This week topic is:
Top
Ten Books To Read If Your Book Club Likes (if your book club
likes historical fiction, inspiring stories, YA books, non-fiction,
controversial books to debate about, or pick a specific book.
For me it is kind of challenge since I do not have my own book club and I
am not part of any other. But if I would be a part of book club, I would think
that we read historical fiction. So here are my top 10 historical fiction novels:
1. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley
The story of the legendary Zorro, a Californian nobleman living in Los Angeles during Mexican rule. A well known Zorro is an outlaw who stand to protect local and commoners against tyranny of officials and other villains.
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The story is taking place in the 50s of 20th century in rural America. The segregation is blossoming and Afro-American help is used in almost every white household. The difficult relationship between employer and employees, the silent struggle between them, personal drama and a good deal of humor: all that can be found in this wonderful book.
3. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
The book follows the lives of Becky Sharp and Emmy Sedley, their families and friends during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Originally a satirical work by Thackeray portraits the panoramic view of English society.
4. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
Perhaps one of the best characters created by Sabatini. Although Captain Blood is a fictional figure, much of the historical background of the novel is based on facts: The Monmouth rebellion and Glorious Revolution.
5. Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell
The series features the character of Richard Sharpe, an English soldier during the Napoleonic Wars and consists of 11 books. Richartd Sharpe is a common soldier who gets commission on a battlefield and has to struggle for acceptance and respect from his fellow officers and from the men he commands. So if I need to choose only one book I would go with Sharpe's Rifles.
6. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Can you find any other such a novel that describes not only historical events (Napoleon’s war action in Europe and Asia) but also describes the life in the details of the huge country starting from dinner parties hosted by the nobility and finishing by peasants’ day-to-day being. And even this is not all. The overall view of honor, love, faith, self-understanding, betrayal, cowardice and many other moral aspects are traced through 2 generations and different social layers of society.
7. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Very sad and depressive story is set in Paris, France in the Late Middle Ages, during the reign of Louis XI. Actually the main character of the story is the building Notre-Dame de Paris itself. There is lots of description of Paris as well that give a vivid impression about the at that time.
8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
A novel that was so acclaimed and seems soon forgotten. The incredible story of Polish American student Jacob and performer Marlena takes place in America in the 30s and depicts the life of a traveling circus.
A novel that was so acclaimed and seems soon forgotten. The incredible story of Polish American student Jacob and performer Marlena takes place in America in the 30s and depicts the life of a traveling circus.
Again the great series set during the Napoleonic Wars and centering on the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin. The series consists of 20 books, of which I read only 4. So if I have to, I will choose the first one Master and Commander as here we get to know the main characters.
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
It is needless to say anything about this book. It is one of the best novels reflecting the norms and customs of the English society in the beginning of the 19th century.
I definitely want to try the Sharpe series after having seen one of the tv movies. :)
ReplyDeleteLauren @ Always Me