If you wonder how I am fitting all this reading in, I'll tell you. It's called pregnancy insomnia and that means I get some major page-turning from about 1 a.m - 4 a.m., no joke. I also won't deny that I work like a maniac in the morning with my household duties so I can find some couch time in the afternoon.
Here are my favorites:
Super super good. One of my favorites of the year. Civil War time, a slavery and Irish immigration story clashing together. Wonderfully written.
I couldn't read this series fast enough...there are two more waiting for me at the library. Of course the first book is the best, but I can't stop myself from reading them all.
This book has been recommended to me several times over the years, and finally I read it. SO good and boy, oh boy, I could NOT live that life. Just the cover with all that snow is enough for me to say no thank you. Such a good story.
I've been on a real historical fiction reading kick lately, and I love finding out about more good ones, I will be putting these on my list. Thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you've talked about this before, but are you on Goodreads? I avoided it for no real reason for a long time but it's a great way to keep finding awesome books!
ReplyDeleteLove your recommendations.
ReplyDeleteMrs Mike has two more books - Search for Joyful about Mrs Mike's daughter and Kathy Little Bird about Mrs. Mike's granddaughter. All equally good.
ReplyDeleteOoh, have made notes...
ReplyDeleteI love your recommendations. thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI read Mrs. Mike as a girl on my mom's recommendation and loved it!
ReplyDeleteThis couldn't come at a better time: heading to Chatham next week and SO needed some good reads. Thank you, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI always love your recommendations. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSara, I love your book recommendations and always put them all on hold at the library. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes!!! Thankyou!
ReplyDeleteI am reading one now that you recommended and really like it.
I need this. Ran out of books to read and I am desperate!
ReplyDeleteI'm in a good reading streak too. Totally different types of books but I sure love when that happens :)
ReplyDeleteI first read Mrs. Mike when I was 15 years old and read it again every year so. One of my favorite books ever.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! I'm always in need of recommendations and yours usually fit the bill...
ReplyDeleteI read Mrs. Mike probably 20 years ago as a young teen, and now with 5 kids of my own, I often think of her 1st & 2nd families. Makes me more and more grateful for not living way back when.
ReplyDeleteLove the book recommendations, thank you! My library list grows longer and longer:)
ReplyDeleteHey, Sarah, long-time lurker here. I'm a big reader and had to comment to suggest other titles you might like, based on your post.
ReplyDeleteTwo In the Far North by Margaret Murie is similar to Mrs Mike but is actually a memoir. My book club read it a couple of years ago (also read Mrs Mike) and this was very popular.
Little Heathens by M. Kalish is a terrific read. Another memoir and book-club discovery. I've read it a few times. Highjinks and fun times on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression.
The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald is a fun read. Another based-on-life tale, though told with a heavy dose of dry wit (and maybe a tiny bit of language, can't remember).
If you have a Kindle (or the app on your computer or phone like I do) there is a FREE book called Letters of a Woman Homesteader that is wonderful. Can't remember the author. Pruitt, maybe? Anyway, yet another memoir, told in letters. The protagonist is amazing, adventurous, brave, and an excellent writer. There's a sequel, too. I would love to hear if you read (or have read any of these) and your thoughts! Happy reading!
Ooh, thank you for the recommendations! I have a really REALLY good one for you: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It's a mix of historical fiction, contemporary, mystery, romance. And the underlying message was so sweet & powerful--I might have cried. (Another book that I love even a little more is Possession by A.S. Byatt, which is strikingly similar, the same sort of genre, but maybe a little more intellectual & better crafted. Both SUCH good books. You won't regret burning the midnight oil for them!)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that you have been a real encouragement to me (without really knowing me!) I read you daily during naps when I should be cleaning!!! Our Piper is very busy at 2.5yrs so I'll continue reading and going back through whats on your sidebar! Thanks, Michelle
ReplyDeleteLove your book suggestions...thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found Peter Troy! I just read "May The Road" as well and have been recommending it to everyone I know. Your other recommendations look good too . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to mention literature.Of that list I've only read Mrs. Mike which I read as a young teen for the first time. The love story was interesting, but I loved the relationships she built with other women when I was that age. Of course, now I read it and only think about mothering in such severe conditions.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading and enjoying your blog for around a year, but this is the first time I have commented. I would like to recommend a trilogy of historical fiction books written by Nancy E. Turner, based on the diaries of her grandmother. The names of the books are: These is My Words, Sarah's Quilt, and The Star Garden. After reading them, Sarah became my heroine. She loves her family and God, her land and livestock and education, works hard and values her friends. Her life is not easy, but it is good. Another book I'd like to recommend is probably out of print, but I know used copies are available from Amazon. The name of the book is Oklahoma Run, written by Alberta Wilson Constant, copyright 1955. My paternal grandmother belonged to a book club and loaned me the book about the time I was entering my teens, in the early 70s. She eventually gave it to me and I have read it several times over the years. I even remember the names of most of the characters, something I don't always do because I read so much. It's also historical fiction, about a family who participates in the run for land in the Oklahoma Territory in 1891. I got it off the bookshelf to read it again after reading your post yesterday!
ReplyDeleteto Jessica who wrote about Little Heathens. Wonderful book! I bought several copies to give to my mom and mother-in-law and aunts!
ReplyDeleteThank you! LOVE ideas for good reads. Historical fiction is my favorite. My favorites this year have been The Kitchen House, Elizabeth Street, Those Who Save Us & The Tea Rose. I read the Forgotten Garden (earlier commenter mentioned) as well. It was pretty good as well.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to find Mrs. Mike for nook and just discovered that there was a sequel called The Search for Joy. Were you aware of the second book....thought you would like to know.
ReplyDeleteI KNEW it! we are MFEO. I LOVE historical fiction! Love, Love, Love. I can't wait to go grab these... here is my list. http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/songs_kate_sang/books-i-adore-historical-fiction-biographies
ReplyDeleteSarah, I was just reading through some of your recent posts, laughing about the ice cream and Double Stuf Oreos, wondering how you're doing today--and then I scrolled down and saw the copy of Mrs. Mike. I haven't read that book in years, and just the other day I thought about Oh-Be-Joyful! It's a powerful story, isn't it? Makes me sorry (and a bit ashamed) for the way I often whine about the smallest things.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you've gotten so much reading done this summer! I read voraciously with every baby--I read while I nursed. It was wonderful for me. Made nursing time a little retreat time. I never rushed my babies to finish nursing, and I think it was because of the reading!
Oh thanks for mentioning Mrs. Mike! I need to read it again. I have a 5 week old baby and plenty of time to be reading while feeding him. I'm thinking i should look back through your recent book recommendations and start a reading list. You obviously have fabulous taste!
ReplyDeleteStarted reading Ellis Island last night and CANNOT PUT IT DOWN! So good. Thanks for all the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Have been in need of new reading options -- looking forward to these titles. :)
ReplyDeleteI adore Mrs. Mike! Someone told me recently there's a sequel.
ReplyDelete