Historical Fictionistas discussion

Share with us all your current reads. Historical or otherwise.

I'm currently reading two books:
1) Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng - this actually is a near future dystopian look at what happens when economic downturns lead to rabid patriotism and xenophobic scapegoating, and the extremes that might lead to. It's really good. My first from Ng, but likely not my last.

2) Witch King by Martha Wells - this is an advance reader copy of a fantasy about a demon who has to figure out who killed him in order to enslave him. Dun dun dunnnnnn!

The Diary of a Provincial Lady and The Old Wives' Tale.

Abigail wrote: "The Diary of a Provincial Lady and The Old Wives' Tale."

I'm listening to The Diary of a Provincial Lady my second time and rereading Middlemarch.

Diary is a great light read for relief when tackling a serious tome like Middlemarch!

The Thursday Murder Club
Cat's Eyewitness
Ygerna: A Pendragon Chronicles Prequel Novel

Just completed The Book of Everlasting Things by Indian historian-turned-writer Aanchal Malhotra

Very good for a debut work. Needed some finetuning in the editing process but an informative and emotional read nonetheless.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Starting a Tortallverse reread with Alanna: The First Adventure - I haven't read this series in over a decade and it all comes flooding back so quickly <3

Also listening to Nancy Wu narrate Alice Wong's Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life.

The Solomon Curse by Clive Cussler

I'm currently reading: The Greatest Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Little Women and Les Miserables (one chapter a day).

Finished a carry over from last year - The Winter King
by Bernard Cornwell.

Just started - Winterland by Rae Meadows.

Apparently my January theme is winter. Considering the weather we have had here lately, it seems fitting.

I am reading a good new book, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal. It is standalone, not part of the Maggie Hope series. Set in 1940 Los Angeles. Mother and daughter try to break Nazi sympathizer groups. Based on real people. Good so far.

Reading an Agatha Christie classic, The Body in the Library.

I am reading Attachmentsby Rainbow Rowell

Reading Defending Alice Defending Alice: A Novel of Love and Race in the Roaring Twenties by Richard Stratton. Interesting story based on 1920s landmark legal case, though tediously wordy/repetitive.

I’m reading by

Abigail wrote: "Diary is a great light read for relief when tackling a serious tome like Middlemarch!"

It sure is and even more so for me, because I am listening to it with an excellent narrator. Except there are some sections that I don't really like, but I understand it is probably because of the times.

I finished Attachments and starting The Last Bow

Janice wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Diary is a great light read for relief when tackling a serious tome like Middlemarch!"

It sure is and even more so for me, because I am listening to it with an excellent narrator. ..."

On rereading Diary this time, I second your comment about sections you don’t really like. It left quite a bitter taste in my mouth this time around, whereas when I read it 40 years ago, I was delighted with it! Times have changed and so have my sensibilities.

Starting The Salt Path next.

. I've just finished my first historical read for this year, Marie Benedict's engrossing account of The Mitford Affair. Although, I had already read about these infamous sisters and their involvement with Britain's fascism movement, I always enjoy the way Benedict researches and writes about women from history to tell a good story at the same time.

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

For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Impactful. Recommended to all lit fic lovers who don't mind slow reads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Carolyn wrote: ". I've just finished my first historical read for this year, Marie Benedict's engrossing account of The Mitford Affair. Alth..."

Thanks for the review! I'm attending an event with the author (Marie Benedict) at the end of the month. She happens to live in my regional area. Glad you enjoyed it - especially since there are several "Mitford" themed books out recently.

Finished Now and Then Stab #7 Francis Bacon historical mystery by Anna Castle. Rated 4 stars. Read on Kindle and listened on Hoopla Audio. Another very entertaining episode in the Francis Bacon series. Set in late 16th century England during the reign of Elizabeth I. As the series has progressed Thomas Claraday and Alice "Trumpet" (Lady Dorchester) have become my favorite characters in this series. Best to read the books in order to better understand their relationship. The real life poet and "spy", Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, is featured and even a young Shakespeare makes a short appearance. To post anything else would be spoilers! Wonderful dialogue and historical details. The audio narration by Philip Battley is fantastic! Highly recommend this series.

I’m reading Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker part of my non fiction challenge

Non fiction challenge
Loved book: Four Seasons in Rome] by Anthony Doerr

Four Seasons in Rome

Who would ever have thought the French might like to reclaim Paris as their own after WWII? An American is disappointed to find "his" wartime Paris so changed in F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, Babylon Revisited .

3.5~4★ My review with a link to the story online.

What an intriguing short story is The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges. It is a kind of choose-your-own adventure wartime spy story. What really happened?
5★ My review with a link to the story online.

Finished The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride byDaniel James Brown

My review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/5207020349

Unnatural Ends by Christopher Huang is debut novel set in 1920s Yorkshire. It's an unusual murder mystery where a murdered man, who is father to three adopted children, stipulates in his will that his estate will go to the one who solves his murder.

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

Just finished a book, The Songs We Hide, by my friend and fellow author Connie Hampton Connally, and recommend it. It's a historical novel set in Hungary's post-war years under a brutal socialist regime. A touching read. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Zuleikha by award-winning debut Russian author Guzel Yakhina is a historical fiction set in 1930s Tatarstan and Siberia based on her grandmother’s memories of being exiled to the Gulag. Zuleikha is an oppressed Tatar housewife taken from her home and taken to a remote camp in Siberia where, despite adversity, she finds her inner strength and will to survive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

Margaret wrote: "I’m reading Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker part of my non fiction challenge"

I have that on my too-long TBR list. I hope to read it someday. :)

I just finished part 6 of Middlemarch by George Eliot and hope to start Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Abigail wrote: "Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt."

I just finished this book and very much enjoyed this unusual but uplifting story.

If you think the British royal family is in disarray now, just be thankful they aren't burning 'heretics' at the stake. 🔥 You didn't dare be out of favour with King Henry VIII.

I love the Matthew Shardlake historical mystery series by C.J. Sansom. Lamentation is #6.
4.5~5★ My review

Brighten your day with a starry night! Look Up at the Stars by Katie Cotton is a children's picture book where a little bear who wants a star finds his own light.
4★ My review with lots of illustrations

Dem wrote: "Finished and enjoyed Lady Audley's Secret

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/5218578460"

Joan wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt."

I just finished this book and very much enjoyed this unusual but uplifting story."

I have a serious allergy to immature man-boys so I’ve been struggling with Cameron’s page time. Good to know I have uplift to look forward to!

Halfway though The Ten Thousand Doors of January and enjoying it very much!

Finished Remarkably Bright Creatures and moving on to Yoked with a Lamb by Molly Clavering.

I’m
Reading Range: How generalists triumph in a specialized world

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "If you think the British royal family is in disarray now, just be thankful they aren't burning 'heretics' at the stake. 🔥 You didn't dare be out of favour with King Henry VIII.

I love the Matthew..."

Yes, I love the Shardlake series too.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

After a long time, I found a Booker Prize winner that I actually liked.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Anna wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "If you think the British royal family is in disarray now, just be thankful they aren't burning 'heretics' at the stake. 🔥 You didn't dare be out of favour with King Henry V..."

Sansom needs to write faster!

Sean Wilson's Gemini Falls is a small coal-mining town in 1930s Australia where a murder is being investigated near the shacks of depression-era homeless families, camped by the river. Obvious suspects, of course.
3★ My review of Gemini Falls

Ernest Hemingway was known for deceptively simple storytelling that can be surprisingly thought-provoking. This short story takes place late night in a Spanish cafe that is A Clean Well-Lighted Place.
5★ My review with a link to the story online

Daniella Mestyanek Young has written a much-discussed story of her life in 'cults' - first a supposedly religious one, and then the US Army. The colourful cover art of Uncultured: A Memoir should be reflected in the print title as "UnCULTured". Quite a story.
4★ My review of UnCULTured (my spelling)

I am reading a good new Historical mystery set in Colonial Ameria (some in Englad) Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. Deals with people who signed warrant to kill King Charles I being hunted down in American Colonies. Very interesting.