Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Weekly Topics 2018
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32. An alternate history book
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I think I'm just going to have to buckle down and read one of the long depressing alternate history books on my tbr.
Jackie wrote: "The more I've looked into this, the more I think I can't use it. I'm getting the impression that I'm just really bad at placing different historical events in context with each other. Based on what..."Jackie- I highly recommend Yellow Blue Tibia! It’s not long or depressing and it’s a lot of fun! I read it in ~24 hours. The dialogue is great!
- What are you reading for this category? The Underground Railroad- Why did you choose this book? I chose it because it is the book for the group read and I have been interested in reading it.
- What history element did the author change? That the underground railroad during the civil war was an actual underground railroad with a train.
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I just went through and cut about 70 books off my tbr. I need to be more honest with myself about whether I want to read a book because it actually appeals to me or because lots of other people are reading it. Lots of people liking a book isn't a bad thing, but it can't be the only reason I pick up a book and I think I've been doing that a lot, which is why I've had a run of dnf's recently.
Jackie I have that problem at times too.
I'm reading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. it seemed interesting and it was available to borrow as an audio Book so that's why I chose this book. I'm not sure what gets changed as of yet
I read The Marrow Thieves which I am hoping is NOT how our history will play out.I chose it because it was a Canada Reads book this year (why can't we ever pick happy books?) and I am hoping to read it to my class. It is a heavy book so hopefully maybe later in the year.
The author has made a dystopian future where the government is rounding up Indigenous people to use their genes to save the rest of the population, think residential schools.
It was REALLY good, very well written. I hope my class is mature enough to handle it.
I just finished reading Fahrenheit 451 for this prompt, but the more I've thought about it, the more I realize it's speculative fiction (not the same thing as alternate history - yeah, I feel a bit dumb now - haha). I'm going to have to do some research here & move Fahrenheit to the literary fiction prompt.
Jackie wrote: "Yeah I got about 8% into the ebook of Underground Railroad before DNF-ing it. I just was not feeling it. Ughhhh. I'm clearly in a mood where nothing is cutting it. I just went through and cut abo..."
I'm the same. I've read the first chapter and a little into the second but I'm not digging it so keep putting it down for something on my kindle. I feel like I should read it but I feel I'm going to give up again. I first tried Man in the High Castle and gave up on that too.
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I just went thro..."
It really took me a while before I got into it. I think the intro was a bit confusing and the writing choppy. Once the escape occurred (about 75 page in, I think?), I really got more into it. The writing style still isn't spectacular to me but I'm much more enthusiastic about picking it up.
Do time travel books count as alternate fiction? To Say Nothing of the Dog
Or what about vampires in Victorian England?
Soulless
While I love alternate history books they tend to be difficult to find. At least the ones that interest me tend to be difficult to find. The one I ended up with is His Majesty's Dragon.A fun little story that takes place during the Neoplatonic wars with dragons. The focus of the book is more on the relationship between the dragon and his surprised partner then the war, which was what I liked about it.
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Does The Gap of Time work for this? It seems like it could be considered an alternate history (although modern) for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
Okay, my reasoning that this works - just thinking out loud here. The book was written in 2015, but it's set in 2008 after the financial crisis. It's set in New Bohemia in America (a city in the US?) - so a place that didn't exist in actual history or now. (I think that right there is enough of a reason for it to work). Continuing my brain dump - it's Shakespeare's story set in the future (his future - modern times), but not in the author's (Winterson's) future, so it's an alternate reality of the original - like time travel. It makes sense in my mind. Unless someone points something out to me that I'm not understanding, I'm using it! haha I know that I can stretch prompts to fit the book I want, but I want to get it right, so I don't feel like I'm cheating (my own OCD). :) And if it's not right, at least I have justified it to myself. LOL!
If this one ends up not working, I'll probably read Radiance.
What are you reading for this category?I am reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Why did you choose this book?
I found this on the Best Alernate History list
What history element did the author change?
I'm not really sure. The synopsis only tells me that the main character is in a boarding school and is not really allowed any contact with the outside world, so I have no idea what's going on out there, but I'm excited to find out!
- What are you reading for this category?The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick- Why did you choose this book?
It is a classic in the genre, by an author I really like, and I hadn't gotten around to it.
- What history element did the author change?
The results of the second world war.
Ugh! My choices never fit the description of alternate history, as much as I want to justify them. Off to find a different book (in a good way - I want to do this prompt justice. :) ).
I think i might switch to His Majesty's Dragon for this one because I really need to get myself moving. UGH.
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Kerry, it looks like your book fits well!
Haha! Well thank you, Laura. I’ve been hearing so many recommend 11/22/63, that it seems like I just need to get over my hang up on the page count & read it already. 😂
Laura wrote: "Liz, I was just about to say your reasoning makes sense to me ;) I was also about to suggest 11/22/63 since it's beyond fantastic but then I saw you're currently reading it. So I'm going to slide o..."Thank you Laura! I was hoping it would. I am going to read that then.
I've just finished The Alteration
I chose it because I wanted something that wasn't about alternative winners to wars (WWII etc)
The book is set mostly in the mid 1970's. The main difference here is that the Protestant reformation didn't happen and Catholicism is a major influence/power in the western world, apart from in (the books version of) the USA which is a Protestant state. A Christian/Muslim 'cold war' is another feature early in the book. Science has not developed in the way we know (e.g electricity has been invented but is rarely used)
The book isn't really 'about' the alternative history, it's just the setting. The alteration in the title is a *cough* operation a young boy must have to ensure he retains his beautiful singing voice. He has no choice in this because of the power of the church/state.
Interesting also because it mentions other alternative history books such as The Man in the High Castle
- What are you reading for this category?The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - 3 stars
- Why did you choose this book?
It was the BOTM for this group. And I initially put something else for this category, but then I felt like it wasn't "historical" enough, so I changed it to this.
- What history element did the author change?
The metaphorical railroad that helped blacks escape slavery in the South is a real railroad in this book. Maybe it's just me but the change didn't have a whole lot of impact for me.
What are you reading for this category?Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
Why did you choose this book?
I already owned it. It was the perfect fit for this topic in the challenge.
What history element did the author change?
Several interconnecting main points:
* Lincoln was killed before his inauguration
* The Civil War was never fought
* Slavery is still legal in four states
What are you reading for this category?Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
Why did you choose this book?
I enjoyed the rest of the series.
What history element did the author change?
I do not believe that the Marquis de Lafayette was a vampire, but I could be wrong, lol.
- What are you reading for this category?The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
- Why did you choose this book?
I have been hearing about it for a while, and I like funny world building books on occasion
- What history element did the author change?
Quite a few - the Crimean War, a few things about France that were left mysterious
Emma wrote: "- What are you reading for this category?The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
- Why did you choose this book?
I have been hearing about it for a while, and I like funny w..."
And cheese smuggling out of the "Socialist Republic of Wales". They can get you a nice piece of Limburger. Friend price.
- What are you reading for this category?Making History, by Stephen Fry
Why did you choose this book?
I adore Stephen Fry, and thought I'd give his fiction books a go.
What history element did the author change?
What if Hitler had never been born?
- What are you reading for this category?11/22/63
- Why did you choose this book?
People kept telling me how great it was and that it WASN'T like a Stephen King novel.
- What history element did the author change?
The assassination of President Kennedy, although that is really a very small element in the overall story. I really enjoyed the side story more than Jake's efforts to stop Oswald.
I am considering reading Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally for this prompt. It's not what I originally considered an alternate history, like in 11/22/63, but he took things into his own hands & followed an atypical path to beat his cancer. It has the feel of altering history/the future from the "normal" way of fighting the disease (chemo).I need an opinion on this choice. I need to feel good about using the book for this category. If not, I'll do something else. haha!
I think that is an excellent choice, Liz, and I love when someone thinks outside the box and doesn't go so literal.
- What are you reading for this category?Farthing
- Why did you choose this book?
Originally I was going to read 11/22/63 but the last book I read was long and I didn't feel like I had the time to read another long book. I was looking at lists and found this book and it sounded interesting.
- What history element did the author change?
Instead of World War 2 happening Britain agreed to peace with Nazi Germany and Hitler stayed in control.
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50 % done with His Majesty's Dragon and struggling to stay engaged. I like the dragons, I'm not following the rest. BUT, I heard the ending was good so I'm hopeful it will pick upI could not decide on a book for this prompt! I read 11/22/ 63 last year so too soon for a reread. My original choice was The Yiddish Policemen's Union, but I wasn't sure if I would like it and I was looking for something quick and light so when I saw this one I thought it was my best shot at actually doing the prompt.
Its the Napoleonic Wars with dragons... but thats redundant in this thread I think.
Only one more to go after this!!!!!!
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Yiddish Policemen's Union (other topics)His Majesty's Dragon (other topics)
The Man in the High Castle (other topics)
Farthing (other topics)
Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jasper Fforde (other topics)Jasper Fforde (other topics)
Ben H. Winters (other topics)
Philip K. Dick (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
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I just read it and it definitely has alternate history elements: old west setting, but the war involves trenches and toxic gas (and unexplained frenchmen). Con: this is definitely not the main point of the graphic novel. This is a series that uses dark western-themed folklore to take an artistic look at life and death. It's not really about asking what the old west would have been like with WWI-era technology, although that does seem to be the case in this world.
Yea or nay?