Historical Fictionistas discussion

I continue to read The Island by Victoria Hislop. My reading has slowed down considerably. Can't blame it on the holidays since ours is half over and everything is bought but I find myself involved in watching historical dramas on Netflix. I finished Call the Midwife which was wonderful and now I'm England watching Queen Elizabeth as a very young Queen in The Crown. Another great series and the second season just began.

I started Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys yesterday. I see it's an upcoming group read, but I'm borrowing it from the library and it's due before January, so I guess I'll read it early.

Jayne - I thought I would love this book since as a young woman I was interested in Hansens Disease and the workings of a leper colony. But I find some of the writing dull and don't feel I really got to know Eleni.

Have you also read Moloka'i, the Leper Colony in Hawaii. Excellent book on this subject.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Jayne - I thought I would love this book since as a young woman I was interested in Hansens Disease and the workings of a leper colony. Have you also read Moloka'i, the Leper Colony in Hawaii. Excellent book on this subject.

I also really liked Moloka'i. Another book that has a leper colony as part of the story that I loved was Tsukiyama's The Samurai's Garden. A favorite!

Where do l find out how to create a stats page?

I a reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, which is sweet from the beginning.

Also about to start The Betrothed , which I never heard of. Apparently it’s a Spanish classic written in the 1800’s about the 1600’s.it’s very famous in Europe but apparently not so much here. I’ll let you know.

I enjoyed watching Celeste Ng's characters try to deal with the Little Fires Everywhere that they lit without considering the consequences.
4★ Link to my review

I'm trying to catch up to my reading goal and finish it. Not sure that I'll make it

I finished by Kristy Cambron. Very interesting set between 1907 and 1927. Our main character, Wren was supposed to be Houdini's apprentice. Interesting information on illusionist of the time and the start of the FBI.

The Samurai's Garden was the first book I read by Tsukiyama and I fell in love with this author. I loved bed yesterday two books about the woman involved in the silk industry. But lately I couldn't get into her books. Maybe I'll try again at another time.

Happy 75th Birthday to acclaimed Aussie author Helen Garner! To celebrate, Text Publishing has released two collections of short works (which I love). Stories: The Collected Short Fiction is classic Garner Real people, loving, fighting, hurting.

4.5★ Link to my review

I just started Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
I think I'm going to like it a lot, the main female character, for the moment, pleases me a lot! And Thackeray's writing (translated into French, I admit), is easy, clever, direct and fun. To be continued...!

Finished The Woman in Black

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2211505644

Recently finished: The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I’m reading Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro

TEXT – Written in Stone by Ellery Adams
AUDIO in the car – None (while we drive my husband prefers music … so I listen just on MP3)
MP3 Player AUDIO – The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

Finally read a Kent Haruf novel, and I have to say, Our Souls at Night was as good as I'd hoped. I wanted to throttle their kids, though!
Our Souls at Night 5★ Link to my review

I finished "Before We Were Yours" and starting "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. Here is the review for "Before We Were Yours" if anyone would like to read it. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel, I am enjoying the descriptive writing.

Love, Life And Elephants – Daphne Sheldrick – 4****
Subtitle: An African Love Story. This is a wonderful memoir that takes the reader from Sheldrick’s birth and childhood through her teen years, and first love, on to the love of her life, David Sheldrick, and the work they accomplished together. She writes in a frank and open manner, describing her missteps as openly as her triumphs.
LINK to my review

After loving Aussie author Jane Harper's debut novel, The Dry, I was really looking forward to her second one, Force of Nature, which takes place in the wet.
3.5★ My review

I just finished for ancient history forum book of the month. It was okay, but I think my real problem reading about Vikings in 9th century Norway just isn't my favorite time period

Finished I Have Lived a Thousand Years

My Review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/2214866549

Finished The Beekeeper's Apprentice. Good, but it took me a lot longer to finish than I anticipated. not a page turner.

I finished "The Thirteenth Tale" and starting "The Christmas Wedding"

How did u enjoy The Thirteenth Tale?

I am reading The Alphabet of Heart's Desire by Brian Keaney, which takes place in England, in 1802.

Set during and just after WW2


A Man Of His Own – Susan Wilson – 3***
Three people connected by one dog, this is a kind of romance novel with a twist. There’s plenty of drama with three characters who are all emotionally fragile, and yet somehow are “guided” by this remarkable animal. That synopsis sounds trite and predictable, and in a sense the book is that, but I have to say that I was entertained and engaged by the story.
LINK to my review

I finished Oathbringer. Storms!!!!

Starting The Secret Life of Mrs. London, courtesy of the author in return for a review.

I am close to finishing The Admissions. Only thing worse than applying to college or your child applying is reading a novel about this. Next book I plan on reading is The Rooster Bar. Most likely this will be my last book read for 2017. Total is 64.

Eric wrote: "I finished Oathbringer. Storms!!!!"

Whoohoo! Congratulations! That's quite the behemoth. I've only read the first one, but I have to re-read it in order to move forward with the new books.

I finished "The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and starting "Call Me Mrs. Miracle" by Debbie Maccomber

I've just finished Jacob M. Appel's sometimes funny, sometimes touching contemplation of suicide in Millard Salter's Last Day.
Link to my review

Jackie wrote: "Whoohoo! Congratulations! That's quite the behemoth. I've only read the first one, but I have to re-read it in order to move forward with the new books."

Believe it or not the characters come back to you fairly quickly. Unlike other series authors, Sanderson does not dwell on repeating what you have already read in the previous books. He just has a knack for pulling things together.

Behemoth, my kind of book and I devoured it in a month. is over 1000 pages.

Thanks for the Congrats!

Started a collection of short stories (my favorite bed-time reading) called Nevertheless, She Persisted. Enjoying it so far!

I'm close to finishing Bloodline (War of the Roses #3) by Conn Iggulden. Good story-telling and I loved that I learned a lot about the conflict between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists, also the feud between Elizabeth Woodville and the King-maker, Richard Neville.

Finished Bloodline. 4 stars.

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

I started Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
There are 60 chapters and I'm on chapter 17. It's my first book by Gaskell and for the moment, I enjoy it.

I finished "Call Me Mrs. Miracle and starting Gone

I'm a sucker for short stories, and some of these were good. Pure Hollywood: And Other Stories by Christine Schutt, who has won prizes for other works.
3.5-4★ Available on NetGalley until March Link to my review

Gave up on The Rooster Bar by John Grisham and will begin another book today to finish out the year.

Started a Christmas gift from my daughter and Star Wars buddy: The Princess Diarist.

Finished The Alphabet of Heart's Desire by Brian Keaney. It reminded me of The Miniaturist, in that its strengths in plotting and originality overcame its weaknesses.

Finished Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales. Was highly impressed with some of the stories, and wished the author had made them into novel-length stories. As it was, the stories were too short to really enjoy. Nevertheless, there were fascinating stories from colonial America.

I'm reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. I could almost 'hear' the English accent of the butler :)

NOT your run-of-the-mill autism book about your brain and wiring and special skills, etc. This is a practical book that all school libraries and teachers should have and provide for students with autism. It speaks to the kid.

We all learn differently. Check my review of Autism and You: Learning in Styles by Diana Friedlander and see what your own learning style might be. And tell parents! ]
5★ Link to my review

I finished The Secret Life of Mrs. London and will start Elantris.

I've been re-reading Susanna Kearsley books lately. Right now I'm on A Desperate Fortune.

Nonfiction - great read


Queen of the Air – Dean Jensen – 4****
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Codona were the biggest stars in the early twentieth century Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I was completed engaged and enthralled by their story.
LINK to my review

Alice wrote: "I'm reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. I could almost 'hear' the English accent of the butler :)"

I love that book. So many tightly bound emotions...