Historical Fictionistas discussion

Just finished Burial Rites for the 3rd time but still enjoyed as bit as much as the first time I read it.

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1925289464

Margaret wrote: "I'm taking a break from the Incas and have started Katherine by Anya Seton"

Great book!

My local group just finished At the Edge of the Orchard. Great writing we've come to expect from Tracy Chevalier. Set during American pioneer life-Johnny Appleseed, California Gold rush- this personal story reflects the brutality of the era not seen in other pioneer tales such as Little House on The Prairie. The action is slow-moving during the first half but worth the dedication to fully understand the development in the second half of the story. Family dysfunction, bouts of malaria, abuse, unexpected love, survival, and triumph.

I just finished Haroun and the Sea of Stories and absolutely loved it. It's that treasure, a kids' book that reads beautifully for adults too. He's got a lovely facility for having fun with language: its sounds and meanings.

Michele wrote: "Dem wrote: "Finished The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe..."

That one and The Magician's Nephew are my favorites in the series."

My favourite was Voyage of the Dawn Treader: I love sea stories that aren't military, and have female characters.

Michele wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I'm taking a break from the Incas and have started Katherine by Anya Seton"

Great book!"

loved that book

I just finished reading Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle I had forgotten Lady Jane Grey had any sisters so this book was really interesting.

South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula was the location for this "domestic suspense" novel by Aussie author Dianne Maguire, Things We Cannot See. 3★

Important subject about teens and sexual predators written by a former social worker.

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

Finished The Underground Railroad, my last read for Black History Month. Started Men Explain Things to Me as part of my Women's History Month reading.

Finished Corrag


A very gripping read. I was viscerally moved by the underlying themes. 4.5 stars.

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

Under the Wide and Starry Sky – Nancy Horan – 2.5**
This work of historical fiction tells the story of the relationship of Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne and Robert Louis Stevenson. Once again Horan turns her attentions to a man who was difficult to live with, and a woman who was conflicted about her life with that man. It should have been interesting, but this book somehow failed to capture me. The best part was their lives in Samoa, only about 100 pages in a nearly 500-page book.
LINK to my review

Finished A Gentleman in Moscow
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1928987281

Still working on The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers, but also reading The Turn of the Screw for a group read over on Literary Darkness.

Pretty little picture book with cute animals and fairies - perfect for libraries. Just in time for northern hemisphere Spring 2017.

Do Fairies Bring the Spring?. 4★

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

Just finished Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors, this is the first book I read by this author, I loved the descriptions used and various points of view on the events of the book.

Started The Canterville Ghost . I don't believe I've ever read it, but if I did, it'll come back to 'haunt' me. ;)

In the mood for light.

It's set in 1985, but that too recent to be considered "historical" (though there are no cell phones, iPads, GPS monitoring, etc ...)


Deeper Than the Dead – Tamy Hoag – 3.5***
Set in a California town a few hours from Los Angeles, in 1985, Hoag’s thriller begins when four children stumble upon the partially buried body of a woman while playing in the woods. Hoag writes a tight, suspenseful tale. The action is fast-paced, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
LINK to my review

Still working on The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers, but also reading The Turn of the Screw for a group read over on Literary Darkness.

Will finish the Scarlet Pimpernil tomorrow then onto the Immortal Irishman about the first Montana governor- just in time for St Patrick day !!

Gorgeous little picture book - get it before the summer road trips!

The Big Adventures of Tiny House - Tiny is transformed and takes us all across the USA. I shared a few illustrations - too cute to resist. :)

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

Hi, fellow fictionistas! I have been a member for a while and really enjoy our online community here at Good Reads. I recently participated in an interview with a graduate student at Univ of Michigan about Historical Fictionistas. He is studying online communities and chose ours to study.

He is looking for more people to interview. I can testify that the interview is strictly about our online community, its norms, its rules, how it influences us, our goals for the community, etc. We chatted for about 40 minutes today on the phone, but he was flexible and would have split it into several conversations to fit my timeline. His name is Sulaimon, and is a very polite young man. I enjoy my chat with him. He likes historical fiction, too!

Help him out by emailing your interest in his study to:

[email protected]

Let me know if you have any questions about my experience.

Regards,
Jan

Just finished Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman, while it is a dual time book, it was the historical fiction story that grabbed my attention and did not let go, loved it.

Finished Men Explain Things To Me as the first entry in my Women's History Month series. Very much enjoyed. Review here:

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

Starting an ARC Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story.

Margaret wrote: "I'm taking a break from the Incas and have started Katherine by Anya Seton"

Margaret wrote: "I'm taking a break from the Incas and have started Katherine by Anya Seton" Katherine is one of my all-time favorite books! Reply to this comment after you finish it and let me know what you think. I'm curious to see if you notice that the plot line is similar to another famous book....

I'm reading Kindred. I think it's more often classified as sci-fi than historical fiction. It's about a modern African-American women who is transported back and forth in time between her own time and the pre-Civil War south. I've been reading tons of African-American historical fiction lately. Recently finished both Homegoing and The Underground Railroad.

Finished The Canterville Ghost . What fun!

Started The Sea Beggars .

Kathryn wrote: "I'm reading Kindred. I think it's more often classified as sci-fi than historical fiction. It's about a modern African-American women who is transported back and forth in time between ..."

Looking forward to your comments. Octavia E. Butler is one of my favorite authors. I just read Kindred a few months ago and can't believe it slipped by me for all these years. A stunning exploration of race and slavery. My review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished reading Sultanes oubliées by late Moroccan author Fatema Mernissi. I rated it 5 stars and reviewed it. It is a non-fiction history book.

I recently finished reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Brigid of Kildare which I mostly liked. It did increase my curiosity about the early Saint. My review:

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

D.B. wrote: "I recently finished reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"

I had very mixed feelings about that. It almost felt like two (or even three) different books grafted together. It lost me when it got into the international crime stuff. I thought the Vegas section was the most poignant -- emotionally-isolated teenage Theo living in a mostly-deserted subdivision in the desert.

I'm reading Journey of the North
Star by Douglas Penick. Really enjoyed Katherine by Anya Seton. I learned much history and enjoyed the story five stars

I'm reading The Wonder, by Emma Donaghue. It's historical fiction but very personal in nature, and so far quite fascinating.

I'm reading John Steinback's The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.

Started Madonna of the Seven Hills as my commuting book.

I finished Me Before You" and starting "Dark Matter"

I am reading Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye, so interesting.

Elinor wrote: "I'm reading The Wonder, by Emma Donaghue. It's historical fiction but very personal in nature, and so far quite fascinating.

I really liked her Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins but haven't tried any of her novels yet. Guess I should. When is this one set?

Margaret wrote: "I'm reading Journey of the North
Star by Douglas Penick. Really enjoyed Katherine by Anya Seton. I learned much history and enjoyed the story five stars"

Margaret, good to know you liked Katherine - I'm still waiting for Amazon Canada to cut their price :)

Alice wrote: "Margaret, good to know you liked Katherine - I'm still waiting for Amazon Canada to cut their price :) "

FYI, abebooks.com has it starting at about US$3.50.

Loved 11/22/63 because Stephen King is such a good writer, and he can be quite the romantic!

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

I am reading "The Story Keeper" by Kate Morton

A Letter Of Mary by Laurie R King

War and Peace
Did You Ever Have a Family
The Ship

I read Katherine at least once a year, sometimes more frequently than that if all I do is dip into a favorite chapter. It was one of the first historical novels I read and is definitely my favorite. I'm on my third copy now, the last one having finally collapsed under the weight of too many rubber bands holding it together. Enjoy!

I haven't read any HF for awhile although I currently picked up for the plane, vol II of the Ramses series. Ramses: The Eternal Temple and had just begun an old non-fiction, Seven Years in Tibet

I'm currently reading In the Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I feel like this book is like finding a needle in a haystack, but the needle is made of solid gold. This has got to be one of the best fantasy books I've ever read and now whenever I read another book, I'm going to hold it up to the In the Name of the Wind because it's just so good.

If you're a big fantasy fan, definitely should check out this book. You won't be disappointed.

Michele wrote: "Alice wrote: "Margaret, good to know you liked Katherine - I'm still waiting for Amazon Canada to cut their price :) "

FYI, abebooks.com has it starting at about US$3.50."

Thanks for the tip Michele.

Erin wrote: "War and Peace
Did You Ever Have a Family
The Ship"

Erin, I adored War and Peace Hope you'll enjoy it.

Finished The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers. Still working on The Turn of the Screw for a group read, and discovered a charming little book at the library: No Fear Or Favour. The book I wanted was checked out and this one was next to it. Veddy veddy British, and great fun.