Paris 1919-  (Margaret Mc Millian)-NON FICTION. This is a book I have been meaning to read for quite sometime, and it has been worth the wait. The author has a wonderful narrative style which makes to book easy to follow. It provides the reader with a great understanding of the thoughts, opinions, attitudes and pressures of the peace conference. Mt best recomendation is probably that I learned some really interesting stuff I didn't know before.

Boudica -Dreaming the Serpant Spear- (Manda Scott) It was a wait for this one. I didn't get to start it until summer started; but it was worth it. The story did not disappoint. It was the glorious end to the battle against the Romans, and even though you know the Boudica will lose you are hoping for her the entire way. Now that I have all four I might read them back to back again. 

Napoleon - (Max Gallo) - This is the first of four novels on everyone's favorite "little general". This one looks at the early life of Napoleon, his entrance into the military and his early military career. He has just "saved" the Directory and things are beginning to go his way. If you like Napoleon, it is an interesting book full of details.

Night - (Elie Wiesel) NON FICTION. The story of a young man (15) who enters Auschwitz in 1944 and survives. I picked this book up during my library duty today (on the recommendation of Ms. Dickinson) to see what it was like. I finished the preface and introduction before my library duty was over. I had to take out this book so I could finish it. In fact I am only taking a small break from reading to write this up. The book it not very long (120 pages), hopefully I can finish it tonight. The writing style and this man's life story are incredibly engaging; I need to get back to the story.

The Spanish Bride: A novel of Cathereine of Aragon - A really interesting story about Henry VIII's first wife. There was a lot more going on behind the scenes than I would have thought there was. A good but scary insight into the very delicate position women were in dirunthe 14th century. What I though was neat too is that there was a preview of the second book on Anne Bolelyn (Henry's second wife). So you will be able to see the controversy from both sides of this female rivalry.

Dreaming the Hound (Manda Scott)- It was so great! I cannot wait for the last book to come out. I aleady checked, but you have to preorder it. You can bet I will be finishing this series over the March Break. A great book for people who love ancient British history, or just a good story with a powerful female lead character.

The Lady and the Unicorn (Tracy Chevalier) The story is written from the point of view of several different characters. It isn't confusing because eaxh chapter is told from only one character's perspective. The story revolves around the commission and creation of probably the most most famous (and definatley my favourite) tapestries in the world - The Unicorn tapestries. Not the best book I have ever written but it gave a variety of insights into medieval life. 

The Fatherland (Robert Harris). A great and chilling novel, set in Europe where Hitler wins the Second World War. It is a mystery story, but gives some indiction of what it was like to live under a fascist regime. The "history" part comes from the mystry the main character is tryign to solve. For that part the dates, names and actions are acll historically accurate. But I won't ruin the surprise.  

Lucria Bourgia: the Mother of all Poisons- A really interestign murder mystery story with a central character who is one of the most infamous women of the Reniassance. It was a good murder story and it gave you an interesting look into the live of noble women during the Renaissance; how they spent their day, how they had to manipulate those around them to achieve thier ends, the power struggles etc. I never guessed who the murderer was; but I was never good at that Agatha Christie sort of stuff.  

Dreaming the Bull (Manda Scott)- Also a great story. The focus here shifts from ther first book. While the first book focuses on Boudica, the second book focuses on teh trials and tribulations of her brother Ban who was captured and sold into slavery in the Roman empire. Some really heart wrenching parts in this one, especially if you are an animal lover. As well as Ban's life this story deals more with the the attempts of the Romans to subdue the various British tribes and how it is Boudica who will try to unite the tribes to create the best defence against teh Romans. I am looking forward to the third one. I donated both to our library, so they are there if you want to take them out.

Dreaming the Eagle (Manda Scott)- A story about Boudica the female warrrior who lead a rebellion agains the Roman occupatiuon of Britian. This is the first in a four part series. I loved the first book! Actually  I ran out to ge the second book because I loved the first one so much. It was a great story  of a woman coming to grips with her abilities and responsibilites. An inteersting look at Roman Britain. Be warned though it is heavy on the fiction part because all of the understanding we have of Roman Britain comes from Roman documents. It goes through what characters are historical and how you pronounce the names at the back of the book.   

Pompeii (Robert Harris) -  A great peice of historical fiction! The entire story takes place in four days (two days prior to the eruption of Vesuvius, and the two days of the eruption). Very fast paced. It gives great insight into Roman life @79 AD (CE for all you politically correct people). As well some really interesting facts about volcanoes and this eruption in particular.  It has a really thorough bibliography at the back if you are interested in histroical/academic resources on POmpeii and Herculaneum or other parts of Roman history. This was a March Break read and I think I finished it in 3-4 days. Not too taxing and a really great story. - Soon to be part of the Cawthra Park Library I'm sure!

State of Fear (Michael Chrichton)  - A really interesting story if you like fiction based on real science. The story is about radical environmentalists who try to create massive weather tragedies to promote the need for environmental research. The novel is full of footnoted academic journals, had a really interesting appendix which talks about our belief in scientific ideas, and had a complete annoated bibliography. A fast paced read and a really good story. It may make you rethink the entire global warming issue!  

 The Dark Tower  (Stephen King)- Although not historical fiction, I have been waiting for the end of this story for 20 years. I started the Dark Tower series in the early 80s. I am loving the book! It is an epic tale coming to its conclusion. It is a great series. I highly recommend it, especially since you won't have to wait as long as I did for the end!

The DaVinci Code, (Dan Brown). A really great story, lots of intersting historical facts. It really moves along, and will make you want to go to museums!  he story was really good but I think I liked Angels and Demons better.

Birdsong,(Sebastian Faulks) Cawthra park library - This is a story set in World War One. It is slow to start, the first section of the novel does not seem to have anything to do with the war, it is about an Englishman in France and the affair he has with a married woman, then there is an abrupt shift to the war setting. I am about 1/3 of the way through so I have not reached a point where the author has brought the two pieces together fully. A good story but it takes some patience to get through. The author takes a lot of time to bring all of the pieces of the story together.

The Three Musketeers (Alexandre Dumas)  Considering the age of the novel I could not believe how quickly it moved along. It is a romanitc and exciting book. You really want the villian to get it in the end. What surprised me (happily) was that the storyline is very different from the numerous films made of this story. There was much more intregue. A really good read.

The Many Lives and Secreat Sorrows of Josephine B (Sandra Gullard) A really good depiction of the early life of Josephine(Rose) and what it was like for people living in Paris during the terror. The unsurity of your postion is really made clear in this novel. All three of her books an entertiaing and informative read, but I think The Last Great Dance... is my favorite.

Angels and Demons (Dan Brown). Great Book! I read it in three days, I couldn't put it down. It is incredibly fast paced (same author as The Da Vinci Code). It has histroical fiction elements but set in modern day. I don't want to say too much, but it is set in Rome and pits modern science and an ancient underground cult called the Illuminati against the Vatican. So many plot twists, it was fantastic.

Jackdaws (Ken Follett).  It is the story  of female spies in World War Two. I have only read the first couple of pages. But Ken Follett's books rarely disappoint. THIS BOOK WAS GREAT! Once I was halfway through I had to read it to the end in one shot! The story takes place over 7 days and pits a strong female British spy against a German expert in counter-resistance (who just happens to be an expert in torture).  She flies in to France , with her all female team on a mission to aid the D-day invasion. By the time she trains her new personelle she has 3 days to complete her mission. It is action packed and I just loved this book! 

 Coldheart Canyon. (Clive Barker). Not really historical fiction, but a fun read none the less. It is the story of a hollywood actor whose facelift goes bad. When he hides out in a 1920's "dream palace" in the canyons around Hollywood, he finds more than he was barganing for. It is an interesting take on the shallowness of Hollywood and our desire to be young and alive. There is some sex in the book, so if it isn't your thing you may want to try a different book.

Sophie's Choice. (William Styron) Cawthra Park Library. It is a World War Two story that begins in a postwar New York publishing office. I know a bit about the story so I am finding some of the asides the author has included a little bit frustrating. I realize this is part of the how the story evolves, but sometimes I want him to move it along faster. I am only about 150 pages in and it is a good story that gives intriguing hints at dark times in the past  of the novel's characters. I know this one is a tear jerker so if you are going to read it, keep kleenex handy.   

When Christ and His Saints Slept  (Sharon Kay Penman) Cawthra Park Library. This book is about the War of the Roses in England. Henry I dies and leaves the throne to his daughter Maude. Her cousin Stephen takes the throne and a civil war begins. The book took a little while to get going but then I found I had trouble putting it down. Knowing that the war lasts decades, I always wanted to see how each side escaped disaster when they were trapped. At the end of the novel Penman discusses some of the more bizzare twists of fate that actually happened. Also the story includes Elenor of Aquitaine  (Henry II's wife) who just happens to be the most powerful and influential women of the medieval world, which is always a bonus!

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Sandra Gulland). Cawthra Park Library. This is another book set up as Josephine's diary, so it that respect it is very much like The Last Great Dance on Earth. This novel however begins the day after Napoleon and Josephine's wedding and ends in 1800 so right where the other book takes off. This book has all of the same strengths as last great, but provides much more insight into the person of Josephine.

The Last Great Dance on Earth (Sandra Gulland) Cawthra Park Library. - The novel is set up as a diary written by Josephine once Napoleon has taken power in France. It provides some interesting insight into different sides of Napoleon's character, and how the key historical events of Napoleon's rise to power impacted those around him. As well there are several quick historical footnotes to add some insight to certain events and relationships. At the end she provided a quick summary of what happened to the various people in the story. As well she included a partial bibliography and recommended historical works if you wanted to know more about Napoleon and/or Josephine.

Regeneration  (Pat Barker) Cawthra Park Library- A story of mental illness/shellshock in World War One. It included as its main characters three of the best known World War One poets. As well as a prominent psychologist from that time. At the end it outlines for the reader what parts of the book are completely accurate and where you can find more information on certain topics. I also read the other two books in this trilogy The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road, but I think Regeneration was the strongest. Feel free to disagree.

The Red Tent    (Anita Diamant) Cawthra Park Library-  The Biblical stroy of Dinah, which can be found in the book of Genesis (usually called the rape of Dinah). The story is told entirely from Dinah, and the women around her's perspective. This is a fabulous book to read as a woman. I really enjoyed reading it and the sense of comradery that was built with the women in the novel.  

Generals Die in Bed (Charles Yale Harrison) Cawthra Park Library- Tells the stroy of a soldier during the First World War.  It is very realistic and quite graphic in places. You are left with a much truer understanding of life on the front lines. It is not a difficult read but teh images will stay with you. It is one of, if not the best World War One novel I have read.

Timeline (Michael Crichton) Cawthra Park Library - The stroy of time travel made possible. Archeologist students have the opportunity to travel back to medieval France. This was just made into a movie, but the book is always better.

Child of the Morning (Pauline Gedge) Cawthra Park Library  - The story of Hatchepsut the only female pharoah.  If you like strong women it is a great story. It is easy ot see why the men who came after her tried to erase her name from history. This was the first of Pauline Gedge's books that I read. She has an incredible ability to bring ancient Egypt to life. This one will be a multiple read for me.

The Twelveth Transforming (Pauline Gedge)-  The story of Akenaton and his attempt to turn Egypt in to a monothesistic (one God) country. Also this story includes the crowning and early death of King Tutankamon. A really good story, but I liked Child of the Morning better.