It happened on a Saturday and I was expecting it. With only 100 pages left I knew there was no way I was going to make it thru the weekend. I was going to need another book. Not having anything “on deck” I was a bit concerned but not overly. I mean, I had other things on my plate and besides that, there must be something like a bazillion books around this house. Unread at that. I was thinking I’d root thru the boxes and find exactly what I was looking for but of course it doesn’t work like that does it?
Straight, solid History felt too dry. New authors – bag that! I want someone with some Heft Please! I was certain that anything set in the 12th Century wasn’t going to cut it either. Just finishing up 3 books by Sharon Kay Penman I couldn’t find another author that would hold my attention during that era. I tried with what I have on hand and it felt like reading a lie. Very fictional and not much historical. Cheap imitations don’t cut it. Better stay away from English History for a bit.
I found an entire stack of books, eight new ones. Right on! Wait. No, not new. I’ve read those. Bummer. I think those were supposed to be donated to the library like 2 years ago. Crap, more work. Anyway, I leaned back and thought a Classic would do. I went to my collection of “Modern Library Classics” and wouldn’t you know but that wasn’t working for me either! I decided I wanted to pick up “Women in Love” again because D.H. Lawrence is a beautiful writer or maybe I’d pick up Thomas Hardy because I do love his prose. Unfortunately, books are missing.
So I have nothing to read. I thought I’d head to my friend Amazon and see what works there and of course NOTHING I wanted to spend money on and I’m not about to buy what I know I have on hand [hidden] in this little shop of horrors known as LeeHaven.
At this point in the book bind I realize I’m working against myself so I decided last night that I simply was not going to be able to read. Maybe I was too enthralled with Sharon Kay Penman, I don’t know. This is a real bummer though. Book block. Great.
Any good recommendations? Good, solid historical fiction – no bodice rippers please! Not really interested in mysteries, thrillers or blood and guts. I like really good authors though and that would get me into just about anything. A great writer.
Somebody Save Me!
Amazon is having a respite from me but my local library has been in heavy use. I am reading “A Separate Country” by Robert Hicks right now and highly recommend it. His first book “Widow of the South” was great and I think you would like his writing style. Tons of good recommendations here in the comments–should keep you busy!
I have read all of Sharon Kay Penman's historical fiction books also. Great quality. I highly recommend James Alexander Thom as a writer. “Follow the River” is an amazing true story — there was a Hallmark movie made from this book, but it white-washes it and is not true to the real story. Other wonderful books by Thom are Panther in the Sky, From Sea to Shining Sea, and Long Knife. But avoid Warrior Woman, Saint Patrick's Battalion, and The First Man.
I have many favorites! But, like you, with bookcases full of books, sometimes I wander thru them, and end up at the library, or Amazon! One of my favorite authors is Francine Rivers.
I know what you mean about not having anything to read. I braved winds of up to 75km per hour and rain showers in order to make it to the library this morning on my scooter. I just read “I Dreamed of Africa” by Kuki Gallman. I loved it!
This morning I picked up a few books by Danielle Steel. I just want something light to read in order to fall asleep at night.
OH, one more. My DH just finished The Lost Symbol and I didn't see or hear from him for 3 – he usually only reads political, economic, contradicting, argumentative things! I didn't read it.
Since I'm quilting a LOT, I'm not reading a lot but, I just finished one of the books on the Banned Books table at the libray, “A Day in the Life of Ivan …ovitch (a Russian name.”) His day in a Russian/Siberian labor camp of 1930s??, resiliancy, inner strength. Easy reading and amazing – how a person endures the unendurable. I can understand why it was Banned.
Green Darkness by Anya Seton
Read the first review. I still have me copy from 20+ years ago.
I know how you feel about not having anything to read. It's almost a physical need for me. Like being addicted to a drug.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows.
More recent historical fiction, and a delightful read. All about the folk on the Isle of Guernsey during the German occupation in WWII. It's written as a series of letters, and takes a bit to get into, but I loved it.
I so cannot help. Aside form “baby lit” (Yes, you read “Baby lit” – I read to Jacob everyday.), I only read Mysteries & I apparently only like 2 authors while I am at it, but I have a 3rd that I will try – eventually.
I second “The Blood of Flowers” read it recently. I just finished “A Fine Balance” by Mistry. It made me very grateful to live in the good old USA. I buy most of my books at Goodwill so I am a little late reading the new good books.
“Tipperary” and “Shannon”, both by Frank Delaney. Just read both and loved them.
Oh, and Audrey Niffenegger (I would so change my name) who wrote The Time Traveller's Wife has a new book out. Not historical fiction, but it could be good.
Well, no help here. I have never been a reader but my Mom is so I know it is somewhere in me. (hidden). I think it has something to do with me slowing down, ya think? I am a wanna be!!! Good luck!
I got nothing….but wanted to stop in and say hi!
Ditto on the “Masters of Rome!” I loved that series but it does take some concentration…at one point at least three separate characters have almost identical names….She does include a who is who in the back which I admit to using frequently!
If you want historical fiction with some heft, have you considered Colleen McCullough's “Masters of Rome” series. That lady did some serious research before setting to work on the original six volumes. Later she went back and wrote a seventh due to clamoring among her fans. What impressed me (among other things) was that she didn't dumb it down, instead supplying a lengthy glossary of terms that do not necessarily get explained within the story.
I tend towards espionage thrillers and murder mysteries, so have no recommendations as far as historical fiction goes. I know the feeling, though, when one has finished a good book and is rather lost looking for a new one to start. That's uaually when I head for a Jane Austen.
Whenever I get the readers' block thing, I tend to head towards Jane Austin – light, frothy, doesn't need me to concentrate too much, but usually gets me through the blockage and safely out the other side. Otherwise I'll go for a goo biography.
Hope someone has come up with something that appeals?
Oh my…I hate 'readers block'!!! Like you, I have a house full of books, many new and unread from my days of working in a book store but nothing here appeals to me right now, so a trip to the library was in order today. I don't read a lot of historical novels. I do enjoy mysteries and thrillers that are written suspensfully but without the gore. Can't stand bodice rippers!!! I did enjoy “The Girl with a Pearl Earring”, by Tracy Chevalier, and just finished a new book “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett and liked it so well I downloaded it to my Ipod to listen to as I sew. You will need to look at the reviews on Amazon to see if either of these interest you.
Good luck!!!
Thought of yet a few more after scanning the shelves. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox. Check out Lisa See if you've not read anything by her, but I do love Asia.
Just finished “Mother of the Believers” by Kamran Pasha…very good historical novel done in the pov of Mahammad's second wife on the birth of Islam. OK, it isn't medieval or Victorian England but that can be a good thing sometimes!
(BTW I like Serena's suggestions…Ahab's Wife and Devil in White City….)
Have you read the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett? The BEST! Be warned though, the first one is tough to get into, but after that they are addictive. Check the reviews on Amazon to see what you think. Also, I'd recommend something called The Heaven Tree trilogy by Edith Pargeter: Medieval England and Wales, building of a cathedral–it beats Pillars of the Earth all to pieces in my opinion.
One more I just thought of The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling…..set in Victorian England details the story of a bookbinder and the predicament she finds herself in when she begins binding pornography just to get by.
I'm currently reading the Lost Symbol by Dan Brown… I love this sort of stuff!!! Don't know if you would like it, but it is good good good….
My sister named off these (we were fb chatting when I read your post)
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson and also Issac's Storm by him as well.
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
I really liked Ahab's Wife by Sena Naslund.
Well keep thinking but those are the first top of our heads. Let me go dig around my library!
My all-time historical-type genre novels are those by Victoria Holt, who writes (wrote) so well. I believe she is no longer living. She also wrote some under two pen names. The first two of her long list of books are titled “Mistress of Mellyn” and “Kirkland Revels”. All her books have similarities, i.e., set in Britain usually, sometimes France, etc; a heroine who is most generallly a poor governess who goes to some huge castle to teach her wealthy child student; mysterious things are happening; some danger; happy endings. Perhaps you might like her books. They're not about a particular historical event, but rather are peiod books and she so nicely describes things. Let me know if you try them.
Sorry……right now i'm into Patricia Cornwell….they're full of blood, guts and a little bodice ripping!!
Enjoy….LindaMay
I tend to like “journal” type books – about people and their adventures. I just finished “From and Island I Never Meant to Leave” – a man and his family buy an island off Nova Scotia, and now I'm reading, “Walking My Dog Jane” – a guy and his dog walking the Alaska Pipeline – just started but it is looking good.