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Katherine Center recommended The Nightingale in Books (curated)

 
The Nightingale
The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8.9 (61 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"For when you need to see courage in action This is historical fiction about the occupation of France during World War II, and it’s hardly light reading. But it sure is gripping. It will transport you to another time and place so completely, you’ll feel like you lived it. And even though it’s maybe the last book I’d normally think of as vacation reading, it's a page-turning read about courage in action. Something we could all use right about now."

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The Glass Ocean
The Glass Ocean
Karen White, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Before the Titanic, there was the tragedy of the sinking of the passenger ship, the Lusitania, which was an event that forced the US into the first World War. In this carefully layered historical fiction novel, authors Williams, Willig and White bring us three stories of three women connected to one another and to that fateful sailing. Find out what I thought of this novel in my latest book review, here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/09/14/three-belles-secrets/
  
This is a historical fiction mystery novel that takes place in England during the era of the Great War (WWII). As some of my readers know, I’ve been looking for good mystery books that will compare to those of the late, great Agatha Christie. Find out if “Murder in Belgravia,” Lynn Brittany’s first book in the Mayfair 100 Mystery Novels succeeded in filling the void that Christie left in my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/03/24/these-books-may-fare-well/
  
Lady Clementine
Lady Clementine
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Some women prefer to stay behind the scenes to help the men they marry achieve greatness. Others put themselves at their husband's side, and sometimes even move to the center stage in their own right. You will find out which kind of woman Clementine Churchill was in the biographical, historical, women's fiction novel “Lady Clementine” by Marie Benedict, and my #bookreview of this recently released book on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/01/10/more-daring-than-darling/
  
The Summoner’s Sins (Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers #3)
The Summoner’s Sins (Sandal Castle Medieval Thrillers #3)
Keith Moray | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Summoner’s Sins is a really engaging historical fiction set in the 14th century. I really liked that real historical people were used in the narrative, and the attitudes of medieval people towards religion and witchcraft always fascinates me. The average medieval person was a very superstitious type - which I suppose was an understandable way to make sense of the world without science. Curses shouted out from the gallows abound in this story, and there are plenty of rebels in the background who are only too happy to make it look as though they are curses that have come true.
Richard Lee is a reasoned and logical man, and able to tell a curse from an actual murder - and thank goodness for him! I really liked the characters that Keith Moray has written in to this story, and Richard and Hubert are great lead characters. Richard is a god-fearing man, but he doesn’t let religion get in the way of the truth. Hubert is ever faithful to Richard and their pursuit of the truth.
I really very much enjoyed this book - I do like historical fiction (you’ve probably guessed this by now!) and I enjoy a good mystery. This delivered in spades on both counts.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for providing me with an e-ARC.
  
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ClareR (5681 KP) rated The Heroines in Books

Oct 29, 2023  
The Heroines
The Heroines
Laura Shepperson | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Greek mythology is pretty much an insta-buy and read for me. I’m drawn to historical fiction anyway, and the Greek myths have always felt like an extension of that for me. That’s probably also why I’m especially attracted to the type of Greek myths that are so popular at the moment. I suppose it could be referred to more as Greek historical fiction rather than myth. The Gods and Goddesses have been taken out of the equation (inasmuch as Christian figures are in other historical fiction novels - they’re spoken of, but they don’t have a leading role), and the mortals are left to make their own life choices - even if they still like to blame it on the Gods.

Laura Shepperson gives voice to the women in the myths, and we see the story of Theseus and Phaedra from Phaedra’s point of view. There’s also a chorus of women who are suffering under the mistreatment of the men in Theseus’ palace. Servants and slave women had to do as they were told. The struggle for the women against this patriarchal system is at times violent, and the women rarely come out of it well.

There were a lot of characters in this, and I wonder if all of them were necessary. I’ll be honest, and it could be down to the good ole peri-meno brain, I did get a little confused at all the characters, but it didn’t spoil the story!

I enjoyed this quick read (ok, I didn’t put it down!). It gave me enjoyment for a couple of days - and that’s what reading is all about really, isn’t it!