Historical Fiction at its Most Gripping!
919714
I really enjoyed reading (and learning from) Follett's "Winter of the World."  Here's why:

The admittedly highly improbable (highly contrived, even) tangle of relationships and encounters between the second generation characters (the offspring of the main characters in "Fall of Giants") provides an amazing springboard to Follett's compelling history lesson.  In reading this book, you'll gain a keener appreciation for:
- How the harshly punitive terms of the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions in Germany under which the Nazis could ascend to power.
- Aktion T4, the Third Reich's heinous scheme to exterminate Germany's mentally and physically challenged citizens, and harbinger of the Holocaust.
- How desperately close democracy came to extinction in the 1940s as the Soviet Communist bloc expanded, fascists controlled the entire European mainland (and the notion of fascism was gaining a foothold among the rich and powerful in Great Britain and even the United States), and the Japanese empire was spreading across the western Pacific and East Asia.
- How difficult it would be for the average German citizen to truly know what was going on in terms of atrocities.
- How ruthless the Soviet authoritarian state was, how paranoid Stalin was, and how far off course the Revolution had gotten.
- The race, the risk, and the ethical challenges of developing the atomic bomb.
- The unavoidable advent of the Cold War and the rise of modern spycraft.
2048358
Really anyone would enjoy this book!  It is a great example of historical fiction!  The tragic event is intermingled with the joys and angst of childhood.
4433184
Ms. Batshaw has written a gripping historical novel. The tragedy of the Greek Jews during the Nazi Occupation has been told with exceptional care and historical accuracy. It is well researched, well written, and thought provoking. My parents, who grew up in war-torn Greece during WWII, told me many stories about the Greek Jews. This authors accounting of a young Jewish woman, pretending to be a Christian in order to survive, is compelling. A must read.
3872136
Having ready many historical novels, I would class this one with the best.  There was so much wonderful historical details that I was unaware of, i.e., the way that executioners and their families were shunned and feared.  Despite the bleakness of the people's day to day lives, people still had honor and a sense of right and wrong.  Plus, this is a mystery novel that will keep you turning the pages!
4000510
I thoroughly enjoy historical fiction....and Jodi Picoult. This book has both Picoult's way of pulling you into the story as well as that historical fiction that is so accurate the reader can almost feel what the characters are feeling. When Minka describes her horrible experiences in the concentration camp the reader can nearly feel her fear, hunger, pain, and gut wrenching loss. Sage's struggle to come to terms with what happened to her grandmother are like a journey in themselves. Her character develops quite nicely as the story progresses. Then there's the twist that the reader never sees coming as the story comes to an end.  I have read all of Picoult's books and I have to say that this ranks up there in my top 2...it may even be number one!
3628492
I must admit I am a fan of most historical fiction novels, especially those that take place or recall the events of the Holocaust, but this one just on all accounts was AMAZING!. The author transforms what could be just another book, to that of something special. When the character Julia was introduced I was quick to judge her a simple minded, do as your husband says kind of woman, but througout the book she completely changed my opinion. Her courage to stop at nothing but the truth really holds your attention.

Now the story within the story is of a little girl named Sarah, who is French born citizen, but of Polish/Jewish decent. You read how she locks her brother in the closet to protect him from the police, believing she is doing the right thing only to later realize that she won't be returning home. It really pulls at your heart strings watching this little girl, so innocent, have to become so brave for her family and herself. She takes the world into her hands and escapes from the camp with her friend and finds a kind older couple who take them in. Once she is there she convinces them to take her back to Paris to get her brother and this is where the author does an amazing job of tying the two stories together.

As Julie's father-in-law describes the day he met Sarah, Sarah describes the day she found her brother's remains in the closet. The stories unfold as to how these two families really know eachother and what really happened to Sarah's brother. The book is well written and truly gripping.
2169995
This is historical fiction at its finest. In this book, the author tells the story of the life Rachel Pomie, mother of  impressionist painter  Camille Pissaro. She was born and raised in the early nineteenth century on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, which was then ruled by the Danish. Her family had fled from France and settled in St. Thomas, where they became part of a small, self-contained Jewish community.

Her story is one of great passion, confrontations with the social order of the time, and self-determination. The author tells it  in prose so lush and descriptive it is almost magical. It is as if the author were painting the lives of the characters before the reader's very eyes.  The story of the life of Rachel Pomie held me captive from start to finish. I simply loved reading this book!
3849135
The Settler is a first rate piece of historical fiction! The story of war is gripping in and of itself, but The Settler also adds to it a compelling plot line based on diverse, colorful characters. I found myself engrossed after a few chapters. Much detail was paid to provide vivid descriptions and create a sense of "being there". What's more, this book also moonlights as a romance novel! The romance was a natural addition, as not much seems more innately human than love and war. Together it made for a nice balance.

On another note, I am not typically one who stops to research answers to my questions while reading a book (I'm usually too antsy to find out what will happen next!); however, perhaps one of the best compliments I can pay the author is that after finishing The Settler, I felt compelled to read more about the Boer War and some of the specific locations and people included in the book. So I did. I suppose one purpose of writing historical fiction is to inform the reader...the other purpose would be to entertain. I can safely say, the author has done both quite well. I agree with other reviewers in saying a map and/or glossary of terms would be beneficial. Even a lazy reader like me would take the time to flip within the book to clarify my understanding!

All in all, two thumbs up!
4348249
I had the good fortune to read Lalita Tademy's new book in draft, and I quite literally could not put it down. It is, simply put, a great historical novel, deftly weaving together fact and fiction into a powerful and emotionally compelling narrative. My wife gave me a published copy, and I can't think of a better gift for friends who like to learn new things about both people (some quite real, some majestically invented) and places (parts of our own dear U.S.A. which may or may not be familiar, particularly as they were nearly two centuries ago). The writer is at the top of her form. Don't be misled: after "Cane River" and "Red River," Ms. Tademy is not downsizing from rivers to creeks. The Creek of "Citizens Creek" is no watercourse, but one of the Five Civilized Tribes of native Americans forcibly removed in the 1830s from their humid homelands in the Old South to the windswept Indian Territory west of the Mississippi in what is now Oklahoma. A complicating fact is that some of these displaced "Indians" were themselves slave owners. "Citizens Creek" is a masterwork of storytelling that joins imaginary characters that we come to care about, very much, with historical characters come to life and with historical conflicts that give rise to every sort of dramatic tension. This is not a desolate story, as human endurance proves more than a match for the tragic suffering of oppressed peoples, but it is a desperate story, which will pull you from page to page as you await the redemption of your hope.
3620597
I love historical fiction, and this book is time traveling at its very best. The author does an amazing job of taking you back to this fascinating time period immediately after the American Revolution in both Britain and the British-held colony of the Bahamas. Life on a British naval vessel comes alive, as does life onshore. The book is extraordinarily well researched, the characters just jump off the pages, and the action/adventure story line will keep you reading long after bedtime. One aspect of this book that will throw you for a loop is the dialog, which is all written in late 18th century phrasing, sprinkled with lots of slang spoken by sailors on British ships of the time. I found myself wondering what they were actually saying ... but that just added to the realism and thrill of this fantastic read!
4965105
Once you sit down with this book in your hands, prepare to do nothing else until you are finished.  This is a mesmerizing historical fiction, filled with intriguing prose that only an expert storyteller could bring to life.  I found myself startled at times by the gruesomeness of the story, yet the  writing is so absolutely wonderful that it begs for you to continue.  Holman masterfully switches between a variety of narrative styles to paint  the picture of life in this working-class town, and brings these characters  to life with vivid detail.  All of these people are trapped in a sad tale  of haunting, since they are pursued by both the demon of disease and the  demons that haunt their tormented lives. Be prepared to fall under the  spell of this book!
3079629
Couldn't put this down!  I love historical novels, and this was one that I will count as one of  my all time favorites!  Spanning four generations in the court of the kings of France, ending with the French revolution, you are transported back to that time.  Love, intrigue, life for peasant as well as royalty, it is riveting!
2767540
I read this book in two days!  I just couldn't put it down, it was the best kind of historical fiction because it was so believable.
3517549
Rarely do I encounter such well-researched, beautifully-written, theme-rich historical fiction as The Mark of the King. From the first page, I was riveted to Julianne's story. Chock-full of atmospheric detail, this novel transported me to a place I had never read much about, and even though it brought to light horrors I had never heard of, the entirety of the story was wrapped with the repeated theme of the grace of God. I love books that gently bring timeless truths to life (as opposed to spelling those truths out for us, leaving no room for nuance), and this novel does that. Best of all, it had a combination of factors that made it one of my new favorites: memorable, believable characters, unpredictable twists, and a story that keeps living in my head long after I turn the last page. C'est bon! ***I received a copy of this book from the publisher under no obligation to review, but I was happy to share my thoughts on this excellent novel, which I highly recommend.***
1887824
I received this book as part of a book promotion and glad i took the opportunity to read it.
Love is Never Past Tense might seem to some as a historical fiction, but it is SOOOO much more than that! Based on true events, you can't wait to see what happened next to Janna, only to be left wanting more.
The book unfolds as an old man reminiscences about his first love, whilst doing the UNTHINKABLE! You can't help but be shocked and appalled. Then, after years apart, the two former lovers reunite. A gripping tale follows, revealing human nature's true colors in times of depravity, mayhem and struggle. But does their love story continue after all that was said and done? You will have to find out!
The book is well written by the Protagonist, in several catalysts, broken up in several parts, and delivered in several POV's. The four parts of the book flow effortlessly. The mix of history lessons, teamed with romance, action, mystery and drama, just works! This book gets a well deserved 5 stars and I know that soon this book will qualify to for a Guild Review.
2433722
This gripping tale of love, loyalty and revenge set in the urbulent years after the War Between the States, grabbed my attention from the very first paragraph and held it right to the exciting conclusion. Two railroads compete to win the race to completion. In order to avenge her brother's death, Adella, a former Confederate spy, is determined that the Katy Line will finish last. Cormac, the Katy's foreman, is equally determined to win the race for the sake of the men who rely on him.

Jacqui Nelson demonstrates her special skills as she weaves fascinating historical detail into Adella's Enemy without in any way slowing the story or distracting from the page-turning plot. With wit and convincing dialogue, she evokes the sounds, smell and feel of a bygone era so well I almost felt I was there.

Adella and Cormac are strong, compelling people who, though larger than life, remain entirely believable as they struggle to achieve their conflicting goals and at the same time do what is right--for themselves as well as for others.

No wonder this book was a Golden Heart winner. It's one you won't want to miss.
1200394
This is one of my top of all times historical novels. Sharon Penman brings all of the characters alive with such depth that I felt transported back in time.  Her dedication to historical accuracy combined with her empathetic approach to the emotions and motivations of the characters made her work both stimulating and engaging right to the end of it's 800+ pages.