This weeks theme is historical fiction.
Which stories set in the past do you really love? This one was a tough one for me because lots of my favourite historical fiction I have reviewed recently (Shanghai Girls, Remarkable Creatures, The Mistress of Nothing, The Sandalwood Tree). In the end I decided to go with a book I first read in my teens. There have been controversies over whether or not it is a fiction book at all, being based on extensive research, but I decided in the end that if the Booker committee think it's fiction, then that's good enough for me.
If you've not read it, I do recommend it. The film is good, but nowhere near as good as the book.
How about you?
I want to hear all about your favourite pieces of historical fiction. Grab the image above, make a blog post and then sign up to the linky below so we can all hop between blogs. Thanks to those that do take part.
I loved Schindler's List the film, didn't read the book. The movie was hard and heartbreaking like Sophia's Choice, that movie had me battling sleepless nights. Those books and films stay with me for a long time and I can't stop thinking about them. So once I've seen one, it takes me a long time to read or watch another one.
ReplyDeleteThis book has been on my tbr list for quite awhile! I'll get there ...
ReplyDeleteI like this meme. I'll have to look at my read book list and see if I can come up with one, otherwise I'll just come back here again and get some ideas from other participants. :)
For some reason I had forgotten that this was a book before it was a film. It's definitely one I would like to read, but I have a feeling I would need to mentally prepare myself before taking it on.
ReplyDelete(And I somehow missed your review of Shanghai Girls but that is one of my favorite historical fiction works too!)
This is a very interesting topic-I have updated a post I did on getting started in the Japanese historical novel for the meme-thanks for hosting this event and I hope it does very well
ReplyDeleteInteresting choice.... this is one I really should read. I have always shied away from this in movie format as it sounds sooooo sad.
ReplyDeleteYou are so good deciding on just one novel. It was hard enough for me to narrow my choice down to 5 books!
This made me realize how few novels of historical fiction I read!
ReplyDeleteThat's a book I realy feel I ought to read, yet have never got round to so far.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't pick a favourite book, so I chose a favourite author instead.
Fun topic! I decided to contrast two of my favorite novels set in Tudor England. I'm also adding Schindler's Ark to my tbr list (Schindler's List here).
ReplyDeleteLena, it is a hard book to read. I haven't read Sophie's Choice yet even though I own it for the same reason you haven't read Schindler's Ark. I will get to it at some point though.
ReplyDeleteJinky, there have been some great ideas so far - my wishlist has definitely expanded!
Lisa, I'm glad you liked Shanghai Girls too. I haven't read the sequel yet but will do soon. Everyone seems to prefer Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but for me Shanghai Girls was just more gritty and real.
Thanks to everyone that took part with a post, I'm chuffed with the response. I like that you all made the meme your own too, I didn't want it to be too rigid :)
Two series come to mind:
ReplyDeleteHerman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. It beautifully combines the effort to overcome Hitler and Tojo's Japan while remembering the evil that was the Holocaust.
Patrick O'Brian's brilliant Aubrey/Maturin series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps the best navel fiction series ever written.
This week's theme is my favorite genre. It's hard to choose from all my favorite books. I should read Schindler's Ark/List. I didn't see the movie when it came out. It seemed too depressing and I don't see many movies. But I've been reading a lot of WWII books lately, so now may be a good time.
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction, although as with most things it's hit-or-miss. The best one I read this year was The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon and absolutely fantastic account of Aristotle teaching Alexander The Great in ancient Greece.
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction! I've just chosen two of the best books I've recently read and posted about them. Thanks for this great meme, Sam.
ReplyDeleteI've added FLY HIGH to the linky tool :-)
Coming to the meme for the first time. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't join in this week, life just got in the way and I was too busy :-( looking forward to next week though :-)
ReplyDeleteI never knew Schindler's List was originally a book. This definitely sounds like a great read, and I like how you point out that ordinary people can be capable of great things.
ReplyDeleteJack, I have to admit I tend to read more 'girly' historical fiction, so it's good to have some different recommendations. Herman Wouk sounds like an interesting author.
ReplyDeleteTrish, I've seen the Golden Mean on a few blogs and I think I would very much enjoy it.
Danielle, no problem. There's no pressure to join in every week :)
Darlyn, I'm glad you picked up on that because it was my absolute favourite thing about the book.
To be honest I didn't remember that Schindler's List was a book first - but how wonderful to learn it is better than the movie. I really enjoyed Jessica Kane's The Report this year- she doesn't call it historical fiction, but it is inspired by a historical event; also some moral ambiguity in the story- great story & a lot to think about.
ReplyDelete