Tag Archives: historical

Review: The Huntress

Posted on by

The Huntress
by Kate Quinn
5 stars

The Huntress is Kate Quinn’s newest book released this past February.   I loved her previous book, The Alice Network, so I quickly put my name on hold for this one.  This is another historical fiction novel jumping back and forth in time from post WWII Boston to 1940’s in Europe and Russia.  I love reading historical fiction, especially when it shows me parts of history that are not often taught or spoken about.  The story alternates between the points of view of three different characters:  Nina, a Soviet pilot with the Nachthexen or Night Witches, an all female  night bomber regiment; Ian, a British war correspondent, who later abandons journalism after the war to become a Nazi hunter.  One target has always eluded him:  das Jagerin, The Huntress.  Then we have 17-year-old Jordan, who longs to be a photographer.  Her mother passed away several years prior, so she is delighted when her father brings home a fiancé.  However, Jordan is suspicious of the young German widow.

I loved reading about Nina’s bonds with her sisters in the regiment and how she later teams with Ian to hunt the Huntress.  We know from the get go that she has a run in with the Huntress and is one of the only ones to ever escape. I love thrillers, so was pleasantly surprised at how suspenseful the story is.  The Huntress’ identity isn’t a mystery, but you are wondering if they will ever catch her, and what will happen if they do.  I also love that the villain is a female.  Some scenes with her are chilling.    The ending is amazing!  The author’s notes at the end added a lot to the story.  It was interesting to read about the real people the book characters were inspired by.  5 stars!  Highly recommend!

 

Read-alikes

The Age of Treachery by Gavin Scott

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

The Confession by Olen Steinhauer

 

Review: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Posted on by

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
4 stars

I’ve heard about Team of Rivals for years ever since it spent weeks and weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list after it was published in 2005. It was also the inspiration for the 2012 film Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis that I enjoyed immensely. When I needed to pick a Civil War related book for the March History Roundtable meeting, I immediately looked to see if it was available as a downloadable audiobook. Thankfully, the eIndiana Digital Consortium has it in both abridged (7 or so hours) and unabridged (40+ hours) formats. I went for the unabridged version narrated by the author herself.

Goodwin does an excellent job reading her brilliant book. I was left even more enamored of Abraham Lincoln’s intellect and leadership and developed an appreciation for his compassion for his fellow man and his immense wit. I was left to mourn what could have been if Lincoln had lived through his 2nd term. Though a long book, it never felt tedious. Highly recommended for history buffs and anyone slightly interested in American history.

 

Read-alikes

Grant by Ron Chernow

Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson

 

Review: How to Stop Time

Posted on by

How to Stop Time
by Matt Haig
4 stars

“Sometimes things are a change for the better and the worse at the same time, like the internet. Or the electric keyboard. Or pre-chopped garlic. Or the theory of relativity.”

Tom Hazard is over 400 years old. He was born in 1581. He went through puberty very early and aged faster than most of the boys his age. Since puberty…not so much. Due to an unknown condition, Tom ages approximately 15 times slower than normal human beings. So even though he is 437, he looks about 41. He has sailed with Captain Cook, worked with Shakespeare, and had a cocktail with F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Parts of the book are almost depressing. With the ability to view humanity through the centuries, Tom becomes disillusioned with people making the same mistakes over and over again. Other parts were much more hopeful, as Tom finds things and people to enjoy throughout his centuries. There is a society that protects people like Tom. The society provides funds and new identities every 8 years to help them avoid detection…in exchange for the occasional favor.

 

Read-alikes

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

 

Review: The Women in the Castle

Posted on by

The Women in the Castle
by Jessica Shattuck
4 stars

Shattuck expertly weaves together a story set at the end of World War II in Germany that shares the tragedies and the secrets of three widows who barely know each other. After Germany’s defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the crumbling castle called Burg Lingenfels that was once her home. Her husband was a resister and was hanged for trying to assassinate Hitler. Marianne promised her husband and the other co-conspirators that she would find their widows and help them. As Marianne, finds them (Ania, Benita and their children) and tries to create a home she discovers that each have secrets and repercussions that will make their lives complicated. The story does go back and forth in time and ends in 1991 with everyone reuniting back at the castle and allowing the reader to discover where everyone ended up. I liked the way the author examined the aftermath of Germany’s loss on the citizens and that the story was told from the Germans’ prospective, some who really thought Hitler was insane while the others were just trying to survive. Each woman reacted to the moral dilemmas that impacted each of their lives and the stories showed how they came to terms and how each moved on. The story starts out slow but picks up the second half. Recommend!

 

Read-alikes

The Blindness of the Heart by Julia Franck

The Good at Heart by Ursula Werner

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook

 

Review: The Room on Rue Amelie

Posted on by

The Room on Rue Amelie
by Kristin Harmel
5 stars

I’ve absolutely loved Kristin Harmel’s previous historical fiction novels, so I was very excited to get my hands on this. I know it’s only April, but this may be the best book I’ll read this year! It reminds me a lot of Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” which I absolutely loved. The book takes places in France right at the beginning of the war. It spans from 1940-1945 and is told in alternating chapters from three characters: Ruby (an American living in France who married a Frenchman), Charlotte (the young neighbor girl who is Jewish and befriends Ruby), and Thomas (a British RAF pilot). The beginning part of the book takes place in 2002, and doesn’t come back to that period until the last chapter. I finished this book in less than 24 hours. It was hard to put down. Very touching and unforgettable story. Highly recommend!

 

Read-alikes

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer