6. A novel based on a real person

[Shelly]

Sarah wrote: "Shelly wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Bernard Cornwell writes fiction that is frequently based on real people. I highly recommend The Last Kingdom. Uhtred is one of Cornwell's ancestors (though..."

Not weird at all. I'm from Utah---we are all about Geneology here! There are tons of ways to research your roots, if you're interested.

[Sarah]

Shelly wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Shelly wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Bernard Cornwell writes fiction that is frequently based on real people. I highly recommend The Last Kingdom. Uhtred is one of Cornwell's anc..."

If you have suggestions outside of ancestry.com I'd love to get it from you in a PM or something! I've tried ancestry.com and it's been difficult because my father is like the 7th in a long line of John *Smiths* from an area where there are many other John Smith lineages. He swears our name is German but all I kind find for the roots of it is that it is an adapted English name that sounds German.

[ktbooklover]

The Other Einstein would work well here. It is a story about Einstein's first wife.

[Luke]

My list of potentials:

Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois
A Brief History of Seven Killings

[Tina]

Wondering if "Before we were yours" would count? It's based on a real situation, but I don't know that it's based on any particular person.

[Shelly]

Tina wrote: "Wondering if "Before we were yours" would count? It's based on a real situation, but I don't know that it's based on any particular person."

Georgia Tann--Tennessee Children's Home Society is a real person. She is not the main character, but I don't know if that matters. This is a good book!

[Collin]

Eujean2 wrote: "What a great chance to finally ready Maplecroft, a recommendation from a panel at Emerald City Comic Con 2017.

As Patrick Rothfus puts it in his 5 star review: "The primary charact..."

Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Bernard Cornwell writes fiction that is frequently based on real people. I highly recommend The Last Kingdom. Uhtred is one of Cornwell's ancestors (though he is misplace..."

I think I'll go with Enchantress of Numbers, based on Ada Lovelace, but I have a hard time with historical fiction (especially hisfic of that page length), so these are great backups! I've been wanting to read Maplecroft for a long time.

[Lilia]

I’m going to go with My Lady Jane for this one :)

[SadieReadsAgain]

Would The Diving Bell and the Butterfly work, or is it more of a memoir/autobiography?

[Jennifer]

Some good books I've read that fit this prompt:

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - The main character is based on the author's great-grand-uncle
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather - The main character is based on Jean-Bapstiste Lamy
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck - one of the central characters is based on the author's friend Ed Ricketts
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - the main characters are based on the author's mother and niece

[Chinook]

Sarah wrote: "Would The Diving Bell and the Butterfly work, or is it more of a memoir/autobiography?"

It’s been ages since I read it, but I would have said it’d more of a memoir.

[SadieReadsAgain]

Back to the drawing board then!

[Jeeps (immovabletype)]

Lilia wrote: "I’m going to go with My Lady Jane for this one :)"

Ooh, that's a good choice, now I'm tempted to change mine.

[Laura]

Lily wrote: "@63Jo wrote: ".... The Invention of Wings is good, too. ..."

I am fascinated that Sue Monk Kidd apparently was looking for a story of two sisters when she attended the dedication o..."

The audiobook for The Invention of Wings is excellent.

[Caitlin]

Anna wrote: "I've been meaning to re-read Wolf Hall... Or maybe this is the chance to finally tackle Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath

Burial Rites would also qual..."

Burial Rites is my pick!

[Emily]

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore is centred on real people, namely Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla. One of my favourite reads of 2017! Also, The Midnight Watch by David after is based on real people and events surrounding the inquiry into why the SS Californian didn't sail to Titanic's aid when she was firing distress rockets. Also one of my favourite reads of this year!

[Joyce]

Nicole wrote: "I just finished reading Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn. I thought it would based on a fictional queen, but it actually based on the current Queen of England, and speaks ..."

Other fictions including HRH Elizabeth II include:

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
The Queen and I by Sue Townsend

[Shasta]

Irving Stone wrote biographical novels about a number of people, including:

Van Gogh Lust for Life
Michelangelo The Agony and the Ecstasy
Darwin The Origin

I personally loved Lust for Life and found it very moving -- a great book for artists, outcasts, and sensitive nonconformists.

[Shelly]

Shasta wrote: "Irving Stone wrote biographical novels about a number of people, including:

Van Gogh Lust for Life
Michelangelo The Agony and the Ecstasy
Darwin [book:The Origin|158413..."

Yes, for readers who somehow missed out on Irving Stone should pay attention!

[Nadine in NY]

Shasta wrote: "Irving Stone wrote biographical novels about a number of people, including:

Van Gogh Lust for Life
Michelangelo The Agony and the Ecstasy
Darwin [book:The Origin|158413..."

"Lust for Life" would work for "song lyrics in title" too, because now I've got that song stuck in my head!!

[Celine]

I just read Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood for another challenge I'm doing this year. It would fit this prompt and I enjoyed it.

[Sarah]

Tracy Chevalier has written a number of books based on real people, including Girl With a Pearl Earring, Remarkable Creatures and At the Edge of the Orchard.

[Melissa]

Theresa wrote: "I want to try I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon. It comes out later in 2018, so it could count for that one, too. Otherwise, I would second the Isadora - that looks fa..."

Thank you for the I Was Anastasia recommendation!!!

[Liz M]

I'm thinking of reading Blonde or The Book About Blanche and Marie.

I enjoyed The Master (about Henry James) right up to the last chapter.

[Asia_k]

Shasta wrote: "Irving Stone wrote biographical novels about a number of people, including:

Van Gogh Lust for Life
Michelangelo The Agony and the Ecstasy
Darwin The Origin
Yes! The Agony and the Ecstasy is also my pick for this category! It's been on my TBR list for too long!

[AF]

I just discovered this book:

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller

I think I may have found my book. I loved the Little House series when I was a kid. Books and TV shows.

[Brandyn]

I've been meaning to read The Gilded Years since it came out and it fits the prompt!

It's about Anita Hemmings the first black student to attend Vassar by passing as white.

[Allison]

The Librarian of Auschwitz
I just finished this one! But it'll definitely works for this prompt!

[Laura • lauralovestoread]

The Girls in the Picture

Hope this works! If not I’m thinking of either Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution or The Lost Season of Love and Snow

[Crumb]

Brandyn wrote: "I've been meaning to read The Gilded Years since it came out and it fits the prompt!

It's about Anita Hemmings the first black student to attend Vassar by passing as white."

Ah! That sounds like a good one for this!

[Crumb]

Can I do this one? It is based on a true story about a young girl who had gotten abused.

Call Me Tuesday by Leigh Byrne

Would this work since it is based on a true story and it is NOT a memoir?

[Chinook]

You’re looking for a fiction book for this prompt.

[Ebony]

Would The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America work? I have heard good things and have been wanting to read it being from Chicago and all.

[Crumb]

I think I am going to go with The Magdalen Girls by V.S. Alexander or
The Girls by Emma Cline

[Nicole]

There's a lot of interesting suggestions I've never heard of in this thread, but I decided I'm going with Burial Rites for this one.

[Heather]

I need help with this one. I'm thinking about The Girls??

[SadieReadsAgain]

I'm going to go for See What I Have Done, based on Lizzie Borden.

[Linda]

Would Lilac Girls count for this category?

[Jean]

I was thinking either Victoria or The Hamilton Affair, but there are lots of good suggestions on this thread!

[Nadine in NY]

Sarah wrote: "I'm going to go for See What I Have Done, based on Lizzie Borden."

I read that - because I thought the cover was gorgeous and I couldn't NOT read it - and I HATED it so I kind of hope you do read it and come back and tell us what you thought! :-) I'd love to hear a perspective from someone who enjoyed this book, so I can know what I missed!!!

A better Lizzie Borden book was Maplecroft, but that's also a Lovecraftian sci-fi/horror mashup so maybe won't appeal to everyone.

[SadieReadsAgain]

Nadine wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I'm going to go for See What I Have Done, based on Lizzie Borden."

I read that - because I thought the cover was gorgeous and I couldn't NOT read it - and I HATED it ..."

Oh no! I'm still going to give it a shot though, because the review I read really sold it to me. I'll report back!

[Kathy]

Annie's Ghost or the Zoo Keeper's Wife would work for this.

[Juliet]

Fly a Little Higher

[poshpenny]

Ebony wrote: "Would The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America work? I have heard good things and have been wanting to read it being from Chicago and all."

Kathy wrote: "Annie's Ghost or the Zoo Keeper's Wife would work for this."

Devil in the White City, Annie's Ghosts and The Zookeeper's Wife are all non-fiction. Keep looking.

[Teresa]

Mrs Queen Takes the Train

[Anna]

This reminds me of a short novel called The Uncommon Reader, that also feaatures the English queen. A feelgood book of finding literature, and what might happen if you (or a queen) do.
Nicole wrote: "I just finished reading Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn. I thought it would based on a fictional queen, but it actually based on the current Queen of England, and speaks ..."

[Anna]

oh, and Mr Chartwell, a rather weird story about Winston Churchill and a young woman and a really big black dog that pesters them. If I remember correctly, Churchill had recurring bouts of depression which he referred to as "his big, black dog". It was rather good and had a really nice cover. Anyone who has read it and can recommend something similar?

[Anna]

Also, Terry Pratchett's Dodger features Charles Dickens in a supporting role.

[Kathy]

Okay, I think I have one.

The House I Loved by Tatiana De Rosnay

It is about the destruction of houses in Paris by Baron Haussmann under order of Emperor Napeleon 111, both real people.

[Crumb]

Laura wrote: "The Girls in the Picture

Hope this works! If not I’m thinking of either Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution or [book:The Lost Season of Love and Snow|34..."

Laura, did you ever figure out whether The Girls in the Picture worked for this prompt? There are so many good choices for this one.. but I think The Girls in the Picture looks really good.