What are you reading? 2024 Version

[Nathan]

Currently I’m reading All the Children Are Home, and The Kite Runner. Two very well written Historic Fiction books, you’ve probably read “The Kite Runner” since it’s very popular in this genre, but “All the Children Are Home” isn’t very well known. If you like family/historic fiction books I’d read this one for sure!

[Sarah]

Just finished the second book to this awesome duet. My Review for The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

In Sickness and In Health / Yom Kippur in a Gym by Nora Gold

Two amazing Jewish novellas in one flip book. Enjoyed this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

I’m reading Dovetails in Tall Grass by Samantha by Samantha Specks. I love the way the novel alternates from the point of view of two young women, one of whom is a white settler and the other a Dakota Indian. Both of them are struggling to find their own identity and pursue a lifestyle to their own liking in spite of the limitations on women in two very different patriarchal cultures. One wants to be a teacher and the other a healer. I haven’t yet reached the terrible conflict between the Dakota and the settlers, but I’m anxious to see how these two young women handle the terrible challenges of war between their two peoples.Dovetails in Tall Grass

[Alice]

I finished an excellent book The First Ladies by Marie Bennedict.
Book goes from 1927 through 1945. Main characters are Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Bethune (early civil right leader) and FDR. Interesting interaction between the 3 and a wonderful look back to history.

[PattyMacDotComma]

August 25, 1983 is a surreal short story by the Argentinian master, Jorge Luis Borges. A dream within a dream? Read it - it's intriguing!
My review of August 25, 1983 with links to the story online

[Sarah]

Sometimes a good sappy romance just hits the spot and this one was all of that and more. I adored The Seven Year Slip —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barb]

I'm reading The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson. I've never read a book by this author.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Finished Silent in the Grave #1 Lady Julia Grey by Deanna Raybourn. Historical mystery set in Victorian London. Rated 4 stars. Looking forward to continuing this series.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Barb wrote: "I'm reading The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson. I've never read a book by this author."

Please let us know if you enjoy this novel. This is the only title of her's that my library has for Kindle & Audio.

[Diane]

EEK! Not enough time to read every wonderful recommendation here!!!!

[Thomas]

I watched Marlowe on Amazon Prime. It is based on the book The Black-Eyed Blonde by Benjamin Black a pen name of John Banville. I liked the movie and thought that it was true to the book. My review of the book https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It was filmed in Spain and Ireland.

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green

A novel-in-verse set during the 1989 protests in Berlin. I didn't find the poetic elements impressive but the story is good.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny It is set in Quebec, Canada, at the end of the Covid pandemic. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Ah, Ireland and a new Tana French mystery! Retired Chicago cop Cal Hooper can't avoid trouble, even in a foreign rural village. The Hunter is a follow-up to The Searcher and equally excellent as a standalone.
My review of The Hunter

[PattyMacDotComma]

This children's picture book about a resourceful young Syrian refugee boy was originally an award-winning short film. Adnan: The boy who helped his mummy remember by Mark Arrigo retells the story for kids with atmospheric artwork.
My review of Adnan: The boy... with several of the illustrations and links to some film info

[Tiziana]

Just finished to read The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley



It's a YA fiction set in 1673 France at King Louis XIV court. The story was interesting but I admit I expected something more adventurous and exciting.
Here is my 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tammy]

Rereading before donating Cajun byElizabeth Nell Dubus

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Finished Evan and Elle #4 Constable Evans by Rhys Bowen. Rated 3 stars. Charming contemporary mystery series set in Wales.

[Barbara]

Alice wrote: "I finished an excellent book The First Ladies by Marie Bennedict.
Book goes from 1927 through 1945. Main characters are Eleanor Roosevelt, Mar..."
Thanks so much for bringing this book to my attention. It sounds like the type of historical fiction that I love, a story based on real historical material about women who not only faced difficulties in their personal lives but also challenged the social injustices of their epoch.

[Thomas]

I read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles It is historical fiction based on an actual group of women who volunteered to go to northern France in 1917. I recommend it. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Just finished Dovetails in Tall Grass by Samantha Specks. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was anxious to find out how the two young women (one a white settler and the other a Dakota Indian) would navigate the terrible conflict between their two peoples. For me, the details of the 1862 war were deeply disturbing (my ancestors who settled in Minnesota in this epoch), but the way in which some of the characters were able to recognize the humanity of the enemy in spite of horrific acts of violence committed by both sides, was heart-warming. Highly recommended.

[Tammy]

Just starting to read The Forgotten Kingdom bySigne Pike I love this series

[Christine]

Completed The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck | audiobook read by Cassandra Campbell |

After their defeat in WWII, three women find themselves sharing an old castle while they try to rebuild their lives and as they struggle to confront their choices and behaviors before, during and after the war. A fresh and interesting perspective that I haven’t previously seen written about within this historical setting.

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

The Attic Child by Lola Jaye

Enjoyed this amazing dual-timeline story. It taught me many new things.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Finished The Case of the Missing Marquess #1 Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer. Delightful Young Adult historical mystery with Sherlock Holmes' 14 year old as the main character. Excellent Audio narration by Katherine Kellgren. Rated 4 stars.

[Thomas]

I read Lightning Strikes the Silence: A Lane Winslow Mystery by Iona Whishaw It is set in 1948 British Columbia, Canada. It is book 11 in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sarah]

Finished Part of Your World last night. Just a feel good read —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

What a wild pair these disreputable, scruffy Irishmen are, waiting in Algeciras, Spain, for the Night Boat to Tangier, looking for one's daughter, Dilly, who took off for the continent three years ago. Terrific Irish lilt to the sound of them as they search.
My review of Night Boat to Tangier

[Tiziana]

I read An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton

This is an adventure-mystery with a lot of action, set in 1715 England and Scotland. We find a humorous part, but also a dramatic part that evolves between Jacobite revolts, espionage, arrogant aristocrats, "femme fatale", thieves, whores and deep feelings linked to family and true friends

Here is my 3.7 stars ( rounded up to 4 ) review :

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sofia]

I'm reading Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati - don't think it really qualifies as historical fiction, but I'm hoping to get an advanced copy of Daughters of Shandong which I'm super excited about!

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

The Guild Master's Daughter by Geneva Price

An interesting indie historical fantasy.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

Hannah Rose Thomas, a humanitarian activist and artist, has created a beautiful, moving tribute to the women who are always the victims in wars. The stories in Tears of Gold: Portraits of Yazidi, Rohingya, and Nigerian Women should go around the world.
My review of Tears of Gold with several of their haunting photographs

[PattyMacDotComma]

Not only did I enjoy (as expected) The Last Devil to Die, British author Richard Osman's fourth outing with his Thursday Murder Club, but I was impressed with how sensitively he handled some very moving scenes. Wonderful!
My review of The Last Devil to Die

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

An interesting historical fiction set in the Bethnal Green library during WWII.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sofia]

I recently finished The Moor's Account and The Dance Tree and they were fantastic.

[Margaret]

I’m reading Demon Copperhead

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

The Bookseller's Wife by Jane Davis

A literary historical fiction. Will work for those who enjoy character-driven storytelling and a realistic setting.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett It is set in Bangkok, post 9-11. I enjoyed it my 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Margaret]

[ book:Demon Copperhead]

[Sarah]

Awesome premise but the romance didn’t hold up for me on The Dead Romantics—> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

A Kind of Madness by Uché Okonkwo

The first great short story collection of the year. Loved this amazing Nigerian work.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tiziana]

A lovely regency romance set in Vienna. It's installment #3 in the Imperial Season series ( all books set in 1814 at the well known Congress of Vienna )

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster

Here is my 4.6 ( rounded up to 5 stars ) review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[PattyMacDotComma]

I seem to be tuned into Max Porter's unusual storytelling. Grief is the Thing with Feathers could be a tear-jerker, but isn't. Crow is a raucous, wacky crow-on-the-wall (and often in-the-face) companion to Dad and the two young sons.

Outstanding.
My review of Grief is The Thing With Feathers

[Liza]

Recently finished What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. If you like time travel romance like Outlander or The Winter Sea, this will be right up your alley.

[Sarah]

Definitely a buzzy book this month, I’ve seen it all over social media Listen for the Lie was a quick read. Could’ve used some more creepy elements but overall it was good. —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Rednecks by Taylor Brown It is an excellent historical reconstruction of the coal miners struggle to unionize in 1920-21 and subsequent battle of Blair Mountain. My 4.5 star review, rounded up https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chris]

I finished Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. 5 star WWII HF read based on true events set in Italy.

[Barbara]

Rosh (is busy; will catch up soon!) wrote: "A Kind of Madness by Uché Okonkwo

The first great short story collection of the year. Loved this amazing Nigerian work.
htt..."
Thanks so much for suggesting this book. Sounds like a great chance to explore life in a different culture, both universal human themes and challenging situations that are particular to that culture. I will order it!

[Barbara]

Recently finished the historical novel 'Til All these things be done by Suzanne Moyers. The author does an excellent job bringing to life the epoch and place (rural Texas in the early twentieth century). The lively, rebellious heroine, Leola, faces difficult challenge as she endeavors to protect her siblings and herself after her father’s disappearance. Friendships with other women help sustain her, and she also reaches out to help others, overcoming the bigoted social views of her epoch.’Til All These Things Be Done: A Novel