What is "historical fiction"?

I have always taken it to describe a novel that is set in an earlier time period than the one in which it is written. For example, Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl was written in the late 1990s/early 2000s, but it is set in the 16th century; hence, historical fiction. However, I've been seeing a lot of people ( Read more... )

It's been a few days since I've updated. This is partly because of life, but it's also partly because of what I'm reading right now. I'm about halfway through The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart by Mary S. Lovell, and it's a very interesting biography of an extraordinary woman. So far, my experience with the book has been quite positive ( Read more... )

I was planning to post a list of my literary pet peeves today, partially to combat the Valentine's Day madness in the air! :) But then I saw janicu's post about book-related things she loves, and I thought that was a much better idea. So here are some of my literary loves:

• Jane Austen
• Spending hours in a bookstore and coming out with something great
• MY  ( Read more... )

I'm a bit late with this, what with the Christmas festivities and all, but Happy New Year! I can't wait to get started on my 2010 challenges and reading lists -- they are already quite extensive! But now it's time to take a look back at 2009....

( Books read in 2009 )

Anyone else been hearing that phrase a lot lately? I seem to hear it all the time, usually to justify some abysmally written but mysteriously popular children's or YA book. And truthfully, I'm getting sick of it ( Read more... )

A friend of mine sent me this link, knowing of my infatuation with fictional men. Since I'm sure I'm not alone in my fangirlyness, I thought I'd share the wealth! :) My only question is, how can Mr. Darcy not be #1? Your guess is as good as mine.

I went on a bit of a reading binge this week. It took me so long to get through my books for the 999, especially Little Dorrit and The Last of the Mohicans, that I kinda went nuts afterwards! I'm slowing down now, though, and rereading Georgette Heyer's Cotillion just because I can. :)

Apparently Soulless is in bookstores now, but for some reason I  ( Read more... )

I went to my local Barnes & Noble today. It was actually pretty disappointing, though I did pick up Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days. I like her "Bayern" series, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this book as well. Sometimes I can go to a bookstore and find like 10 things I want, and other times I just don't see anything...today I had the latter ( Read more... )

I have a "Forgotten English" desk calendar that gives me an archaic word or phrase every day, defines it, then gives a little historical tidbit relating to the word or to the date. Since I'm currently reading The Last of the Mohicans, today's historical tidbit amused me:

Death of James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), American author, whose literary ( Read more... )

I cannot wait for the following books to come out:


( Read more... )