All the Light We Cannot Sea by Anthony Doerr is one of my favorites of all time. A WWII novel about a French girl and a German boy whose lives intersect during the war.
There are so many to love and so many have already been mentioned. One of the best I've ever read, though, is News of the World by Paulette Jiles. It's a jewel of a book and you can read it in one sitting. Captain Kidd is such a wonderful character and his job as a newsreader is fascinating. That that was the only way that some people got any news is hard for us to believe. The bond that he forms with Johanna is so heart breaking and heartwarming. Interestingly, Captain Kidd is based on a real man named Captain Kidd, who was the great-grandfather of one of the author's friend's husband. Then, of course, there's the movie, which I have not seen, but who else could possibly play Captain Kidd except Tom Hanks.
I also loved News of the World (the book)…such a unique story set in a time of transition after the Civil War.
The movie is well-done and I liked it, but not as in-depth as the book. Tom Hanks is great as Captain Kidd and Helena Zengel, who plays Johanna, is amazing.
The Eighth Life about Soviet Georgia. A real honker of a book, but so good.
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish set in the 1660s and early 2000s. Amazing!
The Time In Between by Maria Duenas set in Spain, Morocco and Portugal in the early and mid-twentieth century. Beautifully written page turner with terrific protagonist.
I’m a die-hard fan of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series as well as anything written by Ruta Sepetys, author of several historical novels for young adults (Salt to the Sea, Between Shades of Gray, I Must Betray You, The Fountains of Silence, The Bletchley Riddle, Out of the Easy). Dreamland by Nancy Bilyyeau is a fun historical crime novel set in 1911 in Coney Island. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah - I think it’s her best. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan fictionalizing the relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Darktown and its two sequels about the segregated police force solving crimes in post-war Atlanta by Thomas Mullen.
Oh, yes--The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah! I forgot to mention that in my post previously. It was simply fascinating, as nearly all of her more recent books seem to be. I thought I read somewhere that it was going to be made into a movie, but I don't know whether that ever happened.
I think Salt to the Sea is the most unique as it’s organized, as I recall, into the diary entries or letters of four different young people who are trying to get on the last refugee ship departing Germany from a Baltic port before the Red Army can reach it. It’s not uplifting, but it is captivating.
I love Lisa See's historical novels. The Island of Sea Women details the lives of the all female diving collective on Jeju Island, Korea. Also, Lady Tan's Circle of Women brings to life of one of the first female physicians five centuries ago.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. Pulitzer Prize winner and fascinating book about the hardships and rewards of the American west and epic cattle drives.
Is it okay to state the obvious? I grew up reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel and return to them every so often. If my husband were writing this, he would say the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brien and Far Tortuga by Peter Mathiessen.
Yes, I liked this too. Kingsolver delivers a very strong sense of place, and while I don't always remember the facts of a historical event, I do enjoy getting a feeling for the characters and their stories.
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon - based on a true story of a female French Resistance fighter in WWII (she also wrote the excellent Frozen River, which has already been mentioned). From the wayback machine, Noble House by James Clavell. And from the way-way back machine . . . Little Women.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Book was great but when I got to the Author's Note at the END and discovered it was based on a real woman's life. I immediately reread the book. Also loved her book on the Soviet sniper whose title is escaping me atm.
All the Light We Cannot Sea by Anthony Doerr is one of my favorites of all time. A WWII novel about a French girl and a German boy whose lives intersect during the war.
Loved this book! It also inspired me to visit St. Malo on a recent trip to France. It was the first book I thought of when I read today’s subject.
That is a dream of mine to visit there!
I loved All the Light We Cannot See too. Did you watch the Netflix mini series? I was disappointed with it compared to the book.
I did. Visually it captured how I saw the book in my mind, but it didn’t have the heart and soul of the book.
I liked the book so much I don’t want to watch the series.
I recently read Beneath a Scarlet Sky also based on a tried story of heroism during WWII in Italy. Highly recommend!
Such a fantastic book!
Yes! I loved this book too.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
This one is on my list to read next winter - the library holds line was too long!
Same here!
I just finished that--it was excellent!
Such a great book!
There are so many to love and so many have already been mentioned. One of the best I've ever read, though, is News of the World by Paulette Jiles. It's a jewel of a book and you can read it in one sitting. Captain Kidd is such a wonderful character and his job as a newsreader is fascinating. That that was the only way that some people got any news is hard for us to believe. The bond that he forms with Johanna is so heart breaking and heartwarming. Interestingly, Captain Kidd is based on a real man named Captain Kidd, who was the great-grandfather of one of the author's friend's husband. Then, of course, there's the movie, which I have not seen, but who else could possibly play Captain Kidd except Tom Hanks.
I love News of the World so much!
That was a great book! And one of those times when I think the movie did a good job as well!
Agreed! I'm hoping to host a book and movie event with friends. I think that would be so fun!
I also loved News of the World!
I also loved News of the World (the book)…such a unique story set in a time of transition after the Civil War.
The movie is well-done and I liked it, but not as in-depth as the book. Tom Hanks is great as Captain Kidd and Helena Zengel, who plays Johanna, is amazing.
Ooooo. Now I’ll have to watch it.
The Pillars of the Earth series by Ken Follet.
You might also like Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llewelyn. Also set at the turn of the millennium
I’m reading the first one right now. So good!
I love these those too!
The Eighth Life about Soviet Georgia. A real honker of a book, but so good.
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish set in the 1660s and early 2000s. Amazing!
The Time In Between by Maria Duenas set in Spain, Morocco and Portugal in the early and mid-twentieth century. Beautifully written page turner with terrific protagonist.
I could go on…..
The Eighth Life is one of my favorites! (Also a very timely read these days w/r/t Russian oppression.)
Yep. These days its kind of a terrifying read.
The Weight of Ink was so good!
Love all of these books as well!
I’m a die-hard fan of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series as well as anything written by Ruta Sepetys, author of several historical novels for young adults (Salt to the Sea, Between Shades of Gray, I Must Betray You, The Fountains of Silence, The Bletchley Riddle, Out of the Easy). Dreamland by Nancy Bilyyeau is a fun historical crime novel set in 1911 in Coney Island. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah - I think it’s her best. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan fictionalizing the relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Darktown and its two sequels about the segregated police force solving crimes in post-war Atlanta by Thomas Mullen.
Loving Frank was great - puts a different spin on Frank Lloyd Wright!
Oh, yes--The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah! I forgot to mention that in my post previously. It was simply fascinating, as nearly all of her more recent books seem to be. I thought I read somewhere that it was going to be made into a movie, but I don't know whether that ever happened.
Yes to the Maisie Dobbs books - especially the audio versions
Thanks for the YA recs!
I keep coming across The Nightingale in conversation, actual books, and now in a chat! It must be a sign to read it :)
Let us know if it lives up to its reputation, Kate.
So many of those are on my TBR! Ruta Sepetys books all sound good. Which one should I do first? I have been leaning towards Salt or Gray.
I read Fountains of Silence this summer (about Spain during Franco's rule) and it was so good. I learned a lot and was swept away by the story.
I think Salt to the Sea is the most unique as it’s organized, as I recall, into the diary entries or letters of four different young people who are trying to get on the last refugee ship departing Germany from a Baltic port before the Red Army can reach it. It’s not uplifting, but it is captivating.
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo - Ntozaki Shange
Sula - Toni Morrison
Daughter of Fortune (series) - Isabel Allende
At the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford
The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
I love Lisa See's historical novels. The Island of Sea Women details the lives of the all female diving collective on Jeju Island, Korea. Also, Lady Tan's Circle of Women brings to life of one of the first female physicians five centuries ago.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. Pulitzer Prize winner and fascinating book about the hardships and rewards of the American west and epic cattle drives.
Is it okay to state the obvious? I grew up reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel and return to them every so often. If my husband were writing this, he would say the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brien and Far Tortuga by Peter Mathiessen.
I’ve read both of these series and liked the early books a lot. The later books in them, not so much.
I love both of those series!
So many good recs here! Here's are a few more not already mentioned, in no order:
1.The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (Amsterdam 16th c. if I remember correctly)
2. The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan (various European places during WWII)
3. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (gilded age NYC, has a touch of fantasy)
4. The Good Earth by Pearl Buck (China, maybe 1700s or 1800s??)
5. Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland (turn of century NYC)
6. The Painted Girls by Carhy Marie Buchanan (tells story of Degas ballerinas, so Paris during impressionist period)
7. The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker ((Norway, Viking era)
That's probably enough for now!
Yes, the miniaturist…had to keep reading…
My favorite book, Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
I also really like Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Not so historical but a fantastic sense of place.
Yes, I liked this too. Kingsolver delivers a very strong sense of place, and while I don't always remember the facts of a historical event, I do enjoy getting a feeling for the characters and their stories.
THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant - biblical times, feminist
THE MERCIES by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - witch hunt times in Northern Norway, feminist
WHERE THE LOST WANDER by Amy Harmon - American pioneer times, romantic
I was going to recommend The Red Tent! So good.
The Red Tent!! Maybe it's time for a re-read.
I like Amy Harmon, but missed Where the Lost Wander. Adding it to my TBR!
The Postcard by Anne Berest. It was fantastic.
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon - based on a true story of a female French Resistance fighter in WWII (she also wrote the excellent Frozen River, which has already been mentioned). From the wayback machine, Noble House by James Clavell. And from the way-way back machine . . . Little Women.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Book was great but when I got to the Author's Note at the END and discovered it was based on a real woman's life. I immediately reread the book. Also loved her book on the Soviet sniper whose title is escaping me atm.
I love all of Kate Quinn's books--she does a great job of weaving a terrific story through an interesting historical backdrop.
Was the sniper book called Diamond Eye?