Historical Fictionistas discussion

Onto Gemini, book eight of House of Niccolo Series. 672 pages left in my marathon.

Me thinks I will open a very good bottle of scotch upon completion of this amazing series by Dorothy Dunnett.

Eric- did you read Dunnet's other series The House of Lymond? I have read neither yet, but wondering if it matters which one to read first.

I mean the Lymond Chronicles, not house of

Beth wrote: "I mean the Lymond Chronicles, not house of" I have read neither yet, but wondering if it matters which one to read first.

Beth, "The Lymond Chronicles" were written first (time-wise), "The House of Niccolo'" after. However, "The House of Niccolo'" is a prequel to "Lymond." Not unlike "Star Wars" going backward or any other series which presents prequels to an existing tale. I have not read "Lymond." "The House of Niccolo' " was recommended to me by one who read both series and who suggested that "Niccolo'" was far superior.

I have not read "Lymond." Hope this doesn't add to any confusion.

I am also interested in reading The House of Niccolo, so I should read the second series first?

Jon wrote: "I am also interested in reading The House of Niccolo, so I should read the second series first?"

I suspect each series can stand alone. Perhaps there are others out there who can comment?

From the book jacket of Gemini , "--and where perhaps, we will discern a connection between him (Niccolo') and that other remarkable personality, Francis Crawford, whose exploits Lady Dunnett recorded so memorably in "The Lymond Chronicles."

TASMANIA - what a story!
I just finished Aussie author: Saroo Brierley's memoir, now a new film called LION, A Long Way Home.



A five-year old Indian boy's memory beats ours, for sure, and it's not just the fresh Tasmanian air of his adopted country that did it.

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

Jon wrote: "This year for historical fiction I plan to read The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and [book:Foucau..."

I've never been very good at reading Bernard Cornwell, but the TV adaptation of the Last Kingdom was outstanding I thought.

Pillars of the Earth is outstanding and if you want to buddy read The Last Kingdom-chat me

I'm reading The Maltese Falcon.

^ good luck with that I found it hard going.

I'm reading The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand and am greatly enjoying it. But my reading pace is slow as I'm distracted by my work projects.

Breathing Lessons – Anne Tyler – 4****
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages, and just never got to it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long, but then again, maybe my own years of marriage help me better understand Maggie and Ira’s relationship. I love the way Tyler reveals her characters to the reader. Their actions – small and large – and statements show the reader who these people are. Their hopes, dreams, frustrations, and regrets become evident over the course of the novel. Their lives may be ordinary; the novel is anything but.
LINK to my review

I'm reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. It's been on my list for months, but I thought it was probably the kind of book I'd want to read straight through once I started. It is! I'm almost finished and highly recommend it. Challenging and thought provoking.

You can read excerpts from 40 new books in Buzz Books 2017 Spring/Summer, including fiction from well-known writers, debut fiction, and also some non-fiction choices.

I've picked 10 books that I particularly liked and given a bit of info in my review:

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

I read "Brumes de Sang" by Jacques Mazeau set at the beginning of WWI in a French rural village. I rated the novel 5 stars and reviewed it. The novel falls in the category of history fiction, crime fiction, and vampire stories.

Reading an inspirational book Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities, which I'm finding uplifting. Also scored three Mary Renault novels (the Alexander books) from an ebook special. I've read them all, but she is so good, I'd like to re-read.

I am about to finish The Winter in Anna and The will use this evening to finalize my next choice.

Finished and loved The Unseeing
My review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/1875986307

This is my second 5 * star read this year and in 2016 I only had 5 books I rated 5 stars. So great start to my 2017 year of books. :-)

Just started A Gentleman in Moscow after finally receiving it off of a mile-long library waiting list, and I love the writing style so far. This is definitely a different take on the Russian Revolution and early years of the Soviet Union.

I decided to read Premonition which is the prequel to The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian. After this I plan on reading Across the Sun by Corban Addidon. Neither are historical fiction but books I reall y want to read.

I've just finished The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand. It's more than just a fictional biography - there are life lessons to be learned too. Here's my review:-

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

I've just finished Traitor to the Throne. I didn't find it as magical as other reviewers. Here's my review-

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

and I also finished The Tory Widow which becomes more historical romance than historical fiction. Here is my review-

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

I finished "Closer to the Heart" by Mercedes Lackey and started "A Study in Charlotte" by Brittany Cavallaro

I read La musique des illusions which is set in the Picardie region in France during the late years of the nineteeth century. I rated it 3 stars and reviewed it.

I am currently reading I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis, so far it is an interesting perspective on politics, religion and art in 15th century Florence.

I am in the mood for romancie paranomaly time wimey story so am reading the whispering sands by Barbara Erskine and Mariana by Susanna Kearsley the second is a re-read of a re-read of a re-read lol

Just finished Women in White- next up Lean Mean Thirteen by Evanovich and then Be Frank With Me.

A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman – 5*****
What a joy this book is! Backman peoples the novel with an assortment of quirky characters, who form a community, and despite himself, Ove joins with them. I laughed aloud so often, and I felt for Ove’s. I also rejoiced at his triumphs, and marveled at his strength of character. I worried about him and cheered him on. I absolutely fell in love with Ove.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "

A Man Called Ove
– Fredrik Backman – 5*****
What a joy this book is! Backman peoples the novel with an assortment of quirky characters, who form a communi..."

I LOVED this book. Brought tears to my eyes in some parts.

I bought My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, which I'm hoping to get to this month.

Book Concierge wrote: "

A Man Called Ove
– Fredrik Backman – 5*****
What a joy this book is! Backman peoples the novel with an assortment of quirky characters, who form a communi..."

Ditto to Jackie's comment! I also loved this book and shed tears.

I am currently reading The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian.

Started Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite authors. He has a sure hand with short fiction, as well as novels.

Faith wrote: "Started Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite authors. He has a sure hand with short fiction, as well as novels."

I love him! I'm going to see him on Thursday. He'll be discussing his new book- Norse Mythology.

Loved Claire Fuller's new novel Swimming Lessons. How much do kids overhear? How much do they know? What happened to mum, and why?
.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading Victoria:The Queen: by Julia Baird I'm about a third way through and it is such a good well researched an readable book, very much to be recommended.

Jackie wrote: "I love him! I'm going to see him on Thursday. He'll be discussing his new book- Norse Mythology. "

Lucky you! By the time I found out, the event was sold out. I took my daughter to see him a couple of years ago at BAM when The Ocean at the End of the Lane came out. Have fun!

Faith wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I love him! I'm going to see him on Thursday. He'll be discussing his new book- Norse Mythology. "

Lucky you! By the time I found out, the event was sold out. I took my daughter to ..."

Thanks! I hope he actually shows up. We're supposed to get quite a bit of snow tomorrow. :(

I've just read Aussie author Sarah Ridout's debut novel, a mystery of sorts, Le Chateau.

I think she will attract plenty of romance readers, but it wasn't for me. (This novel, I mean, not romance!)

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

Jackie wrote: "Thanks! I hope he actually shows up. We're supposed to get quite a bit of snow tomorrow. :( "

Watching the snow blow horizontally from my office window. Hope you get to see Gaiman. He's quite a showman and voices his own audio books as well.

I just finished Dix-neuf, which is set mostly in Tunisia in 1970's. The novel contains many historical references on movies, music, fine arts, literature, mythologies, and Carthages. I rated 5 stars this novel and reviewed it.

I'm now reading Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly. It was a reddit suggestion.

Finished Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit which lifted my spirits and renewed my optimism. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

On the recommendation of #45 who explained in his kick-off to Black History Month that Fredrick Douglass "is an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice." I decided to read Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass which had been sitting on my TBR shelf for several years. Loving it so far.

Abraham Lincoln – Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire – 4****
This Caldecott-winner is a biography for young children. It follows Lincoln from his birth to the end of the Civil War, though it does not mention his assassination. The d’Aulaires were immigrants to America, and when the book was written the world was anxiously watching the events in Germany that would lead to a world war. They may have erred on the side of hero-worship in their portrayal of Lincoln, but I like that they portrayed a man willing to stand up against injustice.
LINK to my review

I've almost finished Conn Iggulden's Bloodline, the third book in his Wars of the Roses trilogy. Every time I read a book set in the period I learn something new about what was actually (non-fiction) and may or may not have been happening (fiction). What sets Iggulden's work apart is the presence throughout of a purely fictional character, Derry Brewer, whose insights into historical personnages adds another dimension to my concept of who they really were. In this volume he plays a trick on the reader that I absolutely could not believe he'd dared to do. Sorry, can't tell you what it is without...spoiler!

Faith wrote: "Finished Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit which lifted my spirits and renewed my optimism. My review here: https://www.goodrea..."

McFeely, William S. "Frederick Douglass." New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1991, is a good companion book to Douglass's autobiography.

Should finish Be Frank With ME this weekend -then a classic that I have been looking forward to for a long time- Doctor Zhivago

A great choice for a challenge: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by a favourite author of mine Jeanette Winterson.

I think it's best described as a fictionalised memoir, and quite a story it is, too.

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

Harold wrote: "McFeely, William S. Frederick Douglass New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1991, is a good companion book to Douglass's autobiography. "

Thanks for the rec, Harold. I also just ordered March: Book One (actually the trilogy) by Representative John Lewis. Looking forward to it!

Finished and enjoyed Number the Stars
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1907290725