Historical Fiction

I recently read a post that suggested maybe we don't feature enough books often enough, so I'm going address that in a number of ways. One way will be cross-posting about books I've read but I have written full reviews for. Frankly, with a goal of 100 reads this year, working, writing for two blogs and meeting with CO members, it's not possible to review every book, but I can share what I've been reading. This morning, I'm sharing my response to one of Weekly Geeks' assignment which was to discuss historical fiction. Find more here.

Starting today, book titles will be linked to Shelfari when reviews are available there. Doing this will give you access to not only reviews but to members who've read the book and where you might find group discussions.

Is there a particular era that you love reading about? Tell us about it--give us a book list, if you'd like. Include pictures or some fun facts from that time period, maybe link to a website that focuses on that time. Educate us.

I prefer recent history say the last hundred years or so. I’ve mentioned before that I love multicultural literature and historical fiction provides one of the best ways to learn about another culture and its history. Favorite books of this type include:

In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. This is about the Mirabel sisters' who fought against Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. Read a Color Online reader's review here.

The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat. This is the same country, but told from the point of view of Haitian migrant workers. It looks at the relationship between the ruling class and the sugar cane and other Haitian laborers.

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott. 15-year-old Genna is transported to 1863 Brooklyn during the Civil War and specifically the New York Draft riots.

Those Bones Are Not My Child by Toni Cade Bambara. This is a fictional account of a mother whose child goes missing in Atlanta during the rash of real kidnappings during the 1979-81. The book is chock full of other recent history like the Vietnam War.


The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon. This coming-of-age story is about two brothers who make life-changing decisions during the height of Civil Rights Movement.

A member of your book group, Ashley, mentions that she almost never reads Historical Fiction because it can be so boring. It's your turn to pick the book for next month and you feel it's your duty to prove her wrong. What book do you pick?

I’d share links to all of the books above and suggest she choose.