Poems and Poets

Publication Date: January 11th 2018 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source : Own Copy This novel is based on the true story of two Slovakian Jews who survived the horror of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Lale Sokolov was made the tattooist at Auschwitz and had to scratch numbers into his fellow inmates' arms every day. He was forced to carve what eventually became a prominent symbol of this terrible time. Lale used this position of relative superiority to create a small business of trade. His survival and that of those around him, depended on it. His post allowed him a certain degree of movement, which he used to exchange money and jewels taken from his murdered comrades for food and essential supplies. "Many owed him their survival"

Publication Date:  26th June 2018 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher, through Edelweiss+ Holland in its Golden Age still has its secrets. In 1654, small-town girl Catrin has just lost her husband. It's a sudden death, but Catrin can't say she's sorry. It's her chance to escape the small town and its rumors, start anew in the big city. She takes on a role as a housekeeper to the Van Nulandt family but struggles to keep a low profile.                                                                                       Her talents as an aspiring young artist are soon discovered by local master, Rembrandt. Her opportunities are stripped away, however, when a figure from her past threatens her. She runs away to the city of De...

Publication Date: April 5th 2016 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source: Borrowed Caroline Ferriday works at the New York French Consulate. Well, she doesn't work there really, she doesn't get paid, but she puts her heart and soul into ensuring the welfare of French immigrants. When Hitler invades Poland and sets his sights on France, her life turns upside down. Of course, Kasia Kuzmerick's life takes an even worse turn when Hitler invades her home country, but she works with the Polish underground to retain some sense of independence. In a neighborhood surrounded by hopeful Poles and resentful Germans, one slip can lead to death. Herta Oberheuser sees a sign for a government medical position and recognizes it as a great way to show that she can be as good as a male doctor. Unfortunately, she finds herself stuck in a Nazi camp working with even more dominating males. All their lives are about to change forever, when Kasia's sent to Rav...

Hey guys- today's list is a bit of a freebie. Over at The Broke and the Bookish the only guideline we've been given is "Back to School". I've been wanting to do this list for a while- because my school began over a month ago! Today I'm listing my Top Ten Historical Fictions to Complement History Lessons. *All links are to my reviews (World War II and The Holocaust) 1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 2. Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein 3. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay 4. Annexed by Sharon Dogar 5. No Stars at the Circus by Mary Finn 6. The Siege by Helen Dunmore (Post-War Fiction) 7. Back Home by Michelle Magorian  (Non-Fiction) 7. Anne Frank- The Diary of a Young Girl 8. Smoke and Ashes- The Story of the Holocaust by Barbara Rogasky (Indian History) 9. Empire of the Moghul Series by Alex Rutherford Hope you guys check out these books if...

Publication Date: 26th September 2017 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Daughter of a well-respected General, Elizabeth Schuyler is well-versed in the standards of social etiquette. Her family often entertains officers and messengers, but none of them leave as much of an impression as her future husband. Alexander Hamilton, soldier and aide to General George Washington, causes Elizabeth's heart to flutter and never really leaves her heart. She courts Alexander briefly and they marry quickly. Amidst the chaos of the American Revolution, Eliza and Alexander find time for their ever-growing family. After the war, Hamilton finds himself devoting more time to work and less to his health, as he becomes an essential part of the government. Hidden from the public eye, Eliza manages the house-hold, calms her husband and helps to stabilize her family. In the capital, she entertains regularly, socializing with the wives of ...

Publication Date: July 11th 2017 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source : Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Beth Carrington is a sophomore at Whitsitt College, Illinois. She's the only female student attempting to major in medicine and begin her career as a physician- not a nurse. Beth is constantly surrounded by a sea of men, as the sole woman in all her classes.   Beth has discoverd that although society is much more liberal in the 1880's than it was before, women studying male-dominated courses such as law, architecture and medicine are still frowned upon. To establish a closer connection between these isolated women, she sets out to create a women's fraternity. Joined in her mission by three other women, Beth reaches out to a powerful senior who is also the president of the campus' only fraternity- Iota Gamma. Mr. Richardson makes clear his disdain for this "suffrage" movement, but due to his captivation by Beth he agrees to help...

Publication Date: September 18th 2016 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source:  Own Copy For a while now, I've been undecided about my favourite genre. This book, however, helped me realize that Historical Fictions are the books I love to read the most. "The Bishop's Girl" by Rebecca Burns is an intricately woven story that deals with identity and identification, love and romance, jobs and family life, and most of all, discovery.  Jess is a certified archivist who works at the Shacklock Library. Under a strict, work-absorbed professor, she researches the unidentified body of a young woman who was buried with the famous Bishop Shacklock sometime in the First World War.   Struggling to find anything of relevance that hasn't been reviewed in her last six years at the library, she stumbles upon a document that could possibly change history. She leaves town, and her family, for a weekend to investigate a hunch, and in doing so, meets a...

Publication Date: May 6th 2014 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source:  Borrowed Hello Everyone! I'm back with a book review after a long time- but I promise this one was worth waiting for. I'll be reviewing Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" today, and trust me, just as soon as you read the book you'll understand why I love it so much.  Doerr's novel, set in the Second World War, revolves around the life of a blind French girl and an orphaned German Boy. Flitting through years and countries, Anthony Doerr depicts marvelously the struggles of life during a war, no matter which character he is writing about.

Publication Date: January 1st 2009 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source:  Own Copy Hello everyone! Today, I'm going to be reviewing "Raiders from the North" by Alex Rutherford. It is the first book in her "Empire of the Moghul" series, and revolves around the life of the first Mughal emperor, Babur.  Babur became king of Ferghana at the young age of 12, following the death of his father. From the moment of his coronation till his last few breaths, Babur's life was one of danger, ambition, courage and war. He lost control of his lands several times, but came back to build an empire in India ( that was previously known as Hindustan).  The book takes us through the long journeys that Babur undertook as a child, and shows us his growth from a King to an Emperor, and from a warrior to a leader.  Rutherford tells her tale as a narrative from the third person point-of-view, and creates fictional characters along the way. Most of the...

Publication Date: 1991 Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance My Goodreads Rating: 2/5 Source: Library Copy I recently finished reading " A Little Love Song " by Michelle Magorian. Initially I wasn't too sure about the book, however, I enjoyed the story line and the contrast between the characters. The story, set in the English Country during the Second World War, is one of self-discovery, courage, love and friendship.  The main character, Rose HighlyRobinson has come away to the town of Salmouth for vacations with her elder sister Diana. Their mother has gone away with an acting troupe for the summer who hope to entertain British and American soldiers around Europe.  At the young ages of 21 and 17, the two sisters are left under the charge of Ms. Hutchinson for 3 months. As their caretaker is called away on duty at the factories, Roe (Nickname for Rose) and Diana take the brave decision to live on their own.

Publication Date: 2005 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Library Copy Hey everyone! I felt the need to upload a book review again- after quite a while- because this week I read a book that really inspired me. Annexed, by Sharon Dogar. This is the fictional story of Peter Van Pels ( a real person) who was hiding in the Annex, with Anne Frank and her family. In Anne's Diary, he is represented as Peter Van Daan.

I recently finished the book, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. I don't usually do book reviews or recommendations, but this book was begging for one. The story is so sweet and unusual, and the characters are so vivid that I couldn't help myself. Publication Date: June 12th 2007 Genre: Historical Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source:  Own Copy   Sarah's Key consists of the stories of two characters. It moves between the narration of both characters until eventually one of the stories ends, and blends into the other. I found this quite unique. Although there are many writers who allow more than one character to be first person in a book, not a lot of them switch between milieus.    Tatiana de Rosnay switches between the story of a young Jew in occupied France and an American Journalist in modern day Paris. Although the Jew was born much before the American, the story allows them to share a bond.