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Hallie Rubenhold's foray into the world of historical fiction brings us to Henrietta Lightfoot and the first volume of her memoirs. I confess that I didn't realise that this was the first book in a planned series and felt a bit frustrated at the end of the book as there were many unresolved questions I was dying to know the answer to!

Books written in the first person can sometimes feel a bit contrived, but that wasn't a problem here at all. An older Henrietta relates the 'true' story of her life, evidently in answer to some untruths put about by a character we have yet to properly meet in this first volume; I'm sure all will become apparent later on!

Many of the characters who weave their way through Rubenhold's tale are actually real, historical figures. Even her fictional characters owe something to the real life experiences of other Georgian inhabitants. This certainly isn't prettified historical fiction; we follow the initially very naive Henrietta through her ups and downs. The main action of the novel takes place over the space of about a year, when Henrietta is still only 17. I look forward to the next instalment!
  
A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.3 (23 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story line, the plot, back and forth chapters (0 more)
Jumps around towards the end (0 more)
Thousand Splendid Suns
I fell in love with this book on the first few pages. I was attached to the characters quickly and was intrigued to hear their story. The ending did disappoint me slightly, but the rest of the book was superb. Definitely recommend even if your not a historical fiction person.
  
The Only Woman in the Room
The Only Woman in the Room
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you've never heard of Hedy Lamarr, that's fine, she was just an actress, but she also invented something we use in technology every day. To find out more, you can read my #bookreview of this biographical, historical, women's fiction novel about her, "The Only Woman in the Room" by Marie Benedict, on my blog now https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/01/25/the-beauty-of-genius/
  
Bottomland
Bottomland
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I learned that Michelle Hoover based this historical fiction novel on a true family story about two girls who suddenly disappeared from their rural family home, I knew I had to read it. Find out why I have this book a strong four out of five stars in my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2016/04/25/the-lost-and-what-they-find/
  
Alias Grace
Alias Grace
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This classic novel of Margaret Atwood is now a televised mini-series, but I really had to read the book before I start watching it. This fascinating historical fiction novel is a psychological profile based on the true story of Grace Marks, the woman convicted of a double homicide in 1843. Read more in my review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/03/02/duplicity-or-distortion/
  
Temptation Rag
Temptation Rag
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ragtime. The only thing I know about it was that Scott Joplin was one of its composers. So learning about this era of American musical history, and the genre through a biographical, historical fiction novel was truly tempting! Find out what I thought of this book in my newest #bookreview on my blog now. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/12/07/the-rise-and-fall-of-ragtime/