Category Archives: Historical fiction

A few book recommendations and …

I’ll start with some brief book recommendations, and end with a woeful tale that ends happily. Despite the disruption of home repairs, I’ve managed to finish several books since the end of April, and May is only half-done. A suggestion … Continue reading

Posted in #LoveHain, Adventure, Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction, Libraries, Nonfiction, Science fiction | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Another quick recommendation

Hernán Díaz, In the Distance (2017) and Trust (2022) Hernán Díaz’s latest novel, Trust, is the May selection for the NYPL/WNYC Virtual Book Club, which aims to get New Yorkers reading (and, obviously, discussing) new books. I heard an interview … Continue reading

Posted in Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction | Tagged | 2 Comments

#WitchWeek2021 Day 6

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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