Historical Fictionistas discussion

Theme: Exploration.

May 14th was the beginning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. Nominate a historical fiction book pertaining to exploration/discovery in some way.

As a reminder:
- Nominated books must be historical ficton - nonfiction or other genres will not be included.
- The book must be set at least 50 years before the time it was published to count as HF.
- Books should be linked by title and author (not image). If you are unable to link (from a mobile device, etc) then please include both title and author and we'll count it.
- ONE nomination per person. Seconds or 'votes' for books in this thread aren't needed - every qualified nomination will be on the poll.
- Only books nominated by those who spin three times by the light of the full moon will win the poll. (OK, that's not true. Just seeing if you were still paying attention. :P)

We'll nominate until Friday 3/21 and then the poll will go up on 3/22.

Books that will be on the poll (so far):
A Name of Her Own
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
The Big Sky
Measuring the World
Tai-Pan
Daughter of Xanadu
Northwest Passage
This Thing of Darkness
The King's Fifth
New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery
Green City in the Sun
Sacajawea
Raveled Ends of Sky

A Name of Her OwnbyJane Kirkpatrick

Jamie Lynn wrote: "The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty"

Jamie Lynn, can you let me know how this book fits the exploration theme? Reading the description, I don't see anything that jumps out at me.

How about this Pulitzer winner The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor

"The Big Sky" by A. B. Guthrie Jr.

Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann

I think Shōgun by James Clavell might fit the theme of discovery and exploration of a new world,
(as like with all so-called "discoveries", the world is new and strange only to those who discover it, not to those who are living it ;-)).

An amazing book I would be so excited to discuss in the group :-)

Jamie Lynn wrote: "Oh I missed the theme!"

No problem! I was just wondering if *I* was missing something! ;)

Zoe wrote: "I think Shōgun by James Clavell might fit the theme of discovery and exploration of a new world,
(as like with all so-called "discoveries", the world is new and strange ..."

It is a great book, but we've already read it with the group. You could go with #2 (Tai-Pan) though - still fits the theme! ;)

Oh sorry, I should have checked!

Tai-Pan? All right :-) (although I think it's less about exploration and more about clash of cultures, which as a yummy subject lol)

ok, so I nominate Tai-Pan by James Clavell. Hope it wins :-)

Yeah, but the same could be said about Shogun. LOL ;)

I've never read Tai-Pan (but I'd like to), but the description seems like it'd fit:

"It is the early 19th century, when European traders and adventurers first began to penetrate the forbidding Chinese mainland."

Becky wrote: "Yeah, but the same could be said about Shogun. LOL ;)

I've never read Tai-Pan (but I'd like to), but the description seems like it'd fit:

"It is the early 19th century, when European traders and..."

I guess so, yes. I didn't bother with description, lol :D and I should have :D
It's just that in Shogun he truly discovers (well, for himself and the western reader :D), but you are right, same can be said about Tai-Pan.
(did we start the discussion of these books already? Who needs the poll? lol :D)

LOL Right? I'll start the thread. :P

(kidding, kidding!)

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang.

Hannah, can you clarify how that one fits the theme? Aside from Marco Polo as a character, nothing in the description indicates that exploration or discovery is a theme in the book.

I haven't read it, but the blurb indicates that the main character joins Marco Polo as he travels through China doing cool exploration and adventure stuff. Or something? Lol, I figured it could fit the mold for May's theme but I could change it.

LOL OK, I guess we'll go with that. :)

Becky wrote: "It is a great book, but we've already read it with the group. You could go with #2 (Tai-Pan) though - still fits the theme! ;)
"

Where does one look to see past reads? I was thinking Kenneth Robert's "Northwest Passage," which is an oldie, but goodie, since you mentioned Lewis & Clark. I read it eons ago.

I'm pretty sure that we haven't read that one, but you can check on the group bookshelf - https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Becky wrote: "I'm pretty sure that we haven't read that one, but you can check on the group bookshelf - https://www.goodreads.com/group/books..."

Okay. I'll go look. Thanks!

I looked and didn't see it, so I nominate Kenneth Robert's "Northwest Passage." I do note the exploration pieces of the novel come late, so maybe it's marginal in that respect.

If "Northwest Passage" is not accepted, my second offering for nomination would be "The Master Mariner" by Nicholas Monsarrat. Here you'll find Drake, Hudson and a few others.

You might not like these 'heros' after the reading/learning. No spoilers intended...

I'll nominate This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson

LOL Eric, that's not very surprising. The more I read about people in general, the less I like them. ;)

The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell on Spanish exploration and the Conquistador's.

Becky wrote: "LOL Eric, that's not very surprising. The more I read about people in general, the less I like them. ;)"

Perhaps we all have our dark sides...OOooooOOOooOOo :)

New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discoveryby Allan Wolf. It's about the Lewis and Clark expeditions.

I nominate Green City in the Sun by Barbara Wood. Although a saga of two Kenyan families I is in a sense an novel of exploration.. It is one of my favorite books. Another suggestion is the last Conquistador by Michael Elias

Margaret, you only get one nomination, you need to choose one.

I choose the Last Conquistador by Michael Elias.

What about Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo?

An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris

Margaret wrote: "I choose the Last Conquistador by Michael Elias."

OK thanks.

Can I nominate "The Kaiser's Navigator *** BY NUMBER ONE AUTHOR ***

The story turns on the discovery by the Second German Antarctic Expedition of a wreck crushed in the ice and has the fate of the young navigation officer as its main historical narrative.

Scott, we don't allow self-nominations.

Raveled Ends of Sky Although I guess it's technically a historical romance, I was blown away by the historical detail, adventure, and quality writing. It's the least like a typical romance of any romance I've ever read...I'd put it just a click or two more toward the romance end of the spectrum than Gone With the Wind. Which is to say, it's barely a romance at all.

Great book!

OK - nominations are now closed.

The Last Conquistador looks like a modern thriller with historical aspects, not historical fiction, so I took your other nomination, Margaret.

An Officer and A Spy doesn't fit the theme of exploration and discovery.

The books that will be in the poll are:
A Name of Her Own
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
The Big Sky
Measuring the World
Tai-Pan
Daughter of Xanadu
Northwest Passage
This Thing of Darkness
The King's Fifth
New Found Land: Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery
Green City in the Sun
Sacajawea
Raveled Ends of Sky