Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I always forget what is considered "Victorian times"! It is considered to be the time of Victoria's reign as Queen in the United Kingdom: June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901. So a book within this time period. Anything set during the U.S. Civil War.

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois, The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, and Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall are some I've read that would fulfill this prompt.

I'm sure you-all can help lengthen this list!

Popsugar lists Bombshell by Sarah MacLean.

Listopia is here

The Age of Innocencetakes place during the 1920's which is The Gilded Age, but I think that Wharton's Ethan Fromemight work.

The Veronica Speedwell Series by Deanna Raybourn would work and are fun reads about a young woman living outside of societies expectations during that time. I've added them to the Listopia.

A Curious Beginning

A Perilous Undertaking

A Treacherous Curse

A Dangerous Collaboration

A Murderous Relation

An Unexpected Peril

An Impossible Impostor

Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series is also good. The first book in the series is Silent in the Grave

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

Sooooo easy! If you like Historical Romance or Mysteries.

Stephanie Laurens is writing about the next Cynster generation which are squarely in Victorian times. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert even make appearances: Devil's Brood Trilogy and Cynster Next Generation.

More historical fiction is Possession and Angels and Insects, both by A.S. Byatt.

Or wander over to France and read some George Sand or Gustave Flaubert.

Also any Jack the Ripper books.

There are plenty of classics to fit - any Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson.

Charlsa wrote: "The Age of Innocencetakes place during the 1920's which is The Gilded Age, but I think that Wharton's Ethan Fromemight work.

The Veronica Speedwell Series by Deanna Raybou..."

The Age of Innocence was written in 1920 but the story takes place in the 1870's which is the Victorian times, so it should count

I believe Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore would work here.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Or one of the next two books in the series.

I feel like I'm about to be salty looking at the Listopia and seeing that most of it actually doesn't fit, but the Victorian period is the reign of Victoria in the British Empire, so it would only include the UK and countries under the control of the British Empire at that time. The US and other countries outside of that would be excluded... "Victorian America" is kind of like saying "Shogun-era Brazil" or "Edwardian Russia" or "Reconstruction-era Australia."

Edit: looking at the list, people should double check the ones on there because it looks like there's a lot that take place in the US but also ones in England that take place decades before the late 1830s. (Like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which is one of my all time favorites but takes place during the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815)

Not trying to be that nitpicking person, just trying to be helpful!

Beth wrote: "I feel like I'm about to be salty looking at the Listopia and seeing that most of it actually doesn't fit, but the Victorian period is the reign of Victoria in the British Empire, so it would only ..."

That's how I'm seeing it, however I would probably count a book that took place in the UK AND America during that time, or any place in the British Empire AND any other place not part of the British Empire.

Katy wrote: "Beth wrote: "I feel like I'm about to be salty looking at the Listopia and seeing that most of it actually doesn't fit, but the Victorian period is the reign of Victoria in the British Empire, so i..."

Oh absolutely! I figure as long as it takes place partly there during that time period it counts. I'm planning on reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper because I've been meaning to get around to it for a couple years.

Here is a Goodreads neo-Victorian novel list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...

I'll probably read Alias Grace or The Master (since I want to read The Portrait of a Lady for a Classics challenge.

Beth wrote: "I'm planning on reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper because I've been meaning to get around to it for a couple years."

Ooooo this has been on my TBR as well and I didn't even think of it. I think I'll do that one as well.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass would count for this, right? I've wanted to read that forever!

Murder in Old Bombay is in the correct time frame AND in the British empire. there's Sherlock Holmes references in this historic mystery, and it's written by and about Indians, not the colonizers.

Crystal wrote: "Murder in Old Bombay is in the correct time frame AND in the British empire. there's Sherlock Holmes references in this historic mystery, and it's written by and about Indians, not ..."

Oh that's an awesome change from the majority of Victorian-setting books! Thanks for the rec!

Charlsa wrote: "The Age of Innocencetakes place during the 1920's which is The Gilded Age, but I think that Wharton's Ethan Fromemight work."
Yikes! Thank you for correcting me. I'm editing my posting!

Charlsa wrote: "The Age of Innocencetakes place during the 1920's which is The Gilded Age, but I think that Wharton's Ethan Fromemight work."
Actually, I just double-checked because I thought I remembered this was way before the 1920s. It is actually set in the 1870s. I'm going to put it back now! LOL 😀 Thanks for helping keep me honest!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and its sequels would work for this. Also I believe some Charles Dickens would?

I just read a delightful book that fits this prompt: The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry- a farcical Victorian boarding school murder mystery.

Beth wrote: "I feel like I'm about to be salty looking at the Listopia and seeing that most of it actually doesn't fit, but the Victorian period is the reign of Victoria in the British Empire, so it would only ..."
Your point is well-taken. I guess I didn't interpret it that specifically. To me, "Victorian times" simply restricts the time period during which the book is set. Not the location. But...I tend to interpret prompts loosely...

Beth wrote: "Oh absolutely! I figure as long as it takes place partly there during that time period it counts. I'm planning on reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper because I've been meaning to get around to it for a couple years."

I read The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper earlier this year, and really liked it!

Nupur wrote: "I just read a delightful book that fits this prompt: The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry- a farcical Victorian boarding school murder mystery."

I just read this book earlier this week, and I absolutely loved it!

I saw Fingersmith mentioned on a list when Googling Victorian-era books and the top review on goodreads described it as "a Victorian murder mystery with a lesbian romance", so... sign me up!

I can't totally confirm without having read it, but could anyone else chime in with insight?

A Christmas Spark by Diana Biller

There's 2 books on this list that i really wanna read, but before making my choice, could someone confirm that they are set in the right place?

I cant see anywhere if The Night Circus takes place in Britain.

Same for A Darker Shade of Magic.

Could someone confirm?

Emily wrote: "I saw Fingersmith mentioned on a list when Googling Victorian-era books and the top review on goodreads described it as "a Victorian murder mystery with a lesbian romance", so... sig..."

It will work for the prompt, and is a fabulous book! Enjoy!

Marie-eve wrote: "Same for A Darker Shade of Magic...."

The series is set in different versions of London. I can't recall that Victoria is on the throne in any of them but Grey London is based on the 19th century.

I don't tend to like this genre anymore (or at least for the moment, I overloaded on historical fiction) but I'm going with Murder in Old Bombay

From the Listopia, I highly recommend A Darker Shade of Magic and Tipping the Velvet

Marie-eve wrote: "There's 2 books on this list that i really wanna read, but before making my choice, could someone confirm that they are set in the right place?

Darker Shade of Magic is set before Victorian times. George III is king but already considered mad.

Any of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes collections of short stories and novellas would fit.

Stalking Jack the Ripper should work for this. So should A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Beverly wrote: "Any of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes collections of short stories and novellas would fit."

*Puts on pedantic deerstalker*

Info for those who like to go all in and are very strict with the prompts:
His Last Bow is set in 1914 which is still pretty much considered Edwardian even though George was king.

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes has 5 of the 12 stories set in the Edwardian era.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes has 12 Victorian and just the one remaining Edwardian story.

All other Holmes books are completely Victorian.

This has been your nerdy service announcement. (Yes, I read a Holmes pastiche for my book on a subject you are passionate about. Why do you ask?)

I know Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices trilogy (starting with Clockwork Angel) fits. Can anyone confirm if the sequel trilogy (starting with Chain of Gold) also fits? I'm not sure how large the time gap is between the series.

poshpenny wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Any of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes collections of short stories and novellas would fit."

*Puts on pedantic deerstalker*

Info for those who like to go all in..."
Wherever would we be without you, Poshpenny! Lost! That's where we would be! 😊

Does anyone know of any nonfiction books that would fit this?

I have no clue about Victorian literature.

Ron wrote: "Does anyone know of any nonfiction books that would fit this?

I have no clue about Victorian literature."

Anything regarding Jack the Ripper...lots of N/F books out there

poshpenny wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Any of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes collections of short stories and novellas would fit."

*Puts on pedantic deerstalker*

Info for those who like to go all in..."


So, The Hound of the Baskervilles qualifies as Victorian?

Ron wrote: "Does anyone know of any nonfiction books that would fit this?

I have no clue about Victorian literature."

You could go obvious and read a biography of Queen Victoria.

Ron wrote: "Does anyone know of any nonfiction books that would fit this?

I have no clue about Victorian literature."

Here's another one: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Nadine in NY wrote: "So, The Hound of the Baskervilles qualifies as Victorian?"

Yup it is set in 1889.

Ron wrote: "Does anyone know of any nonfiction books that would fit this?"

I loved both of these:
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
Dirty Old London: The Victorian Fight Against Filth
Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace: The Private Diary of a Victorian Lady
Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners
Fanny and Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England
Consuming Passions: Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain
Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London

Thanks.

*****

I did find this from GR so hopefully I can find a few things.

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

Also found this.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Okay found a few fiction novels I don't mind working with since I already have them:

-Pride & Prejudice
-Jane Eyre
-Dracula

I'm afraid Pride & Prejudice from 1813, which is Regency.

Oh okay.

It was mentioned in the link I posted from GR.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before! Soulless mentions Queen Victoria in the description! I've been wanting to read this series for a long time!

Drakeryn wrote: "I know Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices trilogy (starting with Clockwork Angel) fits. Can anyone confirm if the sequel trilogy (starting with Chain of Gold) als..."

The series starts in 1903 (during the Edwardian era), so unfortunately it doesn't fit. Actually, if I recall from when I used to follow her, Cassandra Clare once mentioned having chosen this period explicitly.

@Alex Ah, too bad. Thanks for letting me know!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

The Crimson Petal & the White by Michel Faber is Neo-Victorian set in Victorian London, so it would count for this! It is incredibly good with rich characters BUT it’s exceptionally long.

I’m reading The Terror by Dan Simmons. I started reading it right before Christmas in the hopes of knocking off “longest book on tbr list” but didn’t manage it.