My Top 10 Historical Fiction Books of All-Time
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2022
- This is my all-time favorite historical fiction reads. I'm hoping I'll find some new ones to add to my list in 2023! Please let me know if you have any recommendations for me on ones I should try.
Booktubers Mentioned:
@OnTheMiddleShelf - • My All-Time Top 10 Fav...
Watch More:
- Historathon 2022: • HISTORATHON TBR // 9 H...
- Popular Historical Fiction Try a Chapter - • Looking For My Next 5 ...
- 2021 Fiction Favorites: • Top 10 Fiction Books o...
Books Mentioned:
Where the Lost Wander - amzn.to/3XofMXe
From Sand and Ash - amzn.to/3gjm3TH
Dear Mrs. Bird - amzn.to/3giK7pP
City of Thieves - amzn.to/3Xj42Wa
Salt to the Sea - amzn.to/3OrqbNK
Between Shades of Gray - amzn.to/3hZKUMP
The Nature of Fragile Things - amzn.to/3OwYnYv
As Bright As Heaven - amzn.to/3ErIgqx
Outlander - amzn.to/3OrAgdH
The Nightingale - amzn.to/3tNml8l
The Book Thief - amzn.to/3hTSOXL
Number the Stars - amzn.to/3AvztCY
A Voice in the Wind - amzn.to/3gvskLQ
Beneath a Scarlet Sky - amzn.to/3XwGVrk
A Gentleman in Moscow - amzn.to/3EPWWkJ
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Just what I was looking for. Thanks, and you’re doing great work - keep it up!
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Great. You have a very comforting and pleasant voice!
A great list! Loved Where The Lost Wander, The Nightingale and The Book Thief. I really want to read more Amy Harmon and I also want to read a Gentleman in Moscow. Dear Mrs. Bird sounds like one I would enjoy. 😊💙
Added a few to my tbr!
I just read The Nightingale this month and really enjoyed it. It’s hard to go into a rating of a book that has soooo many reviews and not be a tad influenced by them. Maybe try the audiobook for your reread? I enjoyed the narrator and her French accent.
Actually the first time I read it, I listened to the audiobook of it and loved it. So I might try reading it this time. But I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
I love when vloggers focus on nonfiction or historical fiction. Thanks for your thoughts on these, a few I read and a few I definitely added to my wishlist, topping it Salt to the Sea.
Thanks Rita! Those are my top two favorite genres, and I'm always on the hunt for new favorites from both categories. I hope you enjoy Salt to the Sea when you get to it.
Thanks I want to read more historical fiction books! This is great!!
Hope you find some you like!
So many books to add to my wishlist! I haven’t come across a couple of these authors so thank you for the recommendations.
Cannot recommend A Gentleman in Moscow enough…one of my all time favourite books and Amor Towles is one of my all time favourite authors as a result ❤
Thanks for watching my video! I have been meaning to read it for so long, and I finally just picked it up this month!
So interesting! Great to be reminded of the Mrs Bird series as I meant to read the second one. I think I remember reading A Voice in the Wind and would also like to reread it. There was one book in that series that made a big impression on me so perhaps that is the one. The Nightingale is one of my top ten books. You gave me some great book suggestions so I will mention a few good ones for you! Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi, since you are looking for more diversity. :) Enjoy!
I’ve read Between the World and Me, but Sparks Like Stars is now high on the priority list. Thanks for the recommendation!
Insightful video. Thanks. I just started uploading my own historical fiction stuff last night. I wish I can review them with you and have coffee. Haha
Yay!!!!!! City of Thieves is one I’d love to get my hands on! 😊
The Book Thief is incredible. ❤
I have a feeling you might enjoy that one! And I’m looking forward to my reread of Book Thief. I hope I still love it the second time around.
A FANTASTIC historical fiction book where the author and main character is a person of color was The Yellow Wife. Excellent read !! I'm an Amy Harmon fan also! I tried Gentleman in Moscow and put it down, but I definitely plan to try it again.
I read Yellow Wife last year and really enjoyed it! I voted for it in the Goodreads choice awards last year. Great recommendation!
I can’t remember if you have read these or not but Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi, Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, were books that I’ve read over the last few years that were very impactful and that have stuck with me. Where the Lost Wander, The Nightingale and Outlander are on my top 10 list as well.
Sparks Like Stars has now been recommended multiple times. That one is going on the priority list for 2023. Burial Rites I own and will be on my winter TBR, and I've read Homegoing and really enjoyed it! Looks like we have much in common with some stand out reads. Thanks Debbie!
Surprised that Ken Follet dint show up, you did have some great recommendations. Thanks!
He's on my to-read list, so maybe an updated version of this video in the future will include him!
Never heard of most of these! Good list for new reads. My recommendation of ones I've love are Shogun by James Clavell, Aztec by Garey Jennings, Inca by Greggory Micks and Clan of the cave bear by Jean Auel. Long but awsome reads all of them 🤓
Thank you for the recommendations! I have Clan of the Cave Bear on my shelves and have been wanting to try it. I'm so intrigued by that time period. But I haven't heard of the others, I'll have to seek them out.
Great list! I loved The Nightingale; I think you may remember the story once you start rereading it because it’s so impactful. Amy Harmon is high on my list to try! Have you read Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, which is set in Holland? It’s excellent! 😊📚
I own that one, but have been intimidated to read it since it’s about the art world I think. But I do know it’s on many must-read historical fiction lists, so I do want to try it.
@@GloriaZThompson yes, it’s based on the true story of Vermeer’s painting. Art comes into it, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about coming of age, family dynamics and poverty. I loved it! 🥰
I love you keep making these videos please!
Thank you!
I highly recommend Connie Willis’ All Clear duology
Book one: Blackout
Book two: All Clear
I’m with you on loving Dear Mrs. Bird. I feel like I just received an early present when you said Book 3 is on the way!
Thank you for this interesting group of books!
Thanks for the recommendations Katie! And I was surprised to hear about the third book for Dear Mrs. Bird as well. That’ll be one I’m anticipating for next year.
The only one of these I haven't already read and loved is City of Thieves. I really need to remedy that! Have you read Kindred by Octavia Butler? It has a time travel element, but is a thought provoking read. I'd be curious what you think of that one. Also, have you read any Bianca Marais? She has 2 hf books set in South Africa. I also read The Attic Child this year and really liked that one. There...those are a few of my recs for you with non-white, non-war focuses.
I have not read any Olivia E. Butler, but I own Kindred, so I would love to prioritize that next year. And I have read Hum if You Don't Know the Words (really enjoyed that perspective) so If You Want to Make God Laugh is one I want to get to as well. Thanks for the recommendations, Krista!
If you would like recommendations for diverse historical fiction: "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi, set on the African continent. It's the story of two half sisters. It was a 5 star read for me and so many others I know. Right now I'm reading "Peach Blossom Spring" by Melissa Wu set in China in the time of WWII and later. It's a refugee story about family and survival when a town is destroyed during WWII by attacks from Japan. I'm loving it so far. It's a new release. It's my November BOTM choice.
Thank you for the recommendations! I read Homegoing and really enjoyed it. Such a great story but not quite a 5 star for me as I wanted more time with the characters but it kept switching perspective. Which was a very cool way to tell the story, but I wanted more. And great to hear you are enjoying Peach Blossom Spring. I own the audiobook of that one, so I would love to read it. Hopefully I enjoy it too!
I just absolutely ADORED Dear Mrs. Bird. I *liked* the sequel but not nearly as much as the first book.
I haven't read Salt to the Sea, but I have read Between Shades of Gray. That book stuck with me for so long.
And I read and really enjoyed The Nature of Fragile Things.
I have enjoyed the YA historical fiction by Stacey Lee. She writes about the Chinese in America in different times, and the hardships they faced. One of them was set in Atlanta after the Civil War, I believe (The Downstairs Girl), another set during the earthquake in San Francisco.
I agree about Yours Cheerfully - I didn’t love it as much as the first but still plan on reading the third book next year.
Also, thanks for mentioning Stacey Lee - I will need to try her books!
So many good books here! Outlander, book thief, Salt to the Sea, Gentleman in Moscow, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, Nightingale- love them all!!
Yessss! All are great! 👌
You’re making me rethink trying Susan Meissner. I read a book of hers last year and it was quite possibly one of the worst books I’ve ever read 😅 But she wrote it in 2008, so maybe her writing has grown since then. A lot of historical fictions that others have loved and I feel meh about, you’ve felt the same way, so I take your recommendations seriously.
The Nightingale was one of my favorite books last year, so I hope it holds up for you! Have you read any Amy Tan? I have read two of her books and I love how she focuses on WW2 in China with imperial Japan invading. It’s such a unique perspective, compared to most Western European WW2 books.
I think Meissner is definitely worth trying again (especially her newer ones). But it will be hard to beat Nature of Fragile Things for me.
And I've considered Amy Tan, and since you've enjoyed her writing I think I may as well! Thank you for the recommendation.
I’m a bit late, but thank you for these great recommendations
@@LilMcGriddle007 thanks for watching!
I listened to the audio book for Dear Mrs. Bird and loved it!!!
I did too! The narrator was fantastic.
I reread The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson the other day. I read it when I was a school librarian preparing a group of elementary students for a book competition. I thought what a treasure many YA books are! Anyway, I was glad to see Number the Stars on your list - another book to not miss!
Number the Stars was very pivotal for me as a young reader, especially with historical fiction. I've never heard of The Great Gilly Hopkins, so thank you for putting it on my radar now!
Love the outlander series. Waiting and waiting for book 10 to come out!
I hope we get it wrapped up soon!
Have to say thanks for this video again. I've also become a huge Amy Harmon fan. Where the Lost Wander was great. I liked "What the Wind Knows Even better". "The Unknown Beloved" was also really good.
Thanks for watching! Try A Girl Called Samson next by Harmon if you haven't already. It was a great one too!
I have had What She Carried on my TBR for a while. Maybe it would branch into the diversity you are looking for.
Great list!
I haven’t heard of that one. Who is the author?
@@GloriaZThompson oops! Got the title wrong...
All that She Carried by Tiya Miles
I loved the kitchen house if youre looking for diverse!
Ooo, I own that one! Need to get to it soon. Thanks for the reminder.
I am new to your channel and maybe you have already picked her up, but I think you would love Lisa See, in particular Island of Sea Woman, the Girl from Hummingbird Lane and and her latest Lady Tan's Circle of Women.
I read Snowflower and the Secret Fan and it wasn't a favorite, but she's on my radar to try more of. I own Island of Sea Women and The Tea Girl one, so definitely one of those I need to give a go. Thanks for the recommendation!
Have you read Yours Cheerfully, the sequel to Dear Mrs. Bird? I also really loved that one! It had all the same ingredients as the first one and the third one comes out at the beginning of next year I believe!
I have and I enjoyed it! Not as much as the first though, but I still plan on reading the third book for sure.
I have to read few of the books which you have suggested. I am adding remaining in my tbr list. I love historical fiction but after reading one usually I need something light as many of those covers heavy topics.
These are some of the books which covers part of lesser known history(Some of these books are famous and some less so)
A Thousand Splendid Suns/The Kite Runner
Pachinko
Homegoing
Moloka'i
The Great Alone
The Vanishing Half
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane/The Island of Sea Women
Purple Hibiscus
The Henna Artist
A Fall of Marigolds
Before We Were Yours
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Orhan's Inheritance
The Mountains Sing
The Other Einstein
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
I hope you enjoy some of these.
Thank you so much for these recommendations! I’ve read several on the list and own many of the others that are still waiting to be read. I hope to prioritize them for 2023!
Hello, I’m a new subscriber . I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned, but will write them down to keep an eye out for. I’d like to recommend The Glovemaker and also The Promise by Ann Weisgarber , The Visitors by Sally Beauman , Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier , and Gillespie and I by Jane Harris. They all get 5 ⭐️ ( for me).
Happy Reading. ❤
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to say hello and give me some recommendations! I haven't heard of most of those, and I love that!
So glad Outlander is here. Imo nothing comes close to that series except maybe Tolstoy, Dickens and Dumas. Yes, it’s brutal in parts but that’s life.
It's definitely an epic saga of a series, that has amazing characters! I've only read up to book 5, so still have a ways to go.
I've watched so many videos on how people adjust their favorite lists. I have changed my views on so many things and books as I look back. But I don't erase my past. I still loved those older reads as fives at that time in my life and they stay that way. My new lists may bump them down or off but but they keep their status on the old list.
I’m excited to do the same and go back and re-examine favorites as the years pass. I’m sure 5 years from now even, this top 10 list would look much different!
Isabel Allende has lots of non white characters and is so page turning. My favorite is Daughter of Fortune. I added a few from this list to my tbr, have read many and agree they are so good! I also need to read A Gentleman in Moscow--been on my list for years!
Thanks for shouting out Isabel Allende! She's an author I've been meaning to try. I own A Long Petal to the Sea, so I might start with that one.
Still have to read Nature of Fragile Things!! Have you read Vera?? So good too!!
I have not but just looked it up and I now want to! Another book set during the 1906 San Fran earthquake, yes please!
As Bright as Heaven is so good. I’ve read almost all of the Diana Gabaldon books. As Bright as Heaven is one of my all time favorites. Blessings.
Can’t wait to get to As Bright as Heaven! I’ve only heard good things.
Based on this list, you will love everything by Kate Quinn. She has a series set in Ancient Rome, another in the Italian Renaissance, and all her more recent books have revolved around WWII. She’s fantastic. Her book Daughters of Rome is my favorite book ever.
I’ve read two of Kate Quinn’s books (Alice Network and Rose Code) and gave them 3 stars. I can appreciate her storytelling but had a hard time connecting with her characters. I’m holding out hope that I’ll love The Diamond Eye or The Huntress and I’m definitely willing to try some of her older books too.
I love many of these same books too. Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan Henry is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read. I’m currently reading When We Had Wings which is written by Susan Meissner, Kristina McMorris and Ariel Lawhon and so far it is good.
Thank you for the recommendations! I will be putting those on my TBR.
I know it's not what your channel is about, but would you be able to give us a tour of the room you're in? It looks amazing, especially that table. 😁
Thanks for the request! I may do a house/room tour at some point. Our place is nothing special, but if that's something you are interested in, can do!
I'm so glad I found this review! I love books like
Mrs. Mike
The Magic of Ordinary Day
Ect.
I just read Where the List Wonder.
I loved it!
I had not heard of either of those, but now they are on my to read list. Thanks for the recommendations! And yes, Where the Lost Wander was amazing!
Just stumbled across this video and I know I'm two years too late but I highly recommend the book Chinese Cinderella, it's a historical non-fiction set in China and tells the story of Adeline Yen Mah's life, it's tragic, inspiring and heart-wrenching. This book isn't fiction but I first read it when I was a teenager and it's what got me hooked on the historical genre in general. Chinese Cinderella is targeted towards teens, but the author also wrote a longer autobiography of her life called 'Falling Leaves' which is for an adult audience. Either one I recommend though!
I have been really wanting to try Amy Harmon, and also Ruta Sepetys. Secrets of a Charmed Life, was also just OK for me. I loved Number of the Stars. And I've only read the first book in the Mark of the Lion series.
I think you’d really like Ruta Sepetys! 🙌🏼
Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi is a hidden gem. I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
Have never heard of that but now I’m intrigued! Thanks for putting it on my radar.
I just finished "The Personal Librarian " by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Great read...the authors notes after brought me to tears! ❤️📚❤️
Oh fantastic! I own that one and hope to try it soon.
@GloriaZThompson I listened to it on audio book. I hope you enjoy it!
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, The Women by Kristin Hannah, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
I've read all of them! Out of those 3, The Women was my favorite.
Have you read To Calais in ordinary time? I love that book. I'm still reading it but I absolutely adore the writing and the rich use of archaic language.
Also I don't think I'd read anything from David B just because of what he and Weiss did 😭
To Calais, in Ordinary Time sounds so interesting (definitely not from a timer period I usually pick up). I believe City of Thieves was before Game of Thrones.
@@GloriaZThompson it's very interesting. I think that time period makes it even more interesting because you get the feel of how things were back then.
I'll think about reading City of Thieves tehe
I just read “West With Giraffes”, by Lynda Rutledge. Incredible journey! I loved it!
Love hearing that! I was gifted that book for Christmas and it's on my list to read this year. I hope I love it too.
Hello - have to say that I share the love of so many authors you mention here - Amy Harmon ( my favorite was 'What the Wind Knows' ), Susan Meissner, Diana Gabaldon. I HAVE to recommend a couple to you, by Ciji Ware - I've devoured so many of her books - and HIGHLY recommend ALL of them! Wanted to call out 'Island of the Swans', 'Wicked Company'. 'A Cottage by the Sea' was the 1st of her that I've read, and was hooked! Check these out - I think you will love them. I too cried thru 'Nightingale' - just read it this past fall, and just finished 'Four Winds' by Kristen Hannah. Found that one depressing, but an interesting read. Very resiliant characters. Looking forward to watching more of your videos, and finding new books to read! :) Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline! Thank you for taking the time to say hello and recommend some books! I will definitely check out Ciji Ware. I love to find hidden gems in historical fiction.
I love so many of these same books! Based on this I would recommend “The Book of Lost Names” by Kristin Harmel.
Thank you Robin! I own that one so hope to read it soon.
Voice in the wind - yes
Hello, can you do a review on The Forbidden Man by Gerald R. Knight
Have you read The Skylark’s War? By Hilary McKay? I really enjoyed it this year.
That one is on my TBR! I think especially after loving A Place to Hang the Moon, I would love it.
Loved Dear Mrs. Bird. Read both books. Five stars
I'm currently reading the third one in the series on NetGalley! I'll share my thoughts on it soon.
Code Name Helene was my favorite historical fiction from 2022, with Yellow Wife coming in 2nd place.
I own Code Name Helene - I need to get that one read! And I really enjoyed Yellow Wife last year. It’s the book I voted for last year in the Goodreads awards for historical fiction.
Recommendation since you want to diversify your reading: Copper Sun by Sharon M Draper. Follows a teenage girl from her village in Ghana as she is stolen during the slave trade, taken to North America, and lives on a plantation as a slave. Really harsh but needed insight on plantation life
Thank you for the recommendation! I've read from the author before but have not heard of that one. It sounds like a great book for Black History Month, so I may pick it up next.
If you want WWII fiction, check out The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman. I'm not a huge fan of WWII fiction (only because I've read so much of it), but that one really made an impact on me. Some other 5 star historical reads for me were:
THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger (coming of age in Minnesota. Set in the Depression and the 60s, respectively. Both of these are standalones)
HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell (16th century England, about Shakespeare's family)
THE MOUNTAINS SING by Nguyen Phan Que Mai (a family story set, in part, during the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective)
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN by Louise Erdrich (about the Termination of Native tribes in the 1950s)
And an author you might like, based on what you talked about in your video, is Sarah Dunant. She writes a lot of books set during the Italian Renaissance.
Thank you for these wonderful recommendations! I own both of those books by Krueger, and will definitely pick one of them up in 2023. I tried Hamnet in October and it was a unique read (which I appreciated), but also was a bit too lyrical for my taste to totally fall in love. And the other two I have heard of but weren't previously on my radar, so I appreciate you letting me know about them!
I LOVED This Tender Land. I also read Ordinary Grace and the story was good, but whoever edited the book must’ve been asleep at the wheel because of terrible punctuation (a lot of run on sentences and comma splices), which was so distracting. It kind of took away from the experience.
If you are interested in reading stories that feature Native American characters, I also recommend Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore.
Have you read The Suitcase of Lost Words its one of my favorites
Do you mean The Dictionary of Lost Words? I've heard good things about that one!
The entire works of the Logan family by Mildred D.Taylor! The most famous is Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry but she has a whole series of books
@@scl97 I do need to get to those and try them! I hope I enjoy them.
I loved dear mrs 🦅 bird it’s a gem
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese! It's my all-time favourite book and it happens to be set in Ethiopia so it fits your diversity goal ☺
Already own that one, so I really need to pick it up! I’m putting on my TBR for 2023. It will happen and it also feels a bit under the radar.
I kinda do the same thing as Gloria. If I like a book by an author I will try other books by the same author to see if I like it. There are so many good historical fiction books. Most of them will be WW2, which is why books set in another time can be super interesting as well.
Anyways, some great books by different authors.
Ken Follett: Fall of Giants trilogy and Pillars of the Earth (soon to be 5 books in the series)
Kristin Hannah: Absolutely loved "The Nightingale". Have since read The Great Alone, Winter Garden and The Four Winds. The Four Winds beeing a great second.
Kate Quinn: Rea The Alice Network and loved it. Have since read The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye and The Huntress. Loved them all.
Diana Gabaldon: I'm also a big Outlander fan, allthough I have given up during the 7th book. Left it over a year ago, but might get back to it.
Heather Morris: The Tattooist of Auschwith. Have only read the first, but apparently there are 3 in the series now.
Amy Harmon: Loved From Sand And and Ash, so will have to look into the other two as well.
Kristin Harmel: Book of Lost Names. Really liked this as well.
Yes I agree on trying different time periods to switch stuff up and gain a new perspective. Pillars is high on the list to try and I've read from all of the other authors you mentioned. Some have worked better for me than others, but almost all still have books I want to try again from.
I loved as bright as heaven but i actually liked the nature of fragile things more.
Nature of Fragile Things will be hard to beat for me. I loved the historical mystery survival aspect of it.
I'm 70+ years old so I've had more time read to than you have, but you did sell this as 'all-time' so here's my list.
10. Tirant lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell: The granddaddy of historical novels set in late medieval Mediterranean area. Don Quixote even read this one.
9. Simplicius Simplicissimus by Hans Grimmelhausen: A funny and disturbing early novel set during Thirty Years War in Germany. This was the most brutal war in Germany EVER and I am including WWI and WWII.
8. The Happy Return (UK/Can)/Beat to Quarters(US) by C.S. Forester: The first (of many) Horatio Hornblower novels set during the Napoleonic Wars.
7. Seige of Khrisnapur by J.G. Farrell: Set during the Mutiny in India. Very well written.
6. The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell: Don't let the title fool you. This is a disturbing novel written from inside the head of an SS officer during the Shoah.
5. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck. Behind the lines of Nazi occupation. The most widely read, banned, unpublished book (samizdat) of all time.
4. The Virginian by Owen Wister: The first western. A lot of cliches except that Wister was there first. 'I want you out of town by sundown.'
3. The Bridge at Andau by James Mitchener: 1956 Hungarian Uprising. I could have included a bunch by Mitchener. This is probably his shortest.
2. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: 1812 Invasion of Russia. First time 'in media res' used in a novel. I've read or listened to this three times.
1. Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman: 1942/43 Battle of Stalingrad. Written in the 50s, the book was 'arrested' in the 60s, author died in 70s, a copy was snuck out and published in Switzerland in the 80s, translated and published in English in 2006. We've had to wait a long time for this, but it was worth it. Prequel 'Stalingrad' was published in English in 2012. This is the simply the best historical novel I've read in 60 years.
BTW, I've read a lot of the ones you've listed and like them. Just not the best of all-time.
Thank you for sharing your list with me! I will definitely add some of these to my list of books to try out. The Mitchener one in particular -- I would love to read something from the Hungarian perspective, as Budapest was one of my favorite places I've ever visited.
If you like ancient history you should read Boudica by Manda Scott. Its a 4 book series and it is amazing. It will give you all the feels. Very well written.
I've never heard of this series! Thanks for the rec.
Where the lost wander is a fantastic book!
Amy Harmon has done no wrong yet, I need to make my way through all her books, and I can't wait for her upcoming release this year.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is 100 percent outstanding!!!
I've read that one and I liked it but didn't love it. For some reason, Kate Quinn's books just don't hit me like they do for other historical fiction lovers. Can't pinpoint why.
We read and love almost the same novels. But here are some Historical Fiction novels Ive also loved, in no particular order:
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald Balson
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
My Name is Resolute by Nancy Turner
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Killer Angel's by Michael Shaara
Thanks for sharing your list! I've heard of several, read a couple, and wrote down the others for me to keep an eye out for.
The hired girl by: Laura Amy Schlitz is an amazing book where a young girl has a horrible home life so she finds her way to a Jewish family and becomes a hired girl. This book is full of adventure and a little bit of romance. It's different from other hf books because the point of view is from a young girl and the book is pretty much her diary. This book is a definite 5 star book and I recommend it to any who likes hf.
I’ve never heard of it but that sounds fantastic! Adding it to my radar and want to read list. Thank you for the recommendation.
I am totally shocked. You like Outlander. My reread to see if I still like it is Jackdaws by Ken Follett. Also The Evening Class by Maeve Binchy.
I know! It has a lot of content I don’t usually enjoy or prefer in books, but I just love Claire and Jamie and that Scotland setting so much.
As Bright as Heaven is fantastic! I couldn’t read Outlander series. Way too “much” of everything.
Reading another Susan Meissner is high on my priority list! And totally understand about Outlander. It’s definitely not a book/series that I would widely recommend.
Great information from beautiful lady
We Appy Few is a great book to read. Its the story of a group of men who go off to fight the battle of Agincourt, where a young boy falls in love and understands what it means to be a man.
Thank you for the recommendation!
City of Thieves on my all-time list too.
I want to find another book like it, but no such luck.
@@GloriaZThompson it is definitely a unique and memorable read. Towles' Rules of Civility is also on my all-time list, recommend it!
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger is a book I didn’t want to end.
Also, I’ve read a few books by Amanda Skenandore-Between Earth and Sky and ….Mireille West (sorry whole title escapes me), but both made me want to read her other books.
Both authors are white and their main characters are white; however, Native American characters and culture are a prominent feature in those books (though not Mireille West), so if you would like to read stories that feature indigenous cultures, I recommend those books.
This Tender Land is high on the priority list to get to, I know it's so many people's' favorite. Thank you for the recommendations, I will definitely look into that author!
@@GloriaZThompson I just finished “where the lost wander”. I loved it…I kept going back to certain conversations the two main characters had. Harmon managed to express the protagonists in a great way again and again without being at all cringey or sappy. Thanks for the rec!
@@GloriaZThompson one more rec…Westering Women by Sandra Dallas (if you like the “going west” theme). It’s about women going west to find husbands, basically. It’s a light read. I did also enjoy her “A quilt for christmas” (though I just picked up her Persian Pickle Club-for some reason, it felt too “hectic” for me, so I couldn’t get into that)
Btw, going to pick up “nature of fragile things” this week 😀
@@bndergltd3053 Thanks for the recommendation and I hope you enjoy Nature of Fragile Things!
@@GloriaZThompson I’m halfway through “nature” and I just started it this morning. Loving that as well 😀
A winter garden by Kristin Hannah!
That’s on my to read list! Have been meaning to get to it.
@@GloriaZThompson it’s a story that’s never left me - one of those books that changes you.
This is my favorite book by Kristin Hannah! It stays with you! Her book The Women is being released next month
The Glass Palace by Amitabh Ghosh, you will love it.
Thank you for the recommendation!
i recommend memoirs of a geisha, the help, molokai, before we were yours
I own all of those and so far have only read Before We Were Yours and it was good. I need to read those other beloved historical fictions!
Yes!! City of Thieves!!! Sooooooooo good!
One of my all-time faves!
You should read The Book of Names. WW2 Loved it. And read The Shadow of the Wind.
Thanks for the suggestion! That one's on my radar. The Kristin Harmel one right?
You must read the Bronze Horseman set in Leningrad!
It’s on my to read list! I’ve heard incredible things about that trilogy.
Thank you so much for saying Outlander isn't for everyone. I was soooo surprised and horrified when I read it, because in the beginning I really loved her writing style and the plot and the characters and overall I was in love with it but then I began to feel like it fetishized r*pe in a way that I found deeply triggering and I really really wish anyone who had recommended it to me had said ANYTHING about that before I went and fell in love with a book I couldn't bring myself to finish. I totally understand how some people can move past that, like I said, the characters and the writing style were so lovely I attempted to keep going but in the end I had to give up.
I completely understand where you are coming from, especially since sexual abuse/trauma is a theme explored in every single one of the books I've read in the series so far (5 so far). I hope the author's inclusion of it is trying to show how common and normal it was back then (which is super sad). And you aren't the first person I know that said they'd rather not read that. I can 100% respect and understand that. Definitely not a book or series for everyone!
To tell you the truth, historical fiction is my favorite genre but I’m absolutely tired of WWII stories by now. On the other hand, Ken Follett should be in any historical fiction list in my opinion, one of the big names of the genre.
I’m a bit over WW2 myself, so I’m hoping to broaden my historical fiction reading in 2023 and find some other favorites. I have Pillars of the Earth waiting for me to try, but I am intimidated!
Peter Tremayne sister Fidelma series of o eat 30 books I loved
Children of gods and fighting men (Vikings)
The Manningtree witches
Not shouting… just quietly excited for you to read a gentleman in Moscow.
Haha! 😂 Guess what?! I am currently reading it, so I will have my thoughts in my December wrap up.
Girl your voice sounds like pure honey. I could listen to you all day long nonstop
Read Ken Follett Pillars of the Earth. Trust me its incredible.
It’s in the priority list! Hoping to this year.
How can you have a top 10 historical fiction list without Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett? For me, it’s a must read of any genre.
I own that one and it's on my TBR, I just haven't gotten around to picking it up yet. I hope I love it like so many do.
A Gentleman in Moscow!!! Not yelling at you 😆. But yes, read it, read it, read it!
Haha, love it! I will do it. Hopefully in December 🤞🏼
The yellow wife exceptional book. emotions all over the spectrum.
I really liked how the author put that story together, I’m curious how her newest book is gonna go.
I haven't read A Gentleman in Moscow yet, either.
I'm hoping I can squeeze it in in December!
I just read between shades of grey
What did you think?
@@GloriaZThompson loved it!! Wanna watch the movie
Wow, I need to listen again. You speak so fast!
Read flashman George macdolad frasier full stop
The bronze horseman Paulina Simmons
I love you ❤️.
O.k ma'am God Book details
Affinity by Sarah Waters or the Warlord series by Bernard Cornwell (tw for sexual violence for those)
Thanks for the recommendations!