Historical Fictionistas discussion
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2023 - What Are You Reading?
I also just started readingThe Good Wife of Bath
One of us recommended a different book by the author but my library did not have that one and I took this one out. It is quite entertaining.
It's a wild ride on the coattails of ghosts and ghouls, swept along by Sri Lankan winds, in The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, by 2022 Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka. More than half of my review is quotes, so there's more of his writing than mine. 😊 
5★ My review of The Seven Moons...
I am reading Crimson Angel
by Barbara Hambly. Set in 1838 New Orleans and Haiti. Book 13 in the Benjamin January series. One of my favorite series. Very well written. Start with book one Free Man of Color.
I finished The Favored Child by Phillipa Gregory. This was bk#2 of her debut Wideacre trilogy written in the late 1980's.Started The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Historical fiction written in 2012 about the ballet girls of the Paris Opera & Degas.
Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Rosh; Great review! I agree that really good Audio narration can improve a reader's enjoyment of certain novels :)"Thanks, Peggy. True - some stories just work better on audio. :)
The Illusions by Liz Hyder
Historical fiction with a dash of magic. By far, my best read of June 2023, and one of my favourite reads of this year so far.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Michael Trant brings rural and outback Western Australia to life again with his latest thriller No Trace. Terrific audio - loved it!(
My review of No TraceThe audio edition hasn't been added to Goodreads yet, but it's out there.
For a few minutes of thought-provoking fun, have a (free) read of Andy Weir's couple of pages about 'Life" and the meaning thereof. I really enjoyed The Egg and added a link to where you can read it. 
My review of The Egg
Just finished Red Bones by Ann Cleeves, the third of her crime/thriller/police series set in the Shetland Islands. The series is the basis for the Prime/Britbox’s show Shetland. She captures very well the language, people and culture of the islands. A slow developing read but it grabs you at the start and keeps you in the game til the end. The capital of Lerwick was a jumping off point in my historical novel, A Coat Dyed Black, about the Norwegian Resistance during World War II. I stopped there while on a May trip. Its rocky, barren, grass & moss landscape makes one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. I would recommend her books and the TV series.
Don wrote: "Just finished Red Bones by Ann Cleeves, the third of her crime/thriller/police series set in the Shetland Islands. The series is the basis for the Prime/Britbox’s show Shetland. She captures very w..."Which is the first book in the series? Should they be read in order or do the novels stand alone?
Rachel: I am a chronological guy, so I prefer to start with the first in a series. Usually, there’s a thread of a continuing saga. But this time, I jumped into No. 3 because it was the National Sons of Norway Book Club’s selection and I wanted to participate. This was my first read of the series. So I’ll move back to No. 1 for my next read. Hope all this verbiage was helpful to you. Don
After reading
and falling in love with the book, I tried to settle to another book last night, started two, and neither hit the spot. So I've just bought
by the same author (Laura Purcell) to see if lightening can strike twice.
Finished The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Belle Epoque era in Paris and the three van Goethem sisters, the Paris Opera, ballet, Degas, the bonds of sisterhood, falls and redemption and the realistic life of those living in poverty.
Rachel wrote: "The English PatientI started this today and am enjoying it so far."
Oh, it hadn't registered that the film (late 1990s) was from a book. It makes sense really.
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
An OwnVoices historical fiction focussing on the Vietnamese experience during the war. Mostly great.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
That sounds like a good read. I am putting it on my wish list at the library. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
The Girl in the Painting is a dual timeline historical fiction by Indian author Renita D'Silva set in England during WWI and India in the 1920s. It has romance, mystery, betrayal and heartache. It also covers issues such as the caste system and the custom of Sate (suttee) of Indian brides being burnt on the funeral pyres with their husband. A captivating read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review
The Chocolate Tin by Australian author Fiona McIntosh is a historical fiction set in Yorkshire in 1910s featuring wealthy Alexandra who wishes to escape the confines of her family's expectations and find romance and a career. Here is my review
Barren Grounds by AA B. Michael Radburn was a good read but didn't grab me as much as his other books, only because I didn't believe the ending, BUT I reckon it could be made into a terrific film or TV series. It has all the right elements.
My review of Barren Grounds
I am reading Ripples in Time
by Julie McElwain. Set in 1832 England. Time travel book. I really like this series because it shows the struggles of a modern day woman and how they would cope living in the 1800s.
Rachel wrote: "The Chocolate Tin by Australian author Fiona McIntosh is a historical fiction set in Yorkshire in 1910s featuring wealthy Alexan..."Would you say this is more a historical romance than hist fiction?
Rachel wrote: "That sounds like a good read. I am putting it on my wish list at the library. Thanks for bringing it to my attention."Most welcome, Rachel. Happy reading. :)
A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales
A mostly agreeable debut parody of regency-era historical mysteries. Will click better if you don't apply too much logic while reading. It's a light entertainer.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pippa wrote: "Rachel wrote: "The Chocolate Tin by Australian author Fiona McIntosh is a historical fiction set in Yorkshire in 1910s featuring..."Yes you’re right romance is probably the dominant element and the book is fairly light and fluffy although I guess still sets the scene and feel of its place and time.
Elianne is a sweeping dual timeline family drama by Australian author Judy Nunn, set in rural Queensland on the sugar plantations in the 1880s and 1960s. When Kate finds her grandmother’s diaries everything the family believes about itself is shaken up. This book takes in the Vietnam war, importation of Pacific Islanders to work the plantation, the white Australia policy and more. Here is ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
The Misremembered Man by Irish author Christina McKenna is partially a humorous story of two people looking for love and companionship, and partially a harrowing tale of abuse and mistreatment of a child growing up in a Catholic orphanage. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a zany madcap adventure of a historical fantasy romcom by New Zealand author India Holton set in Victorian England. It features pirates, assassins, flying houses and posh but feisty tea-drinking ladies. Here is my review
Dem wrote: "Finished A Hundred Sweet Promises
.My review: www.Goodreads.com/review/show/5625777402"
One Hundred Sweet Promises sounds fascinating. I just asked my library to purchase the Kindle version.
Janice wrote: "Sandition by Jane Austen"Ah, that story had so much promise. If only she had been able to complete it before her death.
Finished River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard. Historical Non-Fiction. Rated 4 stars. Fascinating read. Link to my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Edited to add that I very much enjoyed the Audio Narration by Paul Michael.
I am reading the latest in the Lady Darby series. A Fatal Illusion
by Anna Lee Huber. Always good to return to our friends. Sebastian and Kiera. This is book 11 in the series. She has kept it interesting.
Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard. Historical Non-Fiction. Rated 4 stars. Fascinati..."That does sound like a very informative and interesting book.
Rachel wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard. Historical Non-Fiction..."Thanks; Rachel. If you click on the title and scroll down there are numerous informative reviews :)
This very short, gentle story shows how two cultures bond over an old Native American. The Man to Send Rain Clouds by Leslie Marmon Silko is free online and I loved it.
My review of The Man to Send Rain Clouds with a link to the story online.
In the 1920s, London's dance halls, with their young 'hostesses', were the
Shrines of Gaiety
that Kate Atkinson showcases here. Crime, bent cops, girls as playthings to be cast aside. What a story.
My review of Shrines of Gaiety
The Mountains Sing is a powerful story by Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, a broad-sweeping historical fiction that follows the Trần family through the French occupation, the Japanese invasion of 1945, the Great Hunger, the Land Reforms, the First Indochina war (1946–1954) between the Việt Minh and the French, and the Việt Nam War. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "In the 1920s, London's dance halls, with their young 'hostesses', were the Shrines of Gaiety that Kate Atkinson showcases here. Crime, bent cops, girls as playthings ..."This one sounds like it checks my boxes and am going to read it soon.
The Untold by Australian author Courtney Collins is an historical fiction that could be called an Australian Western or even Australian Noir. It is an imaginative retelling of the story of bush ranger Jessie Hickman born in 1890, who escaped to the bush after killing her husband. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review
Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Sandition by Jane Austen"Ah, that story had so much promise. If only she had been able to complete it before her death."
I agree! I feel that I would have loved it. :)
Mo wrote: "Just cracking into World Without End by Ken Follett"I have three of his books: Winter of the World, Fall of Giants, and A Column of Fire. I haven't read these yet, but hope to soon. Have you read any of these books? :)
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "In the 1920s, London's dance halls, with their young 'hostesses', were the Shrines of Gaiety that Kate Atkinson showcases here. Crime, bent cops, girls as playthings ..."Great review! I hope to read this at some point in time! :) The life of a reader is too many books and when to read them all! It's the life for me! :)
Rachel wrote: "The Mountains Sing is a powerful story by Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, a broad-sweeping historical fiction that fol..."Wonderful review! I love dual timelines and following a family over generations. If it is similar to Pachinko, I know I will love it!
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. This is a reread, and I am reading it for the Jane Austen July group. :)
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Historical Fictionistas
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Heart-warming for book lovers, and enjoyable as long as you don't overanalyse it.
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Rosh; Great review! I agree that really good Audio narration can improve a reader's enjoyment of certain novels :)