Discussion Forums - Historical Fiction

Topic: 2010 Historical Fiction Challenge #1 - LISTS ONLY!

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Date Posted: 11/29/2009 10:59 PM ET
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1.               RU Kidding Me -- The Chrystal Cave by Mary Stewart 

2.               Where Dat At? -- Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden  Completed 3/16/10  4/5

3.               Pagan Past -- Fortune's Favorites by Colleen McCullough Completed 1/4/10  5/5

4.               Who dun it -- Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin Completed 1/17/10  4/5

5.               Birthday book --Until the Sun Falls by Cecelia Holland Completed 8/27/10  4/5

6.               Habla Espanol -- Aztec by Gary Jennings

7.               Roots -- The Great Scott by Duncan Bruce  Completed  6/30/2010  2.5/5

8.               Read a Winner ALA -- The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara 

9.               15 Minutes of Fame -- My Theodosia by Anya Seton Completed  1/13/10  4/5

10.             Continuing Saga -- Pendragon's Banner by Hellen Hollick  Completed  3/19/10  4/5

11.             Bonus: Color Me -- Green Darkness by Anya Seton Completed 7/11/10 4/5

12.             Alt category: Non-fiction -- William Rufus by Frank Barlow



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Date Posted: 11/30/2009 11:35 AM ET
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My 2010 List

R U Kidding Me? - Echo In The Bone - Gabaldon

Where Dat At - The Thrall's Tale - Linderg

Pagan Past -  The Pinces of Ireland - Rutherford

Whodunit - Mistress of the Art of Death - Franklin

Birthday Book - ?????

Habla Espanol? -  ?????

Roots - Vagabond - Cornwell

Read a Winner - The Whiskey Rebels - Liss OR The Steel Wave

15 Minutes of Fame - Life in the Leatherwood - John Quincey Wolf

Continuing Saga -  Serpent's Tale - Franklin

Bonus - Color Me - ???   (Green Darkness - Seton - DNF)

Alternate Category - Book on my Area (Kansas) - The Hellbox Chronicles



Last Edited on: 8/28/10 9:49 AM ET - Total times edited: 11
Subject: saving my spot, too!
Date Posted: 11/30/2009 2:22 PM ET
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I am absolutely looking forward to this challenge, and challenge it is, I'm already hemming and hawing concerning which books I can and can't include!

 

Categories for Challenge #1

R U Kidding Me?! :Read a book categorized as historical fantasy or alternate history. Sample authors include Stephen Lawhead, Jean M. Auel, David Gemmel and Harry Turtledove.

TBD

Where Dat At?: The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke (Israel) or LuLu in Marrakech by Diane Johnson (Morroco)

Pagan Past: Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era). Sample titles include Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, Black Ships by Jo Graham, The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (and others in the series).

TBD

Whodunit?: The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie

Birthday Book: Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo

Habla Español?: The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus

Roots: Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) ancestors.

TBD

Read a Winner: Read a book from ALA?s annual Reading List. You will find the 2009 reading list here. The 2008 list, which is the first year for this award, appears here. Any book on these lists qualifies. It does not have to be historical fiction.

TBD

15 Minutes of Fame: The Passion of Artemesia by Susan Vreeland

Continuing Saga: The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

Bonus ? Green Darkness by Anya Seton

 

ETA - To delete superfluous wording.



Last Edited on: 11/30/09 9:34 PM ET - Total times edited: 3
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Date Posted: 12/2/2009 7:09 PM ET
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Last Edited on: 12/2/09 11:49 PM ET - Total times edited: 2
Date Posted: 12/3/2009 12:52 AM ET
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I am very proud of my choices, I had most of them under my bed waiting to be picked up and read.  I am going to start as soon as possible:

Categories for Challenge #1

R U Kidding Me?! :

Pirate Lattitudes - Michael Crichton (Pirates)  Completed 02/27/10

Where Dat At?: Read a historical novel that takes place north of the equator, but not in the United States, Canada or Europe. Sample titles include The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley, Saga by Jeff Janoda and Odinn's Child by Tim Severin.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (Japan) or The Sultan's Seal - Jenny White (Turkey)

Pagan Past: Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era). Sample titles include Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, Black Ships by Jo Graham, The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (and others in the series).

 The Animal Wife - Elizabeth Marshall Thomas  (Pleistocene era)

Whodunit?:

The Queen's Man- Sharon K. Penman (Murder/Treason) Completed 01/06/09

Birthday Book: Read a historical novel published during the year of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) birth, or the birth of one of your parents or siblings. To find books in this category, try a keyword searching using Amazon?s Advanced Search page (http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Search-Books/b/ref=sv_b_0?node=241582011) and add the year to the publication date field. You can use a similar technique at WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch).

Lighthouse - Eugenia Price (1972)

Habla Espanol?: .

Like Water For Chocolate - Laura Esquivel (Mexico) Completed 02/17/09

Roots: Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) ancestors.

The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant (Rome, Italy)

Read a Winner:

Heart-Shaped Box - Joe Hill (2009 list) Completed 05/23/10

15 minutes of Fame:

The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. - Sandra Gulland (Josephine Bonaparte) Completed 02/12/10

Continuing Saga:

Cruel As The Grave- Sharon K. Penman (Justin DeQuincy series) Completed 01/31/10

Bonus ? Color Me: Read a historical novel with the word for a color in the title or in the author?s name. The word may stand alone as in Green Darkness by Anya Seton or it may be part of a word in the title or author?s name; e.g., The King?s Persons by Joanne Greenberg.

Scarlett - Alexandra Ripley (I thought this was close enough even though the color is spelled differently)



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Date Posted: 12/9/2009 10:44 AM ET
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R U Kidding Me? (historical fantasy or alternate history) - An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

Where Dat At (north of the equator) -

Pagan Past (before the Common Era) - 

Whodunit (historical mystery) -

Birthday Book (published during the year of your birth) -

Habla Espanol? (takes place in Mexico or South America) - 

Roots (country of your ancestors) -

Read a Winner (from ALA?s annual Reading List) - Belong to Me by Maria de los Santos or Whiskey Rebels by David Liss

15 Minutes of Fame (biographical novel) -

Continuing Saga (second or any subsequent book in a series) - 

Bonus - Color Me (color in the title or in the author?s name) -

Alternate Category (your choice) - 



Last Edited on: 12/10/09 10:35 AM ET - Total times edited: 3
Date Posted: 12/9/2009 11:59 AM ET
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I haven't decided on all of the categories yet - still going through my TBR list.

R U Kidding Me?! -

Read a book categorized as historical fantasy or alternate history. Sample authors include Stephen Lawhead, Jean M. Auel, David Gemmel and Harry Turtledove.

Where Dat At? -

Read a historical novel that takes place north of the equator, but not in the United States, Canada or Europe. Sample titles include The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley, Saga by Jeff Janoda and Odinn's Child by Tim Severin.

Pagan Past - The Greener Shore by Morgan Llwelyen (Druids of Britain)

Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era). Sample titles include Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, Black Ships by Jo Graham, The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (and others in the series).

Whodunit? - A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin

Read a historical mystery. Sample authors include Deanna Raybourn, Iain Pears, Sarah Waters and Charles Todd.

Birthday Book -

Read a historical novel published during the year of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) birth, or the birth of one of your parents or siblings.

Habla Español? - 
will be replaced by an alternate category (TBD)

Read a historical novel that takes place in Mexico or South America. Sample titles include Aztec by Gary Jennings, The Zigzag Way by Anita Desai, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, and The Unknown Shore by Patrick O'Brian.

Roots -

Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) ancestors.

Read a Winner - The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss

Read a book from ALA?s annual Reading List. You will find the 2009 reading list here. The 2008 list, which is the first year for this award, appears here. Any book on these lists qualifies. It does not have to be historical fiction.

15 Minutes of Fame - Richmond and Elizabeth by Brenda Honeyman (Henry VII and Elizabeth of York)

Read a biographical novel. Biographical fiction tells the story of a real person. It may or may not be close to the actual history.

Continuing Saga - Dreaming the Serpent Spear by Manda Scott (4th book in Boudica series)

Read the second or any subsequent book in a series or trilogy. You know you liked the first one. You just need an excuse to continue reading the series.

Bonus ? Color Me - The Rose in Spring by Eleanor Fairburn (Cecily Neville)

Read a historical novel with the word for a color in the title or in the author?s name. The word may stand alone as in Green Darkness by Anya Seton or it may be part of a word in the title or author?s name; e.g., The King?s Persons by Joanne Greenberg.

Alternate Category

My "Alternate" category  -

The purpose of the alternate category is to replace one of the original 10 categories of your choosing. You make up the alternate category. The only rules are that 1) the book must be historical fiction and 2) it cannot fall into one of the above 10 categories. In other words, you can?t replace the ?Birthday Book? category with another historical mystery, for example.


 

Date Posted: 12/13/2009 10:37 AM ET
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This is my first time, so here goes!

 

R U Kidding Me? (Historical Fantasy) ~~ In Camelot's Shadow, by Sarah Zettel ~~Finished on 2/17

Where dat at? (North of the Equator) ~~ Murder at the Place of Anubis, by Lynda S. Robinson~~Finished on 8/16

Pagan Past (BCE) ~~Helen of Troy, by Margaret George~~Finished on 4/17

Whodunit? (Historical mystery)~~The Queen's Man, by Sharon Kay Penman~~Finished on 4/26

Birthday Book ~~

Habla Espanol? (Set in Mexico/South America) ~~ Night of Sorrows, by Frances Sherwood ~~ Finished 7/20

Roots ~~

Read a Winner ~~ Mistress of the Art of Death, by Arianna Franklin~~Finished on 6/13

15 Minutes of Fame ~~Murder at the God's Gate, by Lynda S. Robinson~~Finished on 8/20

Continuing Saga ~~ The Serpent's Tale, by Arianna Franklin~~Finished on 6/15

Color Me bonus ~~ Golden, by Cameron Dokey~~Finished 9/4/10



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I'm a newbie too, Vicky.  I will add my books as I go.

Categories for Challenge #1

R U Kidding Me?! :Read a book categorized as historical fantasy or alternate history. Sample authors include Stephen Lawhead, Jean M. Auel, David Gemmel and Harry Turtledove.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Where Dat At?: Read a historical novel that takes place north of the equator, but not in the United States, Canada or Europe. Sample titles include The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley, Saga by Jeff Janoda and Odinn's Child by Tim Severin.

TBD

Pagan Past: Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era). Sample titles include Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, Black Ships by Jo Graham, The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (and others in the series).

TBD

Whodunit?: Read a historical mystery. Sample authors include Deanna Raybourn, Iain Pears, Sarah Waters and Charles Todd.

TBD

Birthday Book: Read a historical novel published during the year of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) birth, or the birth of one of your parents or siblings. To find books in this category, try a keyword searching using Amazon?s Advanced Search page (http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Search-Books/b/ref=sv_b_0?node=241582011) and add the year to the publication date field. You can use a similar technique at WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch).

TBD

Habla Español?: Read a historical novel that takes place in Mexico or South America. Sample titles include Aztec by Gary Jennings, The Zigzag Way by Anita Desai, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, and The Unknown Shore by Patrick O'Brian.

TBD

Roots: Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) ancestors.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Read a Winner: Read a book from ALA?s annual Reading List. You will find the 2009 reading list here. The 2008 list, which is the first year for this award, appears here. Any book on these lists qualifies. It does not have to be historical fiction.

TBD

15 Minutes of Fame: Read a biographical novel. Biographical fiction tells the story of a real person. It may or may not be close to the actual history.

TBD

Continuing Saga: Read the second or any subsequent book in a series or trilogy. You know you liked the first one. You just need an excuse to continue reading the series.

TBD

Bonus ? Color Me: Read a historical novel with the word for a color in the title or in the author?s name. The word may stand alone as in Green Darkness by Anya Seton or it may be part of a word in the title or author?s name; e.g., The King?s Persons by Joanne Greenberg.

TBD

 

Alternate Category

The purpose of the alternate category is to replace one of the original 10 categories of your choosing. You make up the alternate category. The only rules are that 1) the book must be historical fiction and 2) it cannot fall into one of the above 10 categories. In other words, you can?t replace the ?Birthday Book?category with another historical mystery, for example.



Last Edited on: 3/16/10 9:21 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Categories for Challenge #1

R U Kidding Me?! : Read a book categorized as historical fantasy or alternate history.

Lamb, the Gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood pal by Christopher Moore completed 4/16/10

Where Dat At? : Read a historical novel that takes place north of the equator, but not in the United States, Canada or Europe.

The Siege by Helen Dunmore (Russia-St Petersburg)

Pagan Past: Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era).

Mara: Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (1458 B.C.) completed 8/23/10

Whodunit? : Read a historical mystery 

Women in Evidence by Sebastien Japrisot

Birthday Book: Read a historical novel published during the year of your birth

Mrs. Mike, the story of Katherine Mary Flannigan by Benedict and Nancy Freedman (1947)

Habla Espanol? : Read a historical novel that takes place in Mexico or South America.

The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn (Mexico)

Roots: Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your origin.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Germany)

Read a Winner: Read a book from ALA's annual Reading List.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen completed 1/25/10

15 Minutes of Fame: Read a biographical novel. Biographical fiction tells the story of a real person.

The Book of Salt by Monique Truong (Vietnamese cook of Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas)

Continuing Saga: Read the second or any subsequent book in a series or trilogy

The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama (sequel to Women of the Silk)

Alternate Category : Historical fiction from my TBR pile (not alternate, but additional)

A Cup of Tea: a novel of 1917 by Amy Ephron completed 1/4/10

Bonus Color Me: Read a historical novel with the word for a color in the title or in the author's name.

One Thousand White Women: the journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus completed 7/27/10



Last Edited on: 8/24/10 9:01 PM ET - Total times edited: 9
Subject: Linda's List
Date Posted: 12/14/2009 2:40 PM ET
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Okay - time & opportunity finally collide & it's time to put up some tentative lists! First is ...

Linda's List ...

Are You Kidding Me? (Fantasy, Alternate History). The Winter Sea, Susanna Kearsley, aka Sophia's Secret, read 1/4/10

North of the equator. Olivia & Hai, Rebecca Ryman read 3/31/10

Pagan Past. First Man in Rome, Colleen McCollough OR Druids, Morgan Llywelyn, opted to read Cleopatra's Daughter, Michelle Moran

       read 6/22/10

Whodunit. TBD decided on Crocodile on the Sandbank, Elizabeth Peters, read 2/27/10

Birthday Book (1940). The Corinthian, Georgette Heyer, read 4/30/10

Habla Espaÿ±ol? ALTERNATE: Non-Fiction OR WW II:  Island at the Center of the World, Russell Shorto (NF) OR Skeletons at the Feast, Chris Bohjalian (WWII)  read 5/4/10

Roots. Steps to the Emply Throne, Nigel Trantorn decided instead to read On a Highland Shore, Kathleen Givens, read 6/4/10

ALA Winner. The Whiskey Rebels, David Liss read 5/11/10

Biographical Novel.  My Theodosia, Anya Seton  read 4/27/10

Continuing Saga. Sharpe Book, Bernard Cornwell OR Pendragon's Banner, Helen Hollick

Bonus.  Color Me. Forever Amber, Kathleen Windsor  read 2/9/10



Last Edited on: 8/8/10 10:32 AM ET - Total times edited: 15
Subject: Kelly's List
Date Posted: 12/14/2009 3:07 PM ET
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 Kelly's List  (My list may change throughout the year - there are several wonderful books on my TBR that would fit several of these categories!) ...

 Are You Kidding Me?! ALTERNATE: Non-Fiction. The Hairstons, Henry Wiencek OR Mayflower, Nathanial Philbrick

North of the equator. The Piano Teacher, Janice Lee.  4/5, 1/12/10. Interesting book. Not as great as I thought it would be, will not make a top 5 list at the end of the year.

 Pagan Past. Nefertiti, Michelle Moran

 Whodunit. The Alienist, Caleb Carr. 4/5, 5/15/10. Set in 1896, NYC. Dr. Laszlo Kreizler is the 'alienist' ferreting out the clues to discover the identity of a serial killer. Dark, macabre, fascinating. (Theodore Roosevelt is Police Commissioner.)

 Birthday Book.  Madselin, Nora Lofts (1968, Brother's birth year). 3.5/5, 4/19/10.  Soft, one-dimensional book set post 1066 - a Norman is given English lands & a manor & marries Madselin, the previous English lord's widow.

 Habla Español?:  TBD

 Roots. Niccolo Rising, Dorothy Dunnett. 5/5, 06/10/10. Love, love, love the skilled writing of this author! Love how bumbling, good-natured Claes becomes Niccolo! Very much looking forward to reading the 2nd in this series.

 ALA Winner. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. 5/5, 1/27/10. A great book set on Guernsey Island in 1946. 

 Biographical Novel. Sunflowers, Sheramy Bundrick (Vincent Van Gogh). 4.5/5, 5/7/10. Wonderful book about the last two years of Vincent van Gogh's life and a fictional interpretation of his relationship (love affair) with the prostitute to whom he gave his ear. 

 Continuing Saga. The Spring of the Ram, Dorothy Dunnett (Niccolo Series, #2) (Implies that I will read #1 first.)

 Bonus ? Color Me. Turquoise, Anya Seton



Last Edited on: 8/8/10 10:30 AM ET - Total times edited: 8
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R U Kidding Me? - TBA

Where Dat At - Your Mouth Is Lovely by Nancy Richler (Jan 10)

Pagan Past -  The Feast by Randy Lee Eickhoff

Whodunit - Medicus by Ruth Downie

Birthday Book - Cresent City by Belva Plain

Habla Espanol? -  Feathered Serpent by Colin Falconer

Roots - Grimms Last Fairy Tale by Haydn Middleton

Read a Winner - The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss

15 Minutes of Fame - Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

Continuing Saga -  People of the Fire by The Gears (have)

Bonus - Color Me - The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald



Last Edited on: 1/6/10 12:52 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Here are my preliminary choices:

R U Kidding Me?          Interview with the Vampire  by Anne Rice Completed 1.29.10

Where Dat At?             The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander Completed 2.20.10

Pagan Past                   Helen of Troy by Margaret George  Completed 6.2.10

Whodunit?                     Labrynth by Kate Mosse  Completed 2.17.10

Birthday Book              The Secret of the Kingdom by Mika Waltari, pub. 1961  Completed 3.7.10

Habla Espanol?            Aztec Blood by Gary Jennings, et al  Completed 1.11.10

Roots                              An Echo in the Bone  by Diana Gabaldon Completed 3.31.10

Read a Winner             The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

15 Minutes of Fame    A Year in the LIfe of William Shakespeare  by James Shapiro

Continuing Saga          The Vampire Lestat   by Anne Rice Completed 2.16.10

Bonus - Color Me        The Devil in the White City  by Erik Larson Completed 4.5.10



Last Edited on: 6/2/10 3:19 PM ET - Total times edited: 8
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Tentative list....sure it will change over time!  Of the 11 books on my list, 7 are on my TBR!

R U Kidding Me?!
Hood by Stephen Lawhead (Complete 3/13/10)

 Where Dat At?
Hand of Isis by Jo Graham (2/15/2010)

 Pagan Past
If I Perish by Deborah Turner - complete 1/15/10

Whodunit?
The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin - complete 1/1/10

Birthday Book
Frederica by Georgette Heyer (published in 1965, my sister's birth year)

Habla Español?
The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson - complete 6/8/10

Roots
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory

Read a Winner
I'm going to replace this one with my Alternate Category:  Bernard Cornwell Rampage and read The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (Uhtred, here I come!!)

15 Minutes of Fame
Mary by Janis Cooke Newman (about Mary Todd Lincoln) (Complete 2/28)

Continuing Saga
Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin (Complete 4/30)

Bonus ? Color Me
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Complete 1/21)

Alternate Category
(See "Read a Winner")



Last Edited on: 6/17/10 3:24 PM ET - Total times edited: 11
Subject: My Historical Reading Challenge #1
Date Posted: 1/8/2010 1:49 PM ET
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Historical fantasy or alternate history:  Hood by Stephen Lawhead, done

Where Dat At?   The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee, done

Habla Espanol:   Far Bright Star by Robert Olmstead, done

Pagan Past:   The First Man in Rome, done

Whodunit?   The King's Bishop, done

Birthday Book:  The Eagles Quest A Prince's Flight for Freedom by Charlotte Lederer, done

Roots:   The Archer's Tale, done

15 Minutes of Fame (biography):   Flanagan's Run by Tom McNab, done

Color Me:   Sword in the Stone by T.H. White, done

Continuing Saga:    The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory, done 

Read a Winner:  The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland, done

My Choice:    Arrow of Love, Frederick Manfred (wrote fiction about the Sioux Indians and settlers of our country), done



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R U Kidding Me?!

Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead - done; 4.5/5 stars

Where Dat At?

The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - done; 3.5/5 stars

Pagan Past

The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley - done; 4/5 stars

Whodunit?

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova - done; 3/5 stars

Birthday Book

The Burnished Blade by Lawrence Schoonover - done; 3/5 stars

Habla Espanol?

 

Roots

Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn - done; 3.5/5 stars

Read a Winner

The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss - done; 4.5/5 stars

15 Minutes of Fame

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner - done; 5/5 stars

Continuing Saga

Ghengis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden - done; 4.5./5 stars

Bonus: Color Me

Green Darkness by Anya Seton - done; 4/5 stars



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Where dat at?

The Binding Chair or the foot emancipation society (China) by Kathyryn Harris

Pagan Past

Imperium: A novel of ancient Rome Robert Harris

Whodunit?

A free man of color by Barbara Hambly

Continuing Saga

The Color of your skin aint the color of your heart by Michael Phillips

Read a winner

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Bonus Color Me

Ar"NT I a Woman:Female Slaves in the plantation south by Deborah White

Birthday book

Nisei Daughter by Monica Itoi Stone(1979)

15 Minutes of Fame

The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron

R U Kidding me?

Second Contact by Harry Turtledove

Habla Espanol?

Aztec Blood by Gary Jennings



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bump

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 I've never done any sort of challenge before, and I thought I'd give this a try...

Categories for Challenge #1

R U Kidding Me?! :Read a book categorized as historical fantasy or alternate history. Sample authors include Stephen Lawhead, Jean M. Auel, David Gemmel and Harry Turtledove.

Heresy (Aquasilva Trilogy Book 1) by Anselm Audley

Where Dat At?: Read a historical novel that takes place north of the equator, but not in the United States, Canada or Europe. Sample titles include The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley, Saga by Jeff Janoda and Odinn's Child by Tim Severin.

The Veil of Gold  by Kim Wilkins

Pagan Past: Read a historical novel that takes place before the Common Era (before the Christian Era). Sample titles include Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, Black Ships by Jo Graham, The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough (and others in the series).

The Bull From The Sea by Mary Renault

Whodunit?: Read a historical mystery. Sample authors include Deanna Raybourn, Iain Pears, Sarah Waters and Charles Todd.

The Poyson Garden by Karen Harper

Birthday Book: Read a historical novel published during the year of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) birth, or the birth of one of your parents or siblings. To find books in this category, try a keyword searching using Amazon?s Advanced Search page (http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Search-Books/b/ref=sv_b_0?node=241582011) and add the year to the publication date field. You can use a similar technique at WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch).

Tai-Pan by James Clavell (1986)

Habla Espa?: Read a historical novel that takes place in Mexico or South America. Sample titles include Aztec by Gary Jennings, The Zigzag Way by Anita Desai, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garc?M?uez, and The Unknown Shore by Patrick O'Brian.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Roots: Read a historical novel that takes place in the country of your or your spouse?s (partners and common law relationships qualify!) ancestors.

The Fool's Tale by Nicole Galland

Read a Winner: Read a book from ALA's annual Reading List. You will find the 2009 reading list here. The 2008 list, which is the first year for this award, appears here. Any book on these lists qualifies. It does not have to be historical fiction.

Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins

15 Minutes of Fame: Read a biographical novel. Biographical fiction tells the story of a real person. It may or may not be close to the actual history.

Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki w/ Rande Brown

Continuing Saga: Read the second or any subsequent book in a series or trilogy. You know you liked the first one. You just need an excuse to continue reading the series.

Chernevog by C. J. Cherryh

Bonus ? Color Me: Read a historical novel with the word for a color in the title or in the author?s name. The word may stand alone as in Green Darkness by Anya Seton or it may be part of a word in the title or author?s name; e.g., The King?s Persons by Joanne Greenberg.

The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White



Last Edited on: 3/17/10 1:22 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Date Posted: 3/17/2010 7:40 PM ET
Member Since: 12/10/2005
Posts: 1,716
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Welcome to the forum, Rochelle, and the challenge. Have fun!

Date Posted: 3/18/2010 5:18 PM ET
Member Since: 2/4/2010
Posts: 50
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New to the challenges too, and I will give this a try.

R U Kidding Me?!  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Where Dat At?:  The Voyage of Norwahl by Andrea Barrett (19th century Arctic expedition)

Pagan Past:  Zipporah, Wife of Moses by Marek Halter

Whodunit?:  Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

Habla Espa?:  ?probably something? by Isabel Allende

Roots:  Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brook

Read a Winner:  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

15 Minutes of Fame:  The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Continuing Saga:  TBD

Bonus ? Color Me:  The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

I'm replacing my Birthday Book with the alternate category of Read an Author New to You - The Iron Lance by Stephen R. Lawhead



Last Edited on: 5/4/10 3:39 PM ET - Total times edited: 17
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