The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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LISA MD'S TASK - IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME
Just to clarify: do the 2 books have to be from the same genre or different ones? So do I read 2 historical fiction novels one from 15th and one from 19th centuries, or can i read 1 historical fiction and 1 fiction novel? Or either, as long as they are from different time periods? Thanks!
Just checking that these are OK...Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
Against a Crimson Sky A Novel by James Conroyd Martin
Erin wrote: "Just to clarify: do the 2 books have to be from the same genre or different ones? So do I read 2 historical fiction novels one from 15th and one from 19th centuries, or can i read 1 historical fict..."They are both historical novels. They can be either fiction or non-fiction, whatever your preference. They have to be from different time periods or if they are close to the same time period, then they have to take place in different settings, like England and Japan.
Michelle wrote: "Just checking that these are OK...Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
Against a Crimson Sky A Novel by James Conroyd Martin"
They're good.
Lisa, what definition of "historical fiction" are you using for this task? Any book that was published in the 1800s would be considered historical fiction?
El wrote: "Lisa, what definition of "historical fiction" are you using for this task? Any book that was published in the 1800s would be considered historical fiction?"For this task, historical fiction is anything published or written about WWII and prior.
Here are some helpful links to blogs and book lists for historical fiction:http://www.passagestothepast.com/
http://tudordaughter.blogspot.com/
http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.co...
http://www.histfiction.net/
Lisa,Is it okay if I read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I'm not sure if it qualifies at HF but I know the main character is old and the book keeps jumping back to her childhood in india.
Are these historical fiction?The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
Confinement by Katharine McMahon
The Dante Trap by Arnaud Delalane
A Florentine Death by Michele Giuttari
or other books with murder took place in the past.
Ok, just want to clarify before I pick my books. For this task books do not have to technically be in the genre of historical fiction. They can be books written and published before WWII (set in the time period in which they were written - not historical fiction just fiction) or written after WWII but about a time period before WWII (this would technically be historical fiction-basically books set in an earlier time period than when they were written). Is that right?I usually don't read historical fiction because I am a historian and spend the whole time I am reading a book thinking that this probably didn't or couldn't happen historically speaking and it's stressful! So I would be really happy if I didn't have to read historical fiction (technically):) Does my question make sense? Sorry, just want to be clear.
Thanks:)
Tanja wrote: "I might do Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran for this task."That looks good, I've added it to my TBR.
Felina wrote: "Lisa,Is it okay if I read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I'm not sure if it qualifies at HF but I know the main character is old and the book keeps jumping back to her childhoo..."
Felina, I have this on my list to read for this challenge, but I don't think it fits the historical fiction task. I'm looking for books that predominantly take place in the past, which I've defined as WWII and prior. I can't find anything to indicate that this book meets this criteria. Sorry.
Melissa wrote: "Ok, just want to clarify before I pick my books. For this task books do not have to technically be in the genre of historical fiction. They can be books written and published before WWII (set in ..."Melissa, I was really looking for the genre of historical fiction for the time periods up to and including WWII. I was also allowing non-fiction for the same time period. My main intent is for readers to get a sense of different periods in history and choose between the two books they read, which time period they'd prefer to have lived in.
El asked about books publishing dates, which I had not thought about when making the task. If a book is published prior to WWII and reflects the time period it was written, then it should be okay. If it was published in the 1800's, but was a fantasy or science fiction, then it wouldn't count.
It would be helpful to ask yourself if you'd get a sense of being in a different time and place by reading this book. I hope this answers your question.
Lisa, there's a lot of GR Groups that discussed that very book. And the author herself answered questions. I've heard nothing but praise.I think the second one I'll do Innocent Traitor A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir. I have a fascination with Lady Jane Grey.
The Ester book I would love-love to read isn't available in stores. I have to order. Ug. But The Gilded Chamber A Novel of Queen Esther looks alright.
Shame Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn won't be published yet.
Nobody's Princess & Nobody's Prize I heard are pretty good as well.
Night wrote: "Are these historical fiction?The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
Confinement by Katharine McMahon
The Dante Trap by Arnaud Delalane
A Florentine..."</i>
<b>Yes, to [book:The Winter Queen and The Dante Trap. They are both historical thrillers taking place in the 19th and 18th century, respectively.
Confinement alternates between the 19th century and 1960 - 1990. I would prefer a book that primarily focuses on one time period, but I won't disallow this.
A Florentine Death does not specify a time period in my search for this book, but what I've read indicates the author was writing a fictionalized account of his time solving the Monster of Florence case, which took place from 1968 - 1985. So, I'm going to have to say no to this one.
Historical thrillers or murder mysteries are allowed. C.J. Sansom is a good author of historical thrillers that would fit this task.
I don't know if I'll get to this task, but if I do, the two I'm planning on are both by Robin Maxwell - Mademoiselle Boleyn (16th century Tudor England) and Signora Da Vinci (late 15th century Medici Florence).They both look really good - I might just re-arrange my books and fit these in.
Tanja wrote: "I might do Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran for this task."I really liked Cleopatra's daughter when I read it. And the atfterword gave a good overview of the historical facts and so was very interesting.
@ Jennifer L & PatriciaBoth of your choices look good. I know my TBR is going to grow off this thread, and it's already uncontrollable. Patricia, I found the second book in the Josephine series at Goodwill and really want to find the first book. I can't wait to hear what you think about it.
Lisa wrote: "@ Jennifer L & PatriciaBoth of your choices look good. I know my TBR is going to grow off this thread, and it's already uncontrollable. Patricia, I found the second book in the Josephine series..."
Thanks. A friend of mine read this series and absolutely loved it. I've been meaning to start them for a while now. Hopefully I get to this task. : )
Lisa wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Ok, just want to clarify before I pick my books. For this task books do not have to technically be in the genre of historical fiction. They can be books written and published befo..."Thanks, Lisa, for the clarification. Now I will look at my shelf and make choices:)
Lisa,Will you accept Saving Monticello The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House that Jefferson Built and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for my choices?
Sara☺ wrote: "Lisa,Will you accept Saving Monticello The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House that Jefferson Built and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for my choices?"
Yes to both. Saving Monticello looks interesting.
Lisa wrote: "Night wrote: "Are these historical fiction?The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
Confinement by Katharine McMahon
The Dante Trap by Arnaud Delalane
[book:A F..."
Thanks a lot, Lisa!
I will settle with Dante Trap and the Winter Queen for now. I may replace Dante Trap with Confinement if DT is a drag.
Lisa wrote: "Sara☺ wrote: "Lisa,Will you accept Saving Monticello The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House that Jefferson Built and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for my choice..."
Thanks Lisa! Saving Monticello is really great according to my husband ;-) He has been trying the last two weeks to help me find a place for it ;-)
Hi Lisa,I'm wondering if autobiography would be okay as a non-fiction option, or if it has to be history history. Specifically, I'm looking at The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, which seems like it would give me a pretty good sense of life in sixteenth-century Italy.
Thanks.
Katie wrote: "Hi Lisa,I'm wondering if autobiography would be okay as a non-fiction option, or if it has to be history history. Specifically, I'm looking at The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini..."
Looks good.
If only I could turn the pages of my books that fast! ;D
Tanja wrote: "Lisa, there's a lot of GR Groups that discussed that very book. And the author herself answered questions. I've heard nothing but praise.I think the second one I'll do [book:Innocent Traitor A..."
Innocent Traitor is an excellent book! This was the first book I read by Weir, and sinc then I've been searching out her books. They're so well researched and well written, they're a pleasure to read.
Night wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Night wrote: "Are these historical fiction?The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
Confinement by Katharine McMahon
The Dante Trap by Arnaud D..."
Ooh, I read The Winter Queen for the last challenge, and loved it! I'm hoping to read Portrait of an Unknown Woman and Aristocrats Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832 for this task, as they both cover different time periods. I assume those are ok?
Lisa wrote: "@ Jennifer L & PatriciaBoth of your choices look good. I know my TBR is going to grow off this thread, and it's already uncontrollable. Patricia, I found the second book in the Josephine series..."
My TBR will grow too! I love historical fiction.
Tanja wrote: I think the second one I'll do [book:Innocent Traitor A..."Sorry I missed this post earlier. I also plan on reading "Innocent Traitor" for this task. It's been sitting on my shelf for quite awhile.
Heidi wrote: I'm hoping to read Portrait of an Unknown Woman and Aristocrats Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832 for this task, as they both cover different time periods. I assume those are ok?
Heidi, they both look good. I added "Portrait of an Unknown Woman" to my TBR.
Leigh, Lady Jane Grey is absolutely fascinating. Ever seen the movie? That's great Lisa! We'll compare notes.
Lisa wrote: "Tanja wrote: I think the second one I'll do [book:Innocent Traitor A..."Sorry I missed this post earlier. I also plan on reading "Innocent Traitor" for this task. It's been sitting on my shelf..."
Thanks a lot, Lisa. Sorry to add to your TBR...
I've added Portrait of an Unknown Woman to my TBR list as well. This thread is adding many books to my list! Thanks, Lisa, for the great task.
Just to double-check that these two would work:A Company of Swans which I beleve takes place in early 20th century in England and
To Kill a Mockingbird
Thanks!
Patricia wrote: "I was thinking maybe the following:The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.
I, Claudius"
Patricia -- I really liked The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.!
I think I'm going to finish the series by reading the third book in this trilogy,
The Last Great Dance on Earth for this task
I LOVE this task as historical fiction has always been one of my best loved reading genres.
I'm glad to hear that many of you like historical fiction as much as I do. I especially like reading it in the winter months.
Okay, I thought I would try two that I have already own, so let me know if they work. A Great and Terrible Beauty and
A Song for Summer
Tara wrote: "Okay, I thought I would try two that I have already own, so let me know if they work. A Great and Terrible Beauty and
A Song for Summer"
Perfect! So glad you don't have to beg, borrow or buy books for this task. ;P
Lisa, would The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet work for your task?Tara- A Great and Terrible Beauty is really a good book!
Kristina Marie wrote: "Lisa, would The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet work for your task?Tara- A Great and Terrible Beauty is really a good book!"
It would work.
I am excited to get it in! I have been wanting to read it for a while.
I'm planning to use Land Girls by Angela Huth and Wideacre by Philippa Gregory for this task.I adore historical fiction so I was really excited to see this task!
Would the American Civil War and one of Jane Austen's novels be set far enough apart? I was to read The Widow of the South... Thanks!
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (other topics)Against a Crimson Sky (other topics)
Against a Crimson Sky (other topics)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (other topics)
Mark of the Lion (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Manda Scott (other topics)Manda Scott (other topics)
Mary Stewart (other topics)
Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Philippa Gregory (other topics)
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Read (2) Historical Books, Fiction Or Non-Fiction, From Different Time Periods Or Settings, Then Briefly Tell Which Time Period You Would Have Preferred To Live In. (For Purposes Of This Task, I Will Define A Historical Novel As Anything Taking Place Up To And Including WWII.)
If you need suggestions for books to read for this task post a request here.