Heather wrote: "I just looked at the description for No Angel and it looks really good!! I'll have to see if my library has it and the others that follow.

I love this cover:

"


Its a great cover, and so representative of the lead character, Celia. She's a real piece of work! :-)

I just looked at the description for No Angel and it looks really good!! I'll have to see if my library has it and the others that follow.

I love this cover:

Has anyone read "No Angel" by Penny Vincenzi? It starts a great trilogy about a publishing family in England, starting in the early 1900s and going through the 1960s. I've read the series twice through! The other books are "Something Dangerous" and "Into Temptation." Cheesy names, but good stories!

Yeah I get what you mean, she should have just left it as one. It was just a case of an author's attachment to her characters.

The second wasn't bad though.

no I really did like Bronze Horseman, I'm just frustrated she didn't keep it as one book instead of dragging it out, I might re-read it and read the second someday, but probably not someday soon.

Allison wrote: "ooo yeah, I enjoyed Bronze Horseman."

I didn't think you did that much? Are you gonna read the second? The Third Bronzeman book though as you may remember, is in my opinion a tub of shit...

Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my favourite books though.

Can recommend the Anne Perry 1st world war books, the mystery is sustained right through all five novels, which is quite a feat in itself.

Agree with the recommendation of Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear, this book is set partially during WW1, but all her series deal with the horrors and aftermath of the war.

And really can't recommend this one highly enough - non fiction - Vera Britain's Testament of Youth; being autobiography, it really hooks you through to the end.

Hmm, Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy.

ooo yeah, I enjoyed Bronze Horseman.

Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons would definitely have to be a good chocolate read. Bird Song by Faulks is really really amazing. Though if you want something really quirky and amazing, I would also recommend the Amazing Adventures of Kaviler and Clay by Michael Chabon. It is set in the 40's and 50's in New York about two cousins who create a comic book hero called the Escapist.

Even if you have no interest in comic books or graphic novels, I would recommend this novel to everyone. It's brilliant!!!

Erin wrote: "Donna wrote: "I just finished The Commoner A Novel by John Burnham Schwartz. This fictionalized account of the life of the current Empress of Japan was a very moving story of her st..."

Hi Erin, Yes I've read Memoirs of a Geisha and it is really tough choice which I like better but I think it would be Memoirs of a Geisha too.

Donna wrote: "I just finished The Commoner A Novel by John Burnham Schwartz. This fictionalized account of the life of the current Empress of Japan was a very moving story of her struggles and sa..."

Donna! I really like that book. but I think I enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha more. have you read that one?

To the Last Man A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara should be good. I have not read this one, but his books on WWII and the Civil War are really good.

I just finished The Commoner A Novel by John Burnham Schwartz. This fictionalized account of the life of the current Empress of Japan was a very moving story of her struggles and sacrifices as she left her life as a "commoner" in 1959 to become a member of the Imperial Family and eventually Empress in 1989. My only criticism is the ending which I found slightly unrealistic but otherwise it was a very interesting book and I recommend it highly.

Hi MJ... I'd appreciate it if you would not advertise your book here. We're here to discuss HF, not provide a billboard for advertisement of upcoming books, even if said books are genre appropriate.

This is a private group, and while we're not trying to pick and choose our members, we do want to avoid being marketed to, which is why I have not made the group public.

You've mentioned your book already in the appropriate area, which I don't mind even though that is your only post other than this one, but simply because it is listed in the GR Giveaway - but please participate in discussions regarding other books as well as your own.

Thank you!

Hi everyone

I have a new book out. Forever Yours is a historical romance set in WWII.

And my upcoming book is set in WWI.



If you're interested in my book, please leave me a private message.

Cheers
MJ
http://mjsmithbooks.weebly.com/index.htm...

oh...I read Skeletons at the Feast this week, it is a WWII novel. One of my favorite parts about it was the portrayal of the German family fleeing from the Russians. It was cool to see them from a point of view other then just the normal "all Germans are Nazis! DIE!!!"...because this family was just totally ignorant of what was going on.

Also portrayed was a young Jewish woman in a work camp, and her story was fabulous and heart wrenching.

Anyway...it was fantastic!

Sarah's Key was mostly good. It's about the French police rounding up the Jews in Paris and a modern-day journalist researching it.

Charlotte Gray was good from what I remember. It's about a British female spy in France in WWII.

The Chestnut Tree is about what life was like in Britain for the women left behind in WWII. There's a sequel too, about everyone readjusting after the "boys" came home.

While I have not read these, No Graves As Yet A Novel of World War I by Anne Perry and The Murder Stone by Charles Todd are mysteries set in and around WW I.

To the Last Man A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara is also a good possibility. Shaara has a good series of well researched historical fiction

A book I particularly enjoyed is The Air We Breathe A Novel by Andrea Barrett. Set in a sanatorium in the Adirondacks in the Fall of 1916 just as Americans debate whether to enter the European war, it is a story of the rapidly changing times - political, economic, and scientific, and the anti-immigrant prejudice and vigilante sentiment that developed in this small rural community.

JG wrote: "The only book I have that has anything to do with WWI, other than All Quiet, is Rilla of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables No. 8). Probably not exactly what you're looking for! :-)"

That's probably about the extent of my WWI reading too...Oh well.

And I loved Water for Elephants.

So I think the present of the novel is in the early 1900s, but the breadth reaches back to the civil war:

East of Eden. I adore Steinbeck and this is by far his most epic, most beautiful book. Read it. Please.

Allison wrote: "I would of course assume that the intelligent people of this group would have already read that magnificent series April...but since you bring it up...

If everyone doesn't immediately read [book..."


I've read the first three and liked them very much. I can stay. Phew! :)

yeah, lots of pressure Dorie ;) hehe.

Wow, hope you all like Losing Julia when you read it.

I agree with Allison...kick 'em out.

Dorie wrote: "I highly recommend Losing Julia, a historical romance/WWI novel. It remains my second favorite historical romance (next to the Outlander series, of course)."

added it to my list.

I would of course assume that the intelligent people of this group would have already read that magnificent series April...but since you bring it up...

If everyone doesn't immediately read Anne of Green Gables (and LIKE it), you will be banned from the group forthwith.

Yeah, I just bookmooched Losing Julia today! Thanks for the rec!

Also, I'm getting pretty addicted to mysteries lately, so one more to the TBR doesn't seem so bad. :-)

I feel like 1900s includes victorian era, and I'm suprised a certain doggy hasn't been pushing a certain book which involves some gables, I think they are green....

JG wrote: "A Northern Light just barely fits into this group. I know a lot of us have read it, but it's so good I had to throw it in here.

The same goes for Water for Elephants.

[..."

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was one of my favorite reads from last year. It was one of those warm and fuzzy feel-good books that leave you smiling. I wish I could find more like that.

Dorie that DOES look good. I, of course, also added it to my TBR :)

Dorie wrote: "I highly recommend Losing Julia, a historical romance/WWI novel. It remains my second favorite historical romance (next to the Outlander series, of course)."

This one looks SO good, Dorie! My TBR thanks you :)

Hi April, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear is set during and following WW I. The rest of the series is post WW I. They are actually mysteries but the historical setting and the thoughtful discussion of conditions in post WW I London make them much more.

aww I cried at the end with him though :P well, teared up anyway. Sad!

I think I woke my entire family up when I started laughing during that scene. I think it's Monday, but it's been years...

I love Rilla JG!!

Dog Monday <3

(isn't it Monday? hehe)

A Northern Light just barely fits into this group. I know a lot of us have read it, but it's so good I had to throw it in here.

The same goes for Water for Elephants.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Gone to Soldiers
Skeletons at the Feast

I highly recommend Losing Julia, a historical romance/WWI novel. It remains my second favorite historical romance (next to the Outlander series, of course).

The only book I have that has anything to do with WWI, other than All Quiet, is Rilla of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables No. 8). Probably not exactly what you're looking for! :-)

I read All Quiet on the Western Front in high school. It's good, but gruesome, and f-ing depressing.

here are three that I want to read but haven't:

All Quiet on the Western Front
A Long Long Way
To the Last Man A Novel of the First World War

Can anyone recommend some good WWI books? I feel like I haven't read enough WWI books in comparison to WWII books and want to branch out a little.

What are your favorite books set in more recent history? There is so much great WWI & WWII fiction to choose from!