Transport Yourself to Another Time Period With Historical Fiction

If you're like me, you're probably already a bit done with 2021. 
After all, we are still in a pandemic and our democracy continues to be challenged. So it makes sense to wish we could whisk away to a different era altogether. Maybe an era so far removed from our own that we can barely make a comparison. Maybe an era and a story, where we are tested, not feeling so helpless to change things, so hopeless that things will change. 

Fortunately, we're in luck!
The world of literature has gifted us with just the escapism we need in historical fiction.

Let's steer clear of the dark days of the Civil War and the French Revolution, oui?

Some of these I've read, some still wait in my To Be Read pile. 

Most are newer titles, but some are older must-reads.

Greek and Roman Era:

A retelling of the Trojan war from the point of view of the women it most affected.

I LOVE Miller's writing, and can't wait to read this one she wrote prior to Circe. 

                

    

Dark Ages/Medieval:

Ken Follett's newest promises an exciting saga of Vikings, Early English, Welsh, and Norman clashes.

The author of Fates and Furies has come out with something that seems a bit of a departure for her, and a story I would love to have told (if I had the talent Groff has). Her latest novel tells the story of Marie de France, a medieval author I read a ton of in college--in French and English💚 

           

     Earlier Americas:

This came out a few years ago and I have gotten it from the library several times, but it is always due back before I can get to it! It takes place in 1893, in the harsh Arizona Territory. By the author of The Tiger's Wife, which I loved.

King Louis XIV sanctions a program to send destitute women to Quebec to help settle his new colony and this tells the story of one of those women. It promises to be full of adventure! 

I pre-ordered this for its October release date.

         

   Turn-of-the-Century to Roaring '20s:  

*Local (Ohio) author alert*

I can't wait to read this telling of the journalist Nellie Bly and how, in 1887, she went "undercover" as a mentally ill patient to investigate the treatment of patients in an insane asylum. 

Impeccably researched novel of Jazz Age Chicago--need I say more?

The fates of three women unfold against the backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. I have yet to read any of Meissner's books, but just about all of them are in my TBR pile!

I loved this family adventure of the Turner sisters. Among the frolics on and off the vaudeville stage, they also learn some hard lessons and cannot avoid some heartbreak. 

          

Emerging Australia:

 Three women's stories are told in this novel that begins on a seafaring journey to the newly colonized Australia and follows them as they make a life in this brutal land.

                     Colonial Africa:

*Local author alert*

Another of my favorite books! McClain tells the story of Beryl Markham, the English-born Kenyan aviator and adventurer. This book will definitely transport you to another land and era.

                WWII:

This just came out and is sure to be an exciting and insightful story about the last London debutantes before WWII. 

*Local resident alert*

This book is fascinating, romantic, epic, and dark. Orringer recreates the world of WWII Paris and Hungary. The characters are unforgettable and the writing is rich and beautiful.

This one is next up for me (at least as of today:) Survival in the wilderness and Nazis!

            Other and Mixed Time Periods:

The author of A Gentleman in Moscow has set his latest novel in 1950s America using multiple points of view.

This came out earlier this year and the reviews have been great. It takes place in three different time periods, telling the story of a castle protected not by men, but by women.

Do you have any of your own recommendations?

The Requisite End-of-Year Post

 What is there to say about this year that hasn’t already been said?

What can I write that could possibly convey enough to encapsulate this strange, brutal year?

There’s been a lot of anxiety, fear, and disappointment.

For some, there has been loss, sadness, and struggle.

It’s been a hard time to be a parent, weighing every decision and saying no, a lot. 

The election was an ugly time for me. I was judgemental, afraid, and demoralized. I swung back and forth from thinking I was on the right side of things, to wondering if I was one of the crazy ones.

I don’t see 2021 being much better than 2020. I don’t think that, just because the calendar page turns, things are going to be different. At least for the first six months.

I think it will be a year of hope, and tentative steps toward normalcy. 

There is still much to learn from this event, and I hope changes come about because of it.

(Now, I'm going to make a big, honking chocolate cake and eat it in the middle of the day!)

There were some positives too.

Time. More time to reflect (and worry), and to write. There’s been more time spent with family, and enjoying nature. I've spent time with friends in the rain, and in the freezing cold just to be together.

Celebrations. Birthdays, holidays, and milestones celebrated in memorable ways.

                   Gigi:

She’s given us such joy, and taught us patience, and the art of making people feel loved and special. 

Also:

Democracy won

Carbon emissions went down

Racial injustice protests

LBGTQ inclusion

The 1st female vice president!

Trends I tried, and even liked: a hot chocolate bomb, TikTok dances, and wearing yoga pants in public.

Favorite Books:                                                                                                                                    

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton:

magical realism meets gothic mystery.

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue: superb writing

Circe by Madeline Miller: all around great read

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell: disturbing story of student/teacher relationship that blurs the lines of what is a victim. 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: how prison systems are intrinsically flawed businesses with no interest in reforming people

TV Shows:

Dark (Netflix): a mind-bending puzzle

The Queen's Gambit (Netflix): who knew chess could be so compelling?

The Spy (Netflix):

Modern Love (Amazon Prime): not the sentimental love stories you expect

What were some of your positives from 2020?
Or, if you need to rant, complain, or whine I'm here for that too!

My 3-layer chocolate cake with chocolate nibs sprinkled on top. 

Crisp, Autumn Fiction

Halloween is right around the corner. Can you believe it??
As quickly as the time is passing, this year, it may be a blessing-hoping that things are better in the next anyway. They can't be worse, can they? The sad things is, I think they can.

But each day is a new day to change our mindset, to try again, to work for something better, to make a difference in the world. If you are like me, and feeling despondent and demoralized, escape into a book now and then. It's good for the soul.

 Here are some newly released and upcoming titles that I'm looking forward to (click on the book to take you to the goodreads.com description):

I'm really looking forward to reading this literary suspense novel. It's getting a lot of buzz since it has been long-listed for the National Book Award.

 I'm not sure what to expect from this novel about Imperial Russia. Reviews suggest to be prepared for Game of Thrones-like sex and violence.

This is going to be a long read--over 700 pages! But I'll read anything this man writes.

This is one of the highest rated books I've ever come across on goodreads.com. I'm not surprised, since Schwab has a handful of highly rated titles. She skirts the edge of adult and YA fantasy.

Though his books have gotten somewhat formulaic, I LOVE the formula! Follett takes us to the Dark Ages this time.

I'm not adding this to my list, but I know a lot of people would really enjoy this upcoming title. It's considered a Grey's Anatomy meets Scrubs read.  

This seems very different from Picoult's other books. It's an alternate worlds story about the choices we make.

I'm currently reading another of Turton's books (see below) and it's so beautifully, and cleverly written that I have to put his new one on my list too.

My current line up:

 I'm not sure how this is going to end, but so far it's a compelling mystery/magical realism that I can't put down. 

Next:

This is not what I typically read, but it's about two writers and it sounds so fun.

I'm so excited to read this, that I bought it! Historical literary fiction, set in the 20's--right up my alley!

And, coming to the big screen (or maybe just Netflix:)

 I'm excited to see this movie starring Tom Hanks.

For your younger readers:

A new middle school read by the author of The War That Saved My Life. Watch for this to be on the Newberry lists!

This is a survival tale told in verse. Think Hatchet for girls.

Coming YA:

I liked Lacour's We Are Okay. This sounds even more intriguing (and no, it's not historical fiction but I adore this cover).

This looks like it will be the perfect YA thriller!

Happy Autumn and happy reading!

What's on your to-read list?

Count Alexandre Dumas

 Do you remember The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas fils*? 

It's the story of Edmond Dantés, who is wrongfully accused of being a traitor to Napoleon, and put into prison where he languishes, whilst his life on the outside is also destroyed.

I read it in high school because it was French, it was an adventure story, and written by the author of The Three Musketeers. Full of adventure, drama, and the the human plight of the wrongly accused. But, it was also a morality tale warning how the need for vengeance can warp our own integrity, and endanger one's own soul.  

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   The Black Count is the story of the author Dumas' father who was the son of a black slave and a French aristocrat. He was the inspiration behind all his son's novels, but especially The Count of Monte Cristo. For a biography, it was like a swashbuckling adventure, though at times, it was heartbreakingly sad. There were some boring military logistics and background info that I skimmed over. And at the same time, so many tidbits that piqued my curiosity (like the medical practices of the day-enemas were a daily treatment for some and sperm conservation was crucial matter). 

Here is a concise biography of General Alexandre Dumas: 

Alex Dumas was highly educated in the Paris of the late ancien regime before the Revolution and was a great equestrian and swordsman. He was also a beloved husband and father. 

                                                             Marie-Louise Labouret, his devoted wife                                                             

He started in the lowest ranks of the military, and quickly rose to general, then military governor, then a general leading 50,000 men. His heroics are near-unbelievable. But there are multiple contemporary sources describing his exploits-as well as his humanity. In fact, he was mockingly called “Mr. Humanity” (which sounds much cooler in French), due to his compassion toward his soldiers, prisoners and the people of the towns he "liberated."

Napoleon had an unusual hatred of him, the repercussions of which led to Dumas fils' impoverished childhood.

Why did Napoleon dislike him so much, when he was such an accomplished, celebrated, daring, intrepid soldier?

Well, those are some good reasons right there. But also because of Napoleon's famed hang-ups regarding his height (after all, General Dumas was over 6-feet tall), and the typical penchant dictators have for not tolerating their motives being questioned (Dumas could not help but speak up against injustice and speak up for the values of the revolution that Napoleon was flouting more and more). And, we think Bonaparte was a little racist. 

Dumas was taken prisoner after Napoleon up and left his men and generals overseas. In a

prison in Taranto, Naples, Dumas was treated cruelly for two years, slowly being poisoned,

and with no word to his family in all that time. 

When he was finally released and returned back to France, Napoleon went to great lengths to insure General Dumas' military feats were forgotten and ignored those who pled on his behalf to give him his backpay.

His death a few years later was cruelly slow (stomach cancer) and painful to read about as

he prepared his family for it and watched as Napoleon imposed cruel race laws in France, reinstituted slavery in the colonies, and made sure any black who wore an officer’s uniform was killed, or captured.

His family was shunned and penniless,

Alexandre, the author, only four years old.

Alexandre Dumas fils wrote: “You see, Father, I haven’t forgotten any of the memories

that you told me to keep. From the time I could think, your memory has lived in me like

a sacred lamp, illuminating everything and everyone you ever touched, even though

death has taken it away.”

               *fils, after a French name, differentiates son from father

Back to School Reading for Middle School

Did your middle schooler really get in enough reading this summer? 

If not, don't worry; we are about to get back into the academic groove!
You're going to need some good books for that required reading, and those times when your kid finishes three days of work in three hours 😲

Here are some books to reserve from your school🤞or public library:

Rhodes' Latest

Reject Racism!

Great for 5th-7th grade

A MS survival tale

A local Columbus author takes on Hindu mythology

Blending families isn't always easy

Road trip with grandma!

A great science teachers make all the difference!

A beautiful refugee novel in verse

An abandoned church becomes an imaginative playground

For fans of Wonder and Wimpy Kid

A naughty dog brings a family together

      

Another beloved local Columbus author has a new series-think Stranger Things

I love Gemeinhart's books and this is my favorite

Graphic Novels I've Loved:

         If you want more graphic novel recommendations, let me know! There are so many great ones out there (and some not so great).

Also, if you need recommendations on nonfiction for middle grade readers, let me know. I love middle grade biographies and narratives.