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This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 15: Read a Book of Historical Fiction Set Before 1900.

A few resources to get you started:

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I've put down for this, from what I can tell it should meet the requirements..

I am planning on The Golem and the Jinni which is set in 1899.

I'm very curious about The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth, which got nominated for a bunch of awards and which I purchased on sale. It's set in England right after the Norman Conquest. But if I get bogged down with that, I'll try The Physician by Noah Gordon. It's long enough to count for a book over 500 pages, it's the first in a trilogy so if I like it I have more to read, and it was recently recommended to me by a relative. It takes place in the 11th century.

For this task I plan on reading Wolf Hall. This one has been on my TBR pile for awhile.

I am going to read -done

I'm excited for this one as I adore historical fiction. It'll be hard to choose but I think I'll read The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman.

I'm excited for this one as I adore historical fiction. It'll be hard to choose but I think I'll read The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman.

I'm excited for this one as I adore historical fiction. It'll be hard to choose but I think I'll read The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman.

Cheryl wrote: "I am going to read or ."

The Book Thief won't count: it's set during the 20th Century.

Maybe A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel. I read Wolf Hall back in 2010 or 2011, but want to wait for the conclusion before I pick it up again...

I recommend The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell, which I read earlier this year and loved. The edition I bought also had an interesting little essay at the back on writing historical fiction.

I've had Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on my TBR for a loooong time. Set in the 18th century, and might double as a horror...

Going to read The Virgin's War by Laura Andersen when it comes out.

Allie wrote: "I've had Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on my TBR for a loooong time. Set in the 18th century, and might double as a horror..."

I loved Perfume: The Story of a Murderer! I hope you enjoy it.

I will apply Middlemarch because I'm currently reading it, but Ivanhoe, which is also on my To-Read shelf, could work as well.

I have a few options on my shelves for this. Prehaps.... The Song of Achilles but maybe also The Marriage of Opposites or Epitaph - so many possibilities

Rainey wrote: "For this task I plan on reading Wolf Hall. This one has been on my TBR pile for awhile."

I loved Wolf Hall -- I actually had it on audio and it was really good -- and had to read Bring Up the Bodies, now I'm anxiously awaiting the publication of The Mirror and the Light . Wonderful series :)

Trudie wrote: "I have a few options on my shelves for this. Prehaps.... The Song of Achilles ..."

I loved the song of Achilles. If you read it I hope you find it as memorable as I did.

Dom wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I am going to read or ."

The Book Thief won't count: it's set during the 20th Century."

Sh^t...thanks for letting me know. I took it from a goodreads list without double checking.

I was thinking either Beloved or Wolf Hall for this one.

Longbourn or Death Comes to Pemberley for me...

Jo wrote: "Longbourn or Death Comes to Pemberley for me..."

Death Comes to Pemberley has been on my TBR list for a looooong time. I'm so glad you mentioned this! Definitely my choice for this category.

Bea wrote: "I am planning on The Golem and the Jinni which is set in 1899."
That was my favorite book that I read last year. I had a book hangover for days and went to New York shortly after finishing it, it made the experience even better.

How about Diana Gabaldon's Outlander? Parts of it are set in the 1900s, though... Is it necessary to read all the books in English? I've been wanting to read Perfume: The story of a murderer for ages, but since it's originally written in German, I feel like it would be a bit backwards for me to read the translation...

Lucia wrote: "How about Diana Gabaldon's Outlander? Parts of it are set in the 1900s, though... Is it necessary to read all the books in English? I've been wanting to read Perfume: The story of a murderer for ag..."

Almost all of Outlander is in the past so I think it's fine. And reading in another language is ok, I've done it with French.

Robin wrote: "Lucia wrote: "How about Diana Gabaldon's Outlander? Parts of it are set in the 1900s, though... Is it necessary to read all the books in English? I've been wanting to read Perfume: The story of a m..."
Awesome :D thanks a lot

Thoughts on The Red Tent? It's been on my shelf and my TBR list for a while. Would rather read Ramayana for the "book about religion" category.

can someone tell me if the new Alexander Chee novel, The Queen of the Night, is set before 1900?

I'm going to read either "Longbourn" by Jo Baker or one of Karen Maitland's medieval thrillers... "The Owl Killers" or "The Company of Liars", both set in the 1300's...

Abbie wrote: "Thoughts on The Red Tent? It's been on my shelf and my TBR list for a while. Would rather read Ramayana for the "book about religion" category."

I read it last year and really enjoyed it--it would also work great in the feminist book category.

Jaleenajo wrote: "Abbie wrote: "Thoughts on The Red Tent? It's been on my shelf and my TBR list for a while. Would rather read Ramayana for the "book about religion" category."

I read it l..."

It's an interesting book, especially the first half - but the feminist category is for non-fiction. Still, The Red Tent could go under historical novel or religion or set in the Middle East.

Karin wrote: "can someone tell me if the new Alexander Chee novel, The Queen of the Night, is set before 1900?"

According to this review, the setting is 1882:

More questions: does it still count if it was *written* before the 1900s? It should, right?

Lucia wrote: "More questions: does it still count if it was *written* before the 1900s? It should, right?"

Yes, but there has to be a significant distance between the time the book was written and the time it is set. The book would have had to be considered historical fiction when it was written. For example, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens does not count. It was contemporary when it was published.

Do you think Little Women would count for this one? I know the dates are right. However, is it considered historical fiction since it was written around the same time period?

Kelly wrote: "Do you think Little Women would count for this one? I know the dates are right. However, is it considered historical fiction since it was written around the same time period?"

That's basically what I was wondering, too...

I'm thinking of something a little less conventional that I am reading for a different group challenge next year...

To Say Nothing of the Dog

Emma wrote: "I've put down for this, from what I can tell it should meet the requirements.."

That's what I was thinking of reading as well! :)

thank you Bea for the year on the Queen of the Night!

My favorite genre! I am reading Glory over Everything by Kathleen Grissom, the seqel to The Kitchen House which was the favorite book I read last year. Can't wait til it comes out in May.

Kelly wrote: "Do you think Little Women would count for this one? I know the dates are right. However, is it considered historical fiction since it was written around the same time period?"

My understanding is that historical fiction should be written at least 50 years after the story it tells. Dickens did write Barnaby Rudge and A Tale of Two Cities that were historical to his era but his other books weren't. Little Women was contemporary.

Robin wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Do you think Little Women would count for this one? I know the dates are right. However, is it considered historical fiction since it was written around the same time period?"

My und..."

Thanks for the clarification. This is a new genre for me so I wasn't positive. Looks like that will have to just be an extra on my reading list this year.

Robin wrote: "Jaleenajo wrote: "Abbie wrote: "Thoughts on The Red Tent? It's been on my shelf and my TBR list for a while. Would rather read Ramayana for the "book about religion" categ..."

Thank you! I'll keep it in mind for all three categories and see what happens!

I've started on A Place of Greater Safety and am absolutely loving it (Mantel is a favorite of mine). My plan is to read it down to 95% within the week, and then finish it on January 1, so it will count for 2016. I usually do this every year -- pick 3 or 4 books and read them almost all the way through during the week between Christmas & New Year's Eve, then spend New Year's Day finishing them so I get off to a strong start on my yearly reading goal. Yes, I live an exciting life, I know!

If I'm feeling ambitious enough I'd like to go for Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann. Some other possibilities are Satan in Goray by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Katherine by Anya Seton, or Anthony Burgess's Napoleon Symphony: A Novel in Four Movements or Nothing Like the Sun.

Just starting this challenge. Read first book today - "The Anatomist's Apprentice" by Tessa Harris. I have read better historical fiction, but the storyline was written well enough that it kept me interested through the whole book. It is a mystery, set in England in the late 18th Century.

I'll be reading The Winter Queen. I've been meaning to forever, so no more excuses.

Bobby wrote: "If I'm feeling ambitious enough I'd like to go for Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann. Some other possibilities are Satan in Goray by [author:Isaac Bash..."

I've got Joseph and His Brothers pegged as a potential for the "book about religion" too...

I'm going to read Burial Rites by Hannah Kent for this task.

Deera wrote: "I'm going to read Burial Rites by Hannah Kent for this task."

This is one of my favorite books! Such a good choice... so moving and atmospheric... I hope you enjoy it.

Karen wrote: "Deera wrote: "I'm going to read Burial Rites by Hannah Kent for this task."

This is one of my favorite books! Such a good choice... so moving and atmospheric... I hope you enjoy it."

Thanks!