Historical Fictionistas discussion

Kayla wrote: "How about the Cold War, Ancient Egypt (One of my personal favorites),Ancient Greece, or The Amazons? Also has anyone read any good books about the subjects listed above? I've read Michelle Moran a..."

Kayla,
I've become a fan of Michelle Moran's as well. I've loved everything I've read by her especially "Nefertiti" and "The Heretic Queen."

Jeanna wrote: "Kayla wrote: "How about the Cold War, Ancient Egypt (One of my personal favorites),Ancient Greece, or The Amazons? Also has anyone read any good books about the subjects listed above? I've read Mi..."

I know she's incredible!! Have you read Cleopatra's Daughter? I loved it though I haven't got the chance to read Madame Tussad. Have you read it,if so how is it?

Thanks!

I'll vote for one of Michelle Moran's books set in Egypt also. Or if someone is also interested in Ancient Greece how about Ransom. I really want to read it and I love our book discussions. Ransom has won prizes and lots of respect in the book world and should be a good one for in depth discussions.

Madame Tussad is wonderful! Moran really brings the French Revolution to life, a time period that I didn't know much about. I never realized that the Madame Tussad in the name of the wax museums was actually a real person! It was fascinating to read about her life and how she survived such a horrific time as the Terror of the French Revolution.

Judith wrote: "I'll vote for one of Michelle Moran's books set in Egypt also. Or if someone is also interested in Ancient Greece how about Ransom. I really want to read it and I love our book discu..."

Don't get me started on how dreadful Moran's Egyptian books are. Why not something by Pauline Gedge instead?

Ransomsounds interesting. I'd never heard of it but it looks good.

Jeanna wrote: "Ransomsounds interesting. I'd never heard of it but it looks good."

I agree, it defiantly would be an interesting read!

Kayla wrote: "Jeanna wrote: "Ransomsounds interesting. I'd never heard of it but it looks good."

I agree, it defiantly would be an interesting read!"

Oh good! I was hoping Ransom sounded like a good choice to some other readers. I'm definitely getting to it soon.

Heard Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, a WWII HF, is a great read. Just bought it.

Nicole wrote: "Heard Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, a WWII HF, is a great read. Just bought it."

Someone just mentioned Unbroken today to me as a very good read.

1920's HF? Or more broadly, historical fiction taking place between the World Wars but I know there's a lot of good stuff out there that takes place in the 20's.

Hannah wrote: "1920's HF? Or more broadly, historical fiction taking place between the World Wars but I know there's a lot of good stuff out there that takes place in the 20's."

I like Hannah's suggestion!

How about picking a different country every month for the theme. I love to read about many different places, and this theme could just go on and on.

I'm not much of a reader in group, in fact I'm not really much of a group person, other perhaps than part of a musical backdrop in certain situations. But that doesn't mean I don't love to read, comment and share others' opinions as well as my own! And the period between the two world wars is a fascinating one and also I think, a difficult one to understand. I was born in '36 and was a child when the U.S. entered the second world war. It was a real shock to so many, my family as well as so many others had such a high opinion of the German culture (and a good part of us were Jewish and it was felt that this was one of the best places to live) and like, Wha' Happened!" Anti something or another has always been there being human beings with very human thoughts and opinions (and imperfections no matter who says what), but how could things like this get so out of whack, there is particular. Only later do I realize that this was a world of exiles, the Russian revolution being the latest, shifting political borders, and responses to the pain caused by inequities of the end of war Versielles treaty. Fascism and Communistic responses of a number of people all over Europe, some merely opinions, some with dedication. And in Germany people voting for Hitler thinking he was the best available of a bad situation, but could and would be controlled. Well, surprise! I do think it's a fascinating period, and a well written novel or series is so welcome. We'll never fully understand some things, I am sure. But there are a lot of historical periods that hold fascination. I really couldn't give a favorite. A lot of what helps a choice at the moment is the author's take on it.

Hannah wrote: "1920's HF? Or more broadly, historical fiction taking place between the World Wars but I know there's a lot of good stuff out there that takes place in the 20's."

Offhand, I remember Toni Morrison's Jazz taking place in 1920's Harlem.

The jazz available and how it developed is something really prominent in the 20's. the unique black culture surrounding as well. And the flapper age and a lot of the music that went with. Ellis island and the waves of immigration from Europe. The Great Depression. Dust bowl and moves resulting, particularly towards California. Heavy migrant workers. Battles on mining conditions and other labor movements beginning.

How about something related to the season at hand...All Hallows Eve...Halloween...

Here are my nominations:







Anyone???

I have no interest in this topic.

Well...let's see some more ideas/nominations. :)

How about NE history (before 1900). e.g.:
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
or one of Sally Gunning's: The Widow's War, Bound, or The Rebellion of Jane Clarke

Arthurian!

Art History

How about Anglo-Saxon or Pre-Norman Invasion England? I've started getting into this period and it's really interesting.

I loved The Valley of Decision and also How Green Was My Valley. These are two older titles and believe me they don't write them the way they nuswed to - at lease when it comes to saga books.

Elli wrote: "Gary Jennings, unfortunately passed away a few years ago, not that old, I don't think! Set in Middle America, Aztec civilization in particular exactly the time the conquistadors came and took over..."
I loved "Aztec" and have actually reread it!

The Dustbowl of Great American Depression
WWII in the Pacific
Guerillas in Philippines during WWII

Hi Nancy, I am a huge fan of The Valley of Decision and keep trying to get people to read it! I also loved How Green Was My Valley but haven't read it in a long time. I need to get a copy.

Maude wrote: "Hi Nancy, I am a huge fan of The Valley of Decision and keep trying to get people to read it! I also loved How Green Was My Valley but haven't read it in a long time. I need to get a copy."

I wish I had all of the time I would need to read some of theses older titles.I read so many adult books when I was young that I don't have them now to catch up with. But there are always new books but never quite as good as the older titles.

My favorite older book is The Grapes of Wrath. It shows so many sides of different characters, good or bad.

The American Revolution. Only one person has suggested it.

Jackie wrote: "Abu and Priya, this thread is NOT FOR PROMOTING YOUR BOOKS!! There is a Shameless Promotion thread that you can post your work in ONCE YOU HAVE BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBER per group rules.

Please fo..."

Sorry. I shamelessly promoted my books. It won't happen again. Joyce Shaughnessy

I like a lot of the ideas people posted, but especially Gordon's suggestion on Byzantium and Becky's bibliophilia, historical fantasy, and alternative history suggestion, and Hannah's American Revolution and French Revolution suggestions.

Zoe wrote: ""North America prior the discovery" seems to be missing.

I know there is very little fiction (if at all) written on pre-Columbian North America,
But still :-)"

Michael and/or Kathleen O'Neal Gear have written several interesting series on pre/peri-contact North America. I have read and enjoyed several of them.

Anne wrote: "Zoe wrote: ""North America prior the discovery" seems to be missing.

I know there is very little fiction (if at all) written on pre-Columbian North America,
But still :-)"

Michael and/or Kathlee..."

I've read some of them and they are very interesting and historically correct, seemingly, but not always a riveting read. I am particularly interested in this time period too and would love to know of more books out there. I know Gary Jennings did Central America, but North America seems even more bare.

I agree with an earlier post about something nicely atmospheric for the Halloween season, though how we'd classify that, I have no idea. Thoughts? HF with some ghosts or curses kicking around?

I have no interest in reading about ghosts or curses.

Emily wrote: "I agree with an earlier post about something nicely atmospheric for the Halloween season, though how we'd classify that, I have no idea. Thoughts? HF with some ghosts or curses kicking around?"

I am a big fan of ghost stories and witches. I wish I had some suggestions.

There are definitely quite a few books about the witch trails.

I have read many books about the dreadful witch trials of 1692 (Fiction and otherwise). The modern "atmosphere of Halloween" makes a travesty of a very sad period in history and I deplore any attempt to connect the two.

How about The Heretic's Daughter? Not a book about ghosts or curses, but a true story of those unjustly accused and tried in Salem. It's a riveting account of the persecution of a young girl and her mother, and an inside view of the fervor that gripped the townspeople from the girl's perspective.

Chris wrote: "How about The Heretic's Daughter? Not a book about ghosts or curses, but a true story of those unjustly accused and tried in Salem. It's a riveting account of the persecution of a young girl and he..."

That's actually a great book. A novel about the ancestor of the author.

Cross-cultural
Native peoples (like one of our threads)

I think we should read something about the wild west. Maybe a book such as Lonesome Dove.

If we read about the wild west I recommend Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides. As someone who lives part of each year in the mountains of northern New Mexico, I read a lot of western stuff & consider this one of the best.

The cross cultural theme sounds wonderful. As does the American west. You could combine the two in Thomas Eidson's book, The Last Ride, which was later made into a film called 'Missing'.

The Last Ride

February is Valentines a Historical Fiction novel with a couple in love or a story on a Saint.

I am always drawn toward Egyptian, Greek, and Roman in particular.

I'd be interested in reading fiction about native peoples of the Americas - North American, Mayan, Aztec, Mixtec/Totonac, Inca, Amazon tribes, etc. There are quite a number of novels on these native peoples.

I'm always looking for good fiction set in the American Civil War.

Bobbye wrote: "I'm always looking for good fiction set in the American Civil War."

Have you read the North and South trilogy by John Jakes? Also available on DVD but I think the books are much better.