, just confused me. I did not connect to the characters at first and didn’t understand their relationships and connections. But that, I suppose, is Marra’s intention. We do not often know why someone crosses our path, what connections she or he brings, what influence he or she will have on our future. We do not know when hope and grace, courage and dignity may find their way into our lives. We can only pray that they do.
LINK to my review

Jessica wrote: "Finished The Hound of the Baskervilles (so good!) and have started A Room With a View."

I love A Room With a View. The 1985 Merchant-Ivory movie adaptation -- featuring Helena Bonham Carter, Judi Dench, Daniel Day Lewis, and a very young Rupert Graves -- is fabulous, too :)

Melissa wrote: "So far, I am loving it! This is actually my first Stephen King book, and I think he is doing a pretty great job of portraying the late 50's early 60's. It's definitely a chunker but I'm flying through it and far from bored! "

Good one to start with :) I think King is a master at grounding his stories in particularly American times and places.

Michele wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Finished The Hound of the Baskervilles (so good!) and have started A Room With a View."

I love A Room With a View. The 1985 Merchant-Ivory movie adaptation -- featuring Helena Bonh..."

Yeah, I saw the movie a couple of years ago. Thought the acting was great, but it surprised me at first to see Helena Bonham-Carter in a non-weird/fantastical/evil role.

I decided to re-read a Pulitzer Prize-winner, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway.

I still love it 5★ worth! If you picture Spencer Tracy in his Academy Award-nominated role as the old man, so much the better. He was terrific, but even without that memory, it's a wonderful story.

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

I'm about to startThe Apothecary Rose. It is part of a book challenge!

^ if you like Ellis peters cadfael series you will love this series it's very good

I've read two good books so far this month- Children of Earth and Sky, which has some historical basis and A Monster Calls. A Monster Calls was just excellent.

My current read now is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I got the itch to get back to Hogwarts since my husband is reading the series for the first time.