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 :)

I am beginning the new year by reading Little Fires a Everywhere by Celeste Eng.

I started SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys. The short chapters are really a challenge for me.

I finished the old year with The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher--a bittersweet read for me. My review here:

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

Continuing into the New Year with Nevertheless, She Persisted and Wilderness Empire.

Happy New Year, everyone. Blessings and good books!

I am reading The Empress of Bright Moon by Weina Dei Randel, so far so good...

Desiree by Annemarie Selinko
https://www.amazon.com/D%C3%A9sir%C3%...

Kathleen wrote: "I am reading The Empress of Bright Moon by Weina Dei Randel, so far so good..."

I really enjoyed that book. I need to get the second one.

I am reading Signal for Vengeance by Edward Marston (the Railway Detective series)

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towels. It is sooo good all you should definitely read it. I am only 30% in but I have included it in my top reads of 2017! Xx

SissiReads wrote: "A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towels. It is sooo good all you should definitely read it. I am only 30% in but I have included it in my top reads of 2017! Xx"

I have also just started this. It is my Jan book club's selection

The Winter Garden Mystery – Carola Dunn – 3***
Book number two in the Daisy Dalrymple series has our heroine traveling to Occles Hall to research her latest article for Town and Country on England’s country manor houses. Lady Valeria is none too pleased at this intrusion, and even less so when Daisy finds a body buried in the winter garden. A satisfying cozy mystery with an intrepid heroine, set in 1920s England.
LINK to my review

Reading Middlemarch, which is actually a historical novel! I never noticed that before. Published in 1871 but set in the 1820s.

I’m starting Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

I am now reading the circus train conspiracy by Edward Marston..... my has it got off to a cracking start... am in two minds I want to know what happens and how it concludes but don’t want the book to end!!!! Dilemma!!!

I remember reading Desiree when I was in high school and loving it. Another similar book is Forever Amber.

The sworn virgin by kristopher dukes

I just finished "Gone" by Michael Grant and starting "Letters From Skye"

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

I am reading The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. This is prequel to A Practical mMagic one of my favorite books by this author.

Finished Nevertheless, She Persisted an anthology of stories about women persevering across time and space. The authors are well-known in the SF/F field, but there are a few stories that are HF. I felt this collection was better than average--every story grabbed my attention and held it. Review here:

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

I am rereading a real old favorite, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton as snow is swirling around outside and in the book.

The Birchbark House – Louise Erdrich – 4****
What Laura Ingalls Wilder did for the pioneer families in 19th century plains states, Erdrich has done for the Native Americans in this same time period. Omakayas is a seven-year-old Ojibwa girl living on Lake Superior’s Madeline Island. The novel covers the four seasons of 1847. I was fascinated by this story of the life of the Native Americans during this time period.
LINK to my review

What a lovely experience, Nancy! Talk about getting lost in a novel. . . .

I am reading the crime at black Dudley by Margery Allingham... kickstarting 2018 with some classic crime

I am currently reading The Good Widow
Story of love and loss. Hoping for an unforeseeable twist ending.

Margaret wrote: "I’m starting Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi"

Margaret, I would be interested in hearing any thoughts you have about this book. As a highly recommended book to read in 2018, I have added it to my "To Read" shelf.

Margaret wrote: "I’m starting Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi"

Margaret, I would be interested in hearing any thoughts you have about this book. As a highly recommended book to read in 2018, I have added it to my "To Read" shelf.

I’m about 50% through and it’s fascinating. I’m waiting for my Ghanaian friend to return from home as I look forward to hearing her opinion on the Ghanaian history. It gives a horrifying picture of slavery both the African perspective and slavery in America with family histories. The story is set in the late seventeen hundreds and the nineteenth century.

Margaret wrote: "I’m about 50% through and it’s fascinating. I’m waiting for my Ghanaian friend to return from home as I look forward to hearing her opinion on the Ghanaian history. It gives a horrifying picture of..."

Thank you, Margaret. This sounds like an interesting read. I'm sure your Ghanaian friend will have valuable comments to make.

I completed , which was a compilation of all of the Elantris tales. I continue on with my Brandon Sanderson, fantasy binge with Warbreaker.

May the 'Dor' be with you. :)

I’m reading Greythorne by LM Merrington - a gothic governess mystery set in Victorian England.

Kathleen wrote: "I am reading The Empress of Bright Moon by Weina Dei Randel, so far so good..."

Loved that one.

Currently reading The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance, with a couple of unpublished MSS to follow.

Finished The Remains of the Day. 3.7 stars if I may. Was left with an empty feeling by the end.

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

I'm starting Peony by Pearl S. Buck.

Finished The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2226391607

Just finished The Tears of My Soul

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2227876750

Just finished Homegoing a brilliant book
Am starting
Defiance:The Life and choices of Lady Anne Barnard by Stephen Taylor

Now that I have shelved The Rules of Magic, I am about to choose my next Read . I'm not sure what that title will be. I really have to judge my mood before choosing my next title. I probably will choose a book from either my 12+4 life or my Motley Challenge. I do hope to read Rules of Magic at another time.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Now that I have shelved The Rules of Magic, I am about to choose my next Read . I'm not sure what that title will be. I really have to judge my mood before choosing my next title. I probably will c..."

Sorry this one didn't work out for you. I quite enjoyed it when I read it back in Oct/Nov.

My shelves are still not updated, but I've started reading My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. I love Fredrik Backman's quirky characters.

I'm getting more and more intrigued by the description of the Jewish community in 19th century China in Pearl Buck's Peony.

I just started reading A Place Called Freedom

I just began reading Keeper of Lost Things which I am really enjoying. This book is from a challenge at another group. So far I am really enjoying this title.

I just finished The Zahir today and started Salt to the Sea.

I am reading Victoria Thompson new series I have enjoyed her Gaslight series a lot. This one is good so far.

I am reading snow falling on cedars by David Guterson and so far wow...

Zoe wrote: "I am reading snow falling on cedars by David Guterson and so far wow..."

I really liked that one. The language is lush and the story compelling.

The Turn of the Screw – Henry James – 3.5***
A ghost story and psychological thriller. A young woman is hired to be governess to two young children, Miles and Flora. The governess is certain that some malevolent entity is intent on capturing the children in her care, and she is determined to prevent it from doing so. All the uncertainty and secrecy serve to increase the emotional tension in the story. It is dark, and puzzling, and disturbing.
LINK to my review

I just finished 'As Bright As Heaven' by Susan Meissner. The book has 384 pages but you'll be tempted to read it in one sitting. This author knows her craft.

The story is set in Philadelphia in 1918, so there's the war in Europe and then the flu epidemic that killed millions. Told in the POV of the women in the family, (even the little sister has a voice), the heartbreak and triumphs are told through their humanity.