Historical Fiction Books - Book Thoughts Vol 5

Historical Fiction books. These are what I want to dedicate this post for. It's a genre that deserves more attention - from my side at least... (I’m trying not to choose favourites haha, so let’s hope it continues that way)

I have always been fond of historical fiction books, and I try to include them in my To Be Read piles. You can find me almost always leaning towards fantasy and fiction but not so much into the history section, even though I always find it interesting. They’re just heavy books and sometimes too dense and require the utmost focus. However Historical Fiction is the way to go if you want something light (okay, Light-ISH because they still carry a lot). You get history with the beautiful fiction-y part, so you get the best of both worlds. This genre gives you an insight about history but grips you with the twists and stories intertwined within them. It makes it much more interesting and you just can’t put the book down.

From the number of historical fiction books I’ve read, I’ve chosen these three beautiful books that I loved deeply and would recommend if you want to dive into this genre.

All the Light we Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

"A blind French girl called Marie-Laure and a German boy Werner Pfennig whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II."

This book is a strong representation of what many were going through during the World War and how people try to be good to one another. You just can’t help but connect with the character and live through their struggles. And how two people from different sides can be connected against all odds. I remember once being stuck in traffic, finding the book with me, and a two-hour slow ride felt like 2 minutes. That’s how engrossed I was with the story. Marie just finds a way into your heart and Werner earns it from the start. You go along their journey and travel through time and place.

The Book Thief – Markus Suzak

"It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement."

You probably heard of the movie or watched it. Let me tell you something that I always say for every book to movie adaptation (expect maybe Lord of the Rings haha), the movie doesn’t do justice to the book. This book is a masterpiece that should be appreciated by everyone! (it definitely made me cry at times). You live through Liesel’s everyday life, the relationships found in the expected and most unexpected places, and you feel deeply her passion for books. So, in a way, you witness a love affair with books and words.

What makes this book even more unique, is that the narrator of the story is not just any character in the book but something utterly different. Utterly powerful. (okay I'm not going to tell you who it is, for suspense reasons haha)

The nightingale – Kristin Hannah

"The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France."

This book is said to be “A heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.”

Well… I can tell you that’s true. It speaks the story of simple women who play a part that defines their lives and the people around them. It shows the strength they carry and the passion they have for something they believe in. The choices made, the impossible choices, and the risks taken, define what can be achieved by a single person. You start rooting for the characters and feeling for them in their torn lives during these horrific times. It’s compelling and capturing. Kristen Hannah never disappoints. You can take my word on that.

Until next time,

Salam!