Tuesday 3 February 2015

Top Ten Tuesday | Historical Fiction I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet!


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week's theme is 'Top Ten Books I Haven't/Want To Read From X Genre'. As you all know by now, I love my historical fiction, but there are still a lot of historical fiction books, including some historical fiction staples, that I haven't read yet. That's something that needs to change!

So, without further ado, here are my top ten!




Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel: I love the Tudors, and I love my historical fiction set during this period of history, but I still haven't gotten around to reading this yet. I'd like to read it soon, though, so I can watch the BBC adaptation!

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett: This book is a bit of a beast, which I think is why I still haven't read it despite having owned my copy for over four years. Oops!

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: I'm desperate to read this - I've heard amazing things about Fingersmith - but for whatever reason I've just never gotten around to it. That's going to change very soon, though!

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman: Considering I live in Wales I haven't read many books set in Wales, and I definitely haven't read any historical fiction set in Wales. Here Be Dragons is based on the story of Joan, Lady of Wales, a real figure from history. She was the illegitimate daughter of King John who was married to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (also known as Llylwelyn the Great) in the early 13th century, at a time when England and Wales were not the best of friends.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafรณn: If there's one thing I need to read more of it's books that weren't originally written in English. In fact I need to read more books that aren't written by British or American authors in general. This is another book I've heard amazing things about, and another I just haven't gotten to yet.




Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: Why I haven't read this yet I really don't know, because it involves two of my favourite things: history and female friendships. I need to read this soon!

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: I used to pass this book all the time during my teens, back when Borders was still around (R.I.P Borders, forever in our hearts), and for some reason I just never bought it, but I was obviously interested in it because I'd pick it up and read the blurb every time I saw it. I finally bought myself a copy last year, and I'd like to read the entire Gemma Doyle trilogy this year!

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler: Kindred is both historical and science fiction, because the main character actually ends up time travelling back to the Antebellum South, which isn't all that great for a young black woman. I've heard amazing things about it, and I really want to check it out for myself.

Temeraire by Naomi Novik: Unlike the other books on this list, Temeraire is a piece of alternate history. It's the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons. Why wouldn't I want to read it?

The Falconer by Elizabeth May: I've heard mixed things about this book, but I still want to check it out for myself. Not only because I haven't really read much involving faeries, but also because I follow Elizabeth May on Twitter and I love her feminist rants.

Which books made your list?

18 comments:

  1. I haven't read any of this historical fiction books either!

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  2. Great list! The only one on the list I have read is Here Be Dragons -- very good. Have you read The Greatest Knight? It is another I have languishing on my shelf.

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    1. I haven't! I'm glad to hear Here Be Dragons is a good read, though. =D

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  3. Oh I wanna read Code Name Verity too!
    here's our TTT

    Janhvi @ The Readdicts

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  4. Great list! A Great and Terrible Beauty and Fingersmith are both on my list but I'll definitely have to check out some of the others. Hope you get to these soon!

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  5. Here Be Dragons is great! I would definitely recommend that one!

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  6. AHH A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of my most favourite books ever! I read it when it first came out and am still in love with the trilogy to this day. The ending is killer though.

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  7. I have heard great things about Temeraire but I have yet to read it, here is my TTT https://smalltowncitygirls.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/top-ten-ya-books-i-cant-believe-i-havent-read/

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  8. I didn't know the BBC was doing Wolf Hall! Now I need to pick up a copy! I really want to read some Sarah Waters this year! Have you read her before? I own and also need to read Shadow of the Wind!
    Great List!

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    1. Yeah, it's on TV here now - I don't want to watch it until I've read the book, though! =) I've read one Sarah Waters book so far, Affinity, and I really enjoyed it, although it was very gloomy; thankfully I've been told Affinity is the most depressing of her books, so I'm really excited to read some more of her work. Thanks for stopping by, Mallory!

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  9. Great list Jess! :-) I can't wait to read The Falconer! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  10. I need to read a couple of these books too LOL!! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday if you wanna check it out :) http://bookbabble.weebly.com/blog/top-ten-tuesday1

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  11. Kindred is so powerful and amazing -- I really recommend it! Fingersmith is one of my very favorite books, and I loved Wolf Hall too. What a great list! I hope you enjoy them all!

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  12. Code Name Verity! I need to read this too. We'll have to do it together one day. Speaking of, did you finish Half Bad? We should discuss! (I am also trying to distract from the fact that I haven't even heard of most of this and that is kind of embarrassing!)

    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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  13. I'm not big into historical fiction so is no surprise that I only have read one of those books, I read The Falconer and I recommend it 100% - it's super fast paced, has an amazing kickass heroine and the love interest isn't that bad either, I had a few problems with it but nothing that took away my enjoyment of the book and I can't wait for the second one!

    Deyse @ Bound with Words

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  14. Code name Verity is sooo good, you must read it!!

    My TTT: http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.it/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-cant.html

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  15. I am really un-read in historical fiction - which amazes me because I absolutely love it. I have Code Name Verity and hope to get round to it soon. I also really want to read Phillipa Gregory books I've heard great things about them.

    My TTT - http://ablondelibrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/top-ten-ya-books-that-i-unbelievably.html

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