5 posts tagged “historical fiction”
When I went to Hawaii last September to be in Steph's wedding, another of the bridesmaids had just finished this book, and offered it up to whoever wanted to borrow it. I wanted to borrow it very badly, but knew I wouldn't be able to finish it in the week I was out there. We were so busy all the time, and I was there not only to be in my friend's wedding, but to visit with her as well. I couldn't exactly do that while holed up with my nose in a book. I did, however, keep the book's title in my mind and made sure to add it to my amazon wish list so I wouldn't forget about it. I finally got around to getting it for myself and reading it.
After reading two books in a row that were more of a chore than a pleasure, I was so relieved to find, almost immediately, that I was drawn into the story, empathized with the characters, and didn't want to put the book down. I spent the last few nights reading in bed until my vision blurred and I couldn't keep my eyes open.
The Blood of Flowers is set in 17th century Iran, and is about a young woman with a talent for making beautiful, ornate carpets, a craft that was elevated to a high art by the Shah at the time. It follows her over the course of a few years, and details her rise from a willful, rash child to a talented, independent woman. I found it heartbreaking and hopeful, infuriating and satisfying. The main story is broken up with folk tales, which are used effectively as tools of foreshadowing. Perhaps a little too effectively, as I could sometimes tell what was going to happen a good 100 pages out. It was worth the read, though. The story itself was beautiful.
I'm really coming to love these works of historical fiction, focused on the lives of women. I particularly like that the ones I've read recently have been about places that have histories that are largely unknown to me - China, in the case of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Iran in the case of this book. I'm really hoping that this isn't what is considered 'chick-lit.' I must admit that I really don't know what qualifies a book as 'chick-lit,' but I've just assumed that they were the Candace Bushnell kind of books (not that I've read any of her books, but I do know that she wrote Sex and the City). Those kind of books don't appeal to me in the least, but these beautiful historical fictions do. Regardless of how they may be categorized, I'm sure there's a distinct difference.
After reading two books in a row that were more of a chore than a pleasure, I was so relieved to find, almost immediately, that I was drawn into the story, empathized with the characters, and didn't want to put the book down. I spent the last few nights reading in bed until my vision blurred and I couldn't keep my eyes open.
The Blood of Flowers is set in 17th century Iran, and is about a young woman with a talent for making beautiful, ornate carpets, a craft that was elevated to a high art by the Shah at the time. It follows her over the course of a few years, and details her rise from a willful, rash child to a talented, independent woman. I found it heartbreaking and hopeful, infuriating and satisfying. The main story is broken up with folk tales, which are used effectively as tools of foreshadowing. Perhaps a little too effectively, as I could sometimes tell what was going to happen a good 100 pages out. It was worth the read, though. The story itself was beautiful.
I'm really coming to love these works of historical fiction, focused on the lives of women. I particularly like that the ones I've read recently have been about places that have histories that are largely unknown to me - China, in the case of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Iran in the case of this book. I'm really hoping that this isn't what is considered 'chick-lit.' I must admit that I really don't know what qualifies a book as 'chick-lit,' but I've just assumed that they were the Candace Bushnell kind of books (not that I've read any of her books, but I do know that she wrote Sex and the City). Those kind of books don't appeal to me in the least, but these beautiful historical fictions do. Regardless of how they may be categorized, I'm sure there's a distinct difference.
Jesus Christ! Finally, I finished this book! It took me for-frickin'-ever, and I'm not really sure why.
It wasn't boring. I was interested in the plot very quickly.
It wasn't too long. It's 560-something pages, which is kind of long, but not that long.
I think the issue was that the chapters were nice and short, and gave too many opportunities for good places to stop. Not Da Vinci Code short, but short enough.
Anyway...
I wanted to read this book because I remember my dad telling me (a long time ago) that it was his favorite book. And it is a very good book. It takes place from the late '20's to the mid-50's in what is now Israel. It gives tons of history for the area, and goes into great detail about what happened in that part of the world during those times...
The book was very good, though, and I'm now interested in reading more from Leon Uris. Hopefully he has something that will leave me smiling when I finish it instead of frowning.
It wasn't boring. I was interested in the plot very quickly.
It wasn't too long. It's 560-something pages, which is kind of long, but not that long.
I think the issue was that the chapters were nice and short, and gave too many opportunities for good places to stop. Not Da Vinci Code short, but short enough.
Anyway...
I wanted to read this book because I remember my dad telling me (a long time ago) that it was his favorite book. And it is a very good book. It takes place from the late '20's to the mid-50's in what is now Israel. It gives tons of history for the area, and goes into great detail about what happened in that part of the world during those times...
- Israel's declaration of independence
- Issues among the Palestinian refugees
- Fighting among the Arab states concerning the Jews as well as the Palestinians...
The book was very good, though, and I'm now interested in reading more from Leon Uris. Hopefully he has something that will leave me smiling when I finish it instead of frowning.
I just finished Water For Elephants this afternoon, and I loved it. It's set in two time periods and flips back an forth between the two. They are the present - when the main character, Jacob, is a very old man, and the summer of 1931 - when Jacob is a very young man working with a traveling circus. The story taking place in the past tends to be very exciting and fast-paced, while the story in the present is slow and sad. Occasionally, I found this annoying because I'd get so wrapped up in what was happening with the past story, that I felt rudely interrupted when the story lines flipped, and I had to read about the present story.
It was a really great book, anyway, though, and I'd highly recommend it. As soon as I got into the story, I didn't want to put it down!
It was a really great book, anyway, though, and I'd highly recommend it. As soon as I got into the story, I didn't want to put it down!
My lovely sister-in-law got me Peony In Love for my birthday. It's the latest novel by Lisa See, the author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and I liked it very much.
What I like most about Lisa See's novels (the two I've read, anyway) is that, in addition to being well told stories, they've opened my eyes to a bit of history that I would otherwise know very little about. Chinese history, in particular women in Chinese history, is something I think very few Americans know anything about. I'm becoming quite the fan.
If you care to read what the actual plot of this novel is about, you should check out the synopsis on amazon.com. It's better than anything I could write about it.
What I like most about Lisa See's novels (the two I've read, anyway) is that, in addition to being well told stories, they've opened my eyes to a bit of history that I would otherwise know very little about. Chinese history, in particular women in Chinese history, is something I think very few Americans know anything about. I'm becoming quite the fan.
If you care to read what the actual plot of this novel is about, you should check out the synopsis on amazon.com. It's better than anything I could write about it.
Since reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I've gotten a taste for historical fiction, and Moloka'i is a great example of the genre (or is it a sub-genre?).
After coming back from Hawaii, I was (and still am) missing the place very badly. So, of course, this book stood out to me right away. It's about a little Hawaiian girl named Rachel who contracts Leprosy, and is subsequently sent to the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. The novel begins at the turn of the century, when Hawaii was still its own kingdom, and spans the entirety of Rachel's life, which is a surprisingly long time.
Moloka'i is extremely well written as well as emotionally jarring. I found myself reading it through eyes clouded over with tears numerous times!
I'd definitely recommend this book, and on a scale of good, meh, and bad, I'd give it a solid Good.
After coming back from Hawaii, I was (and still am) missing the place very badly. So, of course, this book stood out to me right away. It's about a little Hawaiian girl named Rachel who contracts Leprosy, and is subsequently sent to the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. The novel begins at the turn of the century, when Hawaii was still its own kingdom, and spans the entirety of Rachel's life, which is a surprisingly long time.
Moloka'i is extremely well written as well as emotionally jarring. I found myself reading it through eyes clouded over with tears numerous times!
I'd definitely recommend this book, and on a scale of good, meh, and bad, I'd give it a solid Good.
