I just ordered Edward Rutherfurd's book New York, I've anxiously been waiting it's release.

I read it about a year ago and it is excellent.

Susanna - I have this on my TBR. Have you read it?? It looks so good.

A recommended "period" read: Dissolution, by C. J. Sansom.

It's about a Tudor lawyer working for Cromwell in 1537, who is sent to a monastery to A) figure out who murdered his predecessor, and B) persuade the abbot to dissolve the monastery without any fuss or bother.

It currently has 3 sequels, and a fourth is coming out in 2010, I think.

OK :) Good thinking

I dont want to spoil it for others. I will contact you via goodreads mail.

Ugh... I HATE the villains. Stupid William and his terrible mother. How did you feel about Ellen?

I invested too much time on it to give it up. I kept wishing it would get better....and forced myself to read it to the end.
As I said, I hated all those happy coincidences and I found the characters so annoying and sweet. I tended to like the villains much much more. And you are correct, I will skip the sequals.

Manuel wrote: "All I can say about that book (Pillars) is that I couldnt wait for it to end!!! Unlike Oprah, who wished it would go on forever.

Yuck!!!"

LOL Manuel. I'm guessing you didn't go on to read The World Without End? I'm still liking it or should I say am now finally liking it. Did you say you finished it or gave up in the end?

All I can say about that book (Pillars) is that I couldnt wait for it to end!!! Unlike Oprah, who wished it would go on forever.

Yuck!!!

Susan C wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Manuel - I'm sorry you didn't like Pillars. I have always counted it as one of my top 5 favorite books, but I read it a long time ago, before I was really reading a lo..."

Really? He must do something terrible because I realllly hate William.

Jennifer wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Manuel - I'm sorry you didn't like Pillars. I have always counted it as one of my top 5 favorite books, but I read it a long time ago, before I was really reading a lot of history and ..."

You will hate Alfred even more as the book goes on, maybe evn more than William.

I bought Marrying Mozart a few months ago. Glad you liked it.

The others sound really good. And of course I love Outlander ;)

I was thinking of other books to list here that are historicals that I have enjoyed.
There are 2 that are Mozart related that I liked

One is Marrying Mozart it goes into his relationship not just with Constance who becomes his wife but his relationship with the entire family
The second is Mozart's Sister This one made me cry. In the authors notes it is pointed out that nearly all the book is based on letters written back and forth in the family. Papa Mozart was adamant they save all because his loved son Woofie would be famous one day.

Then there are my fav Scotland ones
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon most know of.

There is also a series by Lizz Curtis Higgs Called the Lowlands of Scotland. There are 4 in this series. While it is set in historical Scotland it is actually a revamped telling of the biblical story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel with the 4th book being about Jacob and Rachels daughter Dinah.

Heather wrote: "Wen wrote: You will like the series. It is a trilogy and one of my favorites.

Thanks, Wen! I'm really looking forward to it. Have you read any of her other books?"

Yes I have read Leotas Garden/ it is more contemporary and it too made me a little teary. I did try some of her warrior ones. They are biblical but it focus so much on the wars/fighting and such I could not get into them.

I know what you mean about William and his mother. They are on my top 10 disliked characters along with August from Water For Elephants, Frances from Innocent Traitor, and a few others.:}

Lyn wrote: "Manuel - I'm sorry you didn't like Pillars. I have always counted it as one of my top 5 favorite books, but I read it a long time ago, before I was really reading a lot of history and historical f..."

Have you read the reviews on the HF group? They loved it!

So I polished off about 100 pages of Pillars last night and it was great. It was the first time since starting this book that it actually kept me up at night.

***MINI-SPOILERS - PILLARS OF THE EARTH***
I hate William Hamleigh. I despise him and I hope he dies. I have never in all my reading hated someone so much. He's just terrible and so is his awful mother. Also not a fan of Alfred, Warleran or any of those detestable men.

That being said, I love Jack and can't wait to find out more about him. I also really like Aliena and Prior Phillip.

I have a feeling that the last few hundred pages will go a lot quicker for me than the first 600 if it keeps up this way.

Wen wrote: You will like the series. It is a trilogy and one of my favorites.

Thanks, Wen! I'm really looking forward to it. Have you read any of her other books?

Susan C wrote: Year of Wonders is a book that I can, a year later, still clearly see the people, setting, and events. It's so well written, my bookclub loved it. I love her decision at the end. Great period piece.

The ending really surprised me! At first I wasn't too keen on it, but the more I thought about it, the more it grew on me.

I read it earlier this year, and have already had an itch to read it again. I need to own this one! :)

Lyn wrote: "I have Year of Wonders on my TBR. I read People of the Book and really loved it. "

Ooh, I can't wait to read People of the Book! And I have March by her too that I still need to get to. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I haven't read Little Women yet, and I was wanting to read that one first before starting on March. I picked up Little Women this past summer, but it felt too Christmas-y for summer reading. I'm hoping to maybe get to it in December.

Heather wrote: "Wen, you mentioned The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers... I'm really looking forward to reading that series. I've heard so many wonderful things about it. I've read several of Francine Rivers books and have loved most of them. Redeeming Love is my favorite by her.


You will like the series. It is a trilogy and one of my favorites.

I have Year of Wonders on my TBR. I read People of the Book and really loved it.

Heather wrote: "I just finished The Pillars of the Earth this past weekend. While the writing wasn't anything special, I thought the story was fantastic! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, [boo..."

Year of Wonders is a book that I can, a year later, still clearly see the people, setting, and events. It's so well written, my bookclub loved it. I love her decision at the end. Great period piece.

I just finished The Pillars of the Earth this past weekend. While the writing wasn't anything special, I thought the story was fantastic! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, World Without End. I believe it takes place about 200 years after Pillars.

Year of Wonders is one of my favorite historical fiction books. Geraldine Brooks has such a lyrical and beautiful writing style that held me captive while reading that. A great book!

Another beautifully written story, and also one of my faves, is Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. It's become one of my comfort reads. I've read it three times here in the past two years and I just love it!

Wen, you mentioned The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers... I'm really looking forward to reading that series. I've heard so many wonderful things about it. I've read several of Francine Rivers books and have loved most of them. Redeeming Love is my favorite by her.

Thanks - I already have TAGK and have been looking forward to it, so I will start there and go accordingly.

Lyn wrote: "Misfit wrote: "Does anyone have a particular period they're interested in?

I agree with the recommendation about Dark Angels, but I'd read Koen's other two first (even though DA is a prequel). It'..."

Lynn, although it seems odd, read Dark Angels last. TAGK and NFTF should be read in order but I think you'll appreciate DA better once you've come to know and love Alice (Grandmama) it the other two books.

Manuel - I'm sorry you didn't like Pillars. I have always counted it as one of my top 5 favorite books, but I read it a long time ago, before I was really reading a lot of history and historical fiction. At the time, I was mostly into romance, so maybe that is why I liked it so much. I wonder if I read it again now, if I would feel the same way. I know there are a lot of people out there that read it, but it seems that it is not the people in these groups. lol. Makes me wonder if I am really out of place.

Misfit wrote: "Does anyone have a particular period they're interested in?

I agree with the recommendation about Dark Angels, but I'd read Koen's other two first (even though DA is a prequel). It's better to c..."

What order would you suggest reading them in? I have Through a Glass Darkly, but neither of the others.

Manuel wrote: "Hi Jennifer,
I know some people really like this book, I was trying not to give away spoilers.

Yes yes, if you have invested 500 pages, you should push on to the end, I felt the some way."

I'll let you know how I feel at the end :)
I know a lot of people love it or they hate it. Doesn't seem to be many that just liked it.

Susan C wrote: "Good going there Misfit!

Another good recommendation is the nonfiction book Devil in The White City. Ton of good storyline around the World's Fair.

A Thousand White Women
Shackleton
A Year ..."

I have Year of Wonders down to read next year.

Hi Jennifer,
I know some people really like this book, I was trying not to give away spoilers.

Yes yes, if you have invested 500 pages, you should push on to the end, I felt the some way.

I'm reading Pillars now and I'm about 500 pages in and still don't know what I think about it. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't know why I'm reading it. I'll stick with it and see what I think at the end.

About a mood affecting how you respond to a book, I couldn't agree more. I've found that I've responded to different situations because of the book I'm reading and responded to books because of the situations.

Yes, Susan I think mood definitely has a lot to do with anyone's enjoyment of a book.

I generally dont start a book until Im relatively comfortable. Well fed, well rested and eager to start a new adventure. In this case I think it was just bad writing by Ken Follet full of cliche characters and countless of those annoying happy coincidences and happy resolutions.

Manuel wrote: "A great idea to post books set in certain eras.

Here is one to AVOID.

"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet.

A yawn fest, full of too many happy coincidences, set during the reign of Henry II..."

I couldn't agree more. Bad, unbelievably bad.

Manuel wrote: "A great idea to post books set in certain eras.

Here is one to AVOID.

"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet.

A yawn fest, full of too many happy coincidences, set during the reign of Henry II..."

I have to agree with you about Pillars. I read it and didn't like it, which surprised me. I thought maybe it was just a bad time to read it , so I gave it a second go. I couldn't get past the first 50 pages.

Do you think your mood effects how you respond to a book?

A great idea to post books set in certain eras.

Here is one to AVOID.

"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet.

A yawn fest, full of too many happy coincidences, set during the reign of Henry II.
If I had a week to live, I would reread this book, each day would seem like an eternity.

Good going there Misfit!

Another good recommendation is the nonfiction book Devil in The White City. Ton of good storyline around the World's Fair.

A Thousand White Women
Shackleton
A Year of Wonders by Brooks
The Plague Tales by Benson

Heh, speaking of Dracula I'm being given a payback by Michele at A Reader's Respite for giving her my copy of Heir Apparent (very very bad book). She got some self-published thing on Elizabeth Bathory. I hear it's pretty gruesome. Serves me right, but we're starting another round 'cause she's getting Gaveston after I'm done :p

Misfit wrote: "Susan C wrote: "My favorite books are the ones that take me to a different place and time. They might have nothing to do with royalty."

I agree, that's why Elizabeth Chadwick is ..."

I just bought The Greatest Knight and it's sequal. I'm exciteed to get lost in them.

Dracula is another really good period piece. I've read it at least 3 times.

Susan C wrote: "My favorite books are the ones that take me to a different place and time. They might have nothing to do with royalty."

I agree, that's why Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my fav's. No one can suck me into another century so effortlessly as she does.

My favorite books are the ones that take me to a different place and time. They might have nothing to do with royalty.

Does anyone have a particular period they're interested in?

I agree with the recommendation about Dark Angels, but I'd read Koen's other two first (even though DA is a prequel). It's better to come to know and love Alice as grandmama and then go back and read about her as a young lady at court and her romance with Richard.

Thanks so much for the support!

Of course it's okay Susan. Actually I really appreciate you starting it as I for one love all history novels :)

My favorites were sort of historical romance but with a weird magic twist. They're by Elizabeth Lowell. Enchanted, ForbiddenUntamed. It's a trilogy and I'm pretty sure not in that order but I loved them!

Susan C wrote: "I'll start. I really enjoy Harold Schechter's books that team Poe up with other people from the past (P.T. Barnum, Davey Crocket) to solve crimes in the 1800s.

I also enjoyed:
The Alieniest by..."

I like the idea of recommending other books from different eras.
Um...lets see there are many I have read.
There are several series I have been reading that are set in different eras.
There are 2 different biblical era series that I so far have liked so much they would be ones I would even like to see made into mini series..
The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers. They deal with the conflict with the Romans and Jews and Christians.
There is also the AD Chronicles by Bodie and Brock Theone. I am only to book 3 so far but so far have loved them. Set in the biblical time during the time Jesus was alive.

Dark Angels by Karleen Koen (French Court life)

I am sure others will come to mind as I go back and look at others I have read.

I'll start. I really enjoy Harold Schechter's books that team Poe up with other people from the past (P.T. Barnum, Davey Crocket) to solve crimes in the 1800s.

I also enjoyed:
The Alieniest by Caleb Carr
Bone Garden by Tess Gerritson
The Meaning of Night & The Glass of Time by Michael Cox
The Dante Club & Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl
Angle of Repose by Stegner

PS I hope it's OK to start a thread.

Since there appears to be a real interest in history novels from all over the world and during different eras, I thought we might have some good book recommendations that maybe aren't about royalty but a period in time.