HISTORICAL
FICTION
We love a good read, filled with fully-developed intergenerational characters and accurate historical settings. These big, fat books will keep your attention (and make you a history trivia whiz among friends):
Guests of the Emperor by Janice Young Brooks. This author took the best of the WWII Pacific women-internee diaries, including Natalie Crouter and Agnes Newton Keith, and wrote a long, satisfying yarn about American and European women caught by the Japanese during World War II. The descriptions of these women's nearly 4 years of internment under miserable circumstances are recognizable from the actual diary entries, with the added bonus of Brooks' wonderful writing to flesh out the scenes and tie them together. The women in this book are fully-realized, and the story just clips along. And we love how the end of the book follows the main characters to tell us how they fared after being repatriated.
Time and Tide by Thomas Fleming. We love any books by Thomas Fleming because he makes history come alive in the way only a great storyteller can. Whether the setting is WWI, WWII (our favorite), or later, you know you'll get a great set of characters together with fast-paced historical drama. This one takes you through the worst naval battles of WWII interwoven with the personal stories of its heroes. Don't miss Over There and Officer's Wives, too.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Guaranteed you will learn more about stonecutting and cathedral building than you ever imagined, but a good ride. No other Ken Follett book is as comprehensive at this one (but we're still hoping).
Share of Honor by Robert Graves. From 1942 to 1945 the Japanese controlled the Philippines. What happened to those loyal to the cause of freedom? This book will read very quickly and answer that question.
Roots by Alex Haley. A long yarn of a story, covering descendents' journey from Africa to America. A searing story with very flushed out characters, and a genealogical line you can actually follow.
A Bell for Adano by John Hersey. A funny, touching story of an out-of-his depth American officer in Italy following World War II. Chosen to govern this town solely because he has an Italian-American name, he learns that bureaucracy + passionate townspeople = chaos.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. We never thought we'd find a cowboy book appealing, but this one had us from the very start and never let go. A pleasure to read.
Centennial by James Michener. We like early Michener, and don't like the later ones like Caribbean and Mexico which just kind of threw everything into the pot, stirred once, and dumped it onto paper. But Centennial is an example of The Great Storyteller at his best, with characters you hate to see leave the scene, and a story that flows believably. Pete also recommends Alaska and Poland.
Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd. The history of the Salisbury Plain of England, as told through several families at different strata of society. Just when you thought it was safe to put away your stonecutting tools...
London by Edward Rutherfurd. Here he goes again, with one of our favorite cities as the focus. Our next visit to London will be seen with new interest because of this book. Told more in historical vignettes, it doesn't flow as smoothly as other historical fiction, but is chock-full with information. We gave up trying to keep track of the family trees involved -- even the chart in the front doesn't help. Just read it for the enjoyable historical interpretations of the many periods covered.
Anya by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. A heart-rending, detailed novel of the Holocaust, Poland, and it's aftermath. Very well done, and a book that will stay with you for a long time.
Trinity by Leon Uris. Can't believe it took Pete twenty years to get around to reading this one...a searing look at hatred and hope in a torn and divided Ireland. A must read for anyone who doesn't know what it means to be an 'Orange' man or a 'croppy'. The story continues in Redemption.
Massachusetts by Nancy Zaroulis. Here's an enjoyable way to learn the history of our home state, Massachusetts. These Puritans were one uptight bunch of settlers, spawning an outgrowth of other towns because their rules disenfranchised so many. A book chock full of historical detail.