Tell me some books to read.

[zoidberg]

I love history, especially medieval history.

I like fiction about that time period as well, but it has to be really engrossing. Pillars of the Earth made me want to stab my ear with a pencil.

I love GoT, but not much other fantasy.

I like mysteries, but not of the Dean Koontz variety.

I am not even slightly interested in chick lit.

Any suggestions?

[margotmacomber]

I fucking loved Pillars of the Earth and have never "met" someone else that has read it!  I am currently reading a book of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short stories and they are very spooky/allegory/moral lesson type shit and I feel like it fits right in.  So I recommend his short stories.  Some are like actual ghost stories, but literary.  

ETA: you DIDN'T like Pillars of the Earth.

You are dead to me.  Carry on.

[zoidberg]

Sorry, it was just so boring! I really wanted to like it, I TRIED to like it. I just couldn't.

[shananagins]

My favorite mystery series is the Prey series by John Sandford. There are a million of them and they're all good.

For historical fiction I really liked Madame Tussaud which was about the French Revolution.

[margotmacomber]

I am anxiously awaiting DH to download the mini series they made and he keeps forgetting!  He's all : tell me when I'm at my computer and I'm all: If I remembered then I would. 

Sad times.

[Deleted]

I liked Isaac's Storm quite a bit. It talks a lot about how scientific knowledge about hurricanes was developed, as well as the politics of the early weather bureau in the US. It's by Erik Larson who also wrote Devil in the White City and In the Garden of Beasts. I really liked Devil in the White City once it got going. In the Garden of Beasts was only so-so for me. It's about the ambassador to Germany and his family during the rise of Hitler.

My H thought that Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard was very good. It's on my to-read short list. I'll probably start it once I finish my current book.

I also really like the medieval period and thought I'd love A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman. I've tried twice now to read it and completely failed both times. Now I feel like I HAVE to read it eventually.

[zoidberg]

Jul 17, 2013 23:36:36 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Katherine, by Anya Seton, is excellent, and you'd like it (historical fiction, about Katherine Beaufort, mistress of John of Gaunt, in the 1300s. I've read it a number of times, and really like it.

Pillars of the Earth made me want to hang myself; it was SO boring. omg.

Those Beauforts sure get into a lot of mischief.

[zoidberg]

Jul 17, 2013 23:31:53 GMT -5 @pjfranklin said:

I liked Isaac's Storm quite a bit. It talks a lot about how scientific knowledge about hurricanes was developed, as well as the politics of the early weather bureau in the US. It's by Erik Larson who also wrote Devil in the White City and In the Garden of Beasts. I really liked Devil in the White City once it got going. In the Garden of Beasts was only so-so for me. It's about the ambassador to Germany and his family during the rise of Hitler.

My H thought that Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard was very good. It's on my to-read short list. I'll probably start it once I finish my current book.

I also really like the medieval period and thought I'd love A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman. I've tried twice now to read it and completely failed both times. Now I feel like I HAVE to read it eventually.

Isaac's Storm sounds pretty interesting.

[polka]

www.goodreads.com/list/show/9405.Best_Medieval_History_Books

[VillainV]

Oh, man. If you didn't like Pillars of the Earth then I'm not sure I'm going to be able to help.

How do you feel about alternate histories? You might like Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's long though, and a little slow in parts, but it might strike a chord with you.

[pantsparty]

What about historical fiction from other time periods?

I love Lisa See's novels. Peony in Love is one of my all-time favorite books.

Moloka'i is another favorite of mine.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

Oh oh oh! Needle in the Blood. By... Sarah bower I think? About the Bayeux Tapestry, William the conqueror and awesomeness.

[joenali]

I second Molokai.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

She also wrote a good book about the Borgias. That's my jam, though, the renaissance.

[zoidberg]

I just downloaded A Distant Mirror and Katherine.

I'd better like these! *shakes fist*

[christy082]

Her books are not medieval but my favorite historical fiction author is Kate Morton. I've loved all of her books.