American Historical Fiction discussion

@ meg - thanks for the suggestion but delayed gratification does not work with me. when i read at the gym i can get a better chunck read w/o stopping

@ david - i too am finding the book facinating. i read on imdb.com that leo d. has optioned the book and will produce and play holmes so i am picturing him as i read

Linda wrote: "I am reading two books: Those Who Save Us - a fantastic, stick with you for weeks kind of book and: The Other Bolelyn Girl, only 40 pages in but seems light on history and heavy on daytime serial..."

I just picked up Those Who Save Us at the library and am on page 65. It is a pretty good read so far.

I just finished the book The Promised World by Lisa Tucker. I was recommended to it by one of our members.
Woow! It was a good book. It was a little disturbing, but I couldn't put it down.
Cheryl

I'm reading Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell. I'm kind of in a reading funk, so it's taking me a while to get through it. It's very good, though.

Shay wrote: "I'm reading Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell. I'm kind of in a reading funk, so it's taking me a while to get through it. It's very good, though."

I'm reading Doc as well. I do like the writing a great deal, but I'm getting tired of Kansas and reading for things to move on.

Misfit wrote: "Shay wrote: "I'm reading Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell. I'm kind of in a reading funk, so it's taking me a while to get through it. It's very good, though."

I'm..."

I'm in a Western mood, so after this I'm thinking of Missy by Chris Hannan. It's about a prostitute in Silver Rush Nevada. I'm not sure it's a "straight" historical fiction+ it should be interesting because it's written by a Glaswegian.

I'm reading The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and loving every minute of it.

Sandra wrote: "Finished listening to Caleb's Crossing and while it remained interesting I was left with an overall dissatisfaction. I invested all that time for that ending?? It was realistic but ..."

That's so funny, I'm the exact opposite! I've enjoyed books that I've listened to that I don't think I would have enjoyed as much if I'd read them!

Jenny wrote: "That's so funny, I'm the exact opposite! I've enjoyed books that I've listened to that I don't think I would have enjoyed as much if I'd read them!"

Sometimes that is true for me as well. I've listened to some non-fiction on audio that I wouldn't have touched with a bargepole in print and have found them fascinating. Maybe it's only fiction where I lose some of the nuances in audio that I might have absorbed by reading.

Anybody read "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" by
Seth Grahame-Smith?

Of course Franklin is endlessly fascinating, and I'm reading A Great Improvisation about his years in France. Didn't know he was covered with boils, poor man.

I'm new here and just wanted to say that I was delighted to see the opening statement about how America should be a fertile field for historical fiction! I did read the rules, and I hope it's okay if I just sign off with the site of my story, which is
http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com, set in the 30s, as long as I participate in discussions? I'm still just learning the ropes....

The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart.

So far, she's done a good job making the underlying facts of Poe's courtship of his cousin not insanely creepy. I know times were different, but still. However, what gets sacrificed by doing that is that Virginia Clemm seems "overly" mature for an 8-13 year old.

THANK YOU GUYS 4 UR COMMENTS IT BEEN A WHILE SINCE I BEEN ON HERE ANYWAY THANK AND TALK TO U SOON. JOHNISHA

I joined this blog because of the title American Historical Fiction. My one historical novel (of about 20 books) thus far is Lethal Journey, a noir 1892 thriller based on a true crime/ghost story at the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego. I've been reading a lot of historical fiction all my life, and I see many old favorites mentioned in this arena, some not American but European or Ancient. Which is fine with me. My novel is not a formula romance with a happy ending, but follows the tragedy of 'Lottie Bernard' (the false name under which the Beautiful Stranger signed in on Thanksgiving Day, 1892). She died mysteriously of a gunshot to the head 5 days later, and her case immediately became a national sensation in the Yellow Press. There were rumors of dalliances with men in high places, and dark deals. The truth is far more amazing, through the John Spreckels connection. He was the owner of the Hotel del Coronado at the time, one of the richest men in the USA. I think the enigmatic story involved a blackmail plot against him. While the Beautiful Stranger was turning heads at the great resort hotel on Coronado Beach, Spreckels was in Washington DC conferring with Prez Benjamin Harrison and Congress on the fate of Hawaii. The monarchy was toppled by US interests five weeks after 'Lottie Bernard' died at the hotel. I find it a fascinating story, and it's a true one of historical importance for a number of reasons. For one thing, they could not positively identify her real name or identity--despite the ME report listing her as Kate Morgan; I think she was a beautiful runaway from Detroit named Lizzie Wyllie. The Beautiful Stranger was decked out like a princess and on display in the store window of a city mortuary for three weeks, while thousands came in their Sunday best to gawk and chat. She was the living embodiment of a great Victorian mytheme called the Fallen Angel, typified (for example) in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Every Victorian writer, painter, and composer took a shot at the myth, but the San Diego woman was the genuine article. Lethal Journey is her story in novel form. I base the info on the hotel's documentary book Beautiful Stranger: the Ghost of Kate Morgan and the Hotel del Coronado, and on my own analysis (nonfiction) Dead Move: Kate Morgan and the Haunting Mystery of Coronado. In answer to your question, that's the sort of book I imagine would be welcome in a blog about American Historical Fiction.

Hey guys, just want to let everyone know I'm going to do some housekeeping this weekend, and I will be creating a few new discussion threads and moving some of these posts to give them their own conversations and tidy up this thread a bit :)

To prepare to read City of Promise
by Beverly Swerling (releases August 9, 2011)
I am reading all the books in the New York City series.
1 (pub 2001) City of Dreams - 1700s - already read
3 (publ 2007) City of Glory - 1812
3 (publ 2004) City of God mid 1800s

Alan wrote: "Anybody read "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" by
Seth Grahame-Smith?"

Read it last year, loved it!

Susan wrote: "Alan wrote: "Anybody read "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" by
Seth Grahame-Smith?"

And they're releasing the movie based on this book in June 2012.

I am reading The River Wife: A Novel by Jonis Agee.

I am reading Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Half way done and really liking it so far.

Holly P wrote: "I am reading Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Half way done and really liking it so far."

a GREAT book, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!!

Holly P wrote: "I am reading Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Half way done and really liking it so far."

I'm reading Brennert's Honolulu. I was just emailing with him and he may do an interview for my blog in the fall. www.mostlyhistoricalfiction.com. I'm looking forward to it.

Kurt wrote: "Holly P wrote: "I am reading Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Half way done and really liking it so far."

I'm reading Brennert's Honolulu. I was just emailing with him and he may do an int..."

Please let us know about this interview Kurt.

I just read a great book called The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. It is her debut novel and it is great. Give it a try.

Lucy wrote: "I just read a great book called The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. It is her debut novel and it is great. Give it a try."

Hey Lucy--we had a discussion going on about that book in the Book section and a Q&A with Kathleen. Check it out!

Thanks.....I am new to this group and the website. How do I get to the place where I can see the Q & A with Kathleen? Thanks for your help.

Just wanted to let people know that Joseph J. Ellis has a nice Facebook page which he actually reads....unusual for someone of that stature.


Shelley
Rain: A Dust Bowl Story
http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com

Lucy wrote: "Thanks.....I am new to this group and the website. How do I get to the place where I can see the Q & A with Kathleen? Thanks for your help."

Click on the group Discussions page and scroll down to the Author section!

That's very cool, Shelley.

Jenny wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Finished listening to Caleb's Crossing and while it remained interesting I was left with an overall dissatisfaction. I invested all that time for that ending?? It was..."

I felt the same way... Loved The Alienist, but this one didn't do it for me.

Shay wrote: " The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart.

So far, she's done a good job making the underlying facts of Poe's courtship of his cousin ..."

Sounds interesting... I say, cautiously!

I just finished The Many Deaths Of The Firefly Brothersand enjoyed it. Interesting magical realism twist in a story about bank robbing siblings and one of their girlfriends in the 1930s. Good Depression era details and a few insights.

Finished Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Great book! Also finished Bound by Sally Gunning. I didn't realize this was the second one in a series. I have The Widow's War which is the first one so I guess I will have to pick that up soon.

I am now reading Honolulu by Alan Brennert.

I'm reading Redcoat by Richard Holmes while my brain defrags after my week of Independence Day on my blog. :-) Redcoat isn't fiction, but I'm enjoying the way Holmes clears up misconceptions (and propaganda) about these soldiers. Also, Holmes spends the lion's share of attention on the soldier of the early 19th century, so those of you who like the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell would benefit from this book as a companion volume.

Suzanne Adair

Sundry wrote: "Shay wrote: " The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart.

So far, she's done a good job making the underlying facts of Poe's courtship of ..."

The second half of the book kind of dragged. I guess it's kind of a stretch to make a whole novel out of the life of someone who died so young.

I am reading Ghosts of The Soon Departed
I have read over 100 pages great story, very descriptive very easily transported back in time.

I read both of her novels and she also has a new book out now called The Rebellion of Jane Clarke that has different characters than Bound and Widow's War that you might want to check out.

I just finished Mr Slaughter by Robert McCammon. It's the third in a set beginning with "Speaks the Nightbird", then "Queen of Bedlam". I quite enjoyed the series.

I've also liked the Margaret Lawrence series about Hannah Trevor the midwife in post-Revolutionary war Maine.

Another good recent read, "Black Hills" by Dan Simmons. Told from the point of view of an Indian survivor of Custer's Last Stand.

I've also liked the Margaret Lawrence series about Hannah Trevor the midwife in post-Revolutionary war Maine.

Sonja, I enjoyed them, too!

Suzanne Adair

@Suzanne and @Sonja: I LOVED the Hannah Trevor series by Margaret Lawrence, and her Roanoke book - she researches the details very well. Love her vivid descriptions, which I try to emulate myself. :-D

Meg Mims
Double Crossing, Astraea Press, August '11

Suzanne wrote: "I've also liked the Margaret Lawrence series about Hannah Trevor the midwife in post-Revolutionary war Maine.

Sonja, I enjoyed them, too!

Suzanne Adair"

I tried to find Margaret Lawrence's books on Goodreads, but didn't come up with anything. I'd love to read the one mentioned about the midwife, Hannah Trevor. What is the title please?

Kimberly wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I've also liked the Margaret Lawrence series about Hannah Trevor the midwife in post-Revolutionary war Maine.

Sonja, I enjoyed them, too!

Suzanne Adair

I tried finding Margaret Lawrence on Goodreads, but didn't come up with anything. I'd love to read about the midwife, Hannah Trevor. Google showed me "Roanoke." Is that the title?

Hearts and Bones is first, then Blood Red Roses, and then The Burning Bride, Iceweaver and Roanoke.

She doesn't hold back on violence, reality and the way historical life really was lived, just to warn you. Some of it's pretty intense. She's skilled at weaving description/action/characters and dialogue. IMHO.

Just found it! Thank you. After a long day, apparently I didn't type her name in correctly...twice! As a Women's Health Care nurse, I always find midwifery throughout the ages fascinating. I don't like authors that sugar coat things so I'm glad to hear she doesn't. Thanks for the tip!

I loved the Hannah Trevor series by Margaret Lawrence, too, especially the well-written antagonist, Marcus Tapp. I always like a novel with a multi-faceted antagonist.

Meg wrote: "Hearts and Bones is first, then Blood Red Roses, and then The Burning Bride, Iceweaver and Roanoke.

She doesn't hold back on violence, reality and the way historical life really was lived, just to..."

I read the first third of Roanoke and I don't remember anyone named Hannah. Did I not read far enough? I didn't know it was part of a series!

It's not in Roanoke. That's not part of the series. It's only the titles Meg mentioned.

Beginning City of Promise by Beverly Swerling, the fourth installment in her NYC series. The novel releases August 9, 2011.

Holly wrote: "Beginning City of Promise by Beverly Swerling, the fourth installment in her NYC series. The novel releases August 9, 2011."

I've still got the first two in this series staring at me from my TBR shelf!

Just wanted to mention how nice it is to be in a new place (I'm on vacation in Texas) and still be able to visit here. Moreover, my friend has a nicer computer than I do, so I didn't even realize that goodreads has "video ads" until I saw them here!

And of course there's nothing better to read on a plane than historical fiction....

Shelley
Rain: A Dust Bowl Story
http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com