I’m not a huge historical fiction fan, mainly I’m a historical romance fan, but this week’s topic for Weekly Geeks will be a breeze for me.
Is there a particular era that you love reading about? Tell us about it–give us a book list, if you’d like. Include pictures or some fun facts from that time period, maybe link to a website that focuses on that time. Educate us.
Do you have a favorite book that really pulled you back in time, or perhaps gave you a special interest in that period? Include a link to a review of it on another book blog if you can find one (doesn’t have to be a Weekly Geek participant).
A member of your book group, Ashley, mentions that she almost never reads Historical Fiction because it can be so boring. It’s your turn to pick the book for next month and you feel it’s your duty to prove her wrong. What book do you pick?
Do I have a particular time period I like to read. No. When I want to escape, I prefer going to the fantastical than to the past. Give me a vampire over a knight any day. However, do I have a favorite historical fiction novel that I love to read. Oh. Hell. Yes.
Hands down, my all time favorite historical fiction novel is Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series – Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes. Seriously. I have worn through two different book sets, plus I even go out and buy the hardcovers on the day they release because I can not wait to get my hands on them. Did I mention that An Echo in the Bone, the seventh novel, will be out sometime this fall? Amazon says October 22nd, but Gabaldon hasn’t been told a release date yet.
So what makes these novels so great? Easy, the amount of detail each novel has. Gabaldon doesn’t whip out her novels in record time; no, she spends years writing each one, making sure everything is as historically accurate as she can make it and then spins a breathtaking tale with everything she has to work with. She knows her history and she doesn’t try to improve it or romanticize it in any fashion. She takes what is there and builds a story between two individual that make them adapt to each other and to the world that they are in. Gabaldon doesn’t tweak any of the facts, they are what they are and she uses them to add more character to the story. How many times have you picked up a novel and wonder if that’s what they really did. With the Outlander series, I’ve never had that question because everything seems plausible. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility and when you throw in the story of Jamie and Claire, it’s like you’re right there with them. You become invested in their trials, they moments of joy, in every aspect of their life. Gabaldon makes you want to be right there with the two of them as they try to advert disaster for the Scottish Highlands, in the French Court of King Louis, or roughing it in the American colonies.
Gabaldon’s books are massive, but there is so much to get absorbed into that it really doesn’t seem like they are that long. I’ve ended a book wishing there was more, wondering what is going to happen. That is the one thing that I love about the Outlander series – Gabaldon makes you care about each character within the pages, regardless of how significant or insignificant of a character they might be. We hate, loathe, love, cherish, laugh with every character. We can sympathize with the villains and yet continue cheering when our heroes best them in battle. It doesn’t matter who is talking, Gabaldon doesn’t let them stand in the corner by themselves, she makes sure everyone feels something for them.
I’ve been going on about the series for awhile, but here’s a few reviews for the novels (and as a series – Dewey)
- Outlander – Fyrefly’s Books, Soon Remembered Tales, my review, A Dribble of Ink, Amarantine, Rae Lori,
- Dragonfly in Amber – Fyrefly’s Books, Books and Movies, The World Inside My Head, Confessions of a Book Addict, Rae Lori,
- Voyager – Fyrefly’s Books, Long and Short Reviews, Rae Lori,
- Drums of Autumn – Fyrefly’s Books,
- The Fiery Cross – Fyrefly’s Books,
- A Breath of Snow and Ashes – Fyrefly’s Books,
Author Rae Lori has been doing some wonderful reviews of the Outlander books over at her blog http://raelori.blogspot.com/. So far she has reviewed the first three books.
I haven’t read the series, but a lot of people do seem to like it. :)
Heh. I accosted a seatmate on the bus the othernight who was reading Dragonfly. “Did you know the next one’s due out this fall?” “Really?! Thanks!!”
You’re welcome, lady, you’re so welcome.
;)
I don’t read romance but you make a great case for Ms. Gabaldon’s writing. If I were going to read in this genre, I’d read her because of your comments. Thanks.
The one thing I do like about Gabaldon’s writing is, even though she was initially set in the Romance area of BN, she hasn’t stayed there. Her novel does have it’s romantic element, but that’s not what the story is about. There is so much going on, that there is something for everyone to enjoy, regardless of what genre one normally reads. It’s awesome.