December 27, 2019
Can you name your top ten favorite books in your favorite genre?
Ten Favorite Historical Fiction Reads of the Decade
How many of these titles have you read and loved? Are you a histfic fan?
I have a lengthy list of hisfic favorites….these are especially memorable and ALL received a solid 5 Stars from me!
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
(in no particular order)
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
I love the (less public) story of the determined, smart, influential, and driven woman who was Alexander Hamilton’s wife, partner, and best friend. America’s First Daughter by the same authors is also excellent.
My review here.
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
and We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
(I read these almost back to back and because of the themes I always think of them together….so this is my sneaky trick to include one more!)
Themes make these stories memorable: I love the theme of faith in Sand and Ash; in We Were the Lucky Ones, I love the themes of family and faith….especially the beautiful ending). Sand and Ash review here. We Were the Lucky Ones review here.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I love this imagined story of two brave women who were early pioneers in the abolitionist movement. Review here.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
I love the theme of found family and the moral dilemma at the story’s end of doing the right thing versus doing things right. I also love the beautiful prose. Brief review in this post.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
I love the compelling themes of determination and survival. Brief review in this post.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
I love this inspiring and sweeping (300+ year) multigenerational family saga. No review available because I read this before I started blogging.
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
I love this unique look at slavery in which a young Irish girl becomes a slave because of her dire circumstances and is raised by slaves who become her family. I loved the sequel just as much and possibly more: Glory Over Everything. No review available because I read these before I started blogging.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I love the unique narrator, the poignant friendship, and the survival themes. No review available because I read it before I started blogging, but I need to mention that the film adaptation is well done.
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
and *Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
*A note to add that I read Guernsey in this decade, but it was published in the prior decade.
(Yes, I’m adding an extra one again…..I often think of these two titles as a pair because of the format and because they are gentle and lovely reads)
I love the epistolary format of both of these love stories. Last Christmas review here. Guernsey not reviewed because I read it before I started blogging, but I must mention that the film adaptation of Guernsey is lovely.
Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
A new favorite gets added to the list this year! My review here.
QOTD!
Do you like to make book lists or think about your favorites?
Do you have a title you can add to my list in the histfic genre?
What is your favorite genre?
What is your favorite book in your favorite genre?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
Looking Ahead:
My December Wrap Up and Best of the Year posts coming soon!
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Ah I loved so many of these!!
Right?!?! You should see my runners up list!
I have read 5 of these and really loved them. That means I have 6 to check out and possibly add to my TBR. I am impressed that you could limit it to 11 for the decade. I would never be able to do that, especially for a ten year period.
Well….you should see my runners up list!!! 😳🤔😝😂 I narrowed it down by the fact that I didn’t have one complaint about the book (and it seems that with many books there’s one thing that wasn’t quite perfect) and if I still felt as strongly about it now as when I first read it. I did go through considerable mental gymnastics….and if I dwell on it I could change my mind!
I can imagine how long it took you to narrow it down.
I do need to edit the post to indicate that I read Guernsey in this decade but it was published a bit before.
That is one that I read and loved as well.
GREAT list…LOVED News Of The World.
Guernsey was awesome and so was The Kitchen House.
You have a great memory!! I can’t think back ten years. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Elizabeth! I figured if I could remember it, it must have been good! I’m eager for the movie adaptation of News next December! Tom Hanks will be great as Captain!
It’s a hard job to narrow down the list. Well done.
Thanks! I have fond memories of reading these books and they were all almost perfect in every way! Not a 4.5 among them! 😂
I’ve read a few on your list and heartily agree.
[…] one, candle two, candle three, candle four, candle five, candle six, candle seven, candle eight) Ten Favorite Historical Fiction Reads of the Decade 2019 Reading and 2020 Goals Merry Christmas Greeting The Girl With Seven Names: A Review A Blogging […]
Great recommendations. I love Potato Peel Society
Thanks for commenting! I hope you saw the Netflix movie adaptation! 🙌😍
No I didn’t. I will do one day x I rarely get the chance to watch movies. That’s why I end up watching box sets
I’ve got Homegoing on my TBR list and I cannot wait to pick it up! I’ve only heard good things about it.
It’s a tome so I think reading it in winter sounds perfect! It’s a challenging read….might want to take character notes at first! Memorable and compelling! Enjoy!
Nice list! I have read a few of these and agree they belong on your list: The Book Thief, The Guernsey… and We Were the Lucky Ones. Your list reminds me I need to read The Kitchen House and The Invention of Wings. 🙂
Invention of Wings is on my lifetime fav list too! 👍 I hope you enjoy!
Hallo, Hallo fellow Historical Fiction buffs!!
You’ve mentioned some of the Historical stories I’ve read and *loved!* myself whilst there are others which are on my TBR! One in particular I have been trying to either read and/or listen via audiobook through my library for quite a long while – including awaiting for the library to purchase it! That would be “My Dear Hamilton”!! I loved the sound of it immediately and I’m hoping this year I can finally listen/read it!!
One of the stories we share in common for loving dearly is “Last Christmas in Paris” – you can read my review of it and leave me a note on my blog if any of my thoughts matched yours!
I haven’t made lists by genre as regularly as I think you do – however, I want to start actively participating in Top Ten Tuesday again this year – as I’ve only just released my 9th entry! It’s sticky on my blog right now – as I highlighted the Top Favourite New To Me Authors for 2019!! Instead of listing 10x however, you’ll find that I loved 32! Sometimes I go really high on those lists but I try to keep it closer to 10x most days — this was a special exception as it was rounding out the whole year, etc. I did break that list into categories of interest – Historical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Contemporary Romance and an Eclectic Mix of Genres.
I’m also working on my End of the Year Survey where its one HUGE list of Questions a book blogger compiled for us to ‘blog’ our memories of how the stories affect us throughout a full year of reading.
I didn’t even realise I regularly read more Historical Fiction per year until I became a book blogger – imagine? Do you host for Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours? I’ve been hosting with them for six years now and I love finding new authors writing the historic past – including Indie authors — this is how I originally found Heather Webb! Also, by hosting for the Audiobookworm Promotions I’ve found new voices in Historicals too – they just listed one of my favourite authors too! The Anna Blanc series is going on audio tour this February!! Eek.
Thanks for such a wonderful New Year’s Post!!! And, I hope you’ll visit with me too sometime as I love finding readers and book bloggers who love the genre as much as me.
Thanks for commenting! It’s lovely to connect with an ardent histfic fan! 😍📚 I do not host tours…or I should say I haven’t yet!
I hope you love My Dear Hamilton!
I’m hopping over to your blog now!
Best of the Decade!! These must by books worth tracking down! I’m restructuring my TBR list fo New Years so I’ll have to add these in… thanks Carol. Your’e the Best!
No two people read the same book…..so your list might look really different! Have you read Invention of Wings???? That one stands out to me!
Thanks for taking time to comment!
[…] Ten Favorite Historical Fiction Reads of the Decade […]
The Book Thief is one of my favourites too, along with ‘Orphan Monster Child’ which I’m reading right now! The wars were horrific but books based around that time are somehow my favourites? I think I’ll have to grow my TBR now to fit on these other amazing books that you’ve mentioned!
Did you see The Book Thief movie adaptation? It’s excellent! 👍😍
Yes I did! It really is brilliant. Would love to read the book again now that I’ve seen how it is portrayed in the film.
Yes! I think it’s a great reread book! 😍
Hope you enjoy it!
[…] I have so many favorites that have been recommended by friends and fellow readers and bloggers. I wouldn’t know where to start! I’m obsessed with book after book after book! Watch for my “best of” posts including these recent ones: Most Memorable Reads of 2021, Best of the Best 2015-2021, Ten Favorite Historical Fiction Reads of the Decade. […]