Category Archives: Historical fiction

#WitchWeek2021 Day 6

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Lizzie Ross

Over at Calmgrove, you’ll find the final Witch Week post. Jean (from Howling Frog Books) reviews a sci-fi novel by John Verney that was published more than 60 years ago. Looks like I’ll be spending time in used book stores … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical fiction, Witch Week | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Mythbusting: Part II

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Lizzie Ross

In my last post, I looked behind the curtain to bust the myth of the mid-19th-century “independent pioneer” during the western expansion of the US. Today I uncover the myth of the lonely autobiographer, who delves deep into memories to … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Historical fiction, History, Memoir | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

#WitchWeek2020 Day 5: Gothic fantasy, with puppets

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Puppet shows! Fun times for all, right? Not in this chilling Newbery Honor book. In 2007, Laura Amy Schlitz had won the Newbery Award for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village. This 2012 gothic fantasy by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Fantasy, Gothic, Historical fiction, Mystery, Witch Week, YA Lit | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Have you forgotten something?

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Despite being set in two different centuries, nearly 100 years apart, the books in today’s post share one element: a blinkered Euro-centric view of life “down under”. Read on to see what I mean. In A Town Like Alice (1950, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Am reading, Australia, Fiction, Historical fiction, History, New Zealand, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Furthest south

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

To kick-off my themed posts over the next few weeks: I give you books set in New Zealand and Australia, many by Kiwi and Aussie authors. If you’re following me on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll know why. Here, though, I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Culture clash, Fiction, Historical fiction, New Zealand, Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

In the near future

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Lory at The Emerald City Book Review recently wondered if her readers had reading plans for the year. Excellent question, if only because it gives me a chance to prep you for what’s to come on this blog. My usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Am reading, Australia, Fiction, Historical fiction, History, New Zealand, Travel | 11 Comments

Fortean doings

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Lizzie Ross

A bonus post for R.I.P. XIV (Readers Imbibing Peril) — what more could anyone ask of this week before Halloween? Today, a YA trilogy drawn from Edison’s and Tesla’s rivalry that raises important questions about morality, mixed in with some … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Historical fiction, Humorous, Macabre, Mystery, RIP, Science fiction | Tagged , | Leave a comment

In Welsh hills

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Lizzie Ross

Another review to add to Paula Bardell-Hedley’s Wales Readathon. Chatwin’s novel of 20th century life in the Black Hills of Wales wasn’t in my TBR pile for this month, but it called to me from the pages of Anthony Bailey’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Dewithon, Fiction, Historical fiction, Wales, Wales Readathon | Tagged | 7 Comments

Amuse bouche: magical realism version

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Lizzie Ross

The Enchantress of Florence, Salman Rushdie (Random House, 2008) Here, I offer you another tidbit to tempt your palate for other-worldly tales: a story of a mysterious European and of Akbar, the 16th century Mughal emperor. The European goes by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Historical fiction, Magical realism | Tagged | 4 Comments

Backward Rambles

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Lizzie Ross

Little Follies: The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences and Observations of Peter Leroy (So Far) (1995), Eric Kraft What do you remember from your childhood? How far back do your memories go? More importantly, how much can you trust your memories? … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Historical fiction, Humorous, Memoir, Series | Tagged | 3 Comments