I forgot that I had read Alcott’s Christmas stories last year. I’ve almost finished her collection A Modern Cinderella, or The Little Old Shoe and Other Stories. “A Modern Cinderella,” “Debby’s Debut,” “The Brothers,” and “Nelly’s Hospital” are all well written, with little melodrama. “The Brothers” is set during the Civil War and ends with the 54th Massachusetts regiment at Fort Wagner (1863).

The future must show how well that fight was fought, for though Fort Wagner still defies us, public prejudice is down. And through the cannon smoke of that black night, the manhood of the colored race shines before many eyes that would not see, rings in many ears that would not hear, [and] wins many hearts that would not hitherto believe.

Easter: I plan to read Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur (1880), having seen the 1959 adaptation with Charlton Heston 20 years ago. Go here to read my review of Easter Stories (2015), a new literary anthology. One of its many selections is the Gethsemane portion of Wallace's novel.

Easter: I plan to read Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur (1880), having seen the 1959 adaptation with Charlton Heston 20 years ago.

That's a fantastic and worth-while read. It can be a little difficult/slow at times, and you have to just relax and soak up all the details without wanting to get ahead of the narrative. You'll notice quite a few differences from the movie as well. Ben Hur purposely wrecks Messala's chariot (not the the other way 'round). As far as I know the movie makes no mention of Iras, and in the book Judah doesn't meet Esther until nearly a third of the way through the book. Ben Hur is one of my all time favorites because of all the cultural details, but I sometimes get so disgusted with Judah that I just stop reading.
I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

My little sisters are avid Louisa May Alcott readers, one of their favorites is Rose In Bloom. It seems like they are always getting it from the library.

This past week I read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is an excellent book, very well written. I have read quite a bit about WWII, mostly the European theater of the war. This was a whole new perspective of WWII for me, I didn't know anything about Japan's treatment of POWs before reading Unbroken. Start to finish it's amazing story. I highly recommend reading Unbroken.

SnowAngel

An unforgettable book, Ben Hur!

220, how cool you won those audiobooks for the library!

Anfinwen, I can't recall ever hearing of the book, The Marvelous Land of Snergs, that was such an influence on Tolkien for The Hobbit. Either that, or I'd totally forgotten. I'd like to get my hands on a copy, for sure. Thanks for the interesting info!

SnowAngel, isn't Unbroken a fantastic read?! Albeit disturbing when reading of the horrific POW camps. It's amazing Louis Zamperini survived after all he went through, and not only in the camps. Wow!

Reading now:
*The Lord of the Rings: it gets better and more meaningful with every read
*Fierce Convictions, a recent fascinating biography on the dynamic abolitionist Hannah More, a contemporary of Wilberforce
*The Last Battle: my love and appreciation for the Chronicles also multiplies with every read. (Tirian and Jewel were just taken captive by the Calormenes.)

Anfinwen: I'm still in chapter 2 and tempted to read an abridged version. But I'd like to read a biography of Wallace's exciting life.

SnowAngel: I’d like to read more of Alcott’s work, but I’m busy with other tasks. I just finished her novella Behind a Mask, or a Woman’s Power, which Alcott wrote under a pseudonym; it’s set in England. An actress turned governess, Jean Muir uses deception to seek a title through marriage as she also makes two young men fall in love with her. Is Miss Muir successful? Read the book.

Johobbit: thanks.

I read a children’s biography of Phillis Wheatley (Moody Publishers) on Sunday afternoon. The author’s quote in the epilogue led me to read her source – The Trials of Phillis Wheatley (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.). I plan to publish a book review on my blog next week.

I've been reading Margaret George's books pretty much any time I get the chance. I discovered her book Elizabeth I a year or two ago and absolutely loved it. (Elizabeth I is one of my favorite historical figures. I also find Tudor history very interesting.) I also just finished reading The Memoirs of Cleopatra. It's quite the lengthy read!

What I absolutely love about historical fiction is the chance to become a little more familiar with history. For instance, I knew nothing about Cleopatra except that she was an Egyptian queen, until I read George's book. Now, I feel closely acquainted with Cleopatra -- like she's an old friend. Part of this was because it was written in first person. We have intimate insight into Cleopatra's thoughts and feel her emotions.

Of course, I understand that historical fiction also has the fictional, made-up element. (How could this book not? It's over 1000 pages!) However, I do feel like I know a lot of the large events which took place in Cleopatra's life. Also, George's books have inspired me to do my own historical research on both Cleopatra and Elizabeth I.

I’d like to read more of Alcott’s work, but I’m busy with other tasks. I just finished her novella Behind a Mask, or a Woman’s Power, which Alcott wrote under a pseudonym; it’s set in England. An actress turned governess, Jean Muir uses deception to seek a title through marriage as she also makes two young men fall in love with her. Is Miss Muir successful? Read the book.

Interesting! I just stumbled across this. I love to read. I've read Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys, but for some reason never thought about checking to see if Louisa May Alcott wrote any other books. I'll have to put this on my to-do list for when the semester's over.

SnowAngel, isn't Unbroken a fantastic read?! Albeit disturbing when reading of the horrific POW camps. It's amazing Louis Zamperini survived after all he went through, and not only in the camps. Wow!

Yes! I stumbled across Don't Give Up, Don't Give In in the new books at the library, it's next on my reading list. I am trying to read more non-fiction, which is really hard for me.

SnowAngel: I’d like to read more of Alcott’s work, but I’m busy with other tasks. I just finished her novella Behind a Mask, or a Woman’s Power, which Alcott wrote under a pseudonym; it’s set in England. An actress turned governess, Jean Muir uses deception to seek a title through marriage as she also makes two young men fall in love with her. Is Miss Muir successful? Read the book.

I think I might have read that one, but it was several years ago if I did.

This past weekend I read Emissary by Thomas Locke (Davis Bunn), loved it. I told my brother to read it for a change of pace and he did, but he didn't really care for it. I just wish it wasn't so long until the second book will released (next spring). Sister is reading Emissary now, after she finishes it I think one of the little sisters (who really isn't that little anymore) will be allowed to read it.

SnowAngel

Ben-Hur...

I finished book 1 yesterday. Wallace’s traditional account of Jesus’ birth is flawed – the birth on December 25, the three wise men’s visit 12 days later, etc. He also makes Joseph a 50-year-old uncle of Mary, calls Nazarites objects of ridicule who disobey Moses, and portrays the wise men as non-astrologers from Greece, Egypt, and India who can understand one another’s languages through the Spirit. Why? None of this fits the Bible. At least Wallace’s cultural and geographical descriptions seem accurate. I’m now reading book 2. [Massala is proud and cruel!] I’m also researching Wallace’s life and the real magi (history, literature, etc).

Lady G: I also love historical fiction and had little time to read during semesters! By the time school ended, I was tired of books. Still, Alcott's "Behind a Mask" and "The Inheritance" are good summer reading.

SnowAngel: I like Bunn's Acts of Faith series, written with Janette Oke.

220chrisTian now you just have to make it through a two chapter lesson from Judah's mother! It's tedious and a little unnecessary but interesting. The pace picks up a bit after that.

I like Bunn's Acts of Faith series, written with Janette Oke.

Those are fantastic! I also like the Song of Acadia series, another collaboration between Oke and Bunn. It has some incredible plot twists!

Thanks for the recommendation, Anfinwen. I gotta finish Ben Hur first.

Here's my review of Gates' The Trials of Phillis Wheatley (2003). Please read it.

https://artsandculturereviews.wordpress ... ind-spots/

Anfinwen... I’m now in book 3 of Ben-Hur. I have a philosophical bent; I like to sit and think. So I enjoyed the 2 chapters with Judah’s mother. It was stirring stuff! I put some of her wisdom on Twitter. I also created a "Wallace’s wise men" page on my blog – part of a literary advice column.

I also like the Song of Acadia series, another collaboration between Oke and Bunn. It has some incredible plot twists!

My little sisters are crazy about that series! We went to a bookstore this week and together they bought 3 of the five books. We already had the second book, they just one more to have the complete series. They were so excited.

I really liked the first book in the Acts of Faith series, but I thought the series rather went downhill from there. It was still a good series, but it could have been great.

I spent most of my free time the last few days reading The Final Chapter of Chance McCall and The Kill Fee of Cindy LaCoste by Stephen Bly, getting myself completely and totally engrossed in Lynda Dawn and Brady's story. I almost forgot, but not quite, how good those books are! I love that series, the characters are just that, characters, and so much fun.

SnowAngel

Lady G: I also love historical fiction and had little time to read during semesters! By the time school ended, I was tired of books. Still, Alcott's "Behind a Mask" and "The Inheritance" are good summer reading.

I empathize entirely...by the time the semester's done, I have to remind myself how to read for fun!

Although I am currently caught in a very busy semester, I'm reading Margaret George's Mary Called Magdalene every chance I get (basically when I get some free time on the weekends ). So far, it seems fairly close to the Biblical account. From what I've read so far, it's gotten all of the large, important events in Mary's life correct. However, considering the size of the book (over 600 pages) and how little the Bible says about Mary Magdalene, it's obvious that a fair portion of it is fiction. (Which of course meets the criteria of historical fiction.)

I'm about 1/4 way through "The King's Curse", the last of the Cousins War series by Phillipa Gregory. The series focuses on women who are major players in what we now call The Wars of the Roses, in pre-Tudor England.

The King's Curse is during the Tudor reigns of Henry VII and VIII.
The main character is a woman called Margaret, who appears as a child in Shakespeare's "Richard III" - I recently played her and have been very interested to find out about her later life. She was known as the Countess of Salisbury.

If you saw "The White Queen" that was another of the series. I have another 4 books to enjoy when I have read this one.

@SnowAngel: Regarding Acts of Faith, I also liked book 1 (Centurion’s Wife) best. Book 2 (Hidden Flame) was still excellent – Abigail and Stephen’s romance, religious conflicts, etc. I liked book 3 (Damascus Way) least because (1) settings and plots were scattered (like the church with Saul’s persecution), and (2) it revealed the series’ fatal flaw. The salvation of Gentiles with Cornelius’ conversion was a monumental change that created a rift in the church. Even after Gentiles were accepted, Paul accused some apostles of separating from them at meals. Yet a Roman centurion, a Gentile, is both saved and present at Pentecost in the 1st book. Throughout the series, he eats with Jews. As a result, Cornelius’ conversion in book 3 creates barely a ripple of surprise in the early church. It’s all wrong!

Ben-Hur: I finished book 6 this morning. I thought it was cruel, love without wisdom, that Ben-Hur's mother and sister won't let him know they’re alive. But the chariot race was thrilling! Messala was evil; I’m glad Ben-Hur humbled him. I love Wallace’s writing style. It’s fresh and vivid. I love his wisdom too. I’ve put dozens of quotes on Twitter.