Historical Fictionistas discussion

Hello all... It's already that time again!

Please nominate your November group read choice... :)

We'll start voting on Nov 9th.

I am not nominating this month so as not to compete.

Wow Fi, I feel like your nomination is a campaign promise. O_o

"Vote For Shogun for this month's Group Read for a Heavenly Month of Brilliant Reading!"

*Paid for by supporters of Shogun for November Group Read.*

REALLY??

oh. But once I've read that I can get my money back too, right?

Umm... You should really list all of the fine print up front. O_o

But as it happens, I have many pounds of flesh I'd be willing to ship off. Take your pick! :P

OK... so a recap of our Nominations so far:

Shogun.

I think everyone else is afraid to nominate anything. (You didn't see anyone threatening kneecaps did you?)

We are just rewarding Fiona for her persistence.

Wow Heather. I have to add that to my TBR. It looks great.

Are you in the History of Royals group? I think it was mentioned in one of their threads. But it looks so good.

A little more background on Shogun. It is based on a real historical figure named Samurai William, who was an Englishman washed up on the shores in Japan, and is credited for helping to open trade to the area.

Yes it is.

We're hoping it goes pretty well. Glad you are there.

I have a new author discovery, and I am IN. LOVE.

Gwen Bristow

by new I mean new to me, she wrote in the 60s and 70s I believe.

So, even though this probably won't win, I want to bring you guys' attention to her, hopefully you'll find a book or two of hers in a thrift store someday, remember that I recommended them, and pick one up!

so far, my favorite of hers is Celia Garth...so that is my nom. It takes place (mostly) in Charleston during the Revolutionary War and it is very captivating. She has a way of telling a story from a different POV then one normally gets. For instance, another of her books, Calico Palace, takes place during the California gold rush, but her characters were all San Franciscans in 1848 before the gold rush actually hit, so they got in on things early.

Anyway...just a great great HF author. :)

Heather wrote: "I'm trying to remember how I heard of that one. It was either from browsing here on GR or on B&N. Anyway, it does look good, doesn't it?! "

Yes it does! I've added it as well

Sounds good Allison!

Thanks Allison, I am checking her out.

Thorn birds! ...wait no.. lol. im giving up on that :)

People of the Book

an intricate, ambitious novel that traces the journey of a rare illuminated Hebrew manuscript from convivencia Spain to the ruins of Sarajevo, from the Silver Age of Venice to the sunburned rock faces of northern Australia.

Inspired by the true story of a mysterious codex known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, People of the Book is a sweeping adventure through five centuries of history. From its creation in Muslim-ruled, medieval Spain, the illuminated manuscript makes a series of perilous journeys: through Inquisition-era Venice, fin-de-siecle Vienna, and the Nazi sacking of Sarajevo.

I really enjoyed People of the Book, Jon. Great nom!

But Shogun will get my vote. I need the courage of company to tackle that monster.

I'll be voting for Shogun as well, even though if it wins I won't be reading it until December (the latter half of the group read time frame) as I'm going out of town for Thanksgiving and I plan on only bringing "light" books.

And even then it will be pushed back if the library gets Under The Dome in quickly.

Jon - People of the book is fantastic. One of my top 10 reads this year.

ive got people of the book and shogun out of the library so plan on tackling both anyway i think, i couldnt get hold of pillars.

Ya - I ended up not getting to Pillars myself. Got bogged down in too many other things, unfortunately. Both People of the Book and Shogun are good, though. Hope you enjoy them.

Nominations are done, and the poll is up until the 11th.

Go on and vote (for Shogun)! :P

(It's really, really, really good!)

Jon nom'd that one.

SSSSSHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGUUUUUNNNNN.

No pressure.

It's really so, so good. I mean, I am sitting here at work wondering what is happening without me!

The characters are all interesting and real, and I can't tell who is good or bad, and I LOVE when characters are complex and interesting and aren't just 1 dimensional "good" or "bad" characters.

Think of William or Waleran from Pillars, and then mix them with Tom and Philip and Aliena and Jack all together, and you have something like the complexity of these characters.

That's not a really good analogy, but they are intriguing to me, and I don't know who they are yet, and I am LOVING the journey to find out.

Vote for Shogun.

And I'm not even 1/4 of the way through the story yet. O_O

Come on Shogun!!!!!!!!

Yes!!!

YAY!!!!! Shogun won!!!

So, this means that we will have an extended read due to the length of this book. November & December will be dedicated to Shogun and we will not have another group read until the New Year.

Actually, this will probably work out well for those of us who have ridiculously busy schedules during the holidays. A little bit less to feel obligated by is always good! :)

ENJOY!

I just got a notice that my copy has been shipped, so it should be here soon. YES I read this book, but many years ago, and I loved it. Can't wait to re-read it. In fact, my son has read it so many times that our copy fell apart, so I had to order a replacement, lol.

My husband has been pestering me to read this because he wants to watch the mini-series (?) again. I've been telling him that the day he reads a book with over a thousand pages is the day he can rush me. :-) He'll be thrilled to see me finally picking it up.

I read a (very) little bit more last night, and I'll tell you, this book is worth the effort. I wish that I could take a string of 3 days and just sit down and read it, undisturbed. But unfortunately, I don't see that happening any time soon. :(

I wonder if I could get the audio version to listen to while I get everything ready for my vacation.

I'm hoping to read this on the beach in Bermuda this weekend. I received an old version of Shogun via bookmooch.com and the pages are deliciously crackling as I turn them. I just love the feel of an old, worn book.

Thats how mine is. A well-loved gift from Kandice. :D

Although I did call my boyfriend today to see if he could possibly get me the audiobook. Since I am going on vacation on Wednesday and have to work the weekend (maybe) and Monday and Tuesday like a mad-woman to try to get everything caught up so I can go, I have a thousand things to do and no time to read.

I should PROBABLY be working now too. HMPH! Bye. :(

Heather wrote: "I really want to read this one, but don't know if, realistically, I'll be able to get to it right now. I'm about to start on A Breath of Snow and Ashes, which is huge, and then have a ..."

I'm reading a Breath of Snow and Ashes right now and Memoirs of Cleopatra (yes, I'm crazy). I'm going to try finishing Cleo before starting Shogun, because Outlander books just can't be rushed ;) I have heard so many good things about Shogun I can't wait!

Ohhhh You nasty nasty people. Forcing me to finally read a book I have been saying I will read for somewhere around 20 years. Making me do it over the holiday. Oh I shall just have to force myself to be hedonistic and shirk some of those pressing chores.

LOL

looking forward to this, at the same time daunted by it!!. have it out from the library though

Heather wrote: "Hey Kimberly, how are you liking Breath of Snow and Ashes? How far along are you? I'm just a couple chapters in, but I like how the book started out! Grabbed my attention immediately. And you are s..."

Hi Heather, I am really liking it so far! I'm not very far in either (pg. 206), but there have already been some interesting parts. I'm anxious to find out what happens and even more anxious to read Echo--can't wait! I haven't taken a break from Jamie and Claire since I started the series a few months ago; I've been reading the books back to back. I don't know what I'll do once I'm done with the series. I have so many books on my TBR, but I know I'll be temped to read the series all over again, haha. I know exactly what you mean about loving the characters and feeling like they are family/friends. It's so funny, I was in Costco the other day and I saw some persimmons and I thought "Oh, Jamie doesn't like those" (I think it says that in The Fiery Cross). Anyway, you know it's bad when you are thinking about the characters when you're in the grocery store! ;)

*cries* I can't find Shogun anywhere on cd. I don't have time to read it with you guys. *cries*

I need someone to volunteer to read it out loud and send me the mp3 files.

Umm... Felina... You can actually get Shogun free on Audible.com if you sign up for a trial with them. But.. (BIG "but") you might want to listen to a sample first. I was all for getting the audio, until I heard the reader. He sounded like a pompous wine-snob with a stick where the sun doesn't shine. And I wish I was joking.

It was so bad that I had to do an impression for my boyfriend and he laughed and laughed.

Here's the link, if you want to give it a go: http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/prod...

Isn't it hilarious?? I couldn't listen to that for 1200 pages. I'd never stop talking like that again! LOL

Oh my gosh that guy is terrible! He lingers on words ("monththths") and sounds bored. So funny!

Yes. He does sound bored. VERY bored. I loved "Thisseaisendlessss...."

Like he's thinking "This BOOK is endless, better get it over with quickly... Oh... whatevs... Where'd I put my chianti?"

I'm curious about this reader but my ipod won't play the sample. I'll try to remember it when I get to my computer.

I'm getting started on this. Fifty pages down, 1100 to go...