College Students! discussion

I have recently just gotten into Historical Fiction. What are some of your favorite books? What is your favorite time period to read about?

I think I love historical fiction because I like learning things about history but don't enjoy reading something so dry.

I haven't really looked into HF as an adult... but I loved it when I was a kid!! All those series... the American Girls, the Dear America series (the diaries), The Magic Attic series (they didn't always go back in time, but sometimes). And then stuff that wasn't really HF but kinda.. like the Little House series

One of my fav eras is the Victorian and Edwardian periods (late 1800s - early 1900s). So if anyone has suggestions for that time period I would love to hear them!

I honestly haven't read much historical fiction either..I would love some suggestions! I'm interested in many different periods.

Where is Lauren W.?? She was our HF expert!!

I LOVE reading historical fiction, especially about the Civil War. My dad is a huge Civil War nut (as I have grown up to be), so we've always gone battlefield hopping a lot during the summer.

One of my favorites that I actually just recently read is Howard Bahr's The Black Flower. It was phenomenal.

I have always been fascinated by the Civil War. I loved going to Gettysburg on field trips!

My dad brought me the Gettysburg when I was 10. I was terrified! But I think 10 years later, I would really enjoy it.

I love historical fiction also- always have. I think I had close to every American Girl book when I was little!

Jamie wrote: "I have always been fascinated by the Civil War. I loved going to Gettysburg on field trips!"

My parents take us to Gettysburg about 3-4 times a summer. I love it :) There are so many good books out there about Gettysburg, you could probably spend a lifetime reading about it alone! Let me know if you're interested--I could always compile a list of favorites! :)

Here I am!!! :) Kat... check out my historical fiction shelf on my page. I recommend ANY of those books. LOL One of my fave of all time has to be The Red Tent!

I've found a really good historical fiction saga. North and South by John Jakes is really good. It's ultimately about 2 friends who are on opposing sides of the slavery issue. It opens up in the 1840s and goes from there. So many possible views on slavery are presented from the most radically opposed to the most radically for and everything in between. So far, it's really good. Each book is around 700 pages and there are 3 books. I've been reading a couple of chapters at a time each night before bed.

I wouldn't say I love Historical fiction, but I think a lot of it depends on what era. I read Nefertiti A Novel and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan A Novel a few months ago and really loved both of them.
Anyone have any suggestions for a HF newbie like myself? My thing is, I want to still be able to follow along and it not be too historical to where I can't picture what's going on. Make sense?

Natasha Tretheway has a good collection of poetry about the Louisana Native Guard. Native Guard I'd call it historical fiction.

There's also Anthony Bourdain's book on Typhoid Mary.

Lori, I thought I had already posted this, (maybe it was in another thread) but my neice was named after a character in North and South. :) I never read them, but my sister had quite awhile ago. I also think that there was a mini-series on TV based on the books. Patrick Swayze was in it.

Would Memoirs of A Geisha count as historical fiction for all you historical fiction readers? I would definitely recommend that Anastasia.

I love historical fiction!
- Philippa Gregory is great if you like the Tudor period (she wrote the Other Boleyn Girl and a few others about the time period).
- Margaret George writes really long books about different leaders in a pseudo-biographical (or autobiographical) manner - off the top of my head, she has one about Mary, Queen of Scotland, one on Henry VIII, and one on Cleopatra.
- Jeff Shaara writes more about military history from the perspective of the leaders involved (a style which he adopted from his father, Michael Shaara). He's written 2 on the American Revolution, 2 on the Civil War (after his father's first one, Killer Angels), 1 on the Mexican American War, 1 on World War I, and he's currently finished 2 books on World War II with one more to go.

Tami, I think just about a million people were in that made for TV movie! Kristie Alley was in it. Gene Kelly was in it. David Carradine, Terri Garber, Morgan Fairchild, Hal Holbrook, Robert Mitchum, David Ogden Stiers, Elizabeth Taylor, Forest Whitaker and Johnny Cash we in it as well.

Quite the cast! I wonder if it is available on net flix?

Tami, Haven't the faintest. Let me know because I'd love to see it (although I use Blockbuster online).

Okay, it is available on Net Flix. My brother has an account that we usually end up watching whatever before he sends it back. He put it down on the list but it looks like there is a wait for it, so Blockbuster would probably have it too. Let me know, maybe I could share the subscription if Blockbuster doesn't have it.

I just finished Those Who Save Us and it was AWESOME! It's set in WW2 in Germany and it was such an incredible story. I haven't read much historical fiction but I'm definitely a fan after this book! I would highly recommend it!

Just finished Memoirs of a Geisha and really enjoyed it. Not what you would normally think of for Historical Fiction, but I think the book covered life at the time really well.

I fully agree. The author certainly did his homework. I became so interested in this that I've been trying to find some non-fiction on the subject.

Jamie, the 1001 must read book club had some suggestions for related reads. Some are supposed to be non-fiction.

Geisha: A Life by Mineko Iwasaki (this was supposedly the basis for memoirs)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Madame Sadayako and Geisha: The Secret History by Lesley Downer.

Ooh fabulous! Thanks!

Bringing this back from the dead.....

I used to read HF when I was little,but haven't really gotten into it in my college years. Those who love it, what would you suggest??? I'm not really into romance, I feel like I see a lot of historical romances....so something without a huge love story. Also, not a lot of war.

I liked The Poisonwood Bible (1950s, Africa) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (1660s, Europe)...so open to any time period and location...

I just read March.. I didn't feel like it was a TON of war..but it's set during the Civil War so war was a big part of it..but I didn't feel like it was too gory or anything. I also really liked Those Who Save Us & Memoirs of a Geisha.

Hopefully Lauren will come on this thread..she will be able to recommend something good for you! She's our resident historical fiction expert. :)

My sister is a huge HF nut. I'll ask her for some recommendations when I get a chance.

I talked to my sister. I think these are all adult HF books.

Ones she's read & liked:
Outlander
March
Beneath a Marble Sky
The Shadow of the Wind
Letters from Yellowstone (all letters, not a novel)
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Homestead

On her to read pile:
A Far-Off Place (has a sequel, and there's a movie with Reese Witherspoon)
Lark Rise to Candleford
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
The Thirteenth Tale
Sarah's Key
The Pillars of the Earth
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan A Novel
A Lantern in Her Hand
Kristin Lavransdatter
Birdsong A Novel of Love and War
The Trumpeter of Krakow
City of Shadows A Novel of Suspense
Jim the Boy A Novel
The Historian
The French Lieutenant's Woman
House of Romanov trilogy The Kitchen Boy A Novel of the Last Tsar is the first one.

I didn't ask for a certain place or time period, so I don't know how many of those will actually interest you, but it's a start. Oh, and did you look at the Best Historical Fiction list? There are some lists about specific time periods, too.

Has anyone read Cleopatra's Daughter? I've started it and it's fantastic so far!

Found a really great website for all you historical fiction lovers! You can find books based on time periods. I'm thinking this could come in handy for a future challenge!

http://www.historicalnovels.info/inde...

Cool website, Jamie! I'll have to look into this and add to my ever-growing TBR list!

Right now, I'm reading Snow Falling on Cedars, which spends time during WWII and the Japanese-American internment experience. This is a cool read for me because I have never read anything about the Japanese-American WWII experience and it's giving me quite a bit to think about.

Wow thanks Jamie! That's a really helpful website....I have a feeling I'm going to be adding about 50 books to my TBR list.

Thanks for posting that link Jamie!

No problem! I thought it was soo helpful and I really like when things are broken up like that because sometimes I go on these kicks where I'm intrigued by certain time periods.

Anastasia wrote: "I wouldn't say I love Historical fiction, but I think a lot of it depends on what era. I read Nefertiti A Novel and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan A Novel a few months a..."

Girl... I absolutely loved those two books. They are honestly 2 of my favorites!!

Jamie wrote: "I just finished Those Who Save Us and it was AWESOME! It's set in WW2 in Germany and it was such an incredible story. I haven't read much historical fiction but I'm definitely a fan ..."

I loved this one too!!!

Bree wrote: "Has anyone read Cleopatra's Daughter? I've started it and it's fantastic so far!"

I'm sure you've finished it already, but I absolutely loved this one too!!!

Thanks for all the great recommendations! I enjoy HF, but it's rarely something I "want" to buy when I go to the bookstore!

I love Carolly Erikson & Philippa Gregory's novels.

In particular:
The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette
The Other Boleyn Girl

Try any of Michelle Moran's books... they are absolutely great.

Two historical mysteries I recently enjoyed:

The Alienist - Caleb Carr
Murder on Astor Place - Victoria Thompson

Both are set in the Victorian era in NYC. The Alienist is perfect if you really want to immerse yourself in all the details of the setting. Victoria Thompson's series is very readable and the first book even made me laugh out loud.

Snickers wrote: "Kathleen -
What's this about Marie Antoinette? I have a mild obsession with her; I've never heard of The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette! Thanks for the accidental recommendation! :D"

I actually have that book, Snikers! If you want to read it, I can ship it to you and after you're done, you can just ship it back. :)

Jamie wrote: "Found a really great website for all you historical fiction lovers! You can find books based on time periods. I'm thinking this could come in handy for a future challenge!

http://www.historicalnov..."

This Link is like a treasure chest! Thank you for posting it Jamie! I'm overwhelmed now, because my tbr list just keeps growing!

I just finished Washington's Lady. It was really great and Informative about the life of Martha Washington. I didn't realize how little I knew about their lives until I read it. Great read!

Does anyone have any recommendations for historical fiction books set around the time of the Titanic?