Historical Fictionistas discussion
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2022 What Are You Reading?
I am reading A Sunlit Weapon
by Jacqueline Series. Book 17, but still love this series. The series started with during WWI and is now in 1942. Maisie Dobbs is one of my all time favorite characters. I highly recommend the series but start with book 1.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished A Testament of Character #10 Rowland Sinclair by Sulari Gentill. Also published under the title "Where There's A Will". Historica..."Very enjoyable series! I’m only on Book 7, but looking forward to the rest.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished A Testament of Character #10 Rowland Sinclair by Sulari Gentill. Also published under the title "Where There's A Will". Historica..."Already missing Rowly and friends :)
Alice wrote: "I am reading A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Series. Book 17, but still love this series. The series started with during WWI and is now in 1942. Ma..."Alice; Have only read up to #3. Agree this is a wonderful series I want to continue!
Diane wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished A Testament of Character #10 Rowland Sinclair by Sulari Gentill. Also published under the title "Where T..."Diane; Hope you enjoy your reading voyage with Rowly and company!
I enjoyed Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner, The Sympathizer, but the political and philosophical arguments got the better of me in his follow-up, The Committed. He's an excellent, smart writer - and funny (a Chinese guy called Le Cao Boi wishes he were American).
DNF @ 39% My comments on The Committed
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley is an entertaining debut by Sean Lusk which has some history, some mystery, some magic, and exotic locales (think sultan and harem!) so I can see a real fan base for this when it comes out in June.
3.5★ My review of Second Sight of Zachary...
Zipped through a quick reread of The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer and am starting A Recycled Marriage by Rosemary Mairs.
I’m reading Under the Light of the Italian Moon, a debut novel by Jennifer Anton. It’s set in a northern Italian village during the rise and reign of Benito Mussolini and fascism. I struggled to get into it at the start. But now one-fifth of the way in, it has me. Very good descriptive writing. I selected it from an item in the Historical Novels Review, and it’s been on my Goodreads “want to read” list for some time. Hope this is helpful. I enjoy reading all of your posts here.
I just started Glory Over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom for one of my book discussion groups. It follows The Kitchen House, which I had read a while ago.
Donna wrote: "I just started Glory Over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom for one of my book discussion groups. It follows The Kitchen House..."I recently read this one. I thought it was even better than The Kitchen House. Hope you like it as much as I and there is plenty for a book club to discuss!!
I really enjoy Jim Eldridge's Museum Mystery series. If you're a fan of historical mysteries, you'll want to check it out.My **** review of volume three in the series: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Zeba Blay's Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture is a passionate protest, full of examples, about the global culture of "colorism" and how the darkness of your skin decides your worth and opportunities. She knows her stuff! 
4★ My review of Carefree Black Girls
Chris wrote: "I just started The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. Her debut work from 1997."Chris; I'd forgotten that this author writes Tudor historical fiction. Read The Queen's Bastard back in 2012. Thought it dragged a little in the middle so rated it 3 stars. My review reminded me that I especially liked the historical details. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn!
Reading (second time, for a book club) The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Historical fiction set mainly in the 1940s. And I emphasize fiction because this is an imagined, not a true, account of the founding of the Jane Austen Society. An entertaining and often moving book, nevertheless.
Finished A Valiant Deceit #2 Olive Bright by Stephanie Graves. Historical mystery set in England during WWII. Rated 3.5 stars. In my opinionn better than #1 Olive Bright, Pigeoneer. Link to my short review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Paris Bookseller. It's a novel based on the life of Sylvia Beach, founder of the original Shakespeare & Co bookstore in Paris.
Abigail wrote: "A timely choice, Janice!"Thank you :) So far I am really enjoying it.
Where Serpents Sleep is number 4 in the engaging Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series. London 1812. Lord Devlin is teamed up with the daughter of Lord Jarvis, his nemesis. Full of action, history and humour. 
4.5★ My review of Where Serpents Sleep
Apeirogon, by award-winning Irish writer Colum McCann, is the remarkable and moving true story of two fathers, former enemies, working for peace. One is Israeli, one Palestinian. Both lost young daughters in the conflict. It is unbelievably beautifully done.
5★ My review of Apeirogon
Ashley Audrain's psychological thriller, The Push, caused a lot of stir and I wondered why. I knew there was a worn-out mother with young children, but I expected something more.
3★ My review of The Push
A new favourite Aussie thriller for my bookshelf! If you need more than my enthusiasm, Lee Child called Michael Trant's latest novel, Wild Dogs "Tough, fast and hard – my kind of book." It is also a completely authentic, Aussie outback story. I'm with Lee on this one.
5★ My review of Wild Dogs
I just finished West with Giraffes
by Lynda RutledgeIt is the real story of transporting the first giraffes from the east coast to San Diego Zoo in 1938. You get to know the characters really well and start rooting for the giraffes
Fun read
Based on a true story. A Korean orphan, a French diplomat. The King and Queen of Korea in 1890s.
A time and place I know very little about.
I’m reading the Tattoist of Auschwitz and The Book of Lost Names.
I couldn't resist sharing some of the verse and illustrations after enjoying a re-read of Madeline, the much-loved picture book and poem from 1939 by Ludwig Bemelmans. I can't recite all of it anymore, but I'm surprised how much I remember."In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. . ."
5★ My revisit to Paris with Madeline
Finished Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford. Historical fiction set in 1920's England. Rated 4 stars. Entertaining novel about the influence of the BBC after WWI. Link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Peggy: Thank you for putting Radio Girls on my radar screen, or should I make that air waves. And for such an excellent review that really helped introduce themes and the historical perspective — the birth of radio. In my view, this is an example of how sharing via this conversation thread, “What are you reading in 2022,” benefits us all. Thanks again.
Don wrote: "Peggy: Thank you for putting Radio Girls on my radar screen, or should I make that air waves. And for such an excellent review that really helped introduce themes and the historical perspective — t..."Thanks, Don. Learned a lot about BBC history and was entertained!
This past month I finished ....THE GIRLS by Emma Cline (great beginning but ultimately left me feeling like the story could have been much more, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett (intriguing premise, well written, but not quite up to the hype), THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn (a nice suprise, got more gripping as it went along and taught me new WW2-era details), and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid (entertaining enough, and a fun mix of social commentary and glamour, but definitely not as exciting as it's made out to be).
Now reading The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs, which I snaggled out of my Little Free Library because it had “bookshop” in the title. I’m so predictable.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I couldn't resist sharing some of the verse and illustrations after enjoying a re-read of Madeline, the much-loved picture book and poem from 1939 by Ludwig Bemelmans. ..."I love Madeline and it was my daughter's favourite book character when she was little. <3
Sarah wrote: "This past month I finished ....THE GIRLS by Emma Cline (great beginning but ultimately left me feeling like the story could have been much more, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett (intriguing premi..."I have all these books except for The Girls on my very very long TBR. :)
Abigail wrote: "Now reading The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs, which I snaggled out of my Little Free Library because it had “bookshop” in the title. I’m so predictable."Yep, the word bookshop would catch my attention too. :)
I am reading a very good Historical Cozy Murder at the Mena House
by Erica Ruth Neubauer. Set in 1926 Egypt. It won the 2021 Aggie award for best first novel. Love the characters and setting.
Ashley Marie wrote: "I'm past the halfway mark in Ruta Sepetys's The Fountains of Silence. This was an early DNF a few years ago because I wasn't enjoying the audiobook. It moves slowly regardless, but ..."Ruta is one of my favorites. Not only do I tend to enjoy her books, but I enjoy hearing her speak about her process. She is awesome!
Jenna wrote: "Ruta is one of my favorites. Not only do I tend to enjoy her books, but I enjoy hearing her speak about her process. She is awesome!"I enjoy her books very much! Glad I gave Fountains another shot because it was wonderful. I still need to read Out of the Easy and her newest release.
Alice wrote: "I am reading a very good Historical Cozy Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer. Set in 1926 Egypt. It won the 2021 Aggie awar..."Looking forward to your thoughts on this book, I have it on my TBR.
Just finished Sonallah Ibrahim's The Turban and the Hat, an account of the 1798-1801 French occupation of Egypt written from the perspective of a resident of Cairo. Really fascinating stuff.My **** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fascinating review, Sarah-Hope! Thank you for sharing it.
See Them Die, by Michael Fowler, introduces forensic psychologist Dr. Hamlet Mottrell, who is lying in a hospital bed with bandaged wrists, accused of slaughtering his family. Not a bad start for a new psychological mystery series
3★ My review of See Them Die
Maureen wrote: "Alice wrote: "I am reading a very good Historical Cozy Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer. Set in 1926 Egypt. It won the 2..."I really enjoyed it. Not a heavy read, but brings in Egyptian culture of the time with a good mystery
I got my hands on Kate Quinn's newest, The Diamond Eye, last night and of course I conked out after 25 pages (not the book's fault!!) If I had my way I would've blown through 100 pages before I fell asleep.
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Historical Fictionistas
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Ah, our mutually favourite series, Peggy! I hope she continues to write them.