Best Historical Fantasy Fiction
With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters—Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as shocking as the events that gave it birth: the secret of an ancient circle of standing stones, the secret of a love that transcends centuries, and the truth of a man named Jamie Fraser—a Highland warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. This time-traveling romantic adventure will please fans who have been waiting for the further adventures of Dr. Claire Beauchamp Randall, a 20th-century American who goes to Scotland in search of her 18th-century husband, virile Scot Jamie Fraser, whom she met and married in Outlander ( LJ 7/91). Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. An engaging time-travel romance, the second of a trilogy (after Outlander, 1991), that animates the people and politics of a pivotal period in history--while turning up the heat between an appealing modern heroine and a magnetic romantic hero. But this espionage is only the beginning...A most entertaining mix of history and fantasy whose author, like its heroine, exhibits a winning combination of vivid imagination and good common sense.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote."
"With the the portability and ease of reading electronically I am reliving the stories of Clare and Jamie and Brianna and Roger et al again. Diana delivers the emotion, sights, sounds, smells, triumphs and failures with her words. She always finds alliterative and clever phrasing to bring everything alive - whether it is a trip across the sea or a dangerous encounter or mundane every tasks or Clare and Jamie enjoying the delights of each other intimately."
"Sorry I don't have time/ desire to post a longer review but here goes: The heroine is a bit annoying... wish her sense of agency and empowerment were effected more often by planing, cleverness, and guile and less often by stomping her dainty boot on the ground."
"A great read."
"While I know some of the 1948 details are incorrect (my family was in Scotland temporarily, on their way to France, in 1950, and food was still very scarce, with strict rationing in effect), the 18th century details seem somewhat more accurate."
"Say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing and you would be classified as a witch as Claire was. But at this moment, travel through time is not possible and may never be."
"Thank you DG, LOVE THE STARZ OUTLANDER TOO EXCEPT WHEN THEY DELETED THE WEDDING NGHT WHAT CLAIR SAID TO JAMIE "go slowing and pay attention" Could have instructed another generation or two husbands but they let slip by, oh well, that's life."
"Really looking forward to knowing how it all ends in many books from now, but guessing I'll be disappointed when I've finished them and have to say goodbye."
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •. NOW A STARZ ORIGINAL SERIES • Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages. This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content: • An excerpt from Diana Gabaldon’s Dragonfly in Amber , the second novel in the Outlander series. • An interview with Diana Gabaldon. • An Outlander reader’s guide. Praise for Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels “Marvelous and fantastic adventures, romance, sex . perfect escape reading.” — San Francisco Chronicle , on Outlander “History comes deliciously alive on the page.” —New York Daily News , on Outlander “Gabaldon is a born storyteller. Her use of historical detail and a truly adult love story confirm Gabaldon as a superior writer.” — Publishers Weekly , on Voyager “Unforgettable characters . richly embroidered with historical detail.” — The Cincinnati Post , on Drums of Autumn “A grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across [centuries].” —CNN , on The Fiery Cross “The large scope of the novel allows Gabaldon to do what she does best, paint in exquisite detail the lives of her characters.” — Booklist , on A Breath of Snow and Ashes “Features all the passion and swashbuckling that fans of this historical fantasy series have come to expect.” — People , on Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. --Candy Paape Absorbing and heartwarming, this first novel lavishly evokes the land and lore of Scotland, quickening both with realistic characters and a feisty, likable heroine. She encounters Frank's evil ancestor, British captain Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall, and is adopted by another clan. Claire nurses young soldier James Fraser, a gallant, merry redhead, and the two begin a romance, seeing each other through many perilous, swashbuckling adventures involving Black Jack. Eventually Sassenach (outlander) Claire finds a chance to return to 1945, and must choose between distant memories of Frnak and her happy, uncomplicated existence with Jamie.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote."
"With the the portability and ease of reading electronically I am reliving the stories of Clare and Jamie and Brianna and Roger et al again. Diana delivers the emotion, sights, sounds, smells, triumphs and failures with her words. She always finds alliterative and clever phrasing to bring everything alive - whether it is a trip across the sea or a dangerous encounter or mundane every tasks or Clare and Jamie enjoying the delights of each other intimately."
"Sorry I don't have time/ desire to post a longer review but here goes: The heroine is a bit annoying... wish her sense of agency and empowerment were effected more often by planing, cleverness, and guile and less often by stomping her dainty boot on the ground."
"A great read."
"While I know some of the 1948 details are incorrect (my family was in Scotland temporarily, on their way to France, in 1950, and food was still very scarce, with strict rationing in effect), the 18th century details seem somewhat more accurate."
"Say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing and you would be classified as a witch as Claire was. But at this moment, travel through time is not possible and may never be."
"Thank you DG, LOVE THE STARZ OUTLANDER TOO EXCEPT WHEN THEY DELETED THE WEDDING NGHT WHAT CLAIR SAID TO JAMIE "go slowing and pay attention" Could have instructed another generation or two husbands but they let slip by, oh well, that's life."
"Really looking forward to knowing how it all ends in many books from now, but guessing I'll be disappointed when I've finished them and have to say goodbye."
The dazzling fifth volume of Diana Gabaldon’s extraordinary Outlander saga, featuring 18th-century Scotsman James Fraser and his 20th-century time-traveling wife, Claire Randall. The fiery cross, once used to summon Highland clans to war, now beckons readers to take up Diana Gabaldon's fifth installment in the Outlander series featuring the time-traveling Frasers. Historical fiction fans who have waited four long years since the publication of Drums of Autumn will thrill to Gabaldon's trademark detail and sensuality, both displayed liberally throughout the nearly 1,000 pages of The Fiery Cross .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote."
"With the the portability and ease of reading electronically I am reliving the stories of Clare and Jamie and Brianna and Roger et al again. Diana delivers the emotion, sights, sounds, smells, triumphs and failures with her words. She always finds alliterative and clever phrasing to bring everything alive - whether it is a trip across the sea or a dangerous encounter or mundane every tasks or Clare and Jamie enjoying the delights of each other intimately."
"Sorry I don't have time/ desire to post a longer review but here goes: The heroine is a bit annoying... wish her sense of agency and empowerment were effected more often by planing, cleverness, and guile and less often by stomping her dainty boot on the ground."
"A great read."
"While I know some of the 1948 details are incorrect (my family was in Scotland temporarily, on their way to France, in 1950, and food was still very scarce, with strict rationing in effect), the 18th century details seem somewhat more accurate."
"Say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing and you would be classified as a witch as Claire was. But at this moment, travel through time is not possible and may never be."
"Thank you DG, LOVE THE STARZ OUTLANDER TOO EXCEPT WHEN THEY DELETED THE WEDDING NGHT WHAT CLAIR SAID TO JAMIE "go slowing and pay attention" Could have instructed another generation or two husbands but they let slip by, oh well, that's life."
"Really looking forward to knowing how it all ends in many books from now, but guessing I'll be disappointed when I've finished them and have to say goodbye."
Best Historical French Fiction
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” ( Los Angeles Times ). Yes, there is fear and fighting and disappearance and death, but the author’s focus is on the interior lives of his two characters. Never mind that their paths don’t cross until very late in the novel, this is not a book you read for plot (although there is a wonderful, mysterious subplot about a stolen gem). It is through their individual and intertwined tales that Doerr masterfully and knowledgeably re-creates the deprived civilian conditions of war-torn France and the strictly controlled lives of the military occupiers.High-Demand Backstory: A multipronged marketing campaign will make the author’s many fans aware of his newest book, and extensive review coverage is bound to enlist many new fans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It has been a while since I have found a book that I wanted to read slowly so that I could soak in every detail in hopes that the last page seems to never come. When reading the synopsis of this novel, I never imagined that I would feel so connected to a book where one of the main characters is blind and the other a brilliant young German orphan who was chosen to attend a brutal military academy under Hitler's power using his innate engineering skills. I was invited into the pages and could not only imagine the atmosphere, but all of my senses were collectively enticed from the very first page until the last. In most well-written books you get of a sense of what the characters look like and follow them throughout the book almost as if you are on a voyage, but with this novel, I could imagine what it was like to be in Marie-Laure's shoes."
"On the other hand, as the author describes it, “It’s also a metaphorical suggestion that there are countless invisible stories still buried within World War II.” Add in a newly blinded French girl who is forced to leave her familiar surroundings, and you’ll soon find yourself in literary heaven. There are lessons about the brain, sitting inside the darkness of our skull, interpreting light; there are lessons about coal having been plants living millions of years ago, absorbing light, now buried in darkness; lessons about light waves that we cannot see—all applicable as the story unfolds. The author also includes connections to the song Clair de Lune, the book 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and a fictional story about a priceless diamond called the Sea of Flames, whose owner “so long as he keeps it, the keeper of the stone will live forever.”. I cannot proclaim loud enough how much this book means to me; I have been left awe-inspired."
Best Historical Regency Fiction
In the first novel in Winston Graham's hit series, a weary Ross Poldark returns to England from war, looking forward to a joyful homecoming with his beloved Elizabeth. "From the incomparable Winston Graham...who has everything anyone else has, then a whole lot more."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Fueled, by angst, obsession and regret, it is about as far removed from the refined country drawing rooms, witty repartee and genteel romance found in Jane Austen novels as it could be. Despite these questionable first impressions, this novel and its eponymous hero have “legs.” It has never gone out of print and continues to build a fan base, mostly generated from the 1975 – 1977 landmark television adaptation, Poldark, starring Robin Ellis. Set in Cornwall, Royal Army officer Captain Ross Poldark returns home a scarred and weary soldier from fighting in the American Revolutionary War. His father Joshua has recently died, his sweetheart Elizabeth Chynoweth is engaged to his cousin Francis Poldark and his inheritance, the family residence, farmland and tin mines lie totally derelict. The tin and copper mines owned by the landed gentry are in serious decline while nouveau riche banker George Warleggan prospers by extending credit, foreclosing and building a financial empire on the hard work of others. With the help of two of his father’s idle servants, Jud and Prudie Paynter and a street urchin turned kitchen maid Demelza Carne, Ross fights to rebuild his pride and his family fortune. The waves were shadows, snakes under a quilt, creeping in almost unseen until they emerged in milky ripple at the waters edge.” (p. 33). Surprisingly, we are immediately drawn in by author Winston Graham’s opening chapters. He may have left for the war a young ensign with a dubious reputation, but he returned two years later a seasoned captain—a mature leader of men tempered by British injustice and influenced by the ideals of liberty and equality by the American patriots. It was as hard to believe as if someone had told him he was going to die.” (p. 44) During the wedding banquet at his uncle’s estate, Trenwith, while a cock fight is underway in the dining room for the amusement of the guests, Ross seeks out an encounter with Elizabeth who attempts to explain her decision to not follow through with their youthful promises to each other. Each of these personality foibles are the backbone of this story; while there are many other characters and subplots churning throughout the novel, it all comes back to Elizabeth’s decision to marry another man and Ross’s obsession to possess her. Here we witness polite conversation and scurrilous gossip, flirtations and put-downs; meet a scheming mother with five unwed daughters, a handsome captain courting an on-the-shelf spinster and our hero Ross, scandalously dancing more than two times with a young, ambitious debutante, then fleeing the scene in anguish upon the arrival of Elizabeth and Francis. This story is about money, or the lack of it, the shifting fortunes and social standing of the ruling classes, and the emotional forces that drive men to achieve success and the women that they desire. Along the way we learn a lot about late eighteenth-century copper and tin mining in Cornwall while swash and buckling through fist fights, riots, prison breaks, duels, poaching and pillaging. Ahead lay the way to Illugan; the right fork would bring him to skirt St. Ann’s whence he could join the usual lane to Swale.” (p. 75). Before they part, he generously offers her a job as his kitchen maid."
"This book is a great depiction of the life of a country squire in 18th century England. But therein lies the charm of the book, to take ordinary life and make it a window into the soul and a mirror of the heart."
"It seems as if so many authors from Winston Graham's generation have flat characters, ridiculous dialog and avoid going anywhere close to talking about any sort of emotion their characters may be experiencing."
"Winston Graham has a superb style in re creating in writing, the poignant scenes of human endeavor, trial, error and hardship."
"Loved this story."
"The prose regarding the farm, the beach, and the sea are so expressive, I could see the scenes in my mind."
"I love the series."
"Graham shows you all levels of society, from the hereditary landowners and mine owners to the miners, fishermen and farmers who subsist on practically nothing."
Best Historical Asian Fiction
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. See's engrossing novel set in remote 19th-century China details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends ( laotong , or "old sames") Lily and Snow Flower, their imprisonment by rigid codes of conduct for women and their betrayal by pride and love. Most impressive is See's incorporation of nu shu , a secret written phonetic code among women—here between Lily and Snow Flower—that dates back 1,000 years in the southwestern Hunan province ("My writing is soaked with the tears of my heart,/ An invisible rebellion that no man can see"). At the instigation of a matchmaker, Lily and Snow Flower, a girl from a larger town and supposedly from a well-connected, wealthy family, become laotong , bound together for life. Even though the women's culture and upbringing may be vastly different from readers' own, the life lessons are much the same, and they will be remembered long after the details of this fascinating story are forgotten.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"However, it was hard for me to read such details about the pathetic, cruel tradition of foot binding, female oppression and abuse, horrible acceptance by women that they were more worthless than stray dogs, daughters being beaten and tortured into enduring their own 2 year foot binding processes, the twisted belief that their broken, deformed feet were "beautiful lilies", (which actually turned their husbands on, sexually), the secret fan communication system which provided only extremely infrequent, brief and covert messages of friendship and sisterly love. It was good to see these things exposed, but the relentless, unrelieved reality of how bleak and hopeless life was, even for those girls "lucky" enough to have their feet bound so a "better" marriage might be achieved... has made the whole reading process rather depressing for me."
"It was a strange beginning, I thought, when I started to read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but soon it hooked me and couldn't put it down."
"There was much written and explained in detail about Chinese, foot binding, sworn sisters, finding matches for marriage while they were still children, and many other traditions."
"I was mesmerized with a beautiful story and learning about a totally different culture."
"Only book I have read by Lisa See."
"I did learn things about the Chinese culture that I didn't know."
"Very good story written well about the long life of a Chinese woman and her relationship with her pledged friend-sister."
"Historically informative about life of Chinese women in early 1800's."
Best Historical African Fiction
Moments after Lisbeth is born, she’s taken from her mother and handed over to an enslaved wet nurse, Mattie, a young mother separated from her own infant son in order to care for her tiny charge. It's a must-read for anyone whoenjoys Antebellum historical fiction or is looking for a compellingstory to add to their book club reading list." Then the image of Lisbeth, a white baby, breastfeeding in the loving arms of Mattie, an enslaved wetnurse came to me in a flash. Then I imagined what the experience would be like for Miss Anne, the birth mother, to have her own child twist away from her to get into Mattie's arms.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Angry at others- as when Mattie was torn from her family, including her 3 month old baby and was supposed to be pacified by being able to visit them for a few hours on a Sunday, witnessing through the young heroine's eyes the brutal rape of a young slave girl (not graphically depicted) and reading the general attitudes of people on the black/white person/non-person issues common to this time. I believe these scenes that felt more YA were to give us a flavor of what it was like to grow up during this time and don't know of any other way it could have been done if some of the young girl's activities and thoughts (life on a daily basis) weren't represented."
"As years go by and Elizabeth (Lisbeth) grows up into a young girl, she becomes attached to Mattie and loves her company much more than that of her haughty parents. I could almost see the slaves bent down working in the tobacco fields and returning to their quarters exhausted after a long hard day. I really loved and enjoyed every single word of her exceptional prose and while I highly recommend this book to everyone, I will be looking for more novels by this talented author."
"I gave this book an excellent review I love history especially pre civil war."
"Lisbeth befriends Mattie's family until her coming out when she must come to terms with the reality of plantation life and the treatment of slaves."
"And how they treated blacks were just as disturbing, and to think that the whites saw what they did as "taking care" of the blacks."
"I enjoyed this book."
"Very enjoyable read."
Best Historical German Fiction
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” ( Los Angeles Times ). Yes, there is fear and fighting and disappearance and death, but the author’s focus is on the interior lives of his two characters. Never mind that their paths don’t cross until very late in the novel, this is not a book you read for plot (although there is a wonderful, mysterious subplot about a stolen gem). It is through their individual and intertwined tales that Doerr masterfully and knowledgeably re-creates the deprived civilian conditions of war-torn France and the strictly controlled lives of the military occupiers.High-Demand Backstory: A multipronged marketing campaign will make the author’s many fans aware of his newest book, and extensive review coverage is bound to enlist many new fans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It has been a while since I have found a book that I wanted to read slowly so that I could soak in every detail in hopes that the last page seems to never come. When reading the synopsis of this novel, I never imagined that I would feel so connected to a book where one of the main characters is blind and the other a brilliant young German orphan who was chosen to attend a brutal military academy under Hitler's power using his innate engineering skills. I was invited into the pages and could not only imagine the atmosphere, but all of my senses were collectively enticed from the very first page until the last. In most well-written books you get of a sense of what the characters look like and follow them throughout the book almost as if you are on a voyage, but with this novel, I could imagine what it was like to be in Marie-Laure's shoes."
"On the other hand, as the author describes it, “It’s also a metaphorical suggestion that there are countless invisible stories still buried within World War II.” Add in a newly blinded French girl who is forced to leave her familiar surroundings, and you’ll soon find yourself in literary heaven. There are lessons about the brain, sitting inside the darkness of our skull, interpreting light; there are lessons about coal having been plants living millions of years ago, absorbing light, now buried in darkness; lessons about light waves that we cannot see—all applicable as the story unfolds. The author also includes connections to the song Clair de Lune, the book 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and a fictional story about a priceless diamond called the Sea of Flames, whose owner “so long as he keeps it, the keeper of the stone will live forever.”. I cannot proclaim loud enough how much this book means to me; I have been left awe-inspired."
Best Historical Irish Fiction
In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land. It’s a post-Civil War western, the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and you can be sure the former will ride off into the sunset at the story’s end (Womp, Womp). And that’s what News of the World is: Pure and good.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved Captain Kidd and the depth of his heart and his mind; and young Johanna was an incredibly clever and touching child. This tale of these two making their way through perils both natural (swollen rivers) and human (Indians and male predators) on the lengthy trip from Wichita Falls to San Antonio is completely absorbing."
"The grizzled former Army Captain Jefferson Kidd has raised his two daughters, and now is passing time until he can convince them to move from the ruins of the post Civil War south to Texas. The former printer turned news reader makes his living and tries to save against the family's future travel costs and expenses by going from one remote community in Texas to another, reading to awe struck residents from the newspapers, telling them about faraway countries and doings there, from the difficulty of taking a census in countries where social and religious mores forbid women from uttering the names of their husbands to scientific experiments and explorations. Indeed, the young Johanna now sees herself as Kiowa, not white, and can't grasp what is happening to her, much less the logic behind such rules as not stripping down in public to bathe in the river..."
"Her newest offering is News of the World. As Jiles reveals it though, the white world and the Indian worlds are in a constant battle for a way of life. In News of the World, the Captain wanders from town to town, holding town halls where he reads the latest news."
Best Historical British Fiction
A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece. Prior Phillip, a man raised in the monastery since childhood, also finds himself drafted into the brewing storm as he must protect the interests of a declining church. A radical departure from Follett's novels of international suspense and intrigue, this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I. The plot is less tightly controlled than those in Follett's contemporary works, and despite the wealth of historical detail, especially concerning architecture and construction, much of the language as well as the psychology of the characters and their relationships remains firmly rooted in the 20th century.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I once read an interview by one of my favorite indie authors, Matt Schiariti, and he listed this book as his all time favorite. (This is the second book I've told him to read in the last five years.). But they were all written as strong, independent, and Ellen was totally the most sane character in the entire book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes drama and has any interest on 12th century England."
"The contrasts between political, church and personal lives would give a younger reader insight into the real world."
"There will be characters you fall in love with, learn to love, and also a few you will hate with a vengeance."
"A classic presentation of the virtues and vices of men, the vast creativity of artisans, and the never-ending battle for good to triumph over fear-driven evil plans and deeds."
"It covers a full generation of characters involved with a particular fictional city, so characters who are children in the beginning grow to developed old characters with a full life story."
"The cathedrals that we visited and their structure would have been even more impressive and I would have had a better understanding of the time as well as the effort by so many people who created these amazing structures."
"I read this book in paperback form several years ago."
"Life changing, soul affirming literary achievement that gives me hope for the potential of our species at a time when hope is most endangered."
Best Historical Italian Fiction
With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. I marvel at her ability to weave together a story that grips hold of my heart and my imagination.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author. A Panzer tank through your heart, leaving dirt and rubble through which poppies bloom.” —Suanne Laqueur, author of An Exaltation of Larks. Amy Harmon is a New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including the Whitney Award–winning The Law of Moses . Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult books are now being published in twelve countries around the globe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But the mark of a great Amy Harmon book is her expertly crafted story that builds so very slowly - she builds you up and up and before you know it you’ve fallen for her characters and then it happens - the downfall that completely shatters you. The common theme within all of her books is that love and faith conquers all, and how hope and resilience can help you rise above even the most difficult of situations. I really hope that people give this book a chance. And strangely enough, I find myself convinced that God loves his children – all his children – that he loves me, and that he provides moments of light and transcendence amid the constant trial.”. “Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”. "Our immortality comes through our children and their children."
"Amy Harmon brings together the best and the worst of humanity on these pages, paving this journey with violence and bravery, horror and love. It's a ruthless barrage of emotions, this story, a relentless war between life and death, between good and evil, illustrated exquisitely by an author whose writing prowess knows no bounds. I've read many books of the true accounts of holocaust survivors, seen the movies and documentaries, taken classes concentrating on this area of study. To feel as though you know their strength, to get to know their life up until the moment it is stolen away, to know their helplessness in the face of something so unjust and so terrifying, it changes the way you look at the world, to see such atrocities through their eyes. This may be a fictionalized account inspired by true events, but you won't convince my heart Eva and Angelo aren't real. This story weaves it's way under your skin and into your soul so you feel every step of their journey, of their fight, of this miracle. Our world would be such a beautiful, peaceful, harmonious one if we sought to understand each other instead of judging each other for the ways we are different, for the God we pray to, for where each of our trees first took root. From Sand and Ash is a rich work of art, a stunning masterpiece that has moved me, altered me, captivated me. These characters, this fictionalized truth swathed in Harmon's unparalleled storytelling and her breathtaking writing style make for an epic story of bravery, love, resilience and loss that is both haunting and heartwarming all at once."
Best Historical Chinese Fiction
“Jamie Ford's first novel explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle area during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love. In the opening pages of Jamie Ford’s stunning debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet , Henry Lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle’s Japantown. This simple act takes old Henry Lee back to the 1940s, at the height of the war, when young Henry’s world is a jumble of confusion and excitement, and to his father, who is obsessed with the war in China and having Henry grow up American. And after Keiko and her family are swept up in the evacuations to the internment camps, she and Henry are left only with the hope that the war will end, and that their promise to each other will be kept. After Henry hears that the belongings of Japanese immigrants interned during WWII have been found in the basement of the Panama Hotel, the narrative shuttles between 1986 and the 1940s in a predictable story that chronicles the losses of old age and the bewilderment of youth. The wartime persecution of Japanese immigrants is presented well, but the flatness of the narrative and Ford's reliance on numerous cultural cliches make for a disappointing read. Adutl/High School—Henry Lee is a 12-year-old Chinese boy who falls in love with Keiko Okabe, a 12-year-old Japanese girl, while they are scholarship students at a prestigious private school in World War II Seattle.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It focuses on the relationship between a Chinese American boy and Japanese American girl in Seattle at the start of the war."
"Jamie Ford has written a good book dealing with long lost love, the internment of Japanese Americans and second chances."
"And I loved the way Henry and his child looked forward to the future."
"It starts a little slow and it is not a fast paced story, but the story is sweet and endearing."
"What a great love story!"
"This is an especially pertinent book with today's views."
"Jamie Ford writes with insight and feeling."
"Great tale of a sad time for many that lived through WWII."
Best Historical Japanese Fiction
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. See's engrossing novel set in remote 19th-century China details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends ( laotong , or "old sames") Lily and Snow Flower, their imprisonment by rigid codes of conduct for women and their betrayal by pride and love. Most impressive is See's incorporation of nu shu , a secret written phonetic code among women—here between Lily and Snow Flower—that dates back 1,000 years in the southwestern Hunan province ("My writing is soaked with the tears of my heart,/ An invisible rebellion that no man can see"). At the instigation of a matchmaker, Lily and Snow Flower, a girl from a larger town and supposedly from a well-connected, wealthy family, become laotong , bound together for life. Even though the women's culture and upbringing may be vastly different from readers' own, the life lessons are much the same, and they will be remembered long after the details of this fascinating story are forgotten.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There was much written and explained in detail about Chinese, foot binding, sworn sisters, finding matches for marriage while they were still children, and many other traditions."
"Only book I have read by Lisa See."
"I did learn things about the Chinese culture that I didn't know."
"However, even a terrible revelation such as that is not enough to sever the laotong, and Lily and Snow Flower remain close, even though their lives spin out in two very different directions. Author Lisa See does an excellent job of incorporating ancient Chinese traditions, such as footbinding and the secret nu shu language, into the story."
"Loved this story; the characters and the events stayed with me for days after the book ended."
"Bought it for my wife and she really liked it."
"This book has a sweetness to it."
"This first page of each chapter is blank."
Best Historical Russian Fiction
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. [ A Gentleman in Moscow ] is laced with sparkling threads (they will tie up) and tokens (they will matter): special keys, secret compartments, gold coins, vials of coveted liquid, old-fashioned pistols, duels and scars, hidden assignations (discreet and smoky), stolen passports, a ruby necklace, mysterious letters on elegant hotel stationery . An Amazon Best Book of September 2016: A Gentleman in Moscow is the utterly entertaining second novel from the author of Rules of Civility . --Al Woodworth, The Amazon Book Review “Marvelous.” — Chicago Tribune “The novel buzzes with the energy of numerous adventures, love affairs, twists of fate and silly antics.” — The Wall Street Journal “A winning, stylish novel.” —NPR.org “Enjoyable, elegant.” — Seattle Times “The perfect book to curl up with while the world goes by outside your window.” — Refinery29. “The same gorgeous, layered richness that marked Towles’ debut, Rules of Civility , shapes [ A Gentleman in Moscow ].” — Entertainment Weekly. Don’t miss it.” – Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee “The book moves briskly from one crisp scene to the next, and ultimately casts a spell as encompassing as Rules of Civility , a book that inhales you into its seductively Gatsby-esque universe.” —Town & Country “In all ways a great novel, a nonstop pleasure brimming with charm, personal wisdom, and philosophic insight . A masterly encapsulation of modern Russian history, this book more than fulfills the promise of Towles' stylish debut, Rules of Civility ." — Kirkus Reviews (starred) “In his remarkable first novel, the bestselling Rules of Civility , Towles etched 1930s New York in crystalline relief . “An irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working class-women and world-weary WASPs in 1930s New York…in the crisp, noirish prose of the era, Towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave – and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it.” — O, the Oprah Magazine “With this snappy period piece, Towles resurrects the cinematic black-and-white Manhattan of the golden age…[his] characters are youthful Americans in tricky times, trying to create authentic lives.” — The New York Times Book Review “This very good first novel about striving and surviving in Depression-era Manhattan deserves attention…The great strength of Rules of Civility is in the sharp, sure-handed evocation of Manhattan in the late ‘30s.” — Wall Street Journal “Put on some Billie Holiday, pour a dry martini and immerse yourself in the eventful life of Katey Kontent…[Towles] clearly knows the privileged world he’s writing about, as well as the vivid, sometimes reckless characters who inhabit it.” — People “[A] wonderful debut novel…Towles [plays] with some of the great themes of love and class, luck and fated encounters that animated Wharton’s novels.” — The Chicago Tribune “Glittering…filled with snappy dialogue, sharp observations and an array of terrifically drawn characters…Towles writes with grace and verve about the mores and manners of a society on the cusp of radical change.” —NPR.org “Glamorous Gotham in one to relish…a book that enchants on first reading and only improves on the second.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The relationships he forms with staff and guests, his handling of twists of fate, his moral rectitude and his perseverance to go on in the face of his lifelong imprisonment for being a Former Person make for a compelling tale, told beautifully by Towles. I literally sat and stared into space for an hour after I finished A Gentleman In Moscow, contemplating it and wishing it hadn’t ended."
"I had such an emotionally fulfilled feeling at the end of this novel that when I finished the last page, I closed the book, sat back, sighed deeply, and thought, "well, what now? It seems convoluted to start a review with the ending of a book, but this novel is actually a rather long tale, spanning 30+ years, so before I get into the journey, allow me this one break with decorum. But A Gentleman in Moscow, if not completely upsetting Sara Gruen's work, at least pulls level with it, because it is such a satisfying end to this novel, and I'll say no more than that for fear of ruining the experience for anyone else. It feels like such a universal fantasy that, despite the fact that we are not (probably) an aristocrat, a connoisseur of multiple tastes, exceedingly cultured, and currently exiled within our own country, we somehow connect with Count Rostov immediately. Towles writes with such sophistication and beauty in every carefully chosen word that it manages to feel effortless. At times it's witty and funny in that perfectly refined way, and in the next moment it's incredibly astute and insightful. I could ramble on about the the delightful and stunning setting of this book as well as the cast of characters that weave in and out and in again, but it might actually be overkill. I'll revisit often and always with a perfectly paired glass of wine in my hand, as Count Rostov would approve."
"This second novel is as enjoyable and engaging as his first, “Rules of Civility.”. In 1922, the Emergency Committee of the People’s Commissariat For Internal Affairs sentences Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov to spend the rest of his life inside the Hotel Metropol for writing the poem “Where Is It Now?”, which brashly asked the question, “where is our purpose now?” In imposing the sentence, the prosecutor pronounced that the Count “has succumbed irrevocably to the corruptions of his class – and now poses a threat to the very ideals he once espoused. In trying to adjust to his new circumstances, the Count tells himself that “if a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them” and that “imagining what might happen if one’s circumstances were different was the only sure route to madness.” And so the Count adjusts to the 30 or more years that he ultimately spends in the Hotel. The Count befriends a nine-year-old girl, Nina Kulikova, who is temporarily living in the hotel with her father and who introduces the Count to all of the secrets the Hotel has to offer. While living at the Metropol, the Count meets people from all over the world, begins a love affair with a famous actress, spends many years tutoring a former red Army Colonel about the west, works as the head waiter at the Boyarsky and makes friends and enemies with the various people who lead their lives either in or through the Metropol. Asking for the restaurant manager, the Count is taken to the Hotel’s wine cellar, housing more than 100,000 bottles."
Best Historical Scottish Fiction
With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters—Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as shocking as the events that gave it birth: the secret of an ancient circle of standing stones, the secret of a love that transcends centuries, and the truth of a man named Jamie Fraser—a Highland warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. This time-traveling romantic adventure will please fans who have been waiting for the further adventures of Dr. Claire Beauchamp Randall, a 20th-century American who goes to Scotland in search of her 18th-century husband, virile Scot Jamie Fraser, whom she met and married in Outlander ( LJ 7/91). Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. An engaging time-travel romance, the second of a trilogy (after Outlander, 1991), that animates the people and politics of a pivotal period in history--while turning up the heat between an appealing modern heroine and a magnetic romantic hero. But this espionage is only the beginning...A most entertaining mix of history and fantasy whose author, like its heroine, exhibits a winning combination of vivid imagination and good common sense.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote."
"With the the portability and ease of reading electronically I am reliving the stories of Clare and Jamie and Brianna and Roger et al again. Diana delivers the emotion, sights, sounds, smells, triumphs and failures with her words. She always finds alliterative and clever phrasing to bring everything alive - whether it is a trip across the sea or a dangerous encounter or mundane every tasks or Clare and Jamie enjoying the delights of each other intimately."
"While I truly relish D. Gabaldon's writing, I feel that the tale is greatly enhanced by Davina Porter's as narrator. Suffice it to say that this is the continuation of the story of the lives of Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser after they're forced to marry. When I'm feeling industrious I intend to look this up and check the facts against the plot line."
"The characters are human, with faults and evils, allowing Clare to be a heroine, because men can need saving too."
"Read the seven bundled books in record time and am halfway through the eighth. Gabaldan says it takes her three years to write one of the books so I suppose I'll read the accompanying Lord John books just to fill a bit of the waiting time."
"Time has no locality."
Best Historical European Fiction
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •. For readers of The Nightingale and Sarah’s Key, inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten. Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See .” — Library Journal (starred review). “Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.” — Kirkus Reviews “Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. This is a part of history—women’s history—that should never be forgotten.” —Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of China Dolls. the best book I’ve read all year.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.” — Publishers Weekly “Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.” — Kirkus Reviews “Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. It will haunt you.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet “Rich with historical detail and riveting to the end, Lilac Girls weaves the lives of three astonishing women into a story of extraordinary moral power set against the harrowing backdrop of Europe in thrall to Nazi Germany. I can’t remember the last time I read a novel that moved me so deeply.” —Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of A Hundred Summers and The Secret Life of Violet Grant. Martha Hall Kelly is a native New Englander now living in Atlanta, Georgia, where she’s writing the prequel to Lilac Girls .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This story reminds us all of the horror of Nazi Germany, of the huge numbers of people they killed, of all nationalities and backgrounds, and of the madness that Hitler was able to convince so many people to believe. Finally, the most gut-wrenching parts of the story involve Herta, a Nazi doctor that somehow convinces herself that she is doing the right thing, the patriotic thing. She's an anti-heroine, but it's still important to understand her story, and what drove her - and she is a key part of the total story that is told."
"The book is written from the perspective of 3 individuals -- a woman in NYC trying to help the French children; a Polish woman and her family who were sent to one of the worst "re-education camps" where horrific experiments were done on healthy individuals (most of them non-Jewish); and from a female German doctor who worked at that re-education camp."
"I have read many books set in this same time frame, but this book came from three perspectives that I had not read before. If I were you, I would pre-order this book."
"Their lives ultimately intersect in an infamous Nazi concentration camp for women, and their story spans a time period that begins before the start of World War II, continues though the war, and concludes in the postwar era."
Best Historical Biographical Fiction
Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share. “Sprawling, stirring, like the richest of stories, and played out on a canvas of heroism and tragedy, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is like one of those iconic World War II black and white photos: a face of hope and tears, the story of a small life that ended up mattering in a big way.” —Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of The One Man. “Action, adventure, love, war, and an epic hero—all set against the backdrop of one of history's darkest moments—Mark Sullivan's Beneath a Scarlet Sky has everything one can ask for in an exceptional World War II novel.” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Playing with Fire. Mark has received numerous awards for his writing, including the WHSmith Fresh Talent Award, and his works have been named a New York Times Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a gripping story of resilience, the indomitable spirit of a young man that knew no boundaries and courage that sustained him during dark hours. The action intensified throughout the remainder of the book, and one is allowed a rare glimpse into the mind of Il Duce - Benito Mussolini - plus the inner workings of the German High Command. Pino Lello witnesses atrocities he wishes he could forget but keeps soldiering on...wisely... Just a gripping and harrowing Kindle First selection which I feel is the best one I have read."
"He takes us deep inside the love story of his discovery, the unknown hero, Pino Lella, and he crafts an epic tale set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Milan and the Italian Alps during World War II that is as intimate and tragic as it is thought-provoking and triumphant."
"I cannot add more to the excellent reviews previously posted other than to say I read this book in one sitting not being able to put it down until 4:00 AM!"
"An amazing epic story of Pino Lella, a true war hero whose story was forgotten and marginalized by history."
"thankdfully, the novel does not leave us in despair and misery, but through the main character Pino Lella, we witness the good still left in people and the human ability to survive and thrive out of the worst conditions."
"Amazing book with a plot line made only better because it is based on a true story during events that changed the world."
"This is compelling story that is beautifully written."
"There was so much substance to the character, that his life became very dear to me: his adventures, his loves, his losses made me grateful for the box of tissue close by!"
Best U.S. Historical Fiction
Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption. Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong. Wingate is a master-storyteller, and you’ll find yourself pulled along as she reveals the wake of terror and heartache that is Georgia Tann’s legacy.” — Parade “One of the year’s best books . “Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation’s history and weaves a tale of enduring power.” —Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of Circling the Sun. A poignant, engrossing tale about sibling love and the toll of secrets.” — People “ Before We Were Yours is sure to be one of the most compelling books you pick up this year. [Lisa] Wingate is a master-storyteller, and you’ll find yourself pulled along as she reveals the wake of terror and heartache that is Georgia Tann’s legacy.” — Parade. It is almost a cliché to say a book is ‘lovingly written’ but that phrase applies clearly to Lisa Wingate’s latest novel, Before We Were Yours . This story about children taken from their parents through kidnapping or subterfuge and then placed for adoption, for a price, clearly pours out of Wingate’s heart. “This story is heartfelt and genuine, especially as Wingate explores the idea of home and family from a youngster’s point of view.” — Historical Novels Review. “Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation’s history and weaves a tale of enduring power. But the real feat of this stirring novel is how deeply Wingate plunges us into the heart and mind of twelve-year-old river gypsy Rill Foss. Rill’s utterly singular voice will stay with you long after the last page is turned, as will Wingate’s courage to follow her anywhere. I’m still basking in the afterglow, in shock at the true-crime elements, in awe at the journey of these characters who seem to have immortal souls.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It follows the story of the Foss children in the '30s and Avery Stafford in present day, and brings to light a horrifying and shameful real-life scandal. Avery Stafford finds a puzzling photograph that leads her into an ever more confusing story of secrets and lies inside her upright, respected family."
"This is the first book I've ever read by Lisa Wingate, but having read it I will search through her other titles."
"In the genre of Orphan Train, this story exposes the dark side of orphanages and adoption as seen from the perspective of a young girl and her siblings."
"I belong to a book club, we all read this book and thought there are 2 sides of the story one side was well developed and the second not that good."
"The story keeps you reading,to find out about the families lived thru time."
"This book is more like 4.5 stars."
"This was a very well researched historic fiction enlightening a topic I knew practically nothing about."
"This well-written novel is only an example of the real horror s that took place during the years of this story."
Best Women's Historical Fiction
Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is a gripping story of resilience, the indomitable spirit of a young man that knew no boundaries and courage that sustained him during dark hours. The action intensified throughout the remainder of the book, and one is allowed a rare glimpse into the mind of Il Duce - Benito Mussolini - plus the inner workings of the German High Command. Pino Lello witnesses atrocities he wishes he could forget but keeps soldiering on...wisely... Just a gripping and harrowing Kindle First selection which I feel is the best one I have read."
"He takes us deep inside the love story of his discovery, the unknown hero, Pino Lella, and he crafts an epic tale set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Milan and the Italian Alps during World War II that is as intimate and tragic as it is thought-provoking and triumphant."
"Set in Italy during the last two years of the second World War, this story follows the life of a remarkable young man, Pino Lella, who finds himself assigned as the driver of one of the most powerful Nazi officials in Italy. He accompanies this General throughout northern Italy as the war deteriorates and comes to a violent and tragic end. A very worthwhile story that author Mark Sullivan was lucky enough to learn of, then putting several years of research into piecing together as many of the details as he could."
"I cannot add more to the excellent reviews previously posted other than to say I read this book in one sitting not being able to put it down until 4:00 AM!"
"My father served as an American in WW2 and told a few stories of his journey, and like Pino was traumatized for a good part of his life sorting out the horror and truths."
"I really enjoyed this book, especially because I had just left Milan and had visited the Duomo when I started reading it."
"Interesting story which also allows you to realize the horrors of Syria will not be healed overnight."
"A chapter of the history that's not well known."
Best Historical Fiction Short Stories
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” ( Los Angeles Times ). Yes, there is fear and fighting and disappearance and death, but the author’s focus is on the interior lives of his two characters. Never mind that their paths don’t cross until very late in the novel, this is not a book you read for plot (although there is a wonderful, mysterious subplot about a stolen gem). It is through their individual and intertwined tales that Doerr masterfully and knowledgeably re-creates the deprived civilian conditions of war-torn France and the strictly controlled lives of the military occupiers.High-Demand Backstory: A multipronged marketing campaign will make the author’s many fans aware of his newest book, and extensive review coverage is bound to enlist many new fans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It has been a while since I have found a book that I wanted to read slowly so that I could soak in every detail in hopes that the last page seems to never come. When reading the synopsis of this novel, I never imagined that I would feel so connected to a book where one of the main characters is blind and the other a brilliant young German orphan who was chosen to attend a brutal military academy under Hitler's power using his innate engineering skills. I was invited into the pages and could not only imagine the atmosphere, but all of my senses were collectively enticed from the very first page until the last. In most well-written books you get of a sense of what the characters look like and follow them throughout the book almost as if you are on a voyage, but with this novel, I could imagine what it was like to be in Marie-Laure's shoes."
"On the other hand, as the author describes it, “It’s also a metaphorical suggestion that there are countless invisible stories still buried within World War II.” Add in a newly blinded French girl who is forced to leave her familiar surroundings, and you’ll soon find yourself in literary heaven. There are lessons about the brain, sitting inside the darkness of our skull, interpreting light; there are lessons about coal having been plants living millions of years ago, absorbing light, now buried in darkness; lessons about light waves that we cannot see—all applicable as the story unfolds. The author also includes connections to the song Clair de Lune, the book 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and a fictional story about a priceless diamond called the Sea of Flames, whose owner “so long as he keeps it, the keeper of the stone will live forever.”. I cannot proclaim loud enough how much this book means to me; I have been left awe-inspired."
"“All the Light We Cannot See” is a World War II story told from the experiences of two children; each gifted in their own way."
Best Historical Middle Eastern Fiction
In his signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world. Biblical history, as seen through the eyes of a professor who is puzzled, appalled, delighted, enriched and impoverished by the spectacle of a land where all men are archeologists.” — The New York Times “A sweeping [novel] filled with excitement—pagan ritual, the clash of armies, ancient and modern: the evolving drama of man’s faith.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer “Magnificent . In his signature style of grand storytelling, James Michener sweeps us back through time to the Holy Land, thousands of years ago. By exploring the lives and discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in and around an ancient city during critical periods of its existence, and traces the profound history of the Jews, including that of the early Hebrews and their persecution, the impact of Christianity on the Jewish world, the Crusades, and the Spanish Inquisition. Michener weaves his epic tale of love, strength, and faith until at last he arrives at the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. "The Source is not only a compelling history of the Holy Land and its people but a richly written saga that encompasses the development of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I first read this novel as an 8th grade book worm living in Hawaii, and went on to read several of Michener's novels."
"The story line is very much like a. journal or diary of Hawaii's history."
"Hawaii is truly is an epic historical novel."
"Fantastic as any other Michnner book."
"I highly recommend this book if your going to Hawaii, if you just want an adventure story, or if you want to read about how different ethnic groups learned to muddle along together. There's a ton of supporting detail that is quite interesting to read, and the book felt that there was nothing extraneous."
"Have read most if Michener's works since 50s - 60s."
"Hard to get past the first few chapters describing lava flows that create the islands."
"Just too long."
Best Religious Historical Fiction
With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. I marvel at her ability to weave together a story that grips hold of my heart and my imagination.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author. A Panzer tank through your heart, leaving dirt and rubble through which poppies bloom.” —Suanne Laqueur, author of An Exaltation of Larks. Amy Harmon is a New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including the Whitney Award–winning The Law of Moses . Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult books are now being published in twelve countries around the globe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But the mark of a great Amy Harmon book is her expertly crafted story that builds so very slowly - she builds you up and up and before you know it you’ve fallen for her characters and then it happens - the downfall that completely shatters you. The common theme within all of her books is that love and faith conquers all, and how hope and resilience can help you rise above even the most difficult of situations. I really hope that people give this book a chance. And strangely enough, I find myself convinced that God loves his children – all his children – that he loves me, and that he provides moments of light and transcendence amid the constant trial.”. “Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”. "Our immortality comes through our children and their children."
"Amy Harmon brings together the best and the worst of humanity on these pages, paving this journey with violence and bravery, horror and love. It's a ruthless barrage of emotions, this story, a relentless war between life and death, between good and evil, illustrated exquisitely by an author whose writing prowess knows no bounds. I've read many books of the true accounts of holocaust survivors, seen the movies and documentaries, taken classes concentrating on this area of study. To feel as though you know their strength, to get to know their life up until the moment it is stolen away, to know their helplessness in the face of something so unjust and so terrifying, it changes the way you look at the world, to see such atrocities through their eyes. This may be a fictionalized account inspired by true events, but you won't convince my heart Eva and Angelo aren't real. This story weaves it's way under your skin and into your soul so you feel every step of their journey, of their fight, of this miracle. Our world would be such a beautiful, peaceful, harmonious one if we sought to understand each other instead of judging each other for the ways we are different, for the God we pray to, for where each of our trees first took root. From Sand and Ash is a rich work of art, a stunning masterpiece that has moved me, altered me, captivated me. These characters, this fictionalized truth swathed in Harmon's unparalleled storytelling and her breathtaking writing style make for an epic story of bravery, love, resilience and loss that is both haunting and heartwarming all at once."
Best Historical Norse & Icelandic Fiction
In this savage saga of love, war, lust, and magic set in the tenth century, young Sigrid is destined to be the mother of the king of the Nordic lands that would become Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and England. In 2002, she was awarded the prestigious journalist award Guldspaden (“the Golden Shovel”) for her book Blackout , which describes her ten years as a Bosnian War correspondent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This novel is an interesting weaving of the stories of Sigrid “the Haughty,” a semilegendary Viking-age queen of Sweden, and Sweyn, the illegitimate son of King Harald “Bluetooth.” The author is an award-winning Swedish war correspondent, and she masterfully “covers” the ambitions of the story’s myriad Viking warriors in a sober and sobering style, in all its brutality and humanity. The author applies the same bluntness and frankness in talking about war as she does in talking about Sigrid’s experience as woman very much in a man’s world. With this blunt sensibility, the novel really is typically Scandinavian (other reviewers seem surprised at the Scandinavianness of the book, which is what surprises me—it’s a story set in the brutal Viking age written by a Swedish war correspondent, for goodness’ sake!). The text reminds me less of “Game of Thrones,” as others have pointed out, and more of the History Channel series “Vikings.” For instance, it is historically accurate inasmuch as possible, e.g., almost all of the characters in the book worship the Norse gods, and the author does a stupendous job bringing this unfamiliar-to-most world view accurately and engagingly to life. It reads as though the author had written it in English in the first place, which is impressive given the Swedish lens on Viking history that the American reader is invited to look through."
"### REVIEW UPDATE ###. As indicated below, subsequent to the original review, I came to greatly appreciate the value of the impact upon my inner self so much that I raised the star rating to five stars. Subsequent to that, I ordered the Audible recording through Amazon at the ridiculously low price of $1.99, so I can listen when I can't read, and so I can list while I read - I love Whispersync for audio. Furthermore, I have pre-ordered the second book in the series, scheduled for release October 17, 2017. Here is a link where that book can be found for pre-order: The Valhalla Series (2 Book Series). ** ** **. **WARNING**. This translated book has graphic scenes of violent sex that many readers may find revolting. Nonetheless, readers must be forewarned – I wish the book description had provided just such a disclaimer. Quick Overview. If, like me, you find yourself wishing to learn more in regards to your Viking heritage by reading historical fiction set in the time of your roots, I have this advice: Be careful what you wish for, because the truth of your heritage may be revolting…. I had an incredible challenge in selecting my Kindle First book this month. Many of the musings in this book, although perhaps not specifically true to the characters shown, are a truth that we Viking descendants may be wise to remember, lest we delve too deeply into judging the woes and ills of other cultural groups. At the same time, I am humbled and I have grown as a person by exposing myself to the essential truths at center stage in “The unbroken Line of the Moon.” More to the point, I could not easily read this tale. Yet, neither could I toss the book into the dust bin…this is a revolting, disgusting tale that I got addicted to…. Length: Print, 464 pages; Audible, 14 hours 30 minutes. Q - How was this book obtained? Q - Is this a book that I can read without having to read others first? Q - Is this a fast, easy read or is it more of a leisure read? A – This is a leisure read. A – Due to the graphic scenes of violent sex, if this were a film it would be rated either PG-17 or R. Q - My biggest pleasure or disappointment? “You’ll get what you yearned for after you part your legs and offer yourself up.”. Emma screamed and kicked, but Toste hit her in the face again, this time so hard he almost knocked her out. The Unbroken Line of the Moon (The Valhalla Series Book 1) (Kindle Locations 3505-3521). Comments regarding your opinion of this book or of my review, whether favorable or unfavorable, are always welcome. If you buy the book based on my review and become disappointed, especially, I do want to know that and I want to understand how I can improve as a book reviewer."
"While the warnings of graphic violence and sex are absolutely true I think it should also be made very clear that these scenes are not just in the book to shock or stimulate the reader."
Best Historical Australian & Oceanian Fiction
After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2012: Tom Sherbourne is a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a tiny island a half-day's boat journey from the coast of Western Australia. M. L. Stedman's vivid characters and gorgeous descriptions of the solitude of Janus Rock and the unpredictable Australian frontier create a perfect backdrop for this tale of longing, loss, and the overwhelming love for a child. Stedman, a spectacularly sure storyteller, swept me to a remote island nearly a century ago, where a lighthouse keeper and his wife make a choice that shatters many lives, including their own. “Haunting...Stedman draws the reader into her emotionally complex story right from the beginning, with lush descriptions of this savage. and beautiful landscape, and vivid characters with whom we can readily empathize. “This fine, suspenseful debut explores desperation, morality, and loss, and considers the damaging ways in which we store our private sorrows, and the consequences of such terrible secrets.” — Martha Stewart Whole Living. Tom, traumatised on the western front, takes a job as lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, 100 miles off the Australian coast between the Indian and Southern oceans, where he hopes that the vast surrounding emptiness will bring him peace. Told with the authoritative simplicity of a fable…Stedman’s intricate descriptions of the craggy Australian coastline and her easy mastery of an old-time provincial vernacular are engrossing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon""The Light Between Oceans" is a book worth reading, one you don't want to finish and yet can't wait to know how it ends."
"Here's a man who live by doing the right thing and even willing to risk his own life for his own mistakes. Isabel was delusional and she is the tragic figure here."
"The characters are flawed and make bad decisions which leads to a lot of heartbreak and sadness."
"Loved this book."
"When visiting a town near his work he meets his future wife Isabel. The rest of the book is an effort to settle this conflict with great sadness about how things will be revolved."
"I would recommend this book."
"This was the BEST book I've read in a long time!!"
"While I loved the characters and development of Tom (husband, assumed father) and Hannah (actual mother), Isabel's (wife, assumed mother) character rubbed me the wrong way, particularly towards the end."
Best Historical Caribbean & Latin American Fiction
In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. We meet Florentino Ariza, more antihero than hero, a mock Don Juan with an undertaker's demeanor, at once pathetic, grotesque and endearing, when he seizes the memorably unseemly occasion of Urbino's funeral to reiterate to Fermina the vow of love he first uttered more than 50 years before. With the fine detailing of a Victorian novel, the narrative plunges backward in time to reenact their earlier, youthful courtship of furtive letters and glances, frustrated when Fermina, in the light of awaking maturity, realizes Florentino is an adolescent obsession, and rejects him. When circumstances both comic and mystical offer Fermina and Florentino a second chance, during a time in their lives that is often regarded as promising only inevitable degeneration toward death, Garcia Marquez beautifully reveals true love's soil not in the convention of marriage but in the simple, timeless rituals that are its cement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The main love triange in the story is suported by the richness of supporting characters. The only love story that is as realistic and challenges the reader as much is the Elornor Gehrigs My Luke and I."
"What a powerful Love Story written by a man with such a command of the language it's astonishing and transformational."
"Marquez must have known great loves and sustaining loves in his life to have captured all of its flavors here."
"I will treasure it in my library, and pass it to my children and grand children."
"One of the most beautifully written books in my collection."
"I can't imagine reviewing a Noble Prize winner...This book was great."
"I am amazed at how beautiful the language flows and how the characters continue to evolve with new experiences."
"I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez's writing."
Best Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
International bestselling author Ken Follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent new epic, A Column of Fire . As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country’s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions, and invasion plans. A Column of Fire is absorbing, painlessly educational, and a great deal of fun.” —The Washington Post “Follett’s historical epics, including this one, evoke the Romantic adventures of Alexandre Dumas. “Fans of Follett's epic sagas The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End , set in the Middle Ages in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, will be thrilled by this latest installment.” —New York Post “[Follett is a] master of the sweeping, readable epic.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer. As always, Follett excels in historical detailing, transporting readers back in time with another meaty historical blockbuster.” — Booklist “An immersive journey through the tumultuous world of 16th century Europe and some of the bloodiest religious wars in history. Ken Follett is one of the world’s best-loved authors, selling more than 160 million copies of his thirty books. Follett’s first bestseller was Eye of the Needle , a spy story set in the Second World War.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We waited three years for a new Ken Follett novel and almost ten for the next, the third, book of his Kingsbridge story. If you know novels by Ken Follett, you know what you get: Tension, entertainment, a lot of well researched knowledge – and unfortunately a little black and white where you expect more gray. Two things first: Ken Follett gets back to Kingsbridge, his fictional town in England, for the third time, ten years after “World Without End” and 28 (!). It plays in Modern History, right after the reformation by the German monk Martin Luther (these days exactly 500 years ago). But there are evil villains, sexist and racist, very bad according to these our values and these guys giving him a hard time. But experience told us that the world is gray and evil characters are more interesting if they are complicated. Because Follett is such a good writer that you never lose track, also there are so many persons and plots."
"It's the greatest book I've ever read and it unearthed my passion for historical fiction. Even IF you're not into historical fiction, it's impossible that you wouldn't love this book or its series or any of Ken's novels."
"Centered in Elizabethan England and peopled primarily with English characters, it portrays the conflicting views (not all that many when you come down to it) between Catholics and Protestants and the ensuing horrible bloodshed through much of the 16th century. Evil Pierre, whose entire being is permeated by greed rather than religion, conspires with supporters of Catholicism in France (who are power-hungry rather than religious believers), triggering multiple episodes of bloodshed. A host of other characters, some historical and others fictional, take the reader from the coronation of Elizabeth to the Guy Fawkes plot and hopefully remind readers that religious (and racial, too, for that matter) differences are really superficial and that a great deal more unites people than divides them."
"That they seem too modern is periodically reinforced by the inclusion of words and phrases such as "dreamboat," "talking trash" and "puke,"--somewhat jarring to come across."
"I really wanted to like this book ."