Historical Fictionistas discussion

Author David Baldacci is such a popular writer that I decided to try one of his books - perhaps I chose the wrong one.

Memory Man disappointed me so much that I gave it only a couple of stars.

But I have a question for other people who have read it. My review and the question
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nine Days to Christmas - Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida – 4****
The subtitle is: A Story of Mexico, and this charming picture book details the preparations and festivities surrounding las posadas, a procession and celebration of Joseph and Mary seeking shelter in Bethlehem. The illustrations by Ets are wonderfully detailed, and she won the Caldecott medal for her work. Labastida’s text, and Ets’s drawings bring the streets of Mexico City alive.
LINK to my review

I am currently reading The Black Widow by Daniel Silva. This is the latest book of the series. I love these books and the main character, Gabriel Allon, art restorer and Israeli spy.

Current read is The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett

A great. Ok!

I plan to start reading Twisted Creek I really don't know if it is historical fiction or not.

About to start Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. I hear it will be on PBS soon.

Just started I'll Be Right There by Kyung-Sook Shin. It's set in 1980s South Korea.

Beth wrote: "About to start Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. I hear it will be on PBS soon."

It started on PBS last night.

Beth wrote: "About to start Victoria by Daisy Goodwin. I hear it will be on PBS soon."

Already started, this past August.

So did it start last night or back in August?

In Canada, "Victoria" started last night (1st episode).

Beth wrote: "So did it start last night or back in August?"

Sorry, it was last summer on ITV (in the UK). It premieres in the US on PBS this month. My apologies for the confusion.

Beth wrote: "So did it start last night or back in August?"

In the US, it started last night

Has anyone watched it? Any good? I am having withdrawals after watching The Crown. I need more quality shows!

Reading Advise and Consent by Alex Drury- is very appropriate as is about a controversial appointment to be Secretary of State-just like Trump has done.

A Big Sky Christmas - William W Johnstone & J A Johnstone – 2**
It’s a stereotypical Western tale … cardboard characters right out of central casting, a band of “varmints” set on revenge, an actress fleeing from a rich man intent on having his way with her, and the cowboy who loves her, Indians, buffalo, and the kinds of natural disasters that plagued many a wagon train. Still, it’s a fast read, with a plot that kept me interested enough to keep turning pages. Oh, and if you’re looking for a “Christmas” book … look elsewhere. This is really just a Western romance set during early winter, with a plot that culminates on Christmas Day
LINK to my review

Jackie wrote: "Has anyone watched it? Any good? I am having withdrawals after watching The Crown. I need more quality shows!"

I heard the other day that Downton Abbey is very popular in China and now among the upper crust there is a demand for butlers. They should read P. G. Wodehouse :)

Tammy wrote: "Anthony wrote: "

He created "Forrest Gump" and earned high acclaim for his story creation. I'm giving his latest historical fiction work a shot and so far it has been a..."

So far I'd have to say no. It's a little slow but it's too early to say.

Michele wrote: "I heard the other day that Downton Abbey is very popular in China and now among the upper crust there is a demand for butlers. They should read P. G. Wodehouse :)"

That's insane!!

Jackie, I watched "Victoria" - it was just OK, a bit flat, I thought.

I'm about to start The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg.

I've just finished The Dry by Jane Harper a remarkable murder mystery debut novel set in rural Australia 5 stars from me.

Alice wrote: "I'm about to start The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg."

I've added this to my TBR list. I played a lot of Chopin as a teenager and was fascinated by his liaison with George Sand. I always thought she must have been an amazing woman. Looking forward to this read.

The Conjoined: A Novel by Jen Sookfong Lee is ostensibly about 2 bodies found in the freezers of a foster mother, but it's more about frustrated people and family dynamics with a lot of social justice messaging.

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

I finished "Where'd You Go Bernadette" and started "Closer To Home" by Mercedes Lackey

Margaret wrote: "I've just finished The Dry by Jane Harper a remarkable murder mystery debut novel set in rural Australia 5 stars from me."

I thought it was fantastic, Margaret, and hard to believe it's her first book, too.

The Wedding Dress: Stories From the Dakota Plains - Carrie Young – 4****
This is a collection of short stories set primarily during the early part of the 20th century to shortly after World War II. Young explores the lives of the people of Little Butte, North Dakota, who are mostly Norwegian immigrants (or descended from them). All of the stories feature characters that fairly leap off the page, they are so real. The landscape is cold and bleak, especially during the Dust Bowl years, but the kitchens are warm and inviting. This is the first work by Young that I’ve read; it will not be the last.
LINK to my review

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..."

Christine, sounds like a very interesting book. Have you be reading elsewhere about beguines? Any suspicions about why they were more common in Northern Europe? Perhaps the laypersons were also in Southern Europe but were called something different?

Paul wrote: "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 ta..."

No, I haven't done enough reading to understand why the movement didn't spread into southern Europe. I have an uninformed sense that northern Europe may have been more bregmatic, and less resistant to innovation, but that's only a vague hunch.

Finished Ten Days in a Mad-House
My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1884415456

I'm reading Cut throat razor murders by Ian Stewart

I just finished The Dark Enquiry which is book #5 in the Lady Grey series. This is a historical mystery series set in Victorian London. There are some Novellas left for me to complete the series.

I am reading Young J. Edgar by Kenneth D. Ackerman. The book deals with the occurrences between 1917 and 1924 during President Woodrow Wilson's term.

Finished The Silence in the Garden
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1883073999

Just started The Yiddish Policemen's Union I like Chabon's writing style.

I started "Small Great Things" by Jodi Picoult for a group read.

I am about halfway through listening to The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo on audio, and have just started I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban which has been on my TBR for quite a while.

I read "I Am Malala..." and I loved it.

I just started A Song of War: A Novel of Troy written by various authors including Kate Quinn and Stephanie Thornton, so far so good...

Miss M wrote: "M.J. wrote: "I'm currently reading Julian Mitchell's masterful play Another Country after having watched the film, starring Rupert Everett and a very young and impressive Colin Firth.

It is part o..."

Thanks for that. No, I hadn't heard of it and it seems very well pieced together and could greatly enhance my background reading. I greatly appreciate the pointer.
MJ Colewood

Michele wrote: "M.J. wrote: "I'm currently reading Julian Mitchell's masterful play Another Country after having watched the film, starring Rupert Everett and a very young and impressive Colin Firth."

Be still, m..."

The original play starred Everett alongside Kenneth Brannagh no less, and if that wasn't enough then check out the understudies who took it over from them. You'll find it here on this link: Another Country article in The Guardian

Michele wrote: "M.J. wrote: "In fact, the Flashman (full name: Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC, KCB, KCIE ) series by George MacDonald Fraser, arguably went on to greater fame than the book that spawned him into life,..."

I just couldn't have described him better, he certainly is the king of anti-heroes! Does anyone disagree? And even if a strong case could be gathered against Flashman wearing the crown, does this bold contender come out from every contention 'smelling of roses' and garnished with even greater plaudits than before? I throw down the gauntlet, where I dare say it shall stay thrown.

Margaret wrote: "Just started The Yiddish Policemen's Union I like Chabon's writing style."

I read it a few years ago and loved it. Chabon's work is always wonderful and his stories are so diverse.

Mrs Lincoln’s Dressmaker – Jennifer Chiaverini – 3***
This was an interesting look at an era in history that we already know much about. I enjoyed the historical references and Elizabeth’s point of view of many of the events. It was an engaging story that held my interest. But … I wish Chiaverini had given us more of Elizabeth in the novel and less of Mrs Lincoln.
LINK to my review

I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Just started it!

LOVED To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey, whose first book, The Snow Child, made the short list for the Pulitzer Prize. I haven't read it yet, but after having read this, I sure will!

This one is a solid 5★ and it has a gorgeous cover.


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

I needed something humorous after my last book so I am currently reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It has been a very quick read so far. I have found it both tragic and hilarious at the same time.

Christine, hope you are enjoying it. I found it the same-- humorous and tragic. Looking forward to your review....Currently reading In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson. Next will be Americanah.

I am reading Commonwealth by Ann Patchett and The Special Prisoner by Jim Lehrer. Most of my time (I am in Tucson for 6 mos) is going toward marketing my new novel Threshold, about climate change in the Southwest. On Amazon.