Comments on: Living in the Past

By: Lisa Marie

Lisa Marie — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:50:15 +0000

Oh, you so rock!

I hope you get this book, too — one that’s truly magical.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:59:48 +0000

I would most certainly read that book, should it ever come across my path.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:58:27 +0000

I completely forgot that Kirsten lived with the Native Americans for a bit! She was always my favorite, too. Did you ever read the prequel to ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS or the other books in the JULIE OF THE WOLVES books? They weren’t as good, but I know I enjoyed them.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:08:20 +0000

That nose-pinch voice is the downfall of so many books that would otherwise be great stories!

By: Amy Armstrong

Amy Armstrong — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:56:59 +0000

I love historical movies and tv, but I’m picky about historical fiction. I don’t have much patience for authors who seem to think that writing a story set in Victorian England means they need to adopt the ::nose pinch:: oh raaahther stuffy style that should have died with Henry James. My favorite historical fiction books tend to be about the United States before and during the American Revolution. I enjoy anarchy. The Civil War is good too.

Favorite historical fiction authors (so far): Scott O’Dell, Irene Hunt, Elizabeth George Spear (sp?)

Favorite historical TV/film: Band of Brothers, John Adams, The Right Stuff, Deadwood

By: Julie Nilson

Julie Nilson — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:49:47 +0000

I love historical fiction, but I rarely enjoy historical non-fiction. The non-fiction puts me to sleep (literally, in a lot of cases). I think the issue is that many historical non-fiction books tend to keep the subject at a distance, to a degree, while the fiction usually does a better job of letting you into the heads and hearts of the people involved.

By: Lisa Marie

Lisa Marie — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 08:46:27 +0000

I’m not a fan of historical fiction, usually — at least not in a romance. I prefer contemporary romance novels almost exclusively.

However, I’ve recently been seriously craving a romance novel set during the Great Depression or early WWII. I suspect that it’s because economically, America is headed down the same path (although to unknown ends), and I want to feel a connection with characters who’ve lived through that. There’s a certain romance to simplicity. Survival. And finding someone to love, despite those hard times. Please, *please* won’t you sign a romance author who writes a book like this?

By: Ciara

Ciara — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:48:03 +0000

oh yes, I don’t read historical fiction but I will read pretty much anything centred around Salem witch trials or European witch trials.

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:16:13 +0000

I used to be more into historical fiction as a kid, although I’d like to start reading it more heavily again. (I’ve got a few on my shelf waiting to be read, so that’s good.) My favorite writer was Scott O’Dell, and because of him I gravitated toward anything with a female Native American protagonist. I read ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS about 8,000 times, and any books I could find on Sacagawea, and then branched out to things like JULIE OF THE WOLVES though the setting was more contemporary. Even of the American Girl books, Kirsten was my favorite, not just because she had a similar name and appearance, but because she went and lived with the tribe near her for a little bit.

As an adult I’ve fallen prey more to the Regency and Victorian England fiction, but only on certain occasions and usually more in film or television. I loved Downton Abbey, btw. Need the second season!

By: Carrie-Anne

Carrie-Anne — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:26:31 +0000

I only write historical fiction (and some soft sci-fi), and honestly have no interest in writing something contemporary. The only contemporary-ish things I’ve written have been when they’re part of a long, epic family saga/series, and the timeline gradually moves into the modern era. I’d never deliberately start a book in the present day, because I personally find that kind of boring. Most of what I read is also historical fiction, or at least books that were written in the past and now are about historical times/events, in spite of originally having been contemporary.