I'm a big fan of historical fiction, so I thought I'd share my list of favorite historical novels read in 2007. These books weren't published in 2007 — it's just that I finally got around to reading them last year!
In no particular order:
Marrying Mozart by Stephanie Cowell. Four sisters meet the young composer, but who will marry him?
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. Saga about a poor Victorian woman who starts her own tea business.
The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy. Old novel about Jane Shore, mistress of England's King Edward IV. I hope this one eventually makes it back into print.
The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis. A 15th century princess of Naples, Sancha of Aragon, marries into the notorious Borgia family.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Deservedly popular page-turner about Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's sister (and rival for the love of Henry VIII).
I'm probably forgetting several other historical novels that I enjoyed in 2007. Maybe this year I should keep a list.
And, while I'm at it, here are my least favorite historical novels read in 2007:
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Fifth book in her Outlander series. I liked the earlier books, but what a snooze this one was. I couldn't finish it.
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. A 15th century Italian girl dreams of becoming an artist. I found this book both depressing and predictable, with storylines that went nowhere. (If you're fond of modern literary fiction, you might like the book more than I did.)