books: a historical novel ...     books:       The Other Queen: A Novel57 reviews Philippa Gregory Touchstone, 2008 Other Queen just doesn't measure up Philippa Gregory is a masterful author, and I really did enjoy reading The Other Queen because of Gregory's style. However, it is not in the same league as the very exciting and event-filled The Other Bolyn Sister, which I have read half a dozen times and can never seem to put down. I had been looking forward to reading The Other Queen, largely due to the fact that so much less has been written ...             Sea of Poppies: A Novel34 reviews Amitav Ghosh Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008 A rich epic saga anyone will enjoy. I have to say I was genuinely surprised by this book. The story is phenomenally detailed, and the writing is simply superb. I didn't know that people wrote books like this anymore. Yes - it's that good. The story is set during a blossoming relationship many people would rather forget - the love affair with that painful mistress opium at the beginning of the 19th century. "There would be ...             Loving Frank: A Novel195 reviews Nancy Horan Ballantine Books, 2008 Interesting fictionalized bio I did not know the background of Frank Lloyd Wright's life so this book read like a pleasant romantic novel. I had been told that it had a startling ending. At one point, I put it down for the day and said to my friend, "I don't get it. I'm enjoying the book but I'm almost finished and life is going along so well for everyone. What could possibly be the 'startling ending'?" The next day, I ...             The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel585 reviews Diane Setterfield Washington Square Press, 2007 Beautiful book Wonderful book. Definitely one of the best I've read in a while. It's the story of two women. Vida Winters - the most beloved living novelist in the British Isles, now 80 years old. And Margaret Lea - a 30ish, introverted antiquarian bookseller and amateur biographer. Vida Winters past has always been a mystery, fuelled by the hundreds of `fake' life histories that she has fed to various ...             The Given Day: A Novel74 reviews Dennis Lehane William Morrow, 2008 An Honest and Unhappy Portrayal of Boston and America in 1919 The Given Day marks a departure for Lehane. The Given Day is historical fiction that explores the lives of ordinary working stiffs of Boston and the US circa 1919. The story centers around a tough, smart, and handsome Boston Irish copper named Danny Coughlin and Luther Laurence, a gifted black man on the run. Coughlin struggles in his relationship with his powerful father and Boston police ...             A Mercy12 reviews Toni Morrison Knopf, 2008 AN EMBRACING YET STILL SEARCHING VOICE To read Toni Morrison is a privilege. To hear her narrate her work is both privilege and pleasure. Her voice will surprise some as it is slight with the smallest bit of huskiness. Such strong, wonderful words from a voice so quiet? At times the sound belies her 77 years; at other times, it reveals all of that time as she tells us a story of 17th century America, the years before slavery ...             Water for Elephants: A Novel1519 reviews Sara Gruen Algonquin Books, 2007 Hard to put this book down... This is an incredibly moving book on so many levels. I laughed, cried and loved every moment. Water for Elephants is a book that should be read by anyone who values life, love and wisdom.             Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel605 reviews Lisa See Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006 Phenomenal Women Book Club (Houston, TX) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a wonderful, loving, and tragic story of friendship and betrayal that teaches the reader much about compassion and forgiveness. We felt that Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a book that truly transcended time and culture. This plot, with two women at its center, encompasses the hurt, pain, anguish, and undying compassion two women felt for each other. The ...             Serena: A Novel39 reviews Ron Rash Ecco, 2008 "That's the only one of his you'll have." Rash has crafted a truly stunning novel, a clash of beauty and violence as ambition and greed run unchecked in the western North Carolina wilderness, where the mountains are rich with timber and men are desperate for work in 1929's depression economy. Against a pristine background systematically destroyed by an avaricious lumber company, the workers ply a dangerous trade where fatalities are ...             Suite Francaise375 reviews Irene Nemirovsky Vintage, 2007 Unfinished masterpiece Suite Francaise sat on my permanent "mountain" of waiting-to-be-read books for about a year, unopened. Had I only known... The Holocaust claimed the lives of innumerable people. Irene Nemirovsky was among them. She died at Auschwitz a year after writing the first two novels (out of intended five) belonging to Suite Francaise. "Storm in June" and "Dolce" were re-discovered decades after she ...             The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II42 reviews Jeff Shaara Ballantine Books, 2008 Shaara's latest dives into well-worn field of D-Day & Normandy Jeff Shaara continues to follow in the footsteps of his father, Michael ("The Killer Angels") with "The Steel Wave." The model is simple. Take a major event in military history and fictionalize it (slightly) by telling the story from the perspective of a revolving cast of characters from both sides, usually reflecting both the commanders and the low-ranking grunts. From the Civil War to WWI to ...             The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel (P.S.)293 reviews Michael Chabon Harper Perennial, 2008 Outstanding prose, addictive story, rushed and confused ending. While it may take a few pages to get in accord with Chabon's rhythm, it becomes a great, fanciful ride. Creative use of English and Yiddish spices the already interesting storyline, told in the noir style of a fictional urban shtetl. I searched the book for an unimaginative sentence and could not find one. My only gripe is the short shrift given to the ending, leaving this reader a bit ...             Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae658 reviews Steven Pressfield Bantam, 2005 Captivating! Although the martial nature of this book makes blood, guts and foul language seem appropriate, an edited copy might be in line here for the young or tender. That said, the story is absolutely captivating. I feel like I was there. Not only has Pressfield painted an accurate picture of Herodotus' account, he has filled in the lines with a realistic story line that forces the reader to think ...             The Secret Scripture18 reviews Sebastian Barry Viking Adult, 2008 A Clear View Roseanne Clear is an ancient woman living in an Irish asylum to which she was committed "for social reasons" after she bore an out-of-wedlock child. She has been a resident for so long that no one knows how old she really is or exactly what the circumstances of her commitment were. The "secret scripture" of the title is Roseanne's narrative of her life, written on scraps with a pilfered pen and ...             The Heretic's Daughter: A Novel44 reviews Kathleen Kent Little, Brown and Company, 2008 Enthralling!!!!! This book had me from page one. The author has the ability to capture your attention and place you directly in the book. In her description early on of a cold wagon ride, I found myself looking for a blanket although I was sitting in my own living room. Vivid details and descriptions of the area, the conditions and the people. Loved it!!! I can't wait for her next book.             Katherine259 reviews Anya Seton Chicago Review Press, 2004 The Best Historical Novel I've Ever Read I have read many historical novels about the medieval and renaissance periods and this is the best. I couldn't put the book down. It's been months since I read it, and I still think about it every day. What a great love story!             Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel278 reviews Gregory Maguire Harper Paperbacks, 2000 Maguire has done it again His wonderful novels have yet to disappoint. He is so descriptive and clear, I find myself drawn into his worlds completely. I have read 4 or 5 of his novels now and every time I have thoroughly enjoyed his twisted take on a familiar back story. Keep 'em coming!             The Whiskey Rebels: A Novel69 reviews David Liss Random House, 2008 A great book for those who enjoy historical, period fiction... If you are a fan of historical fiction and period pieces, you will really enjoy this book by Liss. The plot he weaves is as interesting as the characters he creates to place within it. This is the first book by Liss that I've read, but I can see from the reviews that some of his other volumes are likely to be as good as this one. Since I was so impressed by this effort, I plan to dive into the ...             The End: A novel7 reviews Salvatore Scibona Graywolf Press, 2008 WOW Wow, this book was wonderfully written. I was completely astonished. This new author certainly has a way with words. The way he intertwines the characters, telling us their stories along the way. He has a way of telling it like it was, and putting you right there in the midst of it all. You can just about feel the emotions yourself as you read. Imagining yourself right there beside them all.             The Lace Reader: A Novel145 reviews Brunonia Barry William Morrow, 2008 Interesting twist and held interest throughout Thoroughly enjoyed this book - the tidbits at the start of each chapter about Lace/Lace Readers was a nice change up to the story. Could picture each of the characters, appreciate when that connection can be made. The ending did make me want to go back and reread the whole book again! Well done, Enjoy!              search for books battle, confessions, daughter, elephants, flower, francaise, frank, gates, given, heretic, katherine, loving, mercy, other, policemen, poppies, queen, reader, rebels, scripture, secret, serena, steel, stepsister, suite, thermopylae, thirteenth, union, whiskey, yiddish books:    Kindle - Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device This is the future of book reading. I have used it and love it! randomly chosen book: Fixed Ideas: America Since 9.11 we recommend Hard to put this book down... leave a comment home  impressum - about us