The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2009 discussion

Hi everyone! I'm Annie, I hosted the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge at my blog Reading, Writing & Ranting last year. This year, I'm happy to announce the challenge will be hosted by Royal Reviews (where I blog under the name Fussy Princess).

To kick us off, please post a little about yourself, you're favourite historical time period and the first book you're reading for the challenge. Also let us know if you're planning on following one of the 'twist' options for the challenge.

My favourite time period is Tudor history in England and pretty much any period in Scottish history. The first book I'm reading for this challenge is Helen of Troy by Margaret George.

Hi there, I'm Karey. My favorite historical time period? That is a tough one. I've always been drawn to the the Golden Age of the Renaissance. But, like you Annie, I am drawn to anything Scottish, partly because of my ancestry. This morning, I watched the sun rise over a mountain named after one of my ancestors: Buckley Mountain.

George MacDonald is my favorite author, Scottish or otherwise, and so I'm going to begin with Wee Sir Gibbie of the Highlands, which has to do with royalty.

And so, I suppose I'm going to be in the Royal Challenge!

Hi Karey. That sounds like an interesting choice! It's listed as young adult fiction but would I be right in saying the topic sounds like it could be geared more towards adults? Either way, it takes skill for an author to write an engaging story where the main character can't speak! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Hi I'm Teddy,

I was in the challenge last year. Count me in again!

My first book will be Stealing Athena by Karen Essex. I posted a tentative list of all three books on my blog herehttp://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2009/01/historical-fiction-reading-challenge.html

As far as my favorite historical period, I am very eclectic and can't narrow it down to just one or two periods.

Hi Everyone,

My name is Joyce DiPastena and I'm excited to give this group a try. I published a medieval romance called Loyalty's Web with Leatherwood Press in 2008, so I guess you could say that the Middle Ages is my favorite time period for writing, but I enjoy reading about pretty much any time period set prior to and through the Regency period. I have to finish a contemporary novel that I'm currently reading first, but after that, I think I'll choose The Ramsay Scallop by Frances Temple for my first historical read. It's a YA book, but it's been sitting in my TBR pile for awhile, and since I won't have a full month to read my first book, I thought I'd pick a short one.

Question: Can we count re-reading an old "favorite" as one of our books, as long as it's still a historical? One of my 2009 goals this year is to alternate an "old favorite" for each "new" book I read this year. (Just thought that would be a fun goal for me.)

Hi,
I'm Val. I love to read and Historical Fiction is probably my favorite genre. I enjoy reading a lot about Tudor England (both fiction and non-fiction). This week, I read both of Alison Weir's fiction novels - Innocent Traitor and The Lady Elizabeth. Enjoyed both. My first book for the challenge (since I technically finished The Lady Elizabeth on the 30th or 31st) is going to be World Without End by Ken Follett. I thoroughly enjoyed Pillars of the Earth when I read it last year, so am looking forward to this one.

I'm looking forward to this challenge.

Hi Val, I've got World Without End on my TBR pile for this year so can't wait to hear what you think of it. I also loved Pillars of the Earth but it was a long read and got a little slow in places. Hopefully World Without End will be just as good or better.

Hi Alaine. I'll let you know how WWE goes. I felt the same about some of the parts in Pillars, but the rest of the book was so amazing. I actually stayed up until 5:30 one morning to finish it. My husband was leaving for work as I went to sleep. LOL!. I'm trying not to get my expectations set to high for WWE. I know it's hard to follow up something as impressive as Pillars.

Wow! I have Pillars sitting in my bookcase but everytime I go to read it, the size puts me off. It just looks like it would be a hard read.

What was it that you enjoyed about it so much Val?

Annie, Pillars was fascinating from the beginning of the book. It's always amazed me how they were able to construct such fabulous buildings in that time when they didn't have the tools that were available to us today. The book explains a lot of the process. Also, Follet follows an interesting, eclectic group of people from all walks of life through several decades. Then there's the political intrigue... I wouldn't have expected that with monks, but it was a different time and everyone's reasons for joining the priory were different. Follet put a lot into his characters. There were a couple that didn't quite sit right with me, but overall... it was a book that I wanted to keep reading... to find out what came next... and to find out how their lives ended up.

I read about 250 pages in World Without End last night and feel the same way. Follet has again picked a group of characters from all walks of life that you follow.

I do read differently with books this size. They can be intimidating. I usually start books like this close to a weekend or on a weekend. Sometime when I know I can carve out a substantial amount of reading time. Otherwise, if I don't get a good jumpstart to a book like this and am only reading a few pages a night, it's hard for me to get into the book. (not sure I explain all this very well).

You should definitely try Pillars.

Hi, I'm Felicia. My blog is scalingmounttbr.blogspot.com. I enjoy most kinds of historical fiction, especially novels set in medieval or Tudor England. The book that made me fall in love with historical fiction was "The Autobiography of Henry VIII" by Margaret George.

My first read for the challenge is "A Rose for the Crown" by Anne Easter Smith, about a fictional mistress of Richard III.

I may end up doing the Royal Challenge just because I have a ton of books about royals on my to-be-read pile.

Hi Felicia! I LOVED "The Autobiography of Henry VIII". Have you read her book about Mary, Queen of Scots? It was also very good, but not as good as Henry's. "A Rose for the Crown" sounds interesting.

Hi Everyone,
I have World Without End on my TBR pile too, sounds like a few of us have. But I think Im going to start the challenge with Margaret George's Memoirs of Cleopatra. On Royal Reviews I review under 'Empress of Good & Evil'
I became addicted to historical fiction last year doing Annie's challenge, I think my favourite historical period if I had to name one, actually 3 might be easier, would be Tudor period, ancient Egypt, and anything set in Scotland.

Hey, I've changed my mind already! I was going with a YA book because I thought it'd take me longer to finish the contemporary I was reading, but I finished it sooner than I thought (i.e., last night), so I'm going with a medieval mystery for my first read, instead: Death of a Squire, by Maureen Ash. I started reading it tonight. The beginning was a little "stiffer" than I was hoping for, but maybe it'll pick up as I go along?

(I don't know why I can't get the cover of this book to show up on the group bookshelf. The cover comes up perfectly well on Amazon.)

I'm excited for this challenge! I'm planning to read one book written recently about historical fiction (probably The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth), as well as one book written within the historical period itself (Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen). I'm still deciding what I'll read for my third choice.

Hi,

I finished World Without End at 3 am Sunday morning. I absolutely LOVED it! I literally could not put it down... Fascinating time.... very interesting group of people that you follow throughout the book. Follett writes in a way that really gets you invested in the characters. Beyond the characters, the book is filled with information about life during the time period (1300's) - the good, the bad & the ugly. Just a great book. I can definitely recommend this book and The Pillars of the Earth to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction.

Congratulations on finishing your first novel for the challenge Val! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the book so much. If you decide you would like to review it, by all means post a link!

Hey everyone,
I'm Laura (retroredux) and I'm excited to join this challenge. I love Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, and period Dramas-I'm a history junkie:) My favorite period hands down is Regency era, followed by Victorian era, though I'll read just about any era. I've finished my first book for the challenge: Sherlock In Love by Sena Jeter Naslund-a Holmes pastiche set in Victorian England and 1920 England as well. Loved it-4 stars.
Review here:
http://retroreduxsreviews.blogspot.co...

I have just Finshed my first book for this challenge you can read the post here.
http://danisbookshelf.blogspot.com/20...

Hi, I'm Lauren and I fell in love with historical fiction over the summer last year. I can't name a favorite era, but most of my books seems to lean towards royalty in england or chinese culture. For my first book, I am reading The Last Empress by Anchee Min. The second will be The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent.

Hi Lauren, Will be interested to hear what you think of The Last Empress and The Heretics Daughter as I have both of them on my TBR list.

Hi, I'm Becky (mjmbecky) and I'll admit to being nervous about jumping into a challenge. I actually really love historical fiction that centers on a time period. Like several others, I can't list a "favorite," but I do love anything Victorian. :) Since I teach high school, I'd like to try to focus at least one book of YA fiction that I could recommend to my students for "pleasure" and not requirement.

For now, I just finished The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, which technically takes place after WWII, but I'm counting it! :) I'd been wanting to read it for awhile, and felt this gave me a good push. Now, to thinking about what's up next!

Hi! I'm Crystal, I participated in the Historical Fiction Challenge last year. I love almost all history, but my favorite period would have to be Tudor England, I am just in love with it!

My first book is going to be "Silent on the Moor" by Deanna Raybourn, as I received an ARC of it and can't wait to start it! I'll also be reading "Murder Most Royal" by Jean Plaidy and "The Virgin's Lover" by Philippa Gregory.

Val - I have read "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles" as well as George's book on Cleopatra. I loved them, too, but the Henry VIII book is still my favorite!

Laura - I just started reading Georgette Heyer's novels set in the Regency period and I'm really enjoying them. "The Grand Sophy" was wonderful - such a fun read!

Annie wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm Annie, I hosted the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge at my blog Reading, Writing & Ranting last year. This year, I'm happy to announce the challenge will be hosted by Royal R..."

Hi Annie,
My friend Joyce invited me to join the Historical Reading Challenge. I've been thinking about it for the last couple of days. I went through my to read shelf tonight and found 3 books that would qualify. I am finishing The Book Thief first, which doesn't qualify because it is WWII era. I'm hoping to be done in less than a week and maybe can get started on one of my three. I don't have a particular time period that I am attached to, but I love historical fiction in general. I learn so much and I find it more meaningful than just the history by itself. Here is my plan, although I am not sure of the order:
1. Company of Liars by Karen Maitland It's a reinterpretation of Canturbury Tales and takes place in 1348.
2. The News From Paraguay by Lily Tuck It takes place in 1854 in Paris and Paraguay.
3. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron It is 1831 and takes place during the slave revolt in the US.
I hope I can get them all in around my regular book club books! Thanks for setting this up, I think it will be fun.
Suzanne

Hello Everyone, this sounds like fun! When I first read your posts I thought yeah I can just scrape through, I have three of the books you yourelves had mentioned on my TBR, but then I had a bit more of a look around. In the spare bedroom (or rather book room with a bed somewhere in it) I discovered I've actually collected quite a lot over the last few years that would fit, but I don't seem to have made much of a dint in the pile. The common theme is The Crusades and or Medieval but not exclusively I generally go for something with a religious theme of some sort which I guess plays a large part in historical fiction generally, so needless to say I started with just three, and ended struggling to choose, just three. They all sound so good! The three I've kind of settled on are
1. The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco
2. Brethren by Robyn Young
3. Sylvia by Bryce Courtenay
P.S. Val I was very tempted by your high praise for World Without End as I loved Pillars, will make sure I read it very soon and even use your weekend technique for big books. Cheers

Hello! I'm Kate and I blog reviews over at What Kate's Reading. My favorite historical is probably the immediate post-Conquest England, but then I am a medievalist so it's to be expected! I'll read just about any time period in western history, though, and I'm currently on a colonial America kick (although I'm mostly reading nonfiction currently.)

Most of my "must-read" 2009 list is historicals, I just realized, so I'll probably be choosing from Jude the Obscure, Mrs Dalloway (that's pre-WWII, right?), Lavinia, Pillars of the Earth, and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I don't think I'll be going the Royal route (since I usually don't like those), and since I really didn't like Twilight I'm not heading that direction either :) But of course I'm certain this list will change as my mood does!

Lauren, have you read The Heretic's Daughter yet? I read and reviewed it last year, and really didn't find it anything special.

http://litmob.com/2008/10/03/the-here...

I haven't introduced myself yet... I am Janna, mother of 6 and book reviewer. I read 220 books last year and figure it'll be about the same this year. I have already read 12 books (some of which are historical fiction) this year (I love this genre) but I'm going to use this challenge as a way to read a few that have been sitting on my shelf but I haven't made time for yet...
1) An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers
2) As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers
3) From Dust to Ashes by Tricia Goyer

The first 2 are books #2 and #3 in The Mark of the Lion trilogy set in pre-Jesus Rome. From Dust to Ashes is a WWII story.

I was going to include "The Centurion's Wife" by Janette Oke & Davis Bunn, but I've already finished it (excellent by the way) so I thought I'd just start fresh...

Oops, I read it as being WWII and older (not prior to) so I will remove book #3 and make it a different one...

1) An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers
2) As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers
3) A Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer

This one is the first in a series about the Spanish Civil War (definitely pre-WWII) - sorry about that!

Hi ~
My name is Kelly and I am very excited about this challenge!
Three years ago we traveled to London and I stumbled across a copy of The Other Boleyn Girl in the flat that we were staying in. Ever since then my bookshelves have been overtaken by all things Tudor!
I just finished reading The Other Queen and my review is posted on my blog...booksandbubblebaths.blogspot.com

Looking forward to all of the other reviews and adding to my TBR pile!

My name is Mary, and I haven't yet chosen a favorite time period. I have finished my first book, Only the River Runs Free by Bodie and Brock Thoene, set in Ireland in the 1830s+. It was not a "happy" book, because it reflects the poverty and oppression that made life a daily struggle. I think I'll read the next in this Galway Chronicles in hopes that life gets a bit easier. To add to the complications of mere survival and all the attendant physical challenges, the book brings in the moral issues that pertain. Reminds me of what my Dad used to say: You can't win for losing! With some Irish ancestry, I found it poignant.

I have finished the first 2 books on my list -
An Echo in the Darkness and As Sure as the Dawn both by Francine Rivers... I still have to do my reviews but suffice it to say for now that they were both absolutely fantastic!!!

Hi! I'm Margaret D., and I participated in last year's challenge, which was a lot of fun. I'm getting a slow start signing up, but have actually finished my first HF read of the year: The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who still hasn't chosen their 3 books yet. It's short but very, very beautiful. I've reviewed it at www.HistoricalNovels.info/Jewel-Trader-of-Pegu. For my second read, I'm working my way through an ARC of Helen Hollick's much longer book, The Kingmaking, a new retelling of the King Arthur story, due out in March.

Kate wrote: "Hello! I'm Kate and I blog reviews over at What Kate's Reading. My favorite historical is probably the immediate post-Conquest England, but then I am a medievalist so it's to be expected! I'll read..."

Yes! I finished it and it was wonderful. Really. I felt like I was there with the mail character, feeling what she felt the whole time. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Hi, I am Linda, and I just finished my first book for the challenge, The Blood of Flowers. As for the second 2 books, one is by Elisabeth Chadwick and the other one I haven't yet decided on.

My fav timeperiod is by far the Middle Ages, I love Norman England. I also like reading books about WWI

Hi everyone!
My name is Terri, I only recently joined Goodreads and am still fumbling my way around the site learning what it is about. It was while I was exploring that I found this group discussion and decided to jump in and give it a go.
My favourite time period is anything pre 13th century. I will read pretty much any era, though I lean towards Saxon/Viking and pre and post Norman England. I have a prediliction for English history, but in saying that, I will read anything historical from any country if it has the promise of a good read about it.

I have just started and finished my first Historical Fiction for the year. The Falcons of Montabard by Elizabeth Chadwick. It was not the greatest of experiences and I'm afraid I gave it a horrendous review on Goodreads (please forgive me Chadwick fans....). At first I was not going to read anymore Chadwick novels because I was really put off, and chose Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom instead, but in the end I decided I had better break the bad mojo on Chadwick by forcing myself to read another one of hers. (This decision also had something to do with the fact that my better half nabbed The Last Kingdom off the bookshelf before I could commandeer it). The Chadwick novel I finally selected is The Conquest and I am only a few chapters in.

I suppose when I think about it, I could join the Royal twist Challenge. The Falcons of Montbard is closely (very closely) linked to King Baldwin (the King of Jerusalem), The Conquest has appearances by Harold Godwinson as well as William the Conqueror, and the thrid book I will read, Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom, is tied up around Alfred the Great.

Hi, I'm Ruthie and I have a graduate degree in history, so this is right up my alley. Although my academic specialty is Victorian era family history, my true loves are Roman history, especially Roman Britain, and the Dark Ages.

For my first book I read Pendragon by Catherine Coulter. I haven't done a historical romance in years so thought I'd try one and see if I liked it at all. I'll try and get a review up this week.

My other two as far as I know will be Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell and Odinn's Child by Tim Severin. I've also got the first three books in Simon Scarrow's Roman series here that are calling my name so I might change my mind and add one of those instead.

Ruthier wrote: "Hi, I'm Ruthie and I have a graduate degree in history, so this is right up my alley. Although my academic specialty is Victorian era family history, my true loves are Roman history, especially Rom..."

Hi Ruthie, I will be interested in what you think of Odinn's Child by Tim Severin. His Viking series is next on my list of reads after Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series. The reveiws on the Vking series is mixed. A lot of people say that he is too detailed, to the extent that his books can drag. I like well researched detail though so am willing to give the Viking series a go.

I've finished my second book for this challenge. A Victorian mystery: The Companion by Ann Granger
4 star book! Review here:

http://retroreduxsreviews.blogspot.co...

Hi I'm Anne Whitfield - just joined.
I write historical fiction - Victorian/Edwardian/WWII eras, which I love, but for reading pleasure away from my own eras I enjoy medieval. Elizabeth Chadwick is a favourite.

My 3 books;
Death before Dishonour by Barnaby Williams
An Irresistible Temptation by Carol Baxter
Uneasy Lies The Head by Jean Pliady

Thanks!
Anne.~

Hi I'm Charlotte Jordan and I just joined this group. I figured I'm on track, because I just finished Memoirs of Cleopatra, by Margaret George. I had never studied Cleopatra before so I didn't know how I would enjoy it. What a wonderful read.

I don't have a particular genre of historical fiction that I indulge in. I plan on reading about everyone else's books and choosing from among them. This is such a great way to find new books.

Charlotte wrote: "Hi I'm Charlotte Jordan and I just joined this group. I figured I'm on track, because I just finished Memoirs of Cleopatra, by Margaret George. I had never studied Cleopatra before so I didn't kn..."

Hi Charlotte, you can go to the website and put up your review there as well. If you don't have a blog then just put up the URL for your Goodreads review.

Alaine wrote: "...If you don't have a blog then just put up the URL for your Goodreads review."

My review of The Memoirs of Cleopatra is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I just finished my third and final book for the challenge-yay me-LOL
It was a Historical Mystery featuring Beau Brummell set in Regency England. The Bloodied Cravat by Rosemary Stevens. My review is here: http://retroreduxsreviews.blogspot.co...

this was fun:)
Thanks for letting me join. Happy reading everybody:) Laura

Hi, I'm Laura. I'm new to GR and I just found this group - it sounds like a lot of fun! I realize I'm a latecomer and hope that's ok. I just finished reading a book that qualifies (I think), and if it's alright with everyone I'll count that as book #1. I've almost finished the review and will come back and add a link as soon as I have.

Hi, I am Wanda. I am new to GoodReads and new to the group. I have finished two for the challenge - Someone Knows My Name and Signora da Vinci. Please let me know if Someone Knows My Name is what the group considers historical fiction. I imagine it could be contemporary fiction, too. But, it is about the slave trade and pre-Revoluntionary War America. If it does not count, then I can probably squeeze in another one; but, I definitely won't finish a third by 31 March. But, that's okay with me - it is fun anyway. Thanks so much and I must tell you all what a great group this is.