ŷ

Historical Fictionistas discussion

note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
726 views
Ancient History (Old Threads) > 2017: What are you reading?

Comments Showing 1-50 of 1,704 (1704 new)    post a comment »
« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 34 35

message 1: by Jackie (new)

Jackie (thenightowl) | 2033 comments Tell us.. what are you reading now?

Please remember to link the book and author whenever possible. If you can't use html, simple type the book title with the author. This helps members interested in your reads find them easily :)


message 2: by Jasmine, Gatekeeper of Giveaways. (new)

Jasmine | 1413 comments Mod
Currently reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. I'm really enjoying it.


message 3: by Kendra (new)

Kendra (kendrareadsbooks) | 4 comments I'm reading book #1in the bregdan chronicles, Storm Clouds Rolling In by Ginny Dye. Set during Civil War and I'm enjoying it as of now. Happy new year!


message 4: by Beth (new)

Beth Sponzilli (bethsponzilli) The Nightinggale by Kristin Hannah, finally!


Jayme(theghostreader) (jaymetheghostreader) | 3105 comments I read that book Beth. I loved it. I finished Christmas Caramel Murder and started I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings


message 6: by Jessica (new)

Jessica (longlivelibraries) | 118 comments Jasmine wrote: "Currently reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. I'm really enjoying it."

His King Arthur trilogy is excellent. I loved it.


message 7: by NayNay (new)

NayNay I'm reading Mariana by Susanna Kearsley Mariana by Susanna Kearsley


message 8: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) Long Man by Amy Greene Long Man � Amy Greene � 4****
Greene delivers a riveting story that explores the question: What cost, progress? The Dodson’s loss of their home is representative of the hundreds of families displaced by such projects. The novel is peopled with strong characters, with tangled relationships. Their competing loyalties are what made the decisions so difficult: to stay or to go, to delay or to embrace change
LINK to my review


message 9: by Patricia (new)

Patricia | 85 comments A Grave Matter. Third in the series. Trying to finish a few series this new year.


message 10: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) | 781 comments Reading a family saga that begins in Scotland in 1914 and spans several generations. It’s by Jacqueline Wales: When the Crow Sings. Well written so far, though I’m not loving the people.


message 11: by PattyMacDotComma (new)

PattyMacDotComma | 1276 comments I decided to start 2017 by setting aside a crime novel and re-reading the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, a master of the English language.

That was a 5star idea if there ever was one! It was better than I remembered - so deliciously descriptive.

My review for 5� - the story, I mean, not the review :)
/review/show...


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

Just finished The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran - enjoyed it.

About to start Victoriaby Daisy Goodwin. The miniseries starts in two weeks. I need to read it.


message 13: by Zoe (new)

Zoe Radley | 735 comments I am reading evil under the sun by Agatha Christie as recently am wanting to read and acquire all of hercule poirot mysteries lol yes I know bookshelves will be tight but who needs empty shelves right?? lol


message 14: by Margaret (new)

Margaret Crampton (cramptonmargaret) | 8151 comments I'm
Reading [book: The kitchen boy: A novel of the last czar


message 15: by Margaret (new)

Margaret Crampton (cramptonmargaret) | 8151 comments I'm reading [book: The kitchen boy: a novel of the last Tsar by Robert Alexander


message 16: by Jasmine, Gatekeeper of Giveaways. (new)

Jasmine | 1413 comments Mod
I love Robert Alexander. I wish he would write another book


message 17: by Dem (new)

Dem | 266 comments Finished and enjoyed Corrag Corrag by Susan Fletcher
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357


message 18: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 82 comments Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Both excellent reads.


message 20: by Meri (new)

Meri (aussie_bookworm) | 70 comments Christina- be interested to know what you think of Victoria when you have finished it. Nearly bought it recently but a bit too much money.


message 21: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Faubert | 5 comments I just finished Cézanne's Quarry by Barbara Pope. I'm on the fence about it, interesting premise, time and place, but the writing was wooden.

I returned to a Québécois novel, Métis Beach by C. Bourbonnais, hoping to finish it this time. It's pretty big. Story of a controversial screenwriter looking back on his life in the USA through the 60s-70s-80s. A bit laborious but lively.


message 22: by Stacey (new)

Stacey (slkenn79) | 72 comments Dem wrote: "Finished and enjoyed CorragCorrag by Susan Fletcher
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357"


I need to get to this, was supposed to read it last year!


message 23: by Stacey (new)

Stacey (slkenn79) | 72 comments I am reading The Wonder ... still settling into it at this point.


message 24: by Crystal (new)

Crystal King (crystallyn) | 1 comments I just finished Fräulein M.. Wow! I'll be one of the first to admit that I'm not typically drawn into WWII era fiction but this book was amazing.


message 25: by Faith (new)

Faith Justice | 163 comments Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile which I very much enjoyed, at the end of the year. C.W. Gortner never disappoints. First book finished in 2017 is the classic SF The Forever War. This one was written in the 70's and was a critique of the Viet Nam War, but has so much relevance for today! I got my husband a NF book How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything: Tales from the Pentagon for Christmas. I might take that one up next to see how the fiction holds up to reality. For a little light reading, will be starting Conspirata, the second in Robert Harris' trilogy about the life of Cicero.


message 26: by Dem (new)

Dem | 266 comments Stacey wrote: "Dem wrote: "Finished and enjoyed CorragCorrag by Susan Fletcher
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1852224357"

I need to get to this, was supposed to read it last year!"


It really is a beautiful book Stacey, hope you get the chance to read it.


message 27: by Dem (new)

Dem | 266 comments Stacey wrote: "I am reading The Wonder ... still settling into it at this point."

I really enjoyed The Wonder. Look forward to you thoughts.


message 28: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Faith wrote: "Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile which I very much enjoyed, at the end of the year. C.W. Gortner never disappoints. First book finished in 20..."

Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner!


message 29: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) I've just finished the famed classical Chinese play The Peony Pavilion: Mudan ting by the iconic Ming playwright Tang Xianzu (written in 1598). I read in the original classical Chinese text and thoroughly savored the lyrical metaphors (with layers of historical allusions) and the choreography of imagery.

My review:

/review/show...


message 30: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer S. Alderson (jennifesalderson) | 10 comments I've just starting reading The Praying Nun - A Slave Shipwreck Saga, about a ship that sunk off the coast of South Africa but was only recently found.


message 31: by Michele (new)

Michele | 352 comments Currently reading Great Expectations for the first time and enjoying it greatly. Much funnier than I expected.


message 32: by Brina (new)

Brina Reading Gwendolyn Brooks novel Maud Martha. Hope to read this week-- And Then There Were None and One Hundred Years of Solitude.


message 33: by Shomeret (new)

Shomeret | 206 comments Alice wrote: "I've just finished the famed classical Chinese play The Peony Pavilion: Mudan ting by the iconic Ming playwright Tang Xianzu (written in 1598). I read in the original ..."

I read Lisa See's Peony in Love that deals with The Peony Pavilion as a phenomenon among Chinese girls that was the equivalent of The Sorrows of Young Werther in 19th century Europe.


message 34: by Faith (new)

Faith Justice | 163 comments Alice wrote: "Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner! "

I haven't read his most recent books on modern icons Mademoiselle Chanel and Marlene, but look forward to them. He's a sweet man and has the rare flare of writing in an authentic female voice.


message 35: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) A Lone Star Christmas (Christmas, #1) by William W. Johnstone
A Lone Star Christmas - William W Johnstone w/ J.A. Johnstone - ZERO stars
I was seduced by the title, but should have quit with the book jacket. It seems that the writers threw everything they’d ever come across in a Western into this book. It was a pretty fast read, and fit several challenges, but there’s really very little Christmas to this story.
LINK to my review


message 36: by Cheryl A (new)

Cheryl A | 1005 comments Had to turn The Woman in Cabin 10 back into the library. Wasn't really holding my attention that much, so I'll try again on audio. Currently re-reading The Winter Siege for bookclub (tomorrow!! - left it a little late) and then Salt to the Sea (another re-read) and The Female of the Species for Mock Prinz on Monday. Apparently, 2017 will be the year of reading procrastination.


message 37: by Michele (new)

Michele | 352 comments Finished Great Expectations. Now re-reading the dystopic/apocalyptic Gibbon's Decline and Fall -- finding it rather more terrifying than I remembered, due to current events :P


message 39: by Alice (last edited Jan 04, 2017 06:34PM) (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Faith wrote: "Alice wrote: "Faith, I too loved The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, and I agree with you about Gortner! "

I haven't read his most recent books on modern icons


Me neither! But I think I'd prefer to read his historicals - loved The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia!


message 40: by PattyMacDotComma (new)

PattyMacDotComma | 1276 comments Just read my first James Lee Burke, and I'm sure it won't be my last.

He sure can write! This is one of his latest, I think, The Jealous Kind, which paints quite a picture of 1952 Houston teens and crims.

My review
/review/show...


message 41: by Ed (new)

Ed Protzel (ed_protzel) | 18 comments Am currently reading God's Armies: Crusade and Jihad: Origins, History, Aftermath, by Malcom Lambert. Very good. First chapter gives a good summary history of early muslim empire, caliphs, the Civil Wars the power struggles engendered. After doing so much research on The Lies That Bind (DarkHorse trilogy Bk 1 and the second contracted in the series, wanted to get away from the antebellum South and the Civil War.


message 43: by Anthony (new)

Anthony Whitt | 102 comments I'm reading Trout Bum. It's not historical fiction, but it helps me beat cabin fever after knee surgery has me hobbling around for far too long.


message 44: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) Cheryl A wrote: "Had to turn The Woman in Cabin 10 back into the library. Wasn't really holding my attention that much, ..."

It's was just a 3-star read for me
a href=/review/show... to my review

| flag

message 45: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) The Prince And The Pauper by Mark Twain
The Prince and the Pauper - Mark Twain � 4****
This is a wonderful classic that explores the difference in class in 16th century England, and the ways that appearance effects how one is treated. Both boys learn much from their experience as “the other.� It’s a wonderful lesson in “walking in the other person’s shoes.� Twain’s use of 16th-century English may be a little off-putting to today’s readers; I recommend listening to the audio.
LINK to my review


message 46: by Book Concierge (new)

Book Concierge (tessabookconcierge) A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
A Christmas Memory - Truman Capote � 5 and a �
Capote was a gloriously talented writer and he is at his best here. The reader feels the anticipation of a child, smells the piney woods, shivers in the crisp morning, and is comforted in the warmth of love.
His writing is never so brilliant as when he is mining his childhood for stories such as this. The emotion is evident and genuine. His descriptions are gloriously vivid without overwhelming the story. The lessons learned � about kindness, tolerance, family, love and forgiveness � are gently told but ring loud and clear in the reader’s heart.
LINK to my review


message 47: by Linda (new)

Linda (lindamarie79) | 20 comments Christina wrote: "Just finished The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran - enjoyed it.

About to start Victoriaby Daisy Goodwin

[book:Victoria
is excellent, I really enjoyed it and also looking forward t the series!



message 48: by PattyMacDotComma (new)

PattyMacDotComma | 1276 comments Quirky novel about young girl who tries to earn a living in what was a real exotic dancer club, Market Street Cinema in San Francisco.

The author, Michele Machado has done a good job of describing what it was like without it being erotica.

My review
/review/show...


message 49: by Zoe (new)

Zoe Radley | 735 comments For my book club I am reading can anybody help me? By sinèad Crowley so far interesting not sure if I want to read anymore from her


message 50: by Christine (new)

Christine Malec | 156 comments I'm reading The Owl Killers. I've become fascinated by beguines, women in medieval and early modern northern Europe who lived in religious community, but did not take vows, so I found this book. They did social justice work, sustained themselves, and practiced scholarship, but weren't nuns. This book is a great exploration of what such a life might have been, although dark forces are gathering quickly, and I can't see how things can possibly end well.


« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 34 35
back to top
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.