historical fiction
392 books.
Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology, #1)
by: Charlie N. Holmberg
The Twenty-One Balloons
by: William Pène du Bois
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna
by: Juliet Grames
A Fall of Marigolds
by: Susan Meissner
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The Distant Hours
by: Kate Morton
"Unlike other reviewers, I liked this book just as much if not more than Morton's other novels. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Such a great mystery - so many great reveals! I had no idea how it would end which is rare and refreshing."
- katelynn
11/30/2013
- katelynn
11/30/2013
Heart of Darkness
by: Joseph Conrad
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In the Market for Murder (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries, #2)
by: T.E. Kinsey
Edenbrooke (Edenbrooke, #1)
by: Julianne Donaldson
Passing by Samaria
by: Sharon Ewell Foster
Salt to the Sea
by: Ruta Sepetys
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Midnight at Malabar House (Malabar House #1)
by: Vaseem Khan
Haven Point
by: Virginia Hume
Leopard at the Door
by: Jennifer McVeigh
Escaping Dreamland
by: Charlie Lovett
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1)
by: Caleb Carr
The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic, #0.2)
by: Alice Hoffman
When Christ and His Saints Slept (Plantagenets #1; Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1)
by: Sharon Kay Penman
When Mountains Move (Into the Free #2)
by: Julie Cantrell
A Sitting in St. James
by: Rita Williams-Garcia
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One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
by: Olivia Hawker
What the Wind Knows
by: Amy Harmon
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The Gown
by: Jennifer Robson
"3.5
I enjoyed this read and was interested in learning about the topic. But overall it wasn’t anything particularly new or interesting. Kind of a classic dual plot line historical fiction novel.
I also felt like the violent scene was so out of place and graphic compared to the tone of the rest of the book. The detail completely took me out of the story. "
- katelynn
03/29/2021
I enjoyed this read and was interested in learning about the topic. But overall it wasn’t anything particularly new or interesting. Kind of a classic dual plot line historical fiction novel.
I also felt like the violent scene was so out of place and graphic compared to the tone of the rest of the book. The detail completely took me out of the story. "
- katelynn
03/29/2021
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Follow the Stars Home
by: Diane C. McPhail
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, Arizona Territories (Sarah Agnes Prine, #1)
by: Nancy E. Turner
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The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles, #1)
by: Lori Wick
The Summer Country
by: Lauren Willig
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Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, #2)
by: Jacqueline Winspear
Loving Eleanor
by: Susan Wittig Albert
My Name Is Resolute
by: Nancy E. Turner
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A Quiet Life in the Country (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries, #1)
by: T.E. Kinsey
"What fun! This was a light-hearted mystery with a great cast of characters. The two protagonists were so charming and interesting, and their relationship is so funny. Their attitude towards social/gender norms of the day (and other people's reactions to these attitudes) were modern to the point of being anachronistic. But I didn't mind - it made them more relatable. I'll allow it!"
- katelynn
08/12/2018
- katelynn
08/12/2018
The Lost Apothecary
by: Sarah Penner
Let the Great World Spin
by: Colum McCann
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The House at Riverton
by: Kate Morton
Time After Time
by: Lisa Grunwald
What Could Be Saved
by: Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
Gap Creek
by: Robert Morgan
Wish You Well
by: David Baldacci
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Cloud Atlas
by: David Mitchell
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When the Future Comes Too Soon (Malayan #2)
by: Selina Siak Chin Yoke
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The Mayor of Maxwell Street
by: Avery Cunningham
Human Acts
by: Han Kang
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My Brilliant Friend (My Brilliant Friend, #1)
by: Elena Ferrante
The Moor's Account
by: Laila Lalami
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The Saints of Swallow Hill
by: Donna Everhart
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The Frozen River
by: Ariel Lawhon
Silence
by: Shūsaku Endō
Malibu Rising
by: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York
by: Francis Spufford
Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy, #1)
by: Chinua Achebe
The Henna Artist (The Henna Artist #1)
by: Alka Joshi
Pachinko
by: Min Jin Lee
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Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
by: Damian Duffy
The Girls
by: Emma Cline
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The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist, #1)
by: Jessie Burton
"I wish I could give this book more stars. This was everything that historical fiction should be: it gives you a glimpse into another time and another culture without sacrificing characters or story. The plot was so intriguing and the heroine was just superb. I chose to read this book because the cover made me curious, knowing nothing about it. What a pleasant surprise! I'll look for more from this author."
- katelynn
11/12/2015
- katelynn
11/12/2015
Kristin Lavransdatter
by: Sigrid Undset
Becoming Leidah
by: Michelle Grierson
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The Pull of the Stars
by: Emma Donoghue
"4.5
I devoured this. On paper, I should've been avoiding it: medical details (I'm so squeamish) + pandemic (I like to escape, not read about the now) + pregnancy and labor difficulties (I'm currently pregnant and easily made anxious).
But it added up to just the right thing at the right time. I was so so interested in every little detail! "
- katelynn
01/27/2022
I devoured this. On paper, I should've been avoiding it: medical details (I'm so squeamish) + pandemic (I like to escape, not read about the now) + pregnancy and labor difficulties (I'm currently pregnant and easily made anxious).
But it added up to just the right thing at the right time. I was so so interested in every little detail! "
- katelynn
01/27/2022
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A Fine Balance
by: Rohinton Mistry
"This one hurt to read... really. It was sweet and beautiful, but at the same time tragic and ugly. It was very long, but I never felt like it was dragging. I loved being able to peer into a different culture - even into different sub-cultures within a larger culture. I loved all of the relationships that grew.
I hated what happened. But I feel like part of being an adult (and really the point of the book) is looking at life as a balance between good and bad. You can't just take the good.
Overall, it's incredibly well-written, absorbing, disturbing and beautiful. I wish I was in a book club that could talk about it - because I tend to see the trees and not the forest. Why did certain characters take certain actions? I don't get it. I'm sure there's a ton of symbolism I'm missing too. "
- katelynn
05/26/2017
I hated what happened. But I feel like part of being an adult (and really the point of the book) is looking at life as a balance between good and bad. You can't just take the good.
Overall, it's incredibly well-written, absorbing, disturbing and beautiful. I wish I was in a book club that could talk about it - because I tend to see the trees and not the forest. Why did certain characters take certain actions? I don't get it. I'm sure there's a ton of symbolism I'm missing too. "
- katelynn
05/26/2017
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Anatomy (The Anatomy Duology, #1)
by: Dana Schwartz
"4.5
What a pleasant surprise! A fantastic heroine, a chemistry-steeped romance, and an absorbing setting. I'm looking forward to the second!"
- katelynn
12/06/2022
What a pleasant surprise! A fantastic heroine, a chemistry-steeped romance, and an absorbing setting. I'm looking forward to the second!"
- katelynn
12/06/2022
Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1)
by: Rae Carson
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The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
by: Jaime Jo Wright
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A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
by: Anthony Marra
"This book is a work of art, truly. A work of art that completely wrecked me multiple times. It's both a beautiful and heart-breaking read. From beginning to end the writing is poetic and thoughtful.
The way the author tells the stories (there are so many stories) is like he's painting a painting starting in the middle and moving outward in a spiral until the picture makes sense. Left to right in the painting is past to future. I've rarely seen the use of third person omniscient POV used so skillfully and effectively.
It goes in the same category of books for me as The Kite Runner. Will I recommend it? Absolutely, emphatically. Will I read it again? I don't think I can handle it a second time."
- katelynn
02/19/2018
The way the author tells the stories (there are so many stories) is like he's painting a painting starting in the middle and moving outward in a spiral until the picture makes sense. Left to right in the painting is past to future. I've rarely seen the use of third person omniscient POV used so skillfully and effectively.
It goes in the same category of books for me as The Kite Runner. Will I recommend it? Absolutely, emphatically. Will I read it again? I don't think I can handle it a second time."
- katelynn
02/19/2018
The Sandalwood Tree
by: Elle Newmark
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Two Crosses (Secrets of the Cross Trilogy #1)
by: Elizabeth Musser
The Bluest Eye
by: Toni Morrison
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My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale #1)
by: Elena Ferrante
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Cold Sassy Tree
by: Olive Ann Burns
"My overall impression of the book place mild. I was hoping for something big in the end but it never came. The characters were complex and the relationships were interesting, but overall the plot was a bit slow."
- katelynn
02/14/2014
- katelynn
02/14/2014
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Shrines of Gaiety
by: Kate Atkinson
The Name of the Rose
by: Umberto Eco
Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth
by: Sheila O'Connor
The Great Believers
by: Rebecca Makkai
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A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell, #2)
by: Deanna Raybourn
"The second book in a series with a great protagonist. Veronica is so much fun and this book was a breeze to get through. Very engaging and interesting, but not at all believable. I found the sexual discussions just gratuitous and dumb - there for shock value only. And there was just so much of it! Here's to hoping Book 3 gets better - I'm holding out for Veronica's sake!"
- katelynn
06/15/2019
- katelynn
06/15/2019
The Revenant
by: Michael Punke
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The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by: Elizabeth George Speare
"This book is exactly what I love in historical fiction. I wish I had read it in middle school - I would have adored it!"
- katelynn
02/21/2018
- katelynn
02/21/2018
Go Tell It on the Mountain
by: James Baldwin
Glory Over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House
by: Kathleen Grissom
Lilli de Jong
by: Janet Benton
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Hum If You Don't Know the Words
by: Bianca Marais
"3.5
I liked this okay. I learned a lot and the characters were easy to root for. Just didn't make a big impact."
- katelynn
12/02/2021
I liked this okay. I learned a lot and the characters were easy to root for. Just didn't make a big impact."
- katelynn
12/02/2021
Dreamland Burning
by: Jennifer Latham
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Gutenberg's Apprentice
by: Alix Christie
"Ugggggg this book! I would've quit it 50 pages in if not for book club. This was a chore to read. I certainly learned a lot about the story of the first printing press and medieval politics but at what cost! Blegh. The writing wasn't even that good - I would have no idea what was going on simply due to poor sentence structure."
- katelynn
06/15/2019
- katelynn
06/15/2019
Miller's Valley
by: Anna Quindlen
Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I
by: Hazel Gaynor
The Sympathizer
by: Viet Thanh Nguyen
A Star for Mrs. Blake
by: April Smith
Between Before and After
by: Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by: Fannie Flagg
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My Cousin Rachel
by: Daphne du Maurier
"3.5
Rough! I think I wanted more from this book than it offered, especially after reading Rebecca. It's quieter, more ambiguous. You get from it what you bring to it, kind of, if that makes sense. It's got a lot of layers - definitely needs a reread."
- katelynn
09/30/2024
Rough! I think I wanted more from this book than it offered, especially after reading Rebecca. It's quieter, more ambiguous. You get from it what you bring to it, kind of, if that makes sense. It's got a lot of layers - definitely needs a reread."
- katelynn
09/30/2024
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What I Saw and How I Lied
by: Judy Blundell
Wonderland Creek
by: Lynn Austin
Hour of the Witch
by: Chris Bohjalian
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North Woods
by: Daniel Mason
Missing Isaac
by: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Cold Comfort Farm
by: Stella Gibbons
Montana 1948
by: Larry Watson
An Eye for Glory: The Civil War Chronicles of a Citizen Soldier
by: Karl A. Bacon
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A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1)
by: Francine Rivers
Mr. Rochester
by: Sarah Shoemaker
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The Kitchen House
by: Kathleen Grissom
"This was one of those stories that made it difficult for me to live my life - I wanted to abandon all my responsibilities and just keep reading! I read it walking and brushing my teeth and cooking... Oh boy. It was hard to read - often tragic and disturbing. But the relationships were beautiful and the character development was so rewarding."
- katelynn
03/19/2018
- katelynn
03/19/2018
Molokai (Pacific Classics, No. 4) (Pacific Classics, # 4)
by: O.A. Bushnell
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Song of Redemption (Chronicles of the Kings, #2)
by: Lynn Austin
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The Secret Keeper
by: Kate Morton
"Although a little slower paced than Morton's other novels, it delivers the same depth of character and twisting plot lines I love so much. The ending was also very heartwarming, compared to the other endings of her novels which are generally tragic in nature."
- katelynn
08/05/2014
- katelynn
08/05/2014
How to Be Both
by: Ali Smith
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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, #1)
by: Kim Michele Richardson
The Physician (Cole Family Trilogy, #1)
by: Noah Gordon
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Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant, #1)
by: Bodie Thoene
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Intertwine (House of Oak, #1)
by: Nichole Van
Magic for Marigold
by: L.M. Montgomery
The Salt Garden
by: Cindy Martinusen Coloma
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Maude
by: Donna Foley Mabry
"I read this book so fast - it was enthralling. This story of a woman's life from the late 1800s through the 1960s wouldn't be something that would usually keep my interest. But the protagonist was so relatable and honest, it was so easy just to slip into her shoes and live her life alongside her. I was moved with the heartbreak and the small joys she experienced. I came away grateful for the way I can live, with modern technology and a culture that lets me pursue my dreams and marry who I want. I am also grateful for my family and the support I have from parents and in-laws. But I am also reminded that nothing is forever and to be thankful for and cherish every moment. I am challenged to not be afraid to remake my life into what I want if there is something I can do to stop unhappiness (for me or my loved ones).
It would've gotten 5 stars from me, but the ending was SO despairing - there was nothing redeeming at all. She looked back on her life and only saw sadness and regret and no reason to continue living. But I guess it's supposed to be a "real", not sugar-coated story. "
- katelynn
12/31/2016
It would've gotten 5 stars from me, but the ending was SO despairing - there was nothing redeeming at all. She looked back on her life and only saw sadness and regret and no reason to continue living. But I guess it's supposed to be a "real", not sugar-coated story. "
- katelynn
12/31/2016
The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (Malayan #1)
by: Selina Siak Chin Yoke
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Immortality: A Love Story (The Anatomy Duology, #2)
by: Dana Schwartz
"4.5"
- katelynn
04/11/2023
- katelynn
04/11/2023
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The Bone Houses
by: Emily Lloyd-Jones
"I wasn't expecting to love this one as much as I did. The YA element was super subtle - it's barely YA. The setting!!!! Medieval Wales? Yes, please. Historical fiction fantasy at its best. I wouldn't say it's terribly gothic or horror - it was super tame. "
- katelynn
10/27/2021
- katelynn
10/27/2021
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All the Colors of the Dark
by: Chris Whitaker
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Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1)
by: Alan Brennert
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Christy
by: Catherine Marshall
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Redeeming Love
by: Francine Rivers
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The Island of Missing Trees
by: Elif Shafak
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Julie
by: Catherine Marshall
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The Physician (The Cole Family Trilogy, #1)
by: Noah Gordon
Lady Audley's Secret
by: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Circling the Sun
by: Paula McLain
The Good People
by: Hannah Kent
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog
by: Adam Gidwitz
The River Within
by: Karen Powell
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The Girl Who Wrote in Silk
by: Kelli Estes
"This was a moving story throughout. I was especially affected by the mother / son stuff at the end - so many tears. There was some cringe moments - mostly in the modern portion (the romance, the way she talked about money). I have very little grace for modern stories - they have to be perfect for me to not roll my eyes all the time.
I wish I had read this book instead of listening to the audio - it might have been a 5 star for me. I think I lost some of the emotion gravity through audio. Regardless, it was a great story."
- katelynn
03/05/2018
I wish I had read this book instead of listening to the audio - it might have been a 5 star for me. I think I lost some of the emotion gravity through audio. Regardless, it was a great story."
- katelynn
03/05/2018
Last Christmas in Paris
by: Hazel Gaynor
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Last Summer on State Street
by: Toya Wolfe
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West With Giraffes
by: Lynda Rutledge
Ross Poldark (Poldark #1)
by: Winston Graham
The Gilded Years
by: Karin Tanabe
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As I Lay Dying
by: William Faulkner
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The Moonstone
by: Wilkie Collins
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Forgotten Country
by: Catherine Chung
Gods of Howl Mountain
by: Taylor Brown
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As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion, #3)
by: Francine Rivers
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The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1)
by: Roshani Chokshi
Fall on Your Knees
by: Ann-Marie MacDonald
The Blood of Flowers
by: Anita Amirrezvani
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The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen, #2)
by: Signe Pike
"4.5"
- katelynn
11/13/2021
- katelynn
11/13/2021
The Wonder
by: Emma Donoghue
Cranford
by: Elizabeth Gaskell
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Jane of Lantern Hill
by: L.M. Montgomery
When the Moon is Low
by: Nadia Hashimi
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
by: Winifred Watson
Light Changes Everything
by: Nancy E. Turner
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Jubilee
by: Margaret Walker
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The Passenger (The Passenger #1)
by: Cormac McCarthy
Things We Lost to the Water
by: Eric Nguyen
The Book of Lost Friends
by: Lisa Wingate
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Prayers for Sale
by: Sandra Dallas
Ross Poldark (Poldark, #1)
by: Winston Graham
A Tangled Web
by: L.M. Montgomery
Mr. Ives' Christmas
by: Oscar Hijuelos
Spoonbenders
by: Daryl Gregory
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The Red Tent
by: Anita Diamant
Out of Darkness
by: Ashley Hope Pérez
The Power of One (The Power of One, #1)
by: Bryce Courtenay
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The Exiles
by: Christina Baker Kline
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Calypso
by: David Sedaris
Possession
by: A.S. Byatt
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The Lions of Fifth Avenue
by: Fiona Davis
"4.5
Great and slightly heartbreaking ending brought it up that last half-star. I loved the subject-matter so much it helped smooth over slightly clunky/awkward writing. The setting helped me immerse and the plot kept me turning the pages."
- katelynn
10/10/2020
Great and slightly heartbreaking ending brought it up that last half-star. I loved the subject-matter so much it helped smooth over slightly clunky/awkward writing. The setting helped me immerse and the plot kept me turning the pages."
- katelynn
10/10/2020
The Eighth Life
by: Nino Haratischwili
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The Secrets We Kept
by: Lara Prescott
A Desperate Fortune
by: Susanna Kearsley
Hannah Coulter
by: Wendell Berry
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Love & Saffron
by: Kim Fay
Cutting for Stone
by: Abraham Verghese
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Go as a River
by: Shelley Read
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
by: Khaled Hosseini
"A beautiful, tragic, yet hopeful story. I love books that broaden my perspective and inform me about history while carrying me along with a great story and great characters."
- katelynn
10/13/2015
- katelynn
10/13/2015
The Last Runaway
by: Tracy Chevalier
Salt Houses
by: Hala Alyan
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Logans, #4)
by: Mildred D. Taylor
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The Dictionary of Lost Words
by: Pip Williams
The Color Purple
by: Alice Walker
The Yearling
by: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
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As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
by: Zoulfa Katouh
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The Women in the Castle
by: Jessica Shattuck
"3.5"
- katelynn
01/01/2022
- katelynn
01/01/2022
Where the Lost Wander
by: Amy Harmon
Lady Susan and Other Works
by: Jane Austen
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This Lovely City
by: Louise Hare
Conjure Women
by: Afia Atakora
The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni, #1)
by: Helene Wecker
A Dry White Season
by: André P. Brink
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In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1)
by: Tana French
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Big Lies in a Small Town
by: Diane Chamberlain
"4.5"
- katelynn
05/18/2022
- katelynn
05/18/2022
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The Four Winds
by: Kristin Hannah
"Oof, what a hard read. So depressing, but worth holding out to the end. What an amazing heroine! Her conversations with her daughter towards the end were so incredibly moving. Lots of tears."
- katelynn
05/04/2022
- katelynn
05/04/2022
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by: Mary Ann Shaffer
"Wish I could give more stars - so fantastic! History and funny characters and romance."
- katelynn
10/30/2013
- katelynn
10/30/2013
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The Poisonwood Bible
by: Barbara Kingsolver
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by: Betty Smith
The Vagrants
by: Yiyun Li
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The Satapur Moonstone (Perveen Mistry, #2)
by: Sujata Massey
"I liked this one even more than the first! The setting was EVERYTHING. I felt completely transported and obsessed with scenery, food and clothing descriptions. And as with the first book, the heroine is fantastic!"
- katelynn
05/05/2020
- katelynn
05/05/2020
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The Orchardist
by: Amanda Coplin
"I waffled back and forth for a while about whether to give this 4 or 5 stars. The book as a whole was undoubtedly a 5, but the ending... Do I give it a 4 because I don't like how it ends or a 5 because it ends as it should? This books is equal parts romantic and realist. So, SO beautifully written. Other reviews call it "sweeping" - which I think is a fitting descriptor.
Overall I feel confused about it - because I didn't love the story. But I loved the book."
- katelynn
04/27/2017
Overall I feel confused about it - because I didn't love the story. But I loved the book."
- katelynn
04/27/2017
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Corelli's Mandolin
by: Louis de Bernières
"Great romance, interesting history, complex characters. Definitely takes you through a range of emotions. Some of the history stuff is slow but it's easy to breeze past :)"
- katelynn
12/31/2013
- katelynn
12/31/2013
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
by: Kim Michele Richardson
Passage West
by: Rishi Reddi
The Murmur of Bees
by: Sofía Segovia
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Set the Stars Alight
by: Amanda Dykes
"This story had everything I look for: historical fiction about a time period I don’t know much about, mystery, good twists, charming/immersive setting. It also had wisdom about faith delivered in a way that wasn’t overt or preachy. It was perfectly done! This is Christian fiction at its best."
- katelynn
12/18/2020
- katelynn
12/18/2020
Love and Ruin
by: Paula McLain
The Book of Negroes
by: Lawrence Hill
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The Bird King
by: G. Willow Wilson
"3.5"
- katelynn
02/18/2023
- katelynn
02/18/2023
Betty
by: Tiffany McDaniel
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Pollyanna Grows Up
by: Eleanor H. Porter
The Question of Red
by: Laksmi Pamuntjak
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Middlemarch
by: George Eliot
"Boy, did this take a while to get into. You really have to move into Middlemarch, live there for a while. But when I finished the last page, I looked at my husband, held it up and said, "A triumph!,,,1,0
53664259,The Yield,Tara June Winch,Winch"
- katelynn
03/02/2022
- katelynn
03/02/2022
Rules of Civility
by: Amor Towles
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The Stars Are Fire
by: Anita Shreve
Us Conductors
by: Sean Michaels
Life After Life (Todd Family, #1)
by: Kate Atkinson
Far From the Madding Crowd
by: Thomas Hardy
In West Mills
by: De'Shawn Charles Winslow
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by: Victoria Schwab
So Big
by: Edna Ferber
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The Stationery Shop
by: Marjan Kamali
"I was swept away by the picture of this culture - one I’ve never had close contact with before. It was rich and vivid. I learned so much history, but I still feel like there’s so much I don’t understand.
At first I found myself rolling my eyes at the dramatic and all-consuming nature of the love story - it felt just very YA to me. But then, isn’t that just being young and in love? Once I let go of my cynicism and suspend reality a bit, I could appreciate the ROMANCE of this life-long love story. Especially the ending - I listened to beautiful Persian music and got all melty!
[mild spoilers - next paragraph]
I was even more fascinated with the adult characters - the Stationery store owner and Bahman’s mother. Their story was fully of so much human brokenness and tragedy. It was paralleled by the beautiful and pure love story of our main characters. The tragedy of the first story lead to the tragedy of the second. Mr. Fakhri - his sins, loves, heartbreak, and attempts at redemption - are worthy of a very long book club discussion.
[end spoilers]
The ending was just lovely. I went up to five stars because of that ending. And don’t miss the acknowledgements!!! They left me crying in a Starbucks."
- katelynn
01/18/2020
At first I found myself rolling my eyes at the dramatic and all-consuming nature of the love story - it felt just very YA to me. But then, isn’t that just being young and in love? Once I let go of my cynicism and suspend reality a bit, I could appreciate the ROMANCE of this life-long love story. Especially the ending - I listened to beautiful Persian music and got all melty!
[mild spoilers - next paragraph]
I was even more fascinated with the adult characters - the Stationery store owner and Bahman’s mother. Their story was fully of so much human brokenness and tragedy. It was paralleled by the beautiful and pure love story of our main characters. The tragedy of the first story lead to the tragedy of the second. Mr. Fakhri - his sins, loves, heartbreak, and attempts at redemption - are worthy of a very long book club discussion.
[end spoilers]
The ending was just lovely. I went up to five stars because of that ending. And don’t miss the acknowledgements!!! They left me crying in a Starbucks."
- katelynn
01/18/2020
read
Winter Passing
by: Cindy McCormick Martinusen
The Mountains Sing
by: Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
read
My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies, #1)
by: Cynthia Hand
"4.5 - This concept could have been super lame and hokey, but the authors pulled it off but not taking it too seriously. I laughed so much! This was pure fun from beginning to end. "
- katelynn
11/16/2019
- katelynn
11/16/2019
read
The Widows of Malabar Hill (Perveen Mistry, #1)
by: Sujata Massey
"This was such an interesting read. It definitely immerses you in the culture and delivers a fun, twisty mystery. The heroine was plucky and intelligent and easy to root for!"
- katelynn
03/17/2020
- katelynn
03/17/2020
Hum If You Don’t Know the Words
by: Bianca Marais
no image available
The Vaster Wilds
by: Lauren Groff
no image available
The Silent Companions
by: Laura Purcell
read
An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion, #2)
by: Francine Rivers
read
The Downstairs Girl
by: Stacey Lee
read
Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1)
by: Jacqueline Winspear
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by: Lisa See
no image available
Weyward
by: Emilia Hart
no image available
Shadow Country
by: Peter Matthiessen
Island Beneath the Sea
by: Isabel Allende
read
The Dearly Beloved
by: Cara Wall
"4.5"
- katelynn
01/03/2023
- katelynn
01/03/2023
no image available
Home for Erring and Outcast Girls
by: Julie Kibler
read
The Last Sin Eater
by: Francine Rivers
no image available
Beasts of a Little Land
by: Juhea Kim
Half of a Yellow Sun
by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
read
A Bride Most Begrudging
by: Deeanne Gist
read
The Clockmaker's Daughter
by: Kate Morton
Commonwealth
by: Ann Patchett
The Last Train to Key West
by: Chanel Cleeton
Doc
by: Mary Doria Russell
read
Love Comes Softly (Love Comes Softly, #1)
by: Janette Oke
read
Beautiful Ruins
by: Jess Walter
"What did I just read? That was nuts."
- katelynn
02/17/2024
- katelynn
02/17/2024
The Night Watchman
by: Louise Erdrich
The Only Harmless Great Thing
by: Brooke Bolander
Follow the River
by: James Alexander Thom
English Creek
by: Ivan Doig
Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings, #1)
by: Lynn Austin
The Victory Garden: A Novel
by: Rhys Bowen
read
Beyond the Sacred Page: The Tyndale Translation
by: Jack Cavanaugh
"Second time through this one and it held up! I love that. The first time I read it was probably 7th or 8th grade, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This author is actually really good at telling historical stories in an interesting and informative way - which is what I enjoy about historical fiction. This is a story about the struggles of Bible translators (and readers) during the time of Henry VIII. Overall it was well-written and didn't simplify complex issues. I walk away with a greater appreciation of my religious freedoms and gratitude for the sacrifices of others that have given me these freedoms. The ending was a little trite, but the rest of the book was great."
- katelynn
03/07/2017
- katelynn
03/07/2017
I Was Anastasia
by: Ariel Lawhon
read
Winter Garden
by: Kristin Hannah
"I loved reading about a time / period / place I know nothing about: 1930s/40s Russia and the siege of Leningrad. It was a truly harrowing moment in history.
Unfortunately, that was only about 2/5 of the book. The rest was a modern story framework setup to allow the telling of the other story. It felt weak and unnecessary. I'd rather have focused in on the historical story, even if it was super grim, than be dragged along with modern characters I never came to care for."
- katelynn
02/04/2019
Unfortunately, that was only about 2/5 of the book. The rest was a modern story framework setup to allow the telling of the other story. It felt weak and unnecessary. I'd rather have focused in on the historical story, even if it was super grim, than be dragged along with modern characters I never came to care for."
- katelynn
02/04/2019
read
Hamnet
by: Maggie O'Farrell
no image available
The Lost Ones
by: Anita Frank
Flight of Dreams
by: Ariel Lawhon
Let Me Hear a Rhyme
by: Tiffany D. Jackson
Rush
by: Lisa Patton
And the Mountains Echoed
by: Khaled Hosseini
As Bright as Heaven
by: Susan Meissner
Bitter Orange
by: Claire Fuller
Sacred Hunger (Sacred Hunger #1)
by: Barry Unsworth
Kristin Lavransdatter (Kristin Lavransdatter, #1-3)
by: Sigrid Undset
read
Magnus
by: Sigmund Brouwer
Days Without End (Days Without End, #1)
by: Sebastian Barry
Romanov
by: Nadine Brandes
In the Market for Murder (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #2)
by: T.E. Kinsey
no image available
The Transit of Venus
by: Shirley Hazzard
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by: John Irving
The Devil in the White City
by: Erik Larson
November Road
by: Lou Berney
read
The Devil and the Dark Water
by: Stuart Turton
"This book had everything I love. A fascinating setting full of history I've never learned about, atmosphere out the butt, a sweet and subtle love story, feminist themes and an exploration of religion and superstition. Great great great! And so much humor along the way. This author has made it onto my Must Read list!"
- katelynn
01/07/2024
- katelynn
01/07/2024
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by: Susanna Clarke
no image available
Above the Bay of Angels
by: Rhys Bowen
no image available
An American Beauty
by: Shana Abe
read
Madman
by: Tracy Groot
"This is one of my favorite books of historical biblical fiction. It's dark and mysterious – keeps you gripped until the last page."
- katelynn
02/01/2007
- katelynn
02/01/2007
read
Jayber Crow
by: Wendell Berry
"This had some beautiful and profound moments, but overall it was just too.. nothing. Too like real life, I guess. "
- katelynn
04/16/2022
- katelynn
04/16/2022
no image available
Passing
by: Nella Larsen
World's Fair
by: E.L. Doctorow
The Truth According to Us
by: Annie Barrows
The Muse
by: Jessie Burton
Pat of Silver Bush (Pat of Silver Bush, #1)
by: L.M. Montgomery
read
The Island of Sea Women
by: Lisa See
"Wow, I do not usually go for multi-generational stories, especially in another culture, but this was perfect. It’s a beautiful and tragic story about friendship and loss. The setting and culture were completely immersive and FASCINATING. The author never sacrificed plot or characters but I learned so so much!
This is incredibly well done historical fiction. Where the history is just a background framework for an amazing story of love and forgiveness. "
- katelynn
09/05/2019
This is incredibly well done historical fiction. Where the history is just a background framework for an amazing story of love and forgiveness. "
- katelynn
09/05/2019
read
The Shape of Mercy
by: Susan Meissner
"Another book about the Salem witch trials - that's two since January! This one was very thoughtful and a little more wrenching than the YA one I read earlier this year. The author really put you in the mindset of the Puritan girl. The modern story was interesting, but I had trouble relating to the main character's struggles. There was some kitschy-ness but overall, I had fun listening to it."
- katelynn
04/07/2018
- katelynn
04/07/2018
read
Sparks Like Stars
by: Nadia Hashimi
"3.5"
- katelynn
06/28/2021
- katelynn
06/28/2021
The Architect's Apprentice
by: Elif Shafak
A Long Petal of the Sea
by: Isabel Allende
The Strays
by: Emily Bitto
read
The Diary of Mattie Spenser
by: Sandra Dallas
"The first 3/4 of the book were just ok. Probably a 3 star. But it picked up enough at the end and I was rooting for the protagonist so much it bumped up to a 4 star. Overall the plots points were a bit predictable but it was well-written and an enjoyable read."
- katelynn
05/17/2019
- katelynn
05/17/2019
read
The Bombay Prince (Perveen Mistry #3)
by: Sujata Massey
"I think part of my issue with this book is user error - I didn't listen to the audio and I didn't take the time to get as immersed in the setting as I did with the last two. But also the writing felt stilted and awkward.
I don't think I'm giving up on Perveen yet, but we'll see."
- katelynn
07/09/2021
I don't think I'm giving up on Perveen yet, but we'll see."
- katelynn
07/09/2021
The Water Dancer
by: Ta-Nehisi Coates
How Much of These Hills Is Gold
by: C Pam Zhang
read
The Bombay Prince (Perveen Mistry, #3)
by: Sujata Massey
"I think part of my issue with this book is user error - I didn't listen to the audio and I didn't take the time to get as immersed in the setting as I did with the last two. But also the writing felt stilted and awkward.
I don't think I'm giving up on Perveen yet, but we'll see."
- katelynn
07/09/2021
I don't think I'm giving up on Perveen yet, but we'll see."
- katelynn
07/09/2021
read
The Chaperone
by: Laura Moriarty
"Very interesting story and great characters, but the worldview/moral stances taken made me sad."
- katelynn
04/23/2016
- katelynn
04/23/2016
A Gentleman in Moscow
by: Amor Towles
Beloved
by: Toni Morrison
read
The Help
by: Kathryn Stockett
Simon the Fiddler
by: Paulette Jiles
read
Clara and Mr. Tiffany
by: Susan Vreeland
no image available
A Tangled Mercy
by: Joy Jordan-Lake
read
Water for Elephants
by: Sara Gruen
"It hooked me from the start. I loved the setting - I'm always excited to read historical fiction during times or in places I don't know much about. This was a fascinating peek into circus life in 1930 - I loved reading about the animals. The plot was gripping and the characters were great. Would have given 5 stars except for a few smutty scenes that were a bit too graphic for me. But the smut was not pervasive and it was easily skipped over so I would still recommend it!"
- katelynn
05/22/2015
- katelynn
05/22/2015
One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1)
by: Rita Williams-Garcia
Mariette in Ecstasy
by: Ron Hansen
read
The Invention of Wings
by: Sue Monk Kidd
"Wow. This book has challenged me deeply. I have so much to chew on about purpose and priority. Shoot. Both inspiring and convicting."
- katelynn
12/21/2015
- katelynn
12/21/2015
A Piece of the World
by: Christina Baker Kline
Cluny Brown
by: Margery Sharp
Lincoln in the Bardo
by: George Saunders
read
Jamie MacLeod: Highland Lass (Highland Collection, #1)
by: Michael R. Phillips
The Kingdoms
by: Natasha Pulley
read
The Forgotten Garden
by: Kate Morton
Native Son
by: Richard Wright
no image available
I Shall Be Near to You
by: Erin Lindsay McCabe
read
I Capture the Castle
by: Dodie Smith
The Flight of Gemma Hardy
by: Margot Livesey
March
by: Geraldine Brooks
Necessary Lies (Necessary Lies, #1)
by: Diane Chamberlain
no image available
The God of the Woods
by: Liz Moore
English Creek (Montana Trilogy)
by: Ivan Doig
The Makioka Sisters
by: Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
The Age of Innocence
by: Edith Wharton
The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer, #1)
by: Viet Thanh Nguyen
A Confederacy of Dunces
by: John Kennedy Toole
Brideshead Revisited
by: Evelyn Waugh
The Weight of Ink
by: Rachel Kadish
read
A Woman Is No Man
by: Etaf Rum
"Oof. This was rough. A lot of the writing felt pretty basic, in terms of women’s rights discussions. (Just lots of overused phrases). “You’re just as good as a man, follow your dreams, don’t let anyone hold you down, etc.” But the story was anything but basic - it was complex and real and hard.
A great followup to this would be Melinda Gates’ book: The Moment of Lift."
- katelynn
12/31/2020
A great followup to this would be Melinda Gates’ book: The Moment of Lift."
- katelynn
12/31/2020
read
The Disappearances
by: Emily Bain Murphy
"This story had all the elements to be something I'd really like. And I did enjoy a good bit of it. For me, the "YA-ness" kind of ruined it. It took me out of the setting (the dialog felt too modern) and broke the atmosphere.
Overall though, it's an enjoyable, interesting mystery with some good character relationships."
- katelynn
01/22/2020
Overall though, it's an enjoyable, interesting mystery with some good character relationships."
- katelynn
01/22/2020
read
Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms
by: Katherine Rundell
"I absolutely loved this little heroine! The descriptions of her life in Africa were so beautiful; I feel like they describe so much of what I'd love to give my children in their childhood.
When she arrived in London, the book started to drag - I just wondered when it would all start to turn up for her again. It certainly ended well though."
- katelynn
06/11/2018
When she arrived in London, the book started to drag - I just wondered when it would all start to turn up for her again. It certainly ended well though."
- katelynn
06/11/2018
The Stranger
by: Albert Camus
read
The Lake House
by: Kate Morton
"This book was perfect until the very end. There was one detail that I would have left out - it was too kitschy. But I still give it 5 stars for the reading experience and for having such a well-crafted story. So many interesting twists and secrets - I was guessing until the end. One facet that I didn't appreciate that's also been in some of her other books is the way she manipulates your emotions to be absolutely fine with infidelity. It's not something that's beautiful and tragic - it's never good in any way.
Overall, fantastic book that I'm sure I'll read again and recommend to all!"
- katelynn
11/06/2015
Overall, fantastic book that I'm sure I'll read again and recommend to all!"
- katelynn
11/06/2015
no image available
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
by: Alan Moore
no image available
The History of Bees (Klimakvartetten, #1)
by: Maja Lunde
read
The Terror
by: Dan Simmons
A Desperate Fortune (Mary & Hugh, #1)
by: Susanna Kearsley
read
Song of the Silent Harp (Emerald Ballad #1)
by: B.J. Hoff
read
Fireflies in December (Calloway Summers #1)
by: Jennifer Erin Valent
"Interesting and at times gripping plot. Definitely a lot like To Kill a Mockingbird. At times the dialogue seemed a little forced."
- katelynn
06/22/2016
- katelynn
06/22/2016
read
The Henna Artist (The Henna Artist, #1)
by: Alka Joshi
"3.5"
- katelynn
01/16/2021
- katelynn
01/16/2021
Call Your Daughter Home
by: Deb Spera
no image available
Where the Desert Meets the Sea
by: Werner Sonne
read
Glittering Images (Starbridge, #1)
by: Susan Howatch
"4.5"
- katelynn
10/29/2022
- katelynn
10/29/2022
The Victory Garden
by: Rhys Bowen
Lucia, Lucia
by: Adriana Trigiani
The Unseen
by: Katherine Webb
read
The Kite Runner
by: Khaled Hosseini
no image available
The Heiress of Linn Hagh (Detective Lavender Mysteries, #1)
by: Karen Charlton
read
A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1)
by: Deanna Raybourn
read
A Light on the Hill (Cities of Refuge, #1)
by: Connilyn Cossette
"I've swung and missed so often the last few years with Christian fiction that I've come to have really low expectations. But not here! This was well-written and absorbing. I felt fully immersed in the ancient time period and wrapped up in the trials of the heroine. I felt edified and challenged by the faith elements of the story - it's been so long since I've gotten that from fiction!
There were definitely some corn-ball moments. I could've done with less of the romance. Oh how the times have changed!"
- katelynn
11/13/2020
There were definitely some corn-ball moments. I could've done with less of the romance. Oh how the times have changed!"
- katelynn
11/13/2020
The Sleeping Dictionary
by: Sujata Massey
Orphan Train
by: Christina Baker Kline
read
Into the Free (Into the Free #1)
by: Julie Cantrell
His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae
by: Graeme Macrae Burnet
read
The Strength of His Hand (Chronicles of the Kings, #3)
by: Lynn Austin
The House of Mirth
by: Edith Wharton
read
Before We Were Yours
by: Lisa Wingate
no image available
The Hangman's Daughter (The Hangman's Daughter, #1)
by: Oliver Pötzsch
no image available
read
This Tender Land
by: William Kent Krueger
no image available
A Short Walk Through a Wide World
by: Douglas Westerbeke
read
A Single Shard
by: Linda Sue Park
Cloud Cuckoo Land
by: Anthony Doerr
Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord
by: Louis de Bernières
Shibumi
by: Trevanian Trevanian
read
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
by: Alix E. Harrow
"The book was SO GOOD. I love historical fiction fantasy - it's so fun to get both! This was definitely "fantasy lite". The emphasis was on the characters and themes and not the world-building. Which is what I prefer in fantasy.
The two heroines of the story were so inspiring! I loved them like I love Anne of Green Gables, Hermione and Christy."
- katelynn
02/01/2020
The two heroines of the story were so inspiring! I loved them like I love Anne of Green Gables, Hermione and Christy."
- katelynn
02/01/2020
read
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1)
by: Alan Bradley
"Such a fun read! One I can't wait to share with my children. The narrator is a strong, smart, scientific girl that I want my daughters to emulate! The story is engaging and funny and heartwarming."
- katelynn
03/10/2015
- katelynn
03/10/2015
no image available
Yellow Crocus (Freedman/Johnson, #1)
by: Laila Ibrahim
read
The Space Between Us
by: Thrity Umrigar
"Good. Grief. Talk about compulsively readable literary fiction! I couldn't put this down. I was so invested in each of the characters. They were all flawed - which made for a more complicated read.
The writing was so reflective. The atmosphere and setting were so rich. I felt fully immersed, which I love.
This was a hard, but mostly satisfying read. It felt very real."
- katelynn
03/29/2020
The writing was so reflective. The atmosphere and setting were so rich. I felt fully immersed, which I love.
This was a hard, but mostly satisfying read. It felt very real."
- katelynn
03/29/2020
Jane Steele
by: Lyndsay Faye
The Widow of Rose House
by: Diana Biller
no image available
A Crane Among Wolves
by: June Hur
The Gold Bug
by: Edgar Allan Poe
Days Without End (Days Without End #1)
by: Sebastian Barry
The Henna Artist (The Jaipur Trilogy, #1)
by: Alka Joshi
read
The Secret Life of Bees
by: Sue Monk Kidd
"4.5
Another incredible story from Sue Monk Kidd. The writing is just beautiful - so thoughtful and meaningful. There's a lot to chew on in there! It's the kind of book you want to read slowly to soak up every sentence, let it sink in and change you."
- katelynn
03/16/2022
Another incredible story from Sue Monk Kidd. The writing is just beautiful - so thoughtful and meaningful. There's a lot to chew on in there! It's the kind of book you want to read slowly to soak up every sentence, let it sink in and change you."
- katelynn
03/16/2022
Bride of the Sea
by: Eman Quotah
Molokai
by: O.A. Bushnell
Mudbound
by: Hillary Jordan
read
The Passion of Artemisia
by: Susan Vreeland
Old School
by: Tobias Wolff
read
The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1)
by: Katherine Arden
read
The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen Trilogy, #2)
by: Signe Pike
"4.5"
- katelynn
11/13/2021
- katelynn
11/13/2021
The Road to Yesterday (Anne of Green Gables)
by: L.M. Montgomery
read
Once Upon a River
by: Diane Setterfield
"This book was wonderful.
Just enough gothic, just enough fairy tale, just enough adult/complex relationships and struggle - this will be a favorite. I love the language, sense of place, and story-telling themes.
Now we need a movie, please and thank you."
- katelynn
03/05/2020
Just enough gothic, just enough fairy tale, just enough adult/complex relationships and struggle - this will be a favorite. I love the language, sense of place, and story-telling themes.
Now we need a movie, please and thank you."
- katelynn
03/05/2020
read
Kindred
by: Octavia E. Butler
"Wow, this 5 star was ... unexpected. It starts off really simple. I was not impressed with the initial setup of characters and the time travel theme. But, boy, does Butler ratchet up the tension and complexity! I ended completely overwhelmed. There's so so much to consider and discuss. She does not back down from any difficult ideas or grey areas. She faces them head on, showing human brokenness and defending dignity. "
- katelynn
12/04/2019
- katelynn
12/04/2019
read
First Light (A.D. Chronicles, #1)
by: Bodie Thoene
read
Hadassah: One Night with the King
by: Tommy Tenney
"This is my second time through this one and although I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time, it was still great! It's a beautiful portrait of how to approach marriage and general trials of life. It also really makes you think about the story of Esther and all that she went through and how faithful God is! "
- katelynn
10/08/2015
- katelynn
10/08/2015
read
Cane River
by: Lalita Tademy
"A fascinating and engrossing story based on the author’s research into her own lineage. The book is filled with pictures and other primary sources documents that completely transported me. I studied each picture, so interested in these real people and their similarities and their dreams and their loves.
This book is a novel but is clearly formed around a framework of real events. The women in this family!! Goodness. Flawed, but so strong.
One note: it is very interesting to read this book so soon after reading The Vanishing Half. Both deal with colorism and make complimentary reads. TVH kind of picks up where this book left off time-wise. I found the town in TVH hard to believe- but after reading this real story, it’s easier to understand."
- katelynn
07/30/2020
This book is a novel but is clearly formed around a framework of real events. The women in this family!! Goodness. Flawed, but so strong.
One note: it is very interesting to read this book so soon after reading The Vanishing Half. Both deal with colorism and make complimentary reads. TVH kind of picks up where this book left off time-wise. I found the town in TVH hard to believe- but after reading this real story, it’s easier to understand."
- katelynn
07/30/2020
Here Be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1)
by: Sharon Kay Penman
read