Tag Archives: historical

The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Thistle

I heartily agree that something odd is going on; something I can’t possibly explain. The barrier between myself and Rochester has softened. –Thursday Next This is a really odd book. Delightful, but odd. It’s alternate history, and the narrator, Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Good Thief, by Hannah Tinti

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Thistle

Twelve-year-old Ren has lived in a Catholic orphanage ever since he can remember. His hand has been missing all that time, too, which is why no one ever chooses to adopt him. When Benjamin Nab unexpectedly shows up at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged | Leave a comment

Airman, by Eoin Colfer

Posted on December 16, 2008 by Thistle

Immediately on seeing the picture of Airman, I knew this wasn’t typical of what I read. I’m not really an adventure-type person, and this was definitely an adventure book. But despite that, I ended up enjoying this one a lot. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden

Posted on November 16, 2008 by Thistle

All I can say is – wow. This book is utterly amazing. Considering it came out in the last decade or so, that’s really extravagant praise from me. Nearly every word was perfect (though I thought the “translater’s note” at … Continue reading →

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The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory

Posted on July 28, 2008 by Thistle

There can’t really be any spoilers with this book, as it’s at least loosely based on historical fact. King Henry VIII cheats on his first wife, eventually annuls their marriage, marries Anne Boleyn, only to chop off her head a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Thistle

This story is about Kit, a teenage girl who travels from Barbados to Connecticut after her last remaining relative on the island dies. Once in Connecticut, she’s met with suspicion from the entire community she comes to live in. They … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Children's, Prose | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Thistle

For some reason, this one grabbed my attention when I was helping my kids pick out library books the other day. Normally I don’t read books on the Holocaust so much – they’re often too depressing for me – but I thoroughly enjoyed … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Children's, Prose | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Eight, by Katherine Neville

Posted on June 10, 2008 by Thistle

When I first read the Wikipedia description of The Eight, recommended to me by my cousin Jen, I somehow got the impression that this was a young adult novel. When I got it, a very thick hardback of 550 pages, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Thistle

I must say, this book was a very welcome change from Don Quixote. So welcome, that it only took two days to read. Of course, I admit it’s shorter – under 200 pages – but it’s also extremely captivating. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Antonia, by Willa Cather

Posted on April 21, 2008 by Thistle

Spoilers. I got an unusual lesson in “Never judge a book by its cover” while reading My Antonia. My book cover tells me that Antonia Shimerda elopes with a railway conductor after her father’s tragic death, and later comes back … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , | 1 Comment