Must Read Books

[Eileen]

Nancy wrote: "Olivia wrote: "Anything by Taylor Caldwell would be outstanding. I recently reread her The Wide House and found it a gripping portrait of America just before and in the beginning of the Civil War. ..."

It really did remind me of the Kennedys, too. It almost told their story better than any history book has.

[Nancy from NJ]

Thanks Eileen. I am always so happy when others agree with me.

[Bob]

In reading through this discussion I notice that many of you have mentioned London as being one of your favorites Have any of you read his New York or Paris yet? They are both great.

[Laura]

Bob wrote: "In reading through this discussion I notice that many of you have mentioned London as being one of your favorites Have any of you read his New York or Paris yet? They are both great."

I did not like New York. It felt too rushed. Same with The Forest--not to mention that the New Forest is hop, skip, and jump from Sarum, and yet none of the characters from that book makes a cameo appearance or is even mentioned.

[Jean]

Robin wrote: "Hard to say since everyone is different. I'd be more likely to say everyone interested in historical fiction should read at least one Sharon Kay Penman book."

I have been a Sharon Kay Penman fan for years; which is tough because it takes about seven years for a new book to come out. Lol! Last year I read Lionheart and loved that it totally changed my opinion of Richard the 11. Waiting breathlessly for the sequel which I think is coming out in a few months.

[Valerie]

My most recent must-reads were fantastic and are my new favorites! &

The first 2 I had borrowed from the library - could not put them down!! I was so drawn into the stories, and felt like I was right there as events were taking place. I have to say that the era of the 2 is also my very favorite as far as historical fiction goes. Very well written - played out like a movie in my mind. Was fantastic!

The 3rd book is another of my favorite eras in historical fiction. I love just about anything JA, within reason, and this book surely didn't disappoint! Was a story within a story, and really makes you think of the possibilities if something like this was actually found in this day & age. The literary world would be beside itself!! LOL

[Linda]

Valerie wrote: "My most recent must-reads were fantastic and are my new favorites! &

The ..."

I also loved those two books. Very different and entertaining!

[Hudson]

edward Rutherford is great, so glad he picked up the torch left by James Michener. I really enjoyed Chesapeake
My all time favorite HF read is the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian There was 20 book in all (21.5 really) and the stories take you all around the world. Quite a bit of social/political commentary along with the nautical scenes, he was truly a gifted writer.

[Nancy from NJ]

Hudson wrote: "edward Rutherford is great, so glad he picked up the torch left by James Michener. I really enjoyed Chesapeake
My all time favorite HF read is the Aub..."

I will be reading my first Ruherfurd book sometime this year. The title is New York. I never thought of him as another Michener but I do agree now that you mentioned it.

[Hudson]

Nancy if I had to compare them I might give Michener an edge but I think Rutherfurd comes close.

[Nancy from NJ]

I'll let you know what I think as I tackle New York by Rutherfurd. Continuing to read The Poisonwood Bible and wondering I'm not enjoying this title as much as others who rave about this title.

[JoLene, Mistress of the Challenge]

Nancy wrote: "I'll let you know what I think as I tackle New York by Rutherfurd. Continuing to read The Poisonwood Bible and wondering I'm not enjoying this title as much as others who rave about this title."

I had the same problem.....everyone raved but I didn't even finish. It's one that I might pick up again one day.....so many books, so little time.

[Elinor]

I agree, there is nobody like Patrick O'Brian. He is the master of historical fiction. The subject matter sometimes puts women off, but I'm always trying to convince them to try one of O'Brian's books.
Hudson wrote: "edward Rutherford is great, so glad he picked up the torch left by James Michener. I really enjoyed Chesapeake
My all time favorite HF read is the Aub..."

[Nancy from NJ]

I did finish The Poisonwood Bible and glad to be done with that. And in a surprising move, I decided to read on from The Bronze Horseman with the next title, Tatiana and Alexander.

[Rex]

My favorite reads include anything by Margaret George, especially: The Autobiography of Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles. A bonus is that she lives in Madison and is a local author with me.

[Jojobean]

I really liked which is about a teen girl who becomes an assassin in the 1400's.

I also loved and which is about a teen girl go to a spy boarding school with mysteries she must solve

[Tytti]

Cher wrote: "Between Shades of Gray would be my historical "must read book". This was one of my favorite reads last year and covers WWII history that I do not remember ever learning in school."

I can never understand why they don't teach that at school. I grew up knowing about it, that's why I don't really want to read fiction about it. It is probably mentioned in "all" the history books about that era, one way or the other. Another fictional book about the subject is Purge, it has won many awards. I have seen the movie, not sure if I liked to read the book. The trailer tells something about the tone of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKNpZ...

I don't have "must reads" for everyone, personally I think that for me those would be Under the North Star trilogy and The Unknown Soldier by Väinö Linna. They are not really historical fiction, Linna has used his own experiences from the war and the trilogy was about the recent history for him. But they are considered by many to be the most significant work of literature during the Finnish independence and everybody knows what people mean by Lammio or Rokka.

In historical fiction I would say that The Egyptian is a must read, it is probably the most famous Finnish book internationally. Waltari wrote it during the summer of 1945 so WWII has probably influenced him a lot. It was also a favourite of my father's and many others'. Also other books by Waltari sound interesting, both historical and contemporary ones.