Four New Historical Fiction Reads to Sink Into
I’ve been reading like a fiend during semi-quarantine, and here some brand new titles I've particularly enjoyed.They may not be on your radar, but they should be. These titles are all historical fiction, and surprisingly, none of them take place during World War II.A few of them are so new thatcopies aren't on the shelves yet—so be one of the first in line by putting a hold on it.
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
From the author of the hugely popular Orphan Train, comes this new compelling and sometimes unsettling read set in the 1840s, The Exiles tells the story of four different women in Tasmania when it was still used as a penal colony for British criminals. Kline’s prose is so descriptive and visceral that I could smell the stench and feel the brutality and inhumanity displayed toward the convicts for the majority of the book. All the women— Evangeline, Hazel, Mathinna and Ruby—are society’s unwanted exiles, through no fault of their own. They are mistreated, abandoned, and ignored, yet each manages to salvage a part of her true self. I was relieved and heartened by the uplifting ending. This will be a great book for book discussions as well as Women’s History month in March.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
In my previous roundup of new books, I singled out Betty by Tiffany McDaniel as the best book I’ve read during quarantine. Migrations takes my number two slot. The novel is set in the not-too-distant future, when many animals have all but disappeared from Earth. Franny Stone is on an obsessive quest to track the migration of what is thought to be the last group of Arctic Terns. During her long journey around the globe, we slowly learn about Franny’s own secrets, flaws, and desires. This book is gorgeously written, with prose so visceral you will feel the arctic freeze. Franny is also an unusual, deeply drawn and memorable heroine. Migrations will be a popular book club choice.
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams
I have enjoyed all of Beatriz Williams’ books. In titles such as The Secret Life of Violet Grant, The Summer Wives, and Cocoa Beach, she always finds just the right blend of history and romance. In her latest, an Amelia Earhart-esque heroine, Irene Foster and her flying partner /rumored lover, Sam Mallory are thought to have perished in a 1937 plane crash during a round-the -world flight. Decades later, journalist Janey Everett is determined to solve the mystery of the disappearance and the true nature of the relationship between the two avaition pioneers. This book is a good escapist read for these troubled times.
The Forgotten Daughterby Joanna Goodman
This book is a sequel to The Home For Unwanted Girls, so you may want to read that first. However, I have not read that, and this book stands completely on its own. The book is centered around two women, Veronique, whose father spent years in prison for being a leader of the Quebec Separatists movement, and Elodie, one of the Duplessis Orphans. Never heard of them? That’s OK, neither had I. The Duplessis Orphans were Canadian children who were wrongly, but purposefully classified as “mentally ill” by the Quebec provincial government in order to misuse funds from the federal government. Elodie is a former Duplessis Orphan struggling to put her past behind her. Veronique wants to be a firebrand and follow in her father’s footsteps as a radical separatist. But, things get complicated when she meets James, a journalist on the opposite side of the issue. I admit I knew nothing of Canadian politics before reading this book, but it was an engaging story and a refreshing change from the usual historical fiction settings.
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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!