American Historical Fiction discussion

I'm reading The American Heiress about New York high society in the gay '90s. Started off a little iffy but I'm about halfway through and hooked now!

The Kitchen House. It's early on but it seems like a compelling story about the antebellum south, slavery and indentured servitude. We'll see!

'The Kitchen House' is one of my all time favorites, I thought it was amazing, I hope you enjoy it...

I just read a good, informative, and short post on the Reading The Past blog--discusses the money problems women had in the past.


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

I just started and so far, so good.

I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedipus.

I am happy to have John Jakes North and South on my bookshelves and TBR pile. My mom had been telling me to read it for years.

Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedipus.

I am happy to have John..."
I loved this whole series.

Holly wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedipus.

I am happ..."

I am thinking I will too! They are great writers who have obviously done their research and are able to weave it into page-turning books.

Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedipus.

I am happy to have John..."

I'm definitley going to check out Jocasta! I've been reading some YA myth-based stuff recently and it's just too light and superficial. I'd like to come across a good one!

I've got North and South, too, and the Kent Chronicles. I've never read them, but the North and South miniseries with Patrick Swayze is one of my favorite guilty pleasures :) Maybe we could get a John Jakes read-a-thon going on and set up some discussions?

Jenny wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedipus.

I am happ..."

Count me in for the John Jakes read-a-thon/discussions. Books are always more fun when you can read them with a buddy. You let me know whenever you are ready. I had know idea about the miniseries with Patrick Swayze. I'm going see if Netflix has it...

Kimberly wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around the myth of Oedip..."

OMG, Kimberly--it's a classic! There are tons of stars in it!

Jenny wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I just finished
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus which was definitely worthy of 5 stars! It is a historical fiction book around t..."

What do you think about seeing the movie before reading the book though?

Well I've never read the book but I've seen the movie half a dozen times! Normally I like to read the book first. I'd be interested to see how the mini-series compares.

Jenny wrote: "Well I've never read the book but I've seen the movie half a dozen times! Normally I like to read the book first. I'd be interested to see how the mini-series compares."

I think I will start with the book North and South first and then Netflix the movies. Thank you for letting me know they exist!

I just finished From Distant Shores : The Novel of New York 1613-1667 by Bruce Nicolaysen, first in a five book series on old New York, starting when it was New Amsterdam. Not perfect, but tons of interesting bits of history and factoids.

I'm now getting ready to start Daughters of the South Wind first in a six book series. I think the first is wagon train to California, I know the second goes to Alaska and the third to Hawaii.

Does anyone know if there is a novel in which the protagonist is a woman posing as a soldier during the Civil War?

K.B. wrote: "Does anyone know if there is a novel in which the protagonist is a woman posing as a soldier during the Civil War?"



Haven't read it yet though, so can't say if it's good or not.

Ann Rinaldi has a young adult book set in the Civil War where her young lady poses as a boy in Girl in Blue.

Betty Jo wrote: "Ann Rinaldi has a young adult book set in the Civil War where her young lady poses as a boy in Girl in Blue."

I really need to read one of her books!

I just finished reading The Bastard by John Jakes. I saw the mini series on tv years ago, and it all came flooding back to me as I read the book. I can't wait to move on to the next in the series, The Rebels.

I just finished reading "Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks. Very moving emotionally & a very good read.

Lisa wrote: "I just finished reading The Bastard by John Jakes. I saw the mini series on tv years ago, and it all came flooding back to me as I read the book. I can't wait to move o..."

It's a shame that the whole series wasn't put on television as it really brings American history home to the masses. I really enjoyed the series and have read it many times. Each time I re-read it I am aware of some new facet I hadn't noticed before.

Jenny wrote: "I'm also picking up these new releases .... The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. I'm looking forward to both of them!"

I read that and liked it except for my favorite complaint about such books -- why was the heroine such a nitwit? But otherwise very enjoyable.

I am reading The Last Worthless Evening: Four Novellas and Two Short Stories by Andre Dubus. The first story deals with racial tension in the 1960s between two naval officers. I just re-read To Kill A Mockingbird so it is an interesting segue.

Kathleen, that Deliverance Dane library book is still sitting on my shelf! I've seen so many mixed reviews on it that I haven't made it a priority!

I just started a Christmas romance set in 1914 Texas, A Lawman's Christmas: A McKettricks of Texas Novel.

I gave Deliverance Dane 2 stars - was not very impressed with either the heroine or the twists, which I saw coming about a mile and a half off.

I have been on a kick for Native American type reading. Thom and Robson but to name a couple of authors. I've read the works of a few other authors, but they weren't as good as the two mentioned. The Comanche series by Catherine Andersen were a little cheesey for my tastes.

If you're looking for a Native American historical novel, I really recommendGardens in the Dunes: A Novelby Leslie Marmon Silko.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have it on my "to read" list!!

I would love to read more fiction that covers the history of science. Does anyone have recommendations that they've enjoyed?

Hey Jim, that's a good subject for a new discussion, so I'm going to set one up where everyone can post their recommendations!

Susanna wrote: "I gave Deliverance Dane 2 stars - was not very impressed with either the heroine or the twists, which I saw coming about a mile and a half off."

I have to agree. The heroine was a real "nitwit" - and any doctoral candidate in colonial studies who doesn't know that a "receipt" was what colonial women called a "recipe" should be kicked out of school. That was just one of the many ridiculous things in that book that bugged me.

I Just starting reading Family Trade by James Carroll.
So far on page 88 I really like the book.

I have not read Sandra Dallas yet, but Whiter Than Snow is on my list. I think you have valid points about your current read. That would probably bother me, too. I've only read one of his novels, Charleston, and it was just OK for me.

John Jakes is a master at integrating historical personages with his wonderfully complete fictitious characters. Jakes doesn’t only bring historical events to life for the masses but also an impressive collection of well and unknown people of the past. I have read almost all of his works and only his early western short stories left me disappointed. When he embarked on the Kent Family Chronicles, his talent changed gears and have driven him into a place of honor in countless libraries.

I know, I've still got the whole Kent set staring me in the face from my TBR shelf. One day I'll read them, I swear!

Thom wrote: "John Jakes is a master at integrating historical personages with his wonderfully complete fictitious characters. Jakes doesn’t only bring historical events to life for the masses but also an impres..."

I'm going to have to side with Kimberly on John Jakes' insertion of historical figures in his work.
In the Kent Chronicles, Philip Kent arrives penniless and it seems as if within days he's hobnobbing with all the signators of the Constitution. I was willing to forgive but it became so pervasive the 'name dropping' it detracted from the story. Not saying I didn't read all of KFC and enjoyed them and the family saga idea was one of the inspirations for my writing Bonner's Road West, Chapters 1-4, wanting to create a character and follow their exploits in the context of a historical period. Because Jakes kept bringing in the notables, I stayed away from the practice with studied intent, only including one (so far) and only in a single scene.
I wanted to concentrate on the character so I shamelessly used as my study Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Forester introduces his hero as a bumbling midshipmen always in doubt of his own capabilities. Quickly his competence becomes apparent but there is always the self-doubt that endears the reader to the character. Jakes seems to rely on fame by association to develop Kent and to move the story. I took up North and South with the same trepidation and was not disappointed. It has become formula with JJ (I call him JJ when we are out drinking).

While on the topic of irritating literary habits, does James Michener's geology lessons at the beginning of his books bother anyone else?

James Michener was a firm believer in beginning a story at the beginning. This inevitably meant that the reader had to struggle through the first fifty pages or so. Once this opening is bridged his story-telling talent truly takes over and gives the reader a pleasant and memorable read. I can’t say the slow starts have ever negatively influenced me or my reading experience. With Michener I expected and accepted it as a part of his style. I am a firm Michener fan.

Thom wrote: "James Michener was a firm believer in beginning a story at the beginning. This inevitably meant that the reader had to struggle through the first fifty pages or so. Once this opening is bridged his..."

We're going to part company again, Thom. Its been years since I've read any Michener. I'll tell you I loved Hawaii and that started me reading the others. Think the next was Centennial. By the time I got through Chesapeake and The Covenant, I'd pretty much had it with the geology, paleontology, and primitive man. Hey, enough backstory already.

What I began to notice was it seemed Michener was just using the same cast of characters and putting new clothes on them. Its been years so bear with me and see if these people don't sound familiar.

The Family Patriach: Usually a big guy, rich, dominates his family and always has one offspring who revolts. Stern and unbending.
The poor family matriarch: Heavyset, heart of gold, everyone loves her and she is always rescuing someone. Usually married to-
The Small man subject to temptation. Drinks too much, and usually a petty criminal but gosh his kids love him.
Rat Faced Villain: Arch enemy of The Patriarch. Pals around with a lummox who follows rat face to his doom. They survive by criminal activity.

It got too much for me. I had to quit reading Michener. I did like the one about the kids on the Spanish Riviera that slept around, though.

Michener doesn't have exclusive rights to these character traits. Ken Follett , Herman Wouk , Edward Rutherfurd and even Diana Gabaldon use characters that would fit into your profile. Writers would have a hard time creating believable characters if they didn’t have at least a few of your character descriptions. If you still have an open mind on James Michener, I would suggest you read Caravans and Caribbean . I must warn you that Caribbean does have a few historical figures woven into the story.

Thom wrote: "Michener doesn't have exclusive rights to these character traits. Ken Follett, Herman Wouk, Edward Rutherfurd[authorimage:Edward Rutherfu..."

Read both of those. Liked Carribbean, caravan not so much. I opt for the pirates

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree. Thank goodness there are plenty of writers and stories out there to satisfy everybody. I enjoy many authors but don't spend too much time or thought dissecting their stories or characters. I take em as I get em.

My problem with Michener is that his writing was too dense and excessively verbose. There is such a thing as too much detail and he was the master of it.

As an example, I tried to read Hawaii and remembered having to wade through several pages about the history of the outrigger. By the time I'd slogged through this wordy morass, I'd forgotten what the plot was about.

While it's nice that he did a lot of research to get the details right, this level of detail not essential to moving the plot along would have been better used as a footnote in an appendix. To leave in the middle of the story bogged it down to the point where it flowed like molasses.

Indeed, Michener was the type of author that Reader's Digest Condensed Books were invented for.

If I'd have been Michener's editor, I'd have been ruthless with the red pen. I'm guessing that most of his books could have been reduced by a third, yet still retain the essential elements of the story.

If that would have been done then it wouldn’t have been Michener. I can’t say that I looked forward to his long-winded beginnings but I accepted them as his way of starting a story. I did appreciate his work enough to read and enjoy it all. Every writer has something in their style to distinguish them from the pack. James Michener had verbose preambles and a firm belief to start a story at the very beginning. In the case of Hawaii and Centennial it was with the volcanic eruptions that formed the islands and created the mountains, with Caribbean and Mexico it was with the original inhabitants.
Edward Rutherfurd started his novels London, Sarum, The Forest, Russka, Dublin and Ireland Awakening with the first inhabitants and I haven’t heard anyone saying they should have been edited by a third. Accept what is offered you or close the book and miss a great story. These traits make a writer unique.

Some writers and some readers just don't jive together, and that's OK!

Kimberly wrote: "I tried to wade through Mitchener was I was younger and just couldn't do it, maybe it is time to pick him again. He might make a good audio book. I tend to skim when I read if something does not im..."

Tracy, in the case of Hawaii (and several other Michener books) I think the breadth of the story he tells sacrifices depth. It’s an asset because you’re just not going to find a piece of fiction that covers the ENTIRE history of anything the way he often did. The price of that was a shallow treatment of the characters we encounter as we traipse along behind Michener typing through the centuries. I wrote a book devoted to the Hawaiian revolution, which he covered in about fifteen pages. Not a lot of depth in that approach, but it’s a fun way to get an overview.

I've appreciated Michener's and Rutherfurd's novels precisely because of the extensive background they give. It enables me to better appreciate the story itself.

I agree Mary! Well said.

Few words but my sentiments exactly!