Historical Fictionistas discussion

Tell us.. what are you reading now?

Please remember to link the book and author whenever possible. If you can't use html, simple type the book title with the author. This helps members interested in your reads find them easily :)

Currently reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. I'm really enjoying it.

I'm reading book #1in the bregdan chronicles, Storm Clouds Rolling In by Ginny Dye. Set during Civil War and I'm enjoying it as of now. Happy new year!

The Nightinggale by Kristin Hannah, finally!

I read that book Beth. I loved it. I finished Christmas Caramel Murder and started I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Jasmine wrote: "Currently reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. I'm really enjoying it."

His King Arthur trilogy is excellent. I loved it.

I'm reading Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

Long Man – Amy Greene – 4****
Greene delivers a riveting story that explores the question: What cost, progress? The Dodson’s loss of their home is representative of the hundreds of families displaced by such projects. The novel is peopled with strong characters, with tangled relationships. Their competing loyalties are what made the decisions so difficult: to stay or to go, to delay or to embrace change
LINK to my review

A Grave Matter. Third in the series. Trying to finish a few series this new year.

Reading a family saga that begins in Scotland in 1914 and spans several generations. It’s by Jacqueline Wales: When the Crow Sings. Well written so far, though I’m not loving the people.

I decided to start 2017 by setting aside a crime novel and re-reading the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, a master of the English language.

That was a 5star idea if there ever was one! It was better than I remembered - so deliciously descriptive.

My review for 5★ - the story, I mean, not the review :)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran - enjoyed it.

About to start Victoriaby Daisy Goodwin. The miniseries starts in two weeks. I need to read it.

I am reading evil under the sun by Agatha Christie as recently am wanting to read and acquire all of hercule poirot mysteries lol yes I know bookshelves will be tight but who needs empty shelves right?? lol

I'm
Reading [book: The kitchen boy: A novel of the last czar

I'm reading [book: The kitchen boy: a novel of the last Tsar by Robert Alexander

I love Robert Alexander. I wish he would write another book

Finished and enjoyed Corrag
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Both excellent reads.

King Hereafter

Christina- be interested to know what you think of Victoria when you have finished it. Nearly bought it recently but a bit too much money.

I just finished Cézanne's Quarry by Barbara Pope. I'm on the fence about it, interesting premise, time and place, but the writing was wooden.

I returned to a Québécois novel, Métis Beach by C. Bourbonnais, hoping to finish it this time. It's pretty big. Story of a controversial screenwriter looking back on his life in the USA through the 60s-70s-80s. A bit laborious but lively.

Dem wrote: "Finished and enjoyed Corrag
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357"

I need to get to this, was supposed to read it last year!

I am reading The Wonder ... still settling into it at this point.

I just finished Fräulein M.. Wow! I'll be one of the first to admit that I'm not typically drawn into WWII era fiction but this book was amazing.

Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile which I very much enjoyed, at the end of the year. C.W. Gortner never disappoints. First book finished in 2017 is the classic SF The Forever War. This one was written in the 70's and was a critique of the Viet Nam War, but has so much relevance for today! I got my husband a NF book How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything: Tales from the Pentagon for Christmas. I might take that one up next to see how the fiction holds up to reality. For a little light reading, will be starting Conspirata, the second in Robert Harris' trilogy about the life of Cicero.

Stacey wrote: "Dem wrote: "Finished and enjoyed Corrag
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357"

I need to get to this, was supposed to read it last year!"

It really is a beautiful book Stacey, hope you get the chance to read it.

Stacey wrote: "I am reading The Wonder ... still settling into it at this point."

I really enjoyed The Wonder. Look forward to you thoughts.

Faith wrote: "Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile which I very much enjoyed, at the end of the year. C.W. Gortner never disappoints. First book finished in 20..."

Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner!

I've just finished the famed classical Chinese play The Peony Pavilion: Mudan ting by the iconic Ming playwright Tang Xianzu (written in 1598). I read in the original classical Chinese text and thoroughly savored the lyrical metaphors (with layers of historical allusions) and the choreography of imagery.

My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've just starting reading The Praying Nun - A Slave Shipwreck Saga, about a ship that sunk off the coast of South Africa but was only recently found.

Currently reading Great Expectations for the first time and enjoying it greatly. Much funnier than I expected.

Reading Gwendolyn Brooks novel Maud Martha. Hope to read this week-- And Then There Were None and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Alice wrote: "I've just finished the famed classical Chinese play The Peony Pavilion: Mudan ting by the iconic Ming playwright Tang Xianzu (written in 1598). I read in the original ..."

I read Lisa See's Peony in Love that deals with The Peony Pavilion as a phenomenon among Chinese girls that was the equivalent of The Sorrows of Young Werther in 19th century Europe.

Alice wrote: "Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner! "

I haven't read his most recent books on modern icons Mademoiselle Chanel and Marlene, but look forward to them. He's a sweet man and has the rare flare of writing in an authentic female voice.

A Lone Star Christmas - William W Johnstone w/ J.A. Johnstone - ZERO stars
I was seduced by the title, but should have quit with the book jacket. It seems that the writers threw everything they’d ever come across in a Western into this book. It was a pretty fast read, and fit several challenges, but there’s really very little Christmas to this story.
LINK to my review

Had to turn The Woman in Cabin 10 back into the library. Wasn't really holding my attention that much, so I'll try again on audio. Currently re-reading The Winter Siege for bookclub (tomorrow!! - left it a little late) and then Salt to the Sea (another re-read) and The Female of the Species for Mock Prinz on Monday. Apparently, 2017 will be the year of reading procrastination.

Finished Great Expectations. Now re-reading the dystopic/apocalyptic Gibbon's Decline and Fall -- finding it rather more terrifying than I remembered, due to current events :P

I finished I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and starting Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Faith wrote: "Alice wrote: "Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner! "

I haven't read his most recent books on modern icons

Me neither! But I think I'd prefer to read his historicals - loved The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia!

Just read my first James Lee Burke, and I'm sure it won't be my last.

He sure can write! This is one of his latest, I think, The Jealous Kind, which paints quite a picture of 1952 Houston teens and crims.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Am currently reading God's Armies: Crusade and Jihad: Origins, History, Aftermath, by Malcom Lambert. Very good. First chapter gives a good summary history of early muslim empire, caliphs, the Civil Wars the power struggles engendered. After doing so much research on The Lies That Bind (DarkHorse trilogy Bk 1 and the second contracted in the series, wanted to get away from the antebellum South and the Civil War.

I'm starting Minds of Winter by Ed O'Loughlin

I'm reading Trout Bum. It's not historical fiction, but it helps me beat cabin fever after knee surgery has me hobbling around for far too long.

Cheryl A wrote: "Had to turn The Woman in Cabin 10 back into the library. Wasn't really holding my attention that much, ..."

It's was just a 3-star read for me
a href=https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... to my review

The Prince and the Pauper - Mark Twain – 4****
This is a wonderful classic that explores the difference in class in 16th century England, and the ways that appearance effects how one is treated. Both boys learn much from their experience as “the other.” It’s a wonderful lesson in “walking in the other person’s shoes.” Twain’s use of 16th-century English may be a little off-putting to today’s readers; I recommend listening to the audio.
LINK to my review

A Christmas Memory - Truman Capote – 5***** and a ❤
Capote was a gloriously talented writer and he is at his best here. The reader feels the anticipation of a child, smells the piney woods, shivers in the crisp morning, and is comforted in the warmth of love.
His writing is never so brilliant as when he is mining his childhood for stories such as this. The emotion is evident and genuine. His descriptions are gloriously vivid without overwhelming the story. The lessons learned – about kindness, tolerance, family, love and forgiveness – are gently told but ring loud and clear in the reader’s heart.
LINK to my review

Christina wrote: "Just finished The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran - enjoyed it.

About to start Victoriaby Daisy Goodwin

[book:Victoria is excellent, I really enjoyed it and also looking forward t the series!

Quirky novel about young girl who tries to earn a living in what was a real exotic dancer club, Market Street Cinema in San Francisco.

The author, Michele Machado has done a good job of describing what it was like without it being erotica.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For my book club I am reading can anybody help me? By sinèad Crowley so far interesting not sure if I want to read anymore from her

I'm reading The Owl Killers. I've become fascinated by beguines, women in medieval and early modern northern Europe who lived in religious community, but did not take vows, so I found this book. They did social justice work, sustained themselves, and practiced scholarship, but weren't nuns. This book is a great exploration of what such a life might have been, although dark forces are gathering quickly, and I can't see how things can possibly end well.