Historical Fictionistas discussion

Welcome 2016 and new Historical Fictionistas!!

Here's a spot for introductions.
Please read our Group Rules --- especially if you are an author. You can mention that you write books, do not use the intro thread as an introduction to your books. We like to get to know you first!! :-D

Recommendations have their own separate folder, so check out that section. You can click on any folder name to view all the threads.

Happy new year to all! I am a fan of historical fiction and struggling to write my first HF novel, set in southern England in the year 1800. That era interests me the most, but I enjoy books about many other periods. This group is great for learning about books and authors that wouldn’t otherwise come my way. Last year I especially enjoyed Geraldine Brooks’s Year of Wonders and what I suppose is almost-HF-but-not-quite according to the standards of the group, Lauren Groff’s Arcadia. Reading Mary Renault as a teenager (as well as some of the Robert Louis Stevenson classics at an earlier age) got me into HF.

Hello, I am new to Goodreads and have only recently started getting back into reading in my spare time. I really enjoy historical fiction because I like to see the events and beliefs that shaped the way different cultures act, think, and speak.

I don't have any specific time period that I stick to although I do tend to read books that take place in East Asia and the Middle East. While I haven't started reading much of it yet, I would also like to find some books that take place in Soviet Russia and/or Slavic Europe.

Hello. I usually read mysteries, but lately have developed a desire to read all I can about the founding of the state of Israel yes, I have read Exodus back in high school, but I enjoy the time period and events so much that I have been searching for more historical fiction from this period. I read Levin's The Settlers, but that is set in an earlier time than the actual founding of Israel. If any of you have read any novels set in this period I would really like to know of them. Thank you. I live in a suburb of Chicago with my husband. We are retired and have two grandchildren.

Sincerely,

Patricia

Howdy, I was a big reader as a teen but didn't read much in my adult life due to raising kids and depression. I'm so happy now that I have time to read and my depression meds allow me to actually focus and read a book.

I'm not an author, just a reader. I'm retired, used to be a Computer Scientist for the government. Love to travel and quilt. I live in South Texas.

I have noticed that I tend to select HF books more than any other genre. I don't have a time frame or location that attracts me - I like them all so far.

I want to thank everyone who posts in this group. I lurk and read and find I'm adding tons of books to my Want To Read shelf. I'm new to the groups thing here on GoodReads and not to sure where to find everything, but I hope to learn more and maybe participate some.

Hello!

I am trying to get back to reading. Family, full time work, and studying for my degree in Economy took up too much time in the last 10 years.

I am new at goodreads. Just joined a few days ago, and updated my list with the few books I've either read lately, or remember well enough.

Historical fiction is my passion, and just a few months ago I started writing my own book. 40,000 words written so far, and I'm writing in Swedish. I hope to eventually get it published and translated.. but that will probably take some years,

One of my favorite historical fiction is Michener's "The Source". One of the few ones that actually follow goes from stone age to modern time rather than staying in one time. Right now I have just started the 4-book series by Moberg "The Emigrants", which I am reading in the original Swedish, depicting Swedish emigrants to the US during the 1800s.

Welcome, Tuvia! Good luck with your writing! You will find lots of interesting leads to historical fiction in this group.

Carol wrote: "Howdy, I was a big reader as a teen but didn't read much in my adult life due to raising kids and depression. I'm so happy now that I have time to read and my depression meds allow me to actually f..."

Welcome, Carol. Always good to welcome a fellow Texan.

Hi!
Is this where I introduce myself? I'm joining this group because I am looking for Goodreads friends with the same taste in books. I love reading historical fiction, specifically if it's ancient to Renaissance. I'm bored with the Tudors. I also like my books to be about women (and therefore usually written by women). I also really enjoy reading historical fiction about religious characters, but not being religious. The Red Tent, for example.
I'm looking forward to seeing what's going on in this group!

Jackie wrote: "Welcome 2016 and new Historical Fictionistas!!

Here's a spot for introductions.
Please read our Group Rules --- especially if you are an author. You can mention that you write books, do not use t..."

Hello Fictionistas!
I am looking forward to being a part of this group. I just finished reading The Lake House and was excited to see that is what this group is reading this month as well. I love historical fiction. I am brand new author. My first book was Contemporary Women's Fiction but I am now writing an Historical Fiction which takes place in Germany, Scotland and America at the turn of the 19th century. Besides writing, I also enjoy watercolor painting, stained glass, quilting and horses.

Hello! Recently I have become interested in historical fiction in part because I have had the opportunity to travel. Before my travels I will read a few books set in the area that I will be going. It is always so much more interesting to have a better understanding of the history of an area prior arriving. Looking forward to being a part of this group. Some of my other interests (besides reading and traveling) include cooking, gardening and running. I am a musician by trade.

Hello! I've been reading historical fiction for a while. I love it when real history gets mixed with fiction. It makes me feel I'm learning something on top of having a fabulous time reading. I've got The Lake House on my wishlist, but I'm finishing The Man in High Castle first, no so much historical fiction, but interesting nonetheless.
I love reading in general and I'll mostly try anything, so am always open to suggestions. A colleague of mine and I created a small book club and he tells me I read too fast for him to keep up, but I can't help it, I love books.
I also love to write, but embarking on a book writing adventure is still on the list of things to do. Maybe one day.

Happy New Year! I'm Maycee and I've joined this group for recommendations and inspiration. I read all genres but find good historical fiction a nice compromise between learning something new and just plain fun!

Hello! Another new member here (I suppose the New Year brings us out of the woodwork. ;D). I'm a life-long bookworm who generally bounces between fantasy and historical fiction, filled in here and there with other genres. While most of what I read is set in Europe (I think the bulk of what is written falls there), I really enjoy books set in North America, with Colonial through Revolutionary times being my favorites.

Hello. My name is Tom and I am from the United States. My interest in history lies primarily in the Latin East during the Medieval Period, though I am also fascinated by everything to do with the world between the birth of Christendom until the Pre-modern era. Unfortunately most everything which happened after 1700 will tend to lose my interest pretty quick, but there are some gems here and there. I mostly read non-fiction these days related to my field of study, but every so-often I like to journey into the realm of fiction for fun. Part of the problem, I think, is that I haven't found the right historical fiction. It's not exactly a category with its own section in most bookstores, so most of the time you have to know what you are looking for. I'm hoping to meet some people here who can impart some of that knowledge on me.

Tom wrote: "Hello. My name is Tom and I am from the United States. My interest in history lies primarily in the Latin East during the Medieval Period, though I am also fascinated by everything to do with the w..."

You know what's unfair? In Germany, they usually have historical fiction sections in their bookstores. Too bad they only do that for German books.

So ya, I feel your pain. :)

Nicole wrote: "You know what's unfair? In Germany, they usually have historical fiction sections in their bookstores. Too bad they only do that for German books. "

Damn those lucky Germans. Now those are a series of words I never expected to put together into a sentence.

Knowing that I've mostly lurked these recent months, I kinda felt I needed to crawl from the woodwork a moment to:

Welcome all the new members!

This is one of the best GR groups. Explore and enjoy.

hi, which book by ken follet are you reading? I've watched the pillars of the earth and world without end. Eric wrote: "Happy New Year!

I am a fan of historical fiction, especially the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I am less concerned with setting than I am that era, although being from the NYC area I have a ..."

Tom wrote: "Hello. My name is Tom and I am from the United States. My interest in history lies primarily in the Latin East during the Medieval Period, though I am also fascinated by everything to do with the w..."

Welcome! It's funny that around 1700 is when I start to get interested in historical eras. Although as you say, there are gems in every era.

Hi, I love reading historical fiction, particularly those set in tudor england at the court of Henry VIII. But I also read lots of other genres, mysteries by anne perry set in victorian england are some of my favorite books, also high fantasy. I'm a lord of the rings type reader. I am an author, primarily romance. does anyone have any great tudor books? I really like phillipa gregory but I am open to other authors in this and any genre above.

Hi all! I have decided that 2016 is the year to jump all in with both feet. I used to read quite a bit growing up and in my early 20's. However, for the past couple of years reading has taken a backseat to raising kids (a 4yo and a 2yo), my career (kindergarten teacher), and my hobby (photography). I miss reading and cant wait to get back to my first love.

Ill read almost anything but historical fiction is my favorite. :)

Hello!
The historical fiction books are the ones I remember best from my childhood reading. Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote wonderful books, such as The Eagle of the Ninth. I enjoyed We Were There and We Too Were There in which the author assumed different characters in order to show what life was like in a variety of times and communities. Later I have loved A Tale of Two Cities, a fantastically moving book; I listened to Gielgud reading it on my car tape player many times. More recently I have enjoyed David Roberts' Lord Edward Corinth mystery series, set in England in the 1930s. I have tried writing it myself, linking mysteries to golf championships of yesteryear.

Hello, Ian, I like your idea of the golf-championships mystery series! Such an excellent pool of potential perpetrators (sorry, I’m too sleepy this morning to write around the excess alliteration).

Hi:
I am currently into Winter of the World. I just finished The Last Lion Vol I, II & III. Follett writes his 890 pages without a single footnote.
He plays with history. He has written very specifically about killing hospitals in Bavaria and a 48 hour time when Stalin hides in his villa while Germany advances. How can I distinguish historical facts from Folletts creative mind?
Jim Ryan (New)

Hi everyone,

I'm Kat, and I've made it my goal for to 2016 to read my face off between work and school. I have quite a queue of books that I've been meaning to read for a while now and this is year I plan to make it happen. The closest thing to a book club that I have been apart of is trading books with my best friend from childhood, so I look forward to being a part of a right proper club. Right now I'm reading Serena by Ron Rash. Serena I look forward to reading with everyone!

Hello to My Fellow Fictionistas,

I'm Cathy, and I've only been a historical fiction reader for the past several years. I will try to make up for my experience with enthusiasm for the genre! Looking forward to recommendations from the more seasoned fans--I especially like the Brother Cadfael series and anything to do with Tudor or Elizabethan England--but am wide open to suggestions.

Hi, Cathy, I adored the Brother Cadfael series too! You’ll find lots of great suggestions here.

Hello fellow historical fiction fanatics! My name is Amanda. I have had GR for a few years, but have only recently become an active member. I joined this group to meet fellow historical fiction lovers, and discover new books to add to my TBR pile... as if it wasn't long enough already :) I am 28 years old and live in Ohio... O-H.... Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Abigail wrote: "Hello, Ian, I like your idea of the golf-championships mystery series! Such an excellent pool of potential perpetrators (sorry, I’m too sleepy this morning to write around the excess alliteration)."
Scope for several splendid suspects with super swings swimming about satisfactorily before the slayer surfaces ...

I’m certain she will be splendidly sadistic (and speak sursurrantly) whilst sliding into a sand trap . . .

Kat wrote: "Hi everyone,

I'm Kat, and I've made it my goal for to 2016 to read my face off between work and school. I have quite a queue of books that I've been meaning to read for a while now and this is yea..."

Serena was excellent! I read it for a book club where all the women loved the book and all the men didn't like it much. I think it's because of the very strong main woman character, who has been compared to Lady Macbeth. I also thought it was a great evocation of the place and time.

Hi and welcome Amanda. Maybe we can say many hidden details of history can be found by historical fiction. If history is like some boiling water in an enclosed pot, then we can find many things from its rising vapor (historical fiction).

Hello all! I have been a member of Goodreads for years but have always called Shelfari home. Now that it is closing, I hope to be more active on Goodreads.

I love historical fiction and have known JoLene through a Shelfari group, so it seemed like a good time to jump in!

I don't know that I will read every month, but I look forward to seeing the selections and jumping in when I am able!

Welcome, new members!

@Robin
Yes! I just finished it and it was a great book. I can definitely see why some of the men wouldn't like Serena's character, but in my opinion it was Pemberton's lack of good character that should have bothered them just as much. I love the way they depicted western Carolina in the depression era. It was a great book.

Delka wrote: "Hi, I love reading historical fiction, particularly those set in tudor england at the court of Henry VIII. But I also read lots of other genres, mysteries by anne perry set in victorian england are..."

Hi, Delka, I've just finished reading The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory. It's the best book I've read so far about the court of Henry VIII and very well researched.

Hi I'm Floree, newbie from the Philippines. I love reading historical fiction too esp. those WWII era.

Hi all, my name is Lana and I live in Sydney. I've been obsessed with historical fiction my all life. When I was growing up, I read everything by Dumas and Hugo I could get my hands on. I especially love books set in Napoleonic period because that's the period I specialised in at Uni. I've also written a historical novel recently, which was an enjoyable experience. Looking forward to participating in this group.

Hi, my name's Nicole and I enjoy reading historical fiction. Some favourite authors are Michelle Moran, Alison Weir, Fiona McIntosh and Philippa Gregory. I'm looking forward to seeing the book of the month and taking part in discussions.

Hi, I'm Barbara M and I've lived in Central FL for the past 16 years. Previously from so-western Massachusetts - a little town near Springfield. I have always been a fan of Historical Fiction but I will read almost anything. Lately I've been back to a lot of HR, especially HR Mysteries. I love to read - period. I am planted here at GR because Shelfari is being shut down by Amazon. I'm sure I'll get used to GR and have chosen to join this group along with my Play Book Tag group. I hope I'll be an active member here too.

Hello from the Potomac River near George Washington's Mount Vernon, where I am still shoveling snow off the deck of my schooner! I just published my first novel, set on the eve of the American Revolution, after spending a most enjoyable year writing and designing/engineering the eBook, paperback and audiobook. I’ve been writing and directing films since I was 5. My forthcoming films will be action-comedies (not your typical Hollywood “bio-pic”) about Beethoven, Amelia Earhart, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and abolitionist John Brown. Between blizzards, hurricanes, and evading pirates (yes, they're still out there, especially in the Washington DC area. Some are in Congress...), I’m reading Patrick O'Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin canon.

Ah, a Patrick O'Brian fan! Welcome. I'd be curious to know something about your eve of the American Revolution novel.

Harold wrote: "Ah, a Patrick O'Brian fan! Welcome. I'd be curious to know something about your eve of the American Revolution novel." Thanks Harold! I sent you a private message.

Flordeliz wrote: "Hi I'm Floree, newbie from the Philippines. I love reading historical fiction too esp. those WWII era. "

Hi Floree, I am just about to read Awaiting Trespass, which may be the first book I've read set in the Philippines. I am doing a Book Riot challenge where one of the categories is to read a book from Southeast Asia (not India, China or Japan). I think fiction and historical fiction increases our interest in other cultures, countries, and time periods and makes us more likely to explore those further.

Hello, everyone! I admit that as much as I enjoy historical fiction, I mostly joined this group because of its name. :)

I'm a writer and interior designer who lives in Los Angeles, CA.

My favorite historical fiction I read recently was John Michener's Hawaii. Epic, epic.

One of my favorite novels of all time is Gone With the Wind. There are many debatable things about this novel, but Rhett Butler reads like a living person to me, who is constantly living and breathing even while "off stage."

oh, Michener... I only read one book by him "The Source". It was wonderful!

Happy Friday. My first posting in this group. Hopefully I will find more Northern California history fanatics here. The early days of my home state intrigue me and it is reflected in my writing. I'm looking forward to seeing if anybody else out there has similar interests. Cheers!

Some of the first "big epics" that I read as a teenager were Michener's works. I cut my teeth on his sweeping tales. Iberia came along with me on my first trip to Spain. Absolutely wonderful companion.

Kristopher wrote: "Hello, everyone! I admit that as much as I enjoy historical fiction, I mostly joined this group because of its name. :)

I'm a writer and interior designer who lives in Los Angeles, CA.

My favori..."

There was a period of time in my life when I read a lot of Michener - Poland, Chesapeake, Centennial, The Source, probably a few others I can't recall now. He had a formula for these books and it worked, but could get a little predictable.