If anyone enjoys historical fiction or thinks they may want to try one out, here is a list of the ones that I absolutely adore:
Forever By: Pete Hamill Outlander By: Diana Gabaldon (this is the first book in a series) The Tea Rose By: Jennifer Donnelly
Those are the only ones I can think of at the moment. Please feel free to add more suggestions to this list!
What-Now
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What history period are thoses book covering?
JennLC
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'Forever' starts out in Ireland in 1741 and then continues in New York up to 2001. 'Outlander' is situated in Scotland in both 1945 and 1743 (most of the book takes place in this time period). 'The Tea Rose' is set in the 1880's in London, during the time of Jack the Ripper.
dandj
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I've been reading alot about the Henry the 8th time... two that were good are the Other Boleyn girl and the Lady in the Tower. Also the Secret Book of Grazia de Rossi - Italy in the 1400's. Really interesting.
verdila
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One of my favorite historical fiction is by Mario Puzo (yes he wrote The GodFather) but this book is much more subdued. It is called The Fortunate Pilgrim and is about Italian immigrants in the early part of 1900s in NYC....describes in detail the poverty, illness, etc. with no over the top drama like in The Godfather (which dont get me wrong - loved the movies) but this is much different.
Another good one is by Caleb Carr - called The Alienist which blends fiction with 19th century NYC.
TwoBugs
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My favorite historical fiction book - although it doesn't go as far back in history as most of the books on this list - is Libra by Don DeLillo. Actually, it's one of my all-time faves. It's a fictional account of the JFK asassination. It's kind of a 'what if it really happened like this?' blend of fact and fiction, and it's completely fascinating.
shawl
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I've enjoyed Margaret George's books about Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scots, and Cleopatra. Also Irving Stone, esp. The Agony and the Ecstasy (about Michelangelo). I was recently recommended (and just started) The First Man in Rome, the first book in a series by Colleen McCollough (author of The Thorn Birds).
dandj
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I'm actually in the middle of the Life and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. Its about Napolean's wife, before she met him... really interesting about the French Revolution and things... Its the first one in a series of three. I have to find the other two.
I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl now. It's really good. It's about 600 pages, and I started it last Sunday, but I'm more than halfway through it now. I can't stop reading it.
belleboyd
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For historical fiction, try anything by Sharon K. Penman. She writes mostly about the Middle Ages in England.
My faves are:
When Christ and His Saints Slept Sunne In Splendor Here Be Dragons Falls the Shadow
I think she is great!!
Danielle&Scott
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I just sold a bunch of historical books on ebay.
gertyrae
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Verdila, I have to agree with you on The Alienist. That was one of the best historical novels I've read. I didn't like his other books though, I don't know about you.
Xelindrya
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The Alienist
loved it!
Pickle
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Also liked the Alienist & Outlander.
I also liked Jack Finney's Time & Again (there is a sequel i think, can't remember the title). Its about an FBI project that involves time travel from the 1950's to the late 1800's, early 1900's in NYC. One of my fave passages is when it talks about NYC pre-statue of Liberty, and her arm is on display (before the rest of her body gets here) in madison square park.
It was a great read.
SeptemberBride03
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I want to second Forever - that book is great! It is long but when I got to the end, I wished it would have been longer! I was so intrigued the entire time! Especially b/c I worked on Wall St for several years and knew all the places he lived and walked to.
