A Brilliant Historical Debut
358568
There are some books we devour, and others we savor like afire box of imported chocolates. This is of the latter sort. Ms. Webb masterfully combines careful historical research with vivid story telling and unforgettable characters. She dismisses the notion that Josephine Bonaparte was merely a frivolous spendthrift and a pretty face. She takes us into Josephine's mind and heart to see her life as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and leader of the French nation. We cannot help but sympathize with Josephine when she is routinely passed over by family, her husband, and her lovers until she bewitches the rising general, Napoleon. All familiar with her history know that Napoleon will ultimately do the same, we cannot help but hope that somehow history will change as we read. An enticing, bewitching debut novel that is not to be missed!
577038
Kathryn Gauci is a naturally gifted author. Her first book is a gripping story set amongst the struggles and bitter wars between Greece and Turkey over a long period of time and the families involved - from 1822 to well beyond 1919. Her vivid characters leap from the pages of expertly researched history and are beautifully intermingled throughout the entire book. It left me with a sense of satisfaction and did nothing but impress. I have no hesitation in recommending this enjoyable book.
692753
I may possibly have been the last Civil War enthusiast yet to read The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, a historical novel I have heard repeatedly referenced by historians, battlefield guides, reenactors and Civil War buffs of virtually every stripe. Now I can officially proclaim that I have read it too! But what took me so long?
 I was actually reared on historical fiction  Michener, Clavell, Vidal  and I read voraciously in this arena, which had a profound effect upon my intellectual development with regard to both history and literature.  Later, as I determined to become a historian, I deliberately eschewed this genre. Why? Because quality historical fiction tends to deeply ingrain its impressions in the synapses: to this day I have to vigorously resist identifying as authentically biographical the characters of Burr and Lincoln that Gore Vidal so brilliantly conceived in those marvelous eponymous historical novels.
  The Killer Angels was actually pressed upon me by a friend who had often nagged me to read it.  Finally, he mailed me a copy, which thus enforced a sense of guilt and obligation upon me. I still did not turn to it immediately, but I did take it along with me on a recent trip.  My Masters Degree in History was conferred at a ceremony held in National Harbor, Maryland, and it seemed fitting that my next stop post-commencement should be in the realm of the multiple Civil War battlefields at Fredericksburg, Virginia.  It was in that vicinity, overlooking a tranquil pond on the deck of a rented 1830s-era log cabin in Spotsylvania, with a cup of coffee in the early morning sun just prior to a battlefield tour, that I began The Killer Angels.  And I could not stop reading it.
 As promised by its many fans, it is an outstanding read on a variety of levels, not least in its talent for recreating the time and circumstances, effortlessly placing the reader in that milieu to walk with the characters on those crucial days that saw what was the largest land battle in North America. A complex yet engaging storyline that never grows dull, perhaps its greatest strength is in its skilled characterizations that truly bring colorful animation to a long-dead cast of otherwise monochromatic figures. The grand scale of Gettysburg is resurrected, as well as what this battle would mean for each side in a clash that while hardly deciding the war nevertheless placed a pronounced exclamation mark in the course of how its narrative would be writ ever afterward.
 Although the characters were exceedingly well drawn, I did not need to fear that I would confuse fiction for biography here, since I have previously read more than a little about central players such as Lee, Longstreet and Chamberlain. I have visited the battlefield, once with a guide in my car and on foot, and again on a walking tour with the legendary Ed Bearss.  I had not believed that a novel set on those grounds on those days would hold much value for me, but in this I was mistaken: Shaaras deliberately understated prose that deftly wove history with literature made me feel the events there as I never thought possible.  I was indeed stirred in a way I never could have anticipated.
 In the end, I do not regret waiting this long to read this fine novel. While I am thankful that I had a firm historical foundation in place prior to entertaining the drama, I am yet even more grateful then for that drama.  If it turns out that I was not truly the absolute last person to read this book, I would urge those who have taken my place to pick up a copy: you truly will not regret it.
3813476
The "Geographer's Library" is a historically rich debut mystery by Jon Fasman. Readers who enjoy esoteric historical mysteries will really enjoy Fasman's offering and find themselves hooked until the final secrets of the mystery are revealed.

Fasman lays out the story slowly and carefully. His writing is bright, colorful, and intelligent; and it is uniformly interesting in its details and gripping in the mystery that it weaves.  The main narrative follows Paul Tomm, a young reporter working for a small-town newspaper. A college professor dies, and Tomm is assigned to write the obituary. Unsurprisingly, Tomm's assignment entails more work than a typical death notice. I will not reveal the details of Tomm's investigation, lest I give away the secrets of the mystery.

Tomm's first-person story alternates with chapters that comprise the contents of a "library" put together by a 12th century figure, nobly named Yussef Hadras ibn Azzam Abd Salih Jafar Khalid Idris. The library chapters detail various exotic objects that have a relation to the practice of alchemy. Each chapter tells a story about the object's origins and its current situation.  It is clear that the library contents and Tomm's investigation are intriguing connected.

Fasman takes the reader to many sites around the world: Crdoba, Baghdad, Bukhara, Mikkouni, the Khamantor Mountains of the Khazars, the cities of Yazd, Eshahan, Ahvaz, Dimashq, Beirut and Jerusalem, the islands of Sicily, Malta and Minorca, and, of course, New England, where Tomm is living and working to unravel the mystery of the professor's death. It is a fascinating journey for the reader, involving numerous interesting characters and engrossing situations.  The book is a sheer joy to read, not just to find out whodunit, but to enjoy the many stories within the main story.  The journey to the end of the tale is as much fun as the tale itself.

In his review in the LA Times, Allen Kurzweil aptly says: "Alchemy, Fasman tells us more than once, is the science of transformation. Good fiction aspires to the same lofty goal, and it is achieved in 'The Geographer's Library,' a cabinet of wonders written by a novelist whose surname and sensibility fit comfortably on the shelf between Umberto Eco and John Fowles." I agree.
3800526
In a wonderful book debut, Rayme Waters tells the compelling story of Cinnamon Monday, a feisty and courageous young girl growing up in Northern California in a mostly well-meaning but dysfunctional family of sorts. Straddling two worlds of tired glamour and seedy unconventionality, the ever-resilient Cinnamon makes plenty of dismal choices and occasionally resorts to the unlikely moral guidance she channels from the 18th century heroine Jane Eye. The realism of the book and its beautiful style contributed to its power and I found myself captivated by Cinnamon's bumpy, often tension-filled, journey towards adulthood and personal redemption. I loved it and subsequently bought it as a gift for friends. Now I can't wait to see what other stories this author has in store for us.
618772
Where to begin? I loved this book from start to finish, and was drawn to read on and on to find what horrors next lay in store for the protagonist Freddy. This is a very cleverly, and skilfully written tale, with much to draw the reader into the spell. A marvellous portrayal of the worst of human nature. Donna Maria McCarthy showcases a talent for using historical language not much seen or heard these days, which transports the reader back into a time where "Gadzooks!"was all you needed to say. A brilliant read, I thoroughly recommend the book for anyone wanting to witness the magic, this debut novel brings about. Quite simply, buy this book.
2698166
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe is an amazing debut novel. Do you enjoy a little, history, a little mystery, stories about the Salem witch hysteria? If so, this just might be a good book for you to try.

In 1991, Connie Goodwin is a Harvard Grad Student in American Colonial Studies, trying to decide on a topic for her dissertation, when a frantic telephone call from her "hippie-mom" changes her academic routine.  Grace begs her daughter to spend her summer in Marblehead, MA cleaning out her grandmother's old, run down home, so that she can sell the property. So off Connie goes, along with her dog Arlo to this old abandoned house,  hidden from view. There is no electricity, no running water, and no telephone.  While Connie is cleaning, she finds an old key, along with a name on a tiny piece of parchment scroll, inside of an old family bible: Deliverance Dane.  Connie is on a mission to find out more.

A good amount of this story revolves around Connie's academic research in 1991 when records were not computerized. Through her research she learns that Physick was a word used in the 17th century for herbal remedy, or what might be better referred to as spells used by witches. Connie also learns that Deliverance Dane, from Salem, Massachusetts, practiced this herbal healing craft.  Connie's research for her dissertation, and hunt for the missing Physick (spell) book, keep the reader anxiously turning the pages, especially as Connie begins to wonder whether is could be somehow tied to the witches of Salem.  The story travels back in time to the late 1600's and the year 1991.

My Thoughts: Part historical fiction, part mystery,  witchcraft, a dash of humor, and a little romance thrown in as well, make this a winning combination.  The significant research involved in writing this novel is evident throughout. I loved the description of life in the late 1600's. Even though I have read several books on the Salem witches, trial etc., I never tire of reading a story from yet another angle.  The ending might leave you with some unanswered questions, but despite this, the book was certainly a worthy read. It was also interesting to learn that the author is a descendant of two women who endured the Salem witch panic of 1692. This book is Recommended.
2194432
This was my first by Laviolette and I believe it is her debut novel. It's a great first book and a wonderful love story! I'll definitely be looking for more of hers. If you like a well-written historical romance that will put you into the time of America's Revolutionary War, this is a good one! It spans the years 1773-1780, as Laviolette takes us deep into what happened in South Carolina during that time. I love a romance with rich historical detail and real (as well as fictional) characters, especially when combined with a dashing hero and a strong, independent heroine--and I was not disappointed in this one.

As the story opens, it's 1773 and the Colonies are on the brink of war with England. "Loyalists" and "Rebels" are beginning to square off against each other in South Carolina. Today we think of the war as between England and the young American nation, but it wasn't so clear then. People loyal to the Crown who considered themselves Americans lived next door to those "rebels" who considered themselves patriots. Sometimes this occurred even in the same family.

Liliana ("Lily") Dunmore considered herself a patriot (while her family purportedly was Loyalist) until she met Lieutenant Bennett Davenport, a British Naval officer who happened to be in her home of Charles Town. Though Bennett is wildly attracted to the beautiful and tempestuous Lily Dunmore (who is crazy about him), he expects to inherit a title as a Baronet and knows he cannot marry a commoner, especially a Colonial. The war will tear their budding love asunder and years will pass before they are brought together, but what a sweet ending.

I highly recommend this one and think you will like it, too! Oh and I understand that Laviolette is writing Hunter's story--now that should be worth waiting for.
1444301
The Lodger is a remarkable, beautifully written debut novel. A thought provoking mixture of fact and fiction.
Louisa's descriptions conjure up clear images of both characters and places. Obviously well researched, this atmospheric tale transported me to a London full of poverty, back in the early twentieth century. Emotionally charged and covering subjects I knew little about, I felt by the end, as well as being totally engrossed, I had also learned rather a lot. Fantastic. I shall look forward greatly to Louisa's next book.
4128268
It was a privilege to read this book, the reasons are numerous, I will say this is one of the best historical fiction books I have read this year. I will be reading all of Marina's books that's how much of an impression this authoress made.

Marina's writing is evenly exquisite and assured. She has an unmistakable gift for dialogue. Her narrative comes alive, you feel as if you are watching a play, not surprising since Marina is well versed in theater. She also masters Irish brogue expertly. The laborious research is more than obvious, details are evident as historical points merge with the perfect amount of creative, smart fiction. Irish nationalism fully exploited in an interesting and educational manner, not to mention the unfamiliar and unsung figurehead of Blumer Hobson.

Blumer Hobson serves as the main protagonist and what an outstanding job Marina provided with full on character development. Blumer possesses three dimensionality, you learn of the man not limited to his fierce yearning and passion along with pivotal role in the quest for Irish nationalism. Marina doesn't limit her originality to Blumer, rather she expounds upon the various females playing a major part in Blumer's life as well as the fight for Irish nationalism. Highlighting the historical women fighting with and alongside men added texture and interest to this already stellar narrative. Again, full characterization as the women portrayed reveal their strength, independence mixed with their passion and vulnerabilities. In fact passion plays a poignant part of the narrative, so much so allegiance and drive blinded those fighting for the cause inciting mutiny and division, a tunnel vision of sorts as Blumer became an iconic scapegoat.

Marina delivers a literary narrative visiting Irish nationalism, historical fiction fans craving a cerebral look into Irish history will savor this read. With all certitude Marina will open the gate to learn more of Ireland, its heroes/heroines and unsung heroes/heroines of historical times, their passion, courage and tenacity. Exceptional read from a deft authoress.
1678729
A friend gifted me with this book and I wasn't sure what to expect since I knew this was the author's first novel.  Wow!  What a debut!  The book is classified as "historic fiction" which is a genre I normally wouldn't care much about - but Anna's Boys turned out to be a page-turning great read, filled with characters who had me emotionally invested in their lives from the outset.

Bill Pezza is a writer who understands the notion that the political is always personal, and therein lies the power of this novel. Pezza, who is also apparently a high school history teacher, doesn't drag us into a political treatise on why the United States entered the Vietnam conflict, or try to analyze its dark course; instead, he uses this controversial war and simply (albeit dramatically) examines the very personal ways it impacted the lives of seven young friends and the people who loved them.

The way Pezza crafted this compelling tale brings to mind the 60s slogan "Think globally, act locally."  The global spectrum of the war is the catalyst for what happens to the boys, but their individual stories, and how they played out in a working-class community, are what drive the book.  Thankfully, the author avoids the trap of being preachy or persuading readers to take a pro or anti-war stance. We see and experience the war through the eyes of the young men who are all significantly affected, but end up taking very unique journeys during those tumultuous years. Friendship is their enduring bond, and Pezza does a beautiful job revealing the connections too powerful for even a divisive war to destroy.
3894050
Set in Chechnya between 1994 and 2004, and moving back and forth through history and the lives of the main characters, Anthony Marra's brilliant debut novel focuses on the threats to the life of an eight-year-old child, the daughter of a man seized and forcibly "disappeared," and those who are determined to protect her, even at the cost of their own lives.  In 2004, Haava, around whom the action revolves, is ordered by Dokka, her father, to run with her suitcase of "souvenirs" into the woods and hide, as soon as he sees soldiers coming toward their house. The house and all its contents are then burned by soldiers, and Dokka is taken and "disappeared."

Rescued from the woods by Akhmed, a neighbor and failed physician (who would rather be an artist), Haava leaves the village of Eldar that night with Akhmed, hoping to reach the hospital in Volchansk, miles away. There Akhmed hopes to persuade Sonja, a doctor he has heard of, to care for Haava.  Though Akhmed had planned to return home to his sick wife, Sonja learns that he is a physician, and though he finished at the bottom of his class, she makes a deal with him that she will let Haava stay with her if he will work in the hospital - all the other physicians have fled. Soon Akhmed is amputating limbs and caring for the dying. Sonja, the doctor, recently returned to Chechnya, desperate to find her missing sister Natasha.

Gradually, the reader comes to know almost a dozen characters so well drawn that it is impossible not to care about them.  Stoic to the point of coldness, at times, these are the survivors of two grisly wars, the First and Second Chechen wars between Russia and rebels from Chechnya, originally a war by rebels for independence from Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but now a war with religious overtones for the rebels, and desperation for the Russians who need the resources - and oil pipeline - through Chechnya.  People are starving, cold, and without any resources of their own.

It is through the characters that the book achieves almost epic status in its depiction of life in Chechnya and its past history.  The novel's opening suggests this will be a story of parents and children and the sacrifices they are willing to make for each other, but that is only the introduction to many, much broader themes.  The flashbacks each of the characters makes to a past life show the importance of memory as a way of understanding and/or making peace with the reality of the present.  As the various characters react differently to their memories and their desires to be remembered by others, they remind us of the effects of guilt and innocence in determining our own desires to remain alive in the memories of others.  For all the characters, however, the idea of what is right connects with the theme of what they are willing or not willing to do to ensure their own survival during times of war, and how effective they may be in accepting their sometimes selfish actions, both in the short-term and in terms of the memories others may have of them after their deaths.  A memorable novel of war and peace.
384906
A really brilliant piece of historical fiction with a strong voice and a unique twist to the character. It covers a period of history not often visited in historical fiction: the Gold Rush. I loved Rae Carson's other series, the Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
3161456
Steve Hackers debut novel, The Caduceus and the Swastika, grips you from page one. The story is filled with twists and turns, spans two continents, and is filled with colorful personalities, representing both evil and good. The book gives the reader historical insight into the depths that the Nazi culture invaded, in this case medical schools, and the vicious poison that they spread throughout the population. The book also highlights a few of the truly brave, those that put their lives on the line every single day, to combat this evil. But good and evil doesnt begin and end on the shores of Europe. There is more in America. I highly recommend this fantastic debut novel.
359796
A Roman history professor recently made the bold statement that reading one of Colleen McCullough's historical novels of Rome would provide me with more understanding of Roman history during the period of the Revolution than listening to any fifty of his lectures.  I must admit I was surprised, having always associated the author with melodramatic period romances, such as "The Thornbirds."  Nonetheless, even discounting for dramatic exaggeration on the part of the professor, there is little doubt that Ms. McCullough has lovingly and lavishly endowed this novel with all the historical accuracy, research and detail that could be demanded of her subject, and should in large part satisfy even the most rigorous of historical readers, bringing the Republic during the crucial period of Marius' consulships to life.  Not only are all the major political participants of this period clearly portrayed, but the day to day quality of life is revealed in detail, from the tribal customs of the Cimbri and Tuetones, the impoverishment of the Subura, to the varying struggles of Roman women to establish a viable and meaningful role for themselves within the male-dominated society of Rome.  This is a tale as much about personal triumphs and tragedies as it is about the larger stage of military and political intrigue and events, including both the petty and the grandiose, and often poignantly rendered.  It is the beginning of an ongoing and evolving epic series that should appeal to a broad audience that should include historians, fans of historical fiction, or even the more literary and historically minded readers of fantasy.  For its depiction and recreation of Roman society and history I cannot commend it more highly, and the maps, personally-drawn portraits of some of the characters, and the almost 150 page glossary and guide to pronunciation, with its translation of the cognomenative meaning, is a delight, especially for those of us intrigued with word play and derivation.
However, as other reviewers have accurately noted---"jeffergray," "jaxjin" and "a reader from Marietta"---Ms. McCullough's prose does not always rise to the epic level of her subject, more workman-like than accomplished, often somewhat stilted, and the author's writing here would never by described as stylish or particularly masterful in narrative flow.  Further, the reader should be prepared during the first hundred pages of the novel for the necessary establishment of background and events that enervate somewhat the opening pages of the narrative.  And, as already pointed out by one of the reviewers above, the repeated use of letters to provide background or description of events quickly becomes a recognizable artifice far from elegant in its use.  Nonetheless, the author's prose is written with the requisite craftsmanship and skill to serve and support her story, and I suspect that only the more literary-minded among us will notice the at times stiff or awkward composition, most quickly coming to ignore or overlook her sentence construction compared to the obvious captivation and compelling quality of her story.
Four more novels continue the history begun here---"The Grass Crown," "Fortune's Favorites," "Caesar's Women," and "Caesar"---and suspicion exists that the author will continue the series up to and including the ascension of Octavion and the start of the Principate.  If so, "The Masters of Rome" series will provide an outstanding and more historically accurate segue into Robert Graves' "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God," a true masterpiece of historical fiction, far more consummately written if, based as it is upon Suetonius' delightful, titillating but often spurious "Lives of the Twelve Caesars," less factual accounting of the reigns of the Julio-Claudians.  Any even with a remote interest in Roman history should be enthralled and delighted.
103090
I absolutely adored this stunning debut by Rachel Lynn Solomon, a story of two very different  sisters who clash at every turn but need each other to survive. Adina and Tovah are complex, beautifully written characters. Their layers of humanity, flaws, humor, and determination make it impossible to take sides in the fight that keeps them apart when they need each other the most, and even as they lash out at each other, your heart breaks for both of them. One of them will die of Huntingtons disease, and the other will not, and throughout the book we process the information along with them, progressing through the stages of grief by their sides. By the end, I felt so personally invested, I felt that grief palpably. Solomon does a masterful job creating multidimensional characters who dare to do and say the wrong thing, to risk unforgivable acts and cruel words, to push each other, and the result is two of the most fascinating characters I can remember reading in recent history. This is truly a rare book.
4763796
This was the first Sharon Kay Penman novel I had ever read. In fact, I've forgotten the names of most of the other historical fiction novels I have read, because they didn't move me as this book did. Not only does Penman do a wonderful job of introducing solid, likeable, and more importantly, believable characters but she adheres strongly to historical fact, and clearly explains any dates, characters, or other events that she fictionalized and gives good reasoning for doing so. This book inspired a love of history in me that no teacher has ever done in my elementary, secondary, or college education. Indeed, after reading this book I now have a strong desire to travel abroad and visit Wales and England myself.
 After reading this book I also bought the other two in the trilogy and The Sunne and the Splendour. Every other book I have read has led me to believe that Penman has a wonderful talent for what she does, and this book, only the first in a collection of treasures, is definitely worth at least reading once in any lover of history's lifetime.