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Have you read any good books lately? Maybe the kind that help make sense of the present in terms of the past? Maybe the kind that make history not seem like some dusty old boring subject, but a past time vibrant with interesting characters, places, and settings? Tell me all about it....
17 comments:
First question of the summer: What is your favorite historical fiction or fiction-set-in-history book? What would you recommend to all your friends and why?
What is the difference between history and historical fiction? What can each provide us with that the other might not?
New Question: Some of my favorite historical fiction books, like Gideon the Cutpurse and A Great and Terrible Beauty, also have fantastical elements - like time travel and communications with otherworldly spirits. Does the mix of genres mean they aren't "true" historical fiction? Have you enjoyed other historical fiction books that seem a mix of genres?
New Question: Do you prefer to read historical fiction or fiction-set-in-history from a particular time period -or- do you read from any and all? I, personally, am a sucker for stories set in the 18th century and the 1950s, but will really read anything ;o)
I've been reading Bone By Bone. It's a really intense book. It deals with racism in the 1950s.
What other books do you recommend that also deal with real issues?
There are several historical fiction books that tackle real problems and evident in history - if you're interested in stories from the 1950s or in histories of race in the United States you could check out:
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
- Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale
- Jericho Walls by Kristi Collier
or
- Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe!
Blood Red Horse by K.M Grant is a really good historical fiction.
I agree "anonymous" - I really enjoyed Blood Red Horse and thought the story was very captivating and the setting and characters to be very interesting. Have you read any other of K.M. Grant's books?
I've read Green jasper and Blaze of Silver (Sequel to Blood Red Horse)which were just as good as the first.
"Anonymous": I haven't read any of the other titles in the series, but will add them both to my "to read" pile with such a good recommendation!
Have you read any other historical fiction series?
I've read Titanic, The Long Night, by Diane Hoh, and many books by Ann Rinaldi. Have you read any good historical fiction books? I particularly like books about the American Revolution or books set in the 17th or 18th century in Europe.
"Anonymous": I actually just finished reading The Red Necklace: A Story of the French Revolution by Sally Gardner and thought it was pretty good! I also really enjoyed Witch Child by Celia Rees, which takes place in both England and America in the 17th century. I enjoyed The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson taking place during the American revolution.
New Question: Do you prefer historical fiction books from a particular period, of a particular place, or focusing on particular historical problems or struggles (for example, enjoying fictional accounts that focus on war, slavery, immigration, etc.)?
New Topic: I have always enjoyed historical fiction because I like history (obviously), but also because I feel like it gives me access to the thoughts, feelings, ideas, and situations facing people of the past. Why do you like historical fiction or fiction-set-in-history?
Going back to what "yalibrarian" said in the third comment, Gideon the Cutpurse and A Great and Terrible Beauty were both really great books.
What I like about historical fiction isn't going back and reading about a particular event, like the American Revolution. I prefer historical fiction that is based on real characters, like I am Rembrandt's Daughter and Endymion Spring.
Sam, I think you're right; reading about true characters in a somewhat fictional context can be inspiring...and sometimes more fun or interesting than a typical biography.
OK, not that anyone is looking at this anymore, but I just found this AWESOME historical fiction that I HAD to share with you!!!!! Usually I do not like historical fiction, but I was running out of books to read, and this one stood out to me for some reason. It is called I am the Great Horse, and it is soooooo awesome! It is about Alexander the Great's horse, Bucephalas, and it is so interesting!! I could not put it down!
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