historicalFiction

ErikasMindfulShelf

Atmosphere: A Love Story | Taylor Jenkins Reid

pick

It was great and yes, I cried.

13 likes1 stack add

Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

so-so

Oof. It feels a little weird to still be championing Daniel Mason's writing, when in other hands, I'd be explaining that this novel lived up to every expectation of a tragic war-torn novel and its predictable plot beats. Did I see everything coming? No. But did I guess exactly how it would end just over halfway through? Yes. We can have the discussion about an author skillfully leading you towards a conclusion, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? but I can't help but feel that it isn't the mystery writer skill of hinting in such a way that the reader can have a moment of revelation as much as it was me sitting there thinking up the most fraught, tragic ending, and wondering if the author was going to go there, and then he did.
Which doesn't really help to dissuade me from my biased hypothesis around the purpose of many historical novels. 7h

Robotswithpersonality 3/? If you want to get all in your feels, the non-happy-ones, it's a reliable genre for such emotional manipulation.
But having sen it coming, I'm closer to miffed than sad.
So, rant over, back to me again affirming that I absolutely love how Mason writes. I continue to maintain he has gotten better, I prefer his more recent releases to his backlist, but he captivates me on a story and sentence level, 7h

Robotswithpersonality 4/? where very few author's writing in the historical genre do the same.
I have one more book, his first, and I'll be caught up with his body of work. Here's to hoping his debut departs from the bleak/tragic that were his second and third efforts.
The particulars: If you have a problem with the discussion of medical afflictions and early twentieth century treatments I'd recommend skipping this one. There's a fair amount of ick. 7h

See All 6 Comments

Robotswithpersonality 5/? On a theme level:
War is hell, acknowledged, this book deals in some of the less front line versions of that hell, the soldiers suffering from physical and mental wounds, the callous bureaucracy, the inconceivable hard-heartedness in an impossible position that is those looking for more canon-fodder. 7h

Robotswithpersonality 6/? The main character is trying to find purpose and belonging, but the quality of his character seems ill-suited for everything from ballroom decorum to catch-22 nature of life in a field hospital, even though it's clear he considers medicine his calling. He's a bit selfish, a bit weak, and it feels as much like there are few opportunities for his growth as much as he doesn't act when he could.
Does one mistake define the rest of your life?
7h

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 Compelling stuff, it just makes me a little miserable. 😣😖
Now for a walk, and then picture books.

⚠️animal experimentation, discussion of early medical procedures 7h

5 likes6 comments

BarbaraJean

Black Sheep | Georgette Heyer

pick

This was SO MUCH FUN. I loved Miles & Abigail—their banter, humor, and romance, as well as the contrast & balance that becomes apparent between these two such well-matched characters. Heyer just gets everything right: Abigail‘s pitch-perfect near-caricature relatives—lovable and infuriating by turns—a surprising but thoroughly appealing male love interest, and comeuppance where it is due. ⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) The ending is WAY too abrupt, but also adorable. All the praise for my May #DoubleSpin + 1966 pick for #192025. @TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle 8h

Ruthiella Love your paperback collection! 7h

LeahBergen I liked this one, too! 2h

22 likes3 comments

Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

Dude. 😏😉😑😐🤔💡😯😮

4 likes

Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

This post contains spoilers

show me

Offering prospective partners that will make materially advantageous matches to banish the ghostly remembrances of the woman he's still in love with? Yeah, exorcism sounds about right.

2 likes

underground_bks

Atmosphere: A Love Story | Taylor Jenkins Reid

pick

The aching queer romance, found family, and representation of the challenging dynamics of being a woman astronaut are what I loved most about Atmosphere…but I found myself looking for a more pronounced sense of time (the 1980s) and place (NASA). I would recommend this to fans of Lessons in Chemistry that I would like to convert into fans of The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal!

Karisimo Interesting! I am a fan of TJR and the Lady Astronaut series, but didn‘t like Lessons in Chemistry, so I wonder where it will fall for me! I‘m on a long library wait list….. 9h

underground_bks @Karisimo I really didn‘t like Lessons in Chemistry 🤣 I wonder where it‘ll fall for you too, but it may be fine to wait for it! 8h

14 likes2 comments

Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason

Taking a moment to be grateful for modern medicine. 🫣 If anyone wants to fill me in on the early medical trivia that explains why beef tea is good for skin infections, I'm all ears!

5 likes

BarbaraJean

Kristin Lavransdatter | Sigrid Undset

#DoorstopKristin check-in! How‘s your reading going? I‘m moving along steadily—I finished part 2 this week and am finding it so readable. I have to admit that although I feel for her, I‘ve been a little frustrated with Kristin. And I‘m not a fan of Erlend! What are your thoughts on Kristin and Erlend? And Simon? #KLBR

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, MaureenMc, Daisey, AmyG, Gleefulreader, JenlovesJT47, Texreader, MeganAnn, AnneCecilie, Caterina, Bklover, Andrea313, Suet624, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, Leniverse, CrowCAH, lauraisntwilder, staci.reads, Ruthiella, julieclair

AmyG I‘m on the third book. I love Kristen. Erland, meh. Simon? Not sure. 9h

Ruthiella I just got to Erland and I‘m worried that he‘s going to mess up her life somehow. Regardless of how I might feel about Simon, she is betrothed and living in a society where engagements are not easily broken.😬 9h

Texreader I‘m almost finished with the first book. I‘m fed up with both of them, but I remember being 16-17… 9h

See All 7 Comments

Butterfinger @Texreader Kristin Lavransdotter was my very first book for #FoodandLit because we chose Norway due to your husband's homeland. The Greenlanders reminds me so much of that book. The writing style, names, the way the houses were built.

The Greenlanders

Texreader @Butterfinger That‘s so awesome!! I‘ll look forward to reading The Greenlanders! 7h

Andrea313 Just finished Book 2 and have been *screaming* for Kristin to stay away from Erland. I'm mixed on Simon and if I had to declare a side, I'd vote Team Spinster. 😭 6h

Deblovestoread I just finished Part 1. It stayc slow but I'm all in now. 6h

21 likes1 stack add7 comments

Robotswithpersonality

The Winter Soldier | Daniel Mason