Play Book Tag discussion

Well, despite my best efforts, I regret to inform you that contemporary romance is NOT the tag. Thank you for those of you who tried on my behalf. One day my greatest PBT wish will come true.

But, until then...

The tag for October is:

historical fiction!

The PBT administrators would like to specify that in our mind, this tag refers to books set in the past and written about the past. Containing a high degree of historical accuracy and detail, these novels require a significant amount of research and appeal to readers who want to learn more about a certain period in history through a novelized story. We know some Goodreads folks probably use the tag differently, but if you want to stay within the spirit of the tag, please try to double check to see if your book fits that general framework.

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below!

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as Historical Fiction on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

For ideas of books to read for this tag, please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Yay! I had possibilities for all three choices, but this one is the one I voted for. I have three possible reads:

The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
A Small Circus by Hans Fallada
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway

I'll see if I can fit all three of them in the month. Have any of you read one of those? Which one should I start with?

As for suggestions, I could not recommend Connie Willis's Oxford Time-Travelers series enough. They're generally set in the future, a time where time-travel has been invented and history students at Oxford get sent back to the time they're studying, so most of the books are set in the past. It's a series, and there are recurring characters, but the stories don't follow each other so they can be read in any order.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is set in Victorian times, and it is absolutely hilarious. "Three Men in a Boat" sort of humour. Pick this one if you feel like a comedy.

Doomsday Book is set in the Middle Ages and is... not funny at all. Few books have made me literally sob and this is one of them. But it is very very good.

Black-Out and All Clear do follow each other and should be read in that order. They're set in WWII and follow a number of historians that went back to different moments and events during the war. And then, obviously, everything goes wrong.

Gosh ... so many to choose from!

I just got Lilac Girls yesterday (surprise package that came in the mail!)

Others on my tbr:
A Fierce Radiance
Mrs. Mike
Under This Unbroken Sky
Mrs. Poe

Oh ... and one I cannot remember the title of! My neighbor was just telling me about it ... a ship near the Titanic? Drats ..... I'll check again later when I get home and can go through my emails.

Oh ... for anyone looking for a suggestion:
Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller (Civil war era - this book won the Pulitzer in 1934)
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (Gettysburg - won the Pulitzer in 1975)

I would tell you all that you have to read A Gentleman in Moscow, but I love the man and I'm not sure that I want to share him.

Drat! I just read Tapestry - which was ok - and The Summer Before the War which was lovely. So they won't count for next month. But I also bought Treachery while I was away (I love Parris' books) and I have had Some Luck on my list for a while, so that gives me an instant start to the reading list.

If anyone else loves the Tudor period, I recommend CJ Sansom's Shardlake series (beginning with Dissolution). Clever crime mysteries with excellent characters, and *beautifully* written (you will never touch a Phillipa Gregory book again!)

Jgrace wrote: "I would tell you all that you have to read A Gentleman in Moscow, but I love the man and I'm not sure that I want to share him."


I will second this, loving the book so far.

This is one of my favorite genres.

I am going to read, hopefully, the following two books. They will both cover the tag and my personal TBR challenge and complete my Novel Novelists challenge:

The Thief Taker - Janet Gleeson
The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. - Sandra Guilland

I am going to recommend The Underground Railroad. I know that some people may disagree, however it is listed as Historical Fiction by Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as many readers here on Goodreads.

I'd also recommend:

Lilac Girls - Martha Hall Kelly
The Tsar of Love and Techno - Anthony Marra
City of Thieves

Just three of my favorites.

Nicole R wrote: "Well, despite my best efforts, I regret to inform you that contemporary romance is NOT the tag. Thank you for those of you who tried on my behalf. One day my greatest PBT wish will come true.

But,..."

Perhaps you'll have to settle for historical fiction romance :). Before you started canvassing, I'd already voted for historical fiction.

So many great historical fiction books. I am going to recommend Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, since many people are going to recommend more recent ones (and, of course, I LOVED All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr on audio). Both of these books have WW II in them, but in Snow Falling on Cedars that goes back in time (but the "present" of the book is still the 1950s).


I'm going to read Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart which is a book people are reading in a different group I'm in, but that doesn't mean it will be the only historical fiction I'll read. I need to regain points after winning an auction (but I didn't spend them all).

I'm definitely going to read A Gentleman in Moscow, and I think I'll read City of Thieves. I might give Kate Morton a whirl too as I've never read her. I'm looking forward to the school holidays being over so I can get back to reading/listening to audio properly!

My recommendations are A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, The Tsar of Love and Techno, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Nartow Road to the Deep North. If you are interested in Australian history then The Secret River is an important read.

Book Concierge wrote: "Gosh ... so many to choose from! [including]

[book:Mrs. Mike|1557..."

My mother recommended Mrs. Mike to me back when I was a teenager . . . . many, many years ago! Maybe I should get it from the library now. :-)

Susie wrote: "I'm definitely going to read A Gentleman in Moscow, and I think I'll read City of Thieves. I might give Kate Morton a whirl too as I've never read her. I'm looking forward to the school holidays be..."

I hope you get to City of Thieves - I loved it.

Ellie wrote: "Yay! I had possibilities for all three choices, but this one is the one I voted for. I have three possible reads:

The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
A Small Circus by H..."

I really liked The Virgin Blue, Ellie. Many people really liked The Cellist of Sarajevo, as well. I liked it, but not as much as some. I haven't read A Small Circus.

I have a TON of books on my TBR that are Historical Fiction! Very hard to narrow down so this is just a list of possibles, a teeny fraction of my list and I'm not even likely to get to them all. I'll start with a mystery that was recommended above Dissolution
Into the Wilderness
The Museum of Extraordinary Things (love Hoffman and I own this one)
The Summer Before the War - I have the audio
The Gods of Gotham borrowed for the 2013 tag but haven't gotten to it.
The Serpent's Tale
I'd love to fit in a Kate Morton but it's not likely I'll have enough time.

As for recommendations, I have way too many of those too. But here are some of my top ones.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Help
Prayers for Sale
Half Broke Horses

Like Linda, this is one of my favourite genres. There are lots I can recommend, though I don't think I can choose one above the others:

- Cleopatra's Daughter / Michelle Moran (or just about anything by her)
- The Help / Kathryn Stockett (for anyone who hasn't yet read it)
- The Last Queen / C. W. Gortner
- Innocent Traitor / Alison Weir
- Gone with the Wind / Margaret Mitchell
- The Forgotten Garden / Kate Morton (or just about anything by Kate Morton)
- The Queen's Fool / Philippa Gregory
- This House is Haunted / John Boyne
- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet / Jamie Ford
- Kindred / Octavia Butler

I'll stop now... :-)

And, for me, again, many possibilities. A couple that come to mind immediately, though:

- Elizabeth / Alison Weir
- The Sunne in Splendor / Sharon Kay Penman

I'm also going to read Mary Queen of Scotland and The Isles by Margaret George

As much as I was hoping for contemporary romance (I am literally staring at a huge stack of them on my end table), I love historical fiction too.

I have three books on my TBR that are no brainers for me:

To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

What I read may just depend on which one strikes my fancy at the time! I have them all on hold on audio at the library but this one may call for an Audible credit :)

Between this and the two books I am trying to get through for the Fall Flurry of Holidays challenge, it will be a busy month!

Ellie wrote: "Yay! I had possibilities for all three choices, but this one is the one I voted for. I have three possible reads:

The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
A Small Circus by H..."

I loved The Cellist of Sarajevo but am not sure if it's HF as it is set in the 90's.

I've been meaning to get around to Doomsday Book for ages so appreciate the reminder. I might use this tag to tackle some of those books that have been lingering on my TBR for ages.

Susie wrote: "I'm definitely going to read A Gentleman in Moscow, and I think I'll read City of Thieves. I might give Kate Morton a whirl too as I've never read her

My recommendations are A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, The Tsar of Love and Techno, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Nartow Road to the Deep North. If you are interested in Australian history then The Secret River is an important read.
"

I second your first four suggestions and am seriously thinking about reading The Secret River.

I hope you like it. It is still lingering for me.

Okay the newer book about a ship sailing near the Titanic is
The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer

(And my neighbor gave me her copy!)

Nicole R wrote: "I have three books on my TBR that are no brainers for me:

To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
..."

Shoot! I had a list and now, with your list, I am adding another because I loved The Snow Child so I'm drawn to seek out To The Bright Edge of the World. If I get it from the library on time, I might get to it. Unfortuntely, it isn't available in audio in my library :-(

A favorite genre, and actually the two I am pushing to apply to the 2013 tag are historical fiction.

Top recommendations for the ambitious:
Lonesome Dove
Life and Fate
The Crimson Petal and the White

For more entertaining reads of normal size:
True Grit
Epitaph

A surprising read from Toni Morrison that takes you back to the 17th century:
A Mercy

I am going to have some fun working on ones from series I love:
The Empty Throne-Bernard Cornwell
Prague Fatale-Philip Kerr

I hope to complete as well:
The Englishman's Boy--Guy Vanderhaeghe
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse--Louise Erdrich

Nicole R wrote: "As much as I was hoping for contemporary romance (I am literally staring at a huge stack of them on my end table), I love historical fiction too.

I have three books on my TBR that are no brainers ..."

I didn't try the audio for To The Bright Edge of the World. I think it uses several readers, which would be appropriate, but you'd miss out on the pictures of historical artifacts and the visuals of things like newspaper clippings, telegrams and pencil sketches.

I liked the audio of A Gentleman in Moscow, but I wanted the text to reread his perfect sentences.

Jgrace wrote: "I didn't try the audio for To The Bright Edge of the World. I think it uses several readers, which would be appropriate, but you'd miss out on the pictures of historical artifacts and the visuals of things like newspaper clippings, telegrams and pencil sketches. ..."

Thanks for that information! I am glad now that the audio wasn't available for me!

Good excuse for me to finally read Epitaph!

Lots of books to recommend, but I'll go with one of my favorite series, a cozy/historical mystery series by Margaret Frazer, set in the 15th century, with the nun Sister Frevisse as protagonist. The first book is The Novice's Tale.

Yay! I was hoping for this tag. As for recommendations, I have lots, but I'll stick with these:

An Inconvenient Wife
The Tea Rose
The Help

As for what I'll read, that will be hard to narrow down. On my list I have:

Bound
China Dolls
All the Light We Cannot See
The Plum Tree
The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Susannah Morrow
The 19th Wife
The Witch's Daughter

Oh my sweet, sweet spot! I read about 60-75% historical fiction. Might I recommend to others the Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman? One of my most favorite books of the year. For me I am reading Three Sisters, Three Queens and a Gentleman in Moscow, which I believe is the group read option for PBT this month. Plus the Witches Market, which is the sequel to the Witches daughter, for Nicole's fall flurries. I think this is my order. Currently reading Lila, then it's TSTQ, WM, G in M, the Children Act, and then there is a bunch of sisters waiting in from the library. The aforementioned TSTQ, the Hurricane Sisters, and the Storm Sister. Had to bring Homegoing back to the library, I didn't make it in time. Back in the queue it goes for me... Really excited for this month. You are all reading my genre. Maybe for Christmas we will have contemporary romance for Nicole, and your joy will be doubled!

Nicole R wrote: "Well, despite my best efforts, I regret to inform you that contemporary romance is NOT the tag. Thank you for those of you who tried on my behalf. One day my greatest PBT wish will come true.

But,..."


Just for my own personal clarification, books such as Little Women or Pride and Prejudice wouldn't work for this, right? Because while old, they weren't written as historical fiction.

Blueberry wrote: "Just for my own personal clarification, books such as Little Women or Pride and Prejudice wouldn't work for this, right? Because while old, they weren't written as historical fiction..."

No they wouldn't count as HF because they were written in the author's actual life time, they are not writing about events in the past, although it is in the past for us.

I would definitely recommend any of Kate Morton's books. Great. Mysterious. Love them.

Anyone who hasn't read All the Light we cannot see, definitely should.

Yay!!!! I was anticipating the worst (Contemporary Romance) and hoping for the best (anything other than Contemporary Romance)...

My recommendations are as follows:

King Rat
The Marines of Autumn
The Coldest Night
Shiloh

I think I will try to read any of the following:

Coal Black Horse
War and Remembrance
The Terror
Anything by James A. Michener (which I'm ashamed to say I've never read before...and am very open to people's favorite suggestions)

Happy Reading!

Nicole R wrote: "The PBT administrators would like to specify that in our mind, this tag refers to books set in the past and written about the past. Containing a high degree of historical accuracy and detail, these novels require a significant amount of research and appeal to readers who want to learn more about a certain period in history through a novelized story. We know some Goodreads folks probably use the tag differently, but if you want to stay within the spirit of the tag, please try to double check to see if your book fits that general framework...."

In the Historical Fictionistas group the mods have further specified that it has to be set at least 50 years prior to original publication. So To Kill a Mockingbird would NOT qualify because the setting (1930s) is only 30 years before the original publication.

While A Tale of Two Cities (published 1859 / setting approx 1775) WOULD qualify.

Some GREAT recommendations in the thread so far!

Charlie wrote: "Yay!!!! I was anticipating the worst (Contemporary Romance) and hoping for the best (anything other than Contemporary Romance)...

My recommendations are as follows:

King Rat
[book:The..."

haha! and I really need to get back into the Clavell books. I have King Rat ...

My top recommendations:

Aztec - Gary Jennnings, everything historical fiction should be

The Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough starting with
The First Man in Rome


I may do
Hawaii on audio

I have the new Towles
I also have that Polish door stop which I'm now more interested in than ever (Poland is AMAZING you guys!)

Tons of options, really

Nicole wrote: "Charlie wrote: "Yay!!!! I was anticipating the worst (Contemporary Romance) and hoping for the best (anything other than Contemporary Romance)...

My recommendations are as follows:

[book:King Rat..."

King Rat is the shortest of his Asia saga but one of the best (in my opinion). My dad gave it to me to read in high school and it's stuck with me. All that said, I'm not sure now it meets the 50 year rule to qualify as historical fiction. Hope you like it if you do read it.

Wait a second! I reread. BC won a giveaway? However did you manage to DO that. Guys, if I should win one, I want a full on cheering section! You heard it here. Maybe A Gentkeman from Moscow arrives at my door? Start praying, I've been very very good this year...

I'll just mention again that, although there are various definitions of "historical fiction", if it's tagged "historical fiction" here, it would be acceptable to read in October for our monthly tag.

Michael wrote: "A favorite genre, and actually the two I am pushing to apply to the 2013 tag are historical fiction.

Top recommendations for the ambitious:
Lonesome Dove
Life and Fate
[..."
Crimson Petal and the White is a good novel; I second this recommendation.

Charlie wrote: "Yay!!!! I was anticipating the worst (Contemporary Romance) and hoping for the best (anything other than Contemporary Romance)...
e..."


Centennial by James A. Michener is the one I remember reading, way back when, probably in high school or university. I probably read others, but I read so prolifically I've forgotten most of it. I do know that my parents used to buy and read them and had them around.

Nicole wrote: "My top recommendations:

The Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough starting with
The First Man in Rome

I am currently reading The Goldfinch

Just 200 pages to go in the next 6 days. I have owned The Masters of Rome series for about 10 years; in paperback. The print is miniscule. 1173 pages in teeny tiny print for just book one is what has stopped me from reading it and after my current brick of a book it's unlikely I will read it. If only they would release it in Kindle format.

Ladyslott wrote: "If only they would release it in Kindle format."

Can you handle epubs?

OMG --- I can't believe I missed a vote! I have been super busy with work and traveling to help my mom who's been ill.

Luckily this is one of my fav genres --- I'm a mod at the historical fictionistas group here. I'll have to think on some more unusual recommendations!

BTW, the definition we use in our group is that the events are set at least 50 years from the date of publication. It's the scholarly definition. It is frightening to think that in a month, new book published now set in my lifetime could be considered historical fiction ;-)

My recommendations are all American historical fiction:

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd which is, by the way, a $2.99 Daily Deal today (9/27)
The Killer Angels - this Pulitzer winner is well worth reading
Lonesome Dove - I second Karin's nomination; some of the best characters in literature

I plan to read To The Bright Edge of the World as my library hold just recently came in. I loved The Snow Child.

Also under consideration is an Aussie novel Susie recommended The Secret River or one of the titles that have been on the TBR for ages: The Wreath by Sigrid Undset, Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross, Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, or The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett.

I feel like a kid in a candy store!

Book Concierge wrote: "Gosh ... so many to choose from!

I just got Lilac Girls yesterday (surprise package that came in the mail!)..."

I have Lilac Girls on hold at the library but the line is forever long! I think there are still like 6 people in front of me and they do not appear to have many copies...

Karin wrote: "Perhaps you'll have to settle for historical fiction romance :)..."

I do have a soft spot for regency romance...not sure how historical that is though ;)

LibraryCin wrote: "- Gone with the Wind / Margaret Mitchell..."

Man, I love Gone with the Wind! I totally second that recommendation if anyone wants a bit longer, epic, classic, romance, antebellum novel.

LibraryCin wrote: "Cleopatra's Daughter / Michelle Moran (or just about anything by her)...

I totally forgot that Moran's new book, Mata Hari's Last Dance just came out a few months ago...that could be a good option as well.

Michael wrote: "A favorite genre, and actually the two I am pushing to apply to the 2013 tag are historical fiction.

Top recommendations for the ambitious:
Lonesome Dove..."

I really liked Lonesome Dove, and my love of westerns has been renewed with my current read The Son and the fact that I just went to go see (and enjoyed) The Magnificent 7.