I finished three books this week, which I’m fairly impressed with as one of them was fairly long:
So two of those, “The Day The Falls Stood Still” and “The Devil’s Queen” were historical fiction, although “The Day The Falls Stood Still” is more time and place historical fiction and is not about an historical personage. Both were great, by the way, and I have already reviewed both of them (links in the titles above).
Okay, but two of three books isn’t really a binge. In fact, I only picked up “The Forest Of Hands and Teeth” when Idid because I had another historical fiction book to read next: Philippa Gregory’s new one, “The White Queen,” which was finally in at the library. I definitely can’t renew it because there is only one copy and about 7 people waiting for it after me.
I’m about 30 pages from the end, so I’m definitely finishing it today. I’ll write my review in the next couple days so I can return it to the library for the next person on the holds list. Since this was from the library and not for review I can’t promise when my reivew will actually post, though, so here’s my quick 2 cents: light years better than her last book, perhaps better than most of her Tudor books, still doesn’t match “The Other Boleyn Girl.”
Even once I finish “The White Queen,” I won’t be done with my Historical Fiction binge. The next book I need to review is “The Last Knight” by Elizabeth Chadwick, in preparation for the September 1 US release. Chadwick is praised an par with Sharon Kay Penman and I haven’t read any of her work yet, so I’m quite excited.
The only thing with reading another nice, thick story of a real historical person is that it can be hard to read one after another, even when the time periods and settings are different, I’ve found that occasionally the stories can run together if I read them one after another after another. To combat this, and to make sure that “The Greatest Knight” doesn’t suffer from me getting Historical Fiction Fatigue, I’m going to grab another short book first.
I’m grabbing “Funny In Farsi” off of my over flowing and oft-neglected TBR shelves. The reason I’m picking it now is that I finally went through what I’ve read so far this year to determine what I was on my 999 Challenge. Turns out, all I need is one more memoir and I’m done, without even any overlap. Thus, “Funny In Farsi” will serve to break up the Historical Fiction monolith as well as finishing that challenge for me.
What about you? Read any good historical fiction lately? Finished any challenges? Suddenly realized you’re on a genre/theme binge?
I’ve had such a historical fiction craving lately. I need to do something about that. your list for this week tipped me over the edge, I think!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Easy Like Sunday Morning =-.
Ah, a week of historical fiction. How nice!
I have an award for you at: http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2009/08/ahh-im-blushing.html
.-= Lisa Sheppard´s last blog ..Ahh–I’m Blushing! =-.
That’s quite a set of historical fiction– I’m glad you are enjoying it!
Funny in Farsi was an entertaining read, if not always as deep or well structured as I would have liked it to be. It should break up your historical fiction binge quite nicely!
.-= Laura @ I’m Booking It´s last blog ..Review: Only Milo by Barry Smith =-.
An historical fiction binge sounds great right about now. I’ve been reading all over the place, but I’m thinking I might go on a Victoriana binge pretty soon. I’m craving the stuff something fierce.
.-= Memory´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: Blogiversary =-.
Super list of books. I love HF and plan to make 2010 the year of HF and to not join so many challenges that I can’t always read what I want. [In 2010, please do not remind me that I wrote this comment.]
I have White Queen here and really, really want to read it. And you know how I felt about The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Challenge: R.I.P. IV =-.
Ha! I’m guessing that’s about as probable as the RE-READS I put as one of my 999 Challenge items. Was I delusional? Although, I still hope to get East of Eden in this year, I usually don’t go so long without reading it, maybe for Swapna’s challenge.
You’re an inspiration! I’m almost always in on historical fiction, it is really my fav. I need to find some more good general market authors too, most of mine are Christian. Although, I’m really looking forward to Michelle Moran’s Cleopatra’s Daughter any day now.
.-= MJ @ Creative Madness´s last blog ..Guest Review: Sand Sharks =-.
You’ve got some great reads just behind you and just up ahead. There are worse things to binge on than Historical Fiction, but I’m with you about not wanting fatigue. It’s hard to work your way out of that sometimes.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Dog Days of Summer Are Over ~ Winners Announced =-.
I’m ALWAYS on a HF binge, it is my favorite! I need to get on a different genre binge for a change. I really enjoyed The White Queen and will be interested to see what you think! The Greatest Knight, The Devil’s Queen and The Day the Falls Stood Still are all sitting here awaiting my attention.
Beth F…I have a similar resolution for 2010..to not agree to review so much stuff that I can’t fit in the books that I want to read just for me. It is a slippery slope, all too easy to get lost under a big pile of books!
.-= Carey´s last blog ..My first published blurb!!! =-.
I think you’ll really enjoy both Funny in Farsi and The Greatest Knight! I thought both of them were great.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Sunday Salon =-.
I just finished The Greatest Knight and it is seriously EC’s best – which is saying a lot cause she ROCKS! You wrote a great review for The Devil’s Queen – I can’t wait to read that one! I’m hesitating on The White Queen since reading some not-so-great reviews on it…but I’ll have to read it soon. Gregory books are like car accidents – you know it might not be good, but you can’t help but look.
Amy
.-= Amy @ Passages to the Past´s last blog ..I’m feelin’ the love =-.
You’re right about the car wreck, Jodi Picoult is like that for me too. I think The Other Queen is probably her best since The Other Boleyn Girl, though.
I just read The Book of Unholy Mischief and I really enjoyed it. It made me wonder why I don’t read more of that genre.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Thinking About Community =-.
Those book sound good! I’ve The White Queen in my pile and I really look forward to reading it.
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater =-.
I’ve got “The Forests of Hand and Teeth” on my pile. I can’t wait to be able to read it next.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..in my mailbox (11). =-.
I love historical fiction. It’s always been my favorite. Those all sound like good reads so have fun!!!
.-= veronica´s last blog ..Girls in Trucks – Katie Crouch =-.
That’s a great pile f historical fiction! I agree one can’t read them back to back though!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..**Surprise Surprise** Giveaway and a Guest Post! =-.
Wow that is a great list of books! Tonight as I turned the last page and finished “My Splendid Concubine” by Lloyd Lofthouse, I was so sad… didn’t want it to end. The story was so romantic and informative about what China was like during the Opium wars- learned a lot, but mostly didn’t want to end the wonderful romance plot it had going on. I was so happy to find your list of books- really saved my night! Thanks I am heading to the library tomorrow to see if I can find these.