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Historical Fiction June 2020
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| The Florios of Sicily by Stefania AuciWhat it’s about: the rise and fall of the Florio family, a distinguished business dynasty who first rose to prominence in the 19th century after moving to Sicily.
Starring: Ignazio, who founded the first family business (a spice shop) with his brother Paolo; Paolo’s son Vincenzo, who must see the increasing number of Florio businesses through a tumultuous period of expansion; and the second Ignazio, who still faces the snobbery of local aristocrats who look down on the family despite their wealth. |
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Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer ChiaveriniWhat it's about: Devastated by her 1875 suicide attempt, the sisters of widowed former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln navigate the consequences of their husbands’ choices while advocating for Mary’s needs. About the author: "Well known for her extensive Elm Creek Quilts series, Chiaverini now returns to the intimate circles of the political elite during the Civil War era, which she most recently explored with Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker" (Kirkus)
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| A Thousand Moons by Sebastian BarryWhat it's about: a makeshift family's story of growth and survival in Reconstruction-era Tennessee, a dangerous place to be for anyone who lives outside the lines.
Starring: Winona Cole, a 16-year-old Lakota girl first introduced in the novel Days Without End; Civil War veterans John Cole and Thomas McNulty, Winona's adoptive fathers; Tennyson and Rosalee, siblings and former slaves who later join the Cole family.
Read it for: the complex characters, lyrical language, and meditations on what it takes to build a family. |
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The Black Swan of Paris by Karen RobardsWhat it's about: A celebrated singer in World War II occupied France joins the Resistance to save her estranged family from being killed in a German prison. By the award-winning author of The Fifth Doctrine. If you enjoyed: The Dressmaker's War, Lilac Girls, The Nightingale What the reviews say: "Robards takes a step away from her contemporary works ("Guardian" romantic suspense series) and delves into the world of historical fiction, crafting an engaging story that explores an often overlooked aspect of World War II lore" (Library Journal)
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The patron saint of pregnant girls by Ursula HegiWhat it's about: When an 1878 tidal wave claims three children from Germany’s island of Nordstrand, three women — including a grieving mother, a seamstress and a young girl on the brink of giving birth — help each other in unanticipated ways. Try it if you like: lyrical, atmospheric style and complex characters. For fans of: The Stars are Fire, The Light Between Oceans.
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Shadows of Foxworth by V. C. AndrewsWhat it's about: Two generations before Corinne Foxworth locked her children in an attic, the life of her grandmother, a gorgeous young girl named Corrine Dixon changed forever. At age sixteen, she discovered she was pregnant by the wealthy and handsome Garland Foxworth. Now, trapped in the labyrinthine Foxworth estate, young Corrine is overwhelmed with her stifled life and domineering husband. When an artist is hired to paint her portrait, she immediately falls in love and is convinced to abandon this dark world forever, unaware that her decision could have far-reaching consequences that linger for generations. Complete the series: Continuing the events from Beneath the Attic and Out of the Attic, the prequel trilogy to the Dollanganger series comes to a riveting end.
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