Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I really disliked this book.

There was so much potential in the few historical facts we know, but Brooks totally blew it with cheesy stereotypes. Also, I got so sick of hearing about Harvard! Brooks has a new book out that focuses on Harvard, so I guess she's still on that kick.

Anonymous wrote:I am currently reading the book, "Being Me" written by Michelle Knight who was one of Ariel Castro's victims.

I bought it last night at Barne's & Nobles.

I am halfway through it.

It is unbelievably easy to read, heartwrenching at best, yet difficult to put down. I expect I will finish it by the end of the day.

What this girl endured for 11 yrs. at the hand of this monster will most definitely shock you, yes, you have heard the stories on the news, but to hear first-hand and in depth just exactly what she endured from him is really tough to read about. I had a tough time even imagining that another human being on this planet was even capable of being this evil.

Overall, the fact that Michelle endured all of this and survived it all and is now telling her story is a true miracle.

Read this.

You will never believe what these three girls endured at the hands of this monster. It will make you cry, but also realize that human spirit is so much stronger and can trump even the worst evil. These girls are living proof of that.

What is the What, by Dave Eggars

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

OP, if you like historical fiction, you *have* to read Hilary Mantel's books. She's gotten a lot of attention, and deservedly so, for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (both are about Thomas Cromwell; eventually there will be a third), but my favorite of hers is A Place of Greater Safety (about Robespierre, Danton, and Desmoulins's roles in the French Revolution).

All three of those books are amazing.

PP recommended The Other Boleyn Girl (it's by Philippa Gregory, BTW). It's inaccurate, admittedly, but SO enjoyable. Other good ones by that author: The Queen's Fool, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Kingmaker's Daughter. I also really liked Queen's Gambit, by Elizabeth Fremantle, which is about Katherine Parr.

I'm also a big fan of Sandra Gulland's series about Josephine Bonaparte and her book about Louise de la Valliere. Her new one, The Shahdow Queen, isn't as good, though.

If you like Restoration-era fiction, try Duchess (or anything) by Susan Holloway Scott.

John Jakes has two good series -- North and South and The Kent Chronicles -- if you're in the mood for something more lowbrow but still compelling. If you can suffer through The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett, World Without End is better. And the Fall of Giants series isn't bad, either.

A bit more sophisticated: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver series.

Andersonville, by MacKinley Kantor, deserved its Pulitzer.

More contemporary but still historical: The Inn at Lake Devine, by Elinor Lipman; Sena Jeter Naslund's Four Spirits; Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. I also loved The Help.

Kiss of the Spider Woman, by Manuel Puig. Anything by Isabelle Allende and Tatiana de Rosnay.

If you're up for alternate reality, I loved Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Edith Wharton is always a good bet for the summer. You might also like The Basil and Josephine Stories, which is an F. Scott Fitzergerald anthology.

The Killer Angels is one of my all-time favorite Civil War books.

I am currently reading the book, "Being Me" written by Michelle Knight who was one of Ariel Castro's victims.

I bought it last night at Barne's & Nobles.

I am halfway through it.

It is unbelievably easy to read, heartwrenching at best, yet difficult to put down. I expect I will finish it by the end of the day.

What this girl endured for 11 yrs. at the hand of this monster will most definitely shock you, yes, you have heard the stories on the news, but to hear first-hand and in depth just exactly what she endured from him is really tough to read about. I had a tough time even imagining that another human being on this planet was even capable of being this evil.

Overall, the fact that Michelle endured all of this and survived it all and is now telling her story is a true miracle.

Reading "Headmaster's Wife" (from the reviews on DCUM) and love it so far...

An loving the Game of Thrones books right now.

I just read Isabel Allende's "Ripper" and thought it was really good. I also really liked "the Shining Girls." I liked "Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore" too. and if you liked the Alienist, you should read his other one, "Angel of Darkness"

Anonymous wrote:People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I really disliked this book.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I enjoyed "The Other Boleyn Girl" I do not recall who wrote it.

I just finished The Secret History (Donna Tartt) and I loved it. It was really amazing. Also, the Last Enchantments was a great book. For more fun lighter (but still smart) reading, I love Amy Sohn's books on Brooklyn parents.

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I should have explained the book. the good lord bird is a slave telling the story about John Brown (the abolishinist). Its fiction but also historically accurate. Its funny, insightful, tragic and uplifting.

I liked the Good Lord Bird too. It's indeed pretty funny. It's not really about the extremely rare bird itself, unless you take it as a metaphor for the odd John Brown himself.

PP here. I should have explained the book. the good lord bird is a slave telling the story about John Brown (the abolishinist). Its fiction but also historically accurate. Its funny, insightful, tragic and uplifting.