My three all-time favorite books

[katemn]

1.  The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet by Edith Pargeter.  Four novels in one about the last years of the Welsh kingdom in Britain written by the author of the Brother Cadfael mysteries.  The historical plot line focuses on the Welsh kings and their scheming brothers and family members, who try to hold out against King Edward's desire to conquer Wales and add it to England.  It's set in around 1200.  The fictional plot line is about two lovers, one a servant in the Welsh court, the other a servant in the English court, who see each other once a year when the courts convene.  Made me cry twice, and will forever be at the tippy top by a mile, of my list of favorite books. 

2. The Long Ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtson.  A novel about the Viking age, and in particular characters who sail all the way to Russia and become advisers to the Czar.   The book is translated from I can't remember which Scandinavian language and it is so fun to read about Orm's adventures with all the historical detail you might expect.

3.  The Lightbearer by Donna Gillespie.  About a woman who becomes a warrior during Roman times.  Again, rich with historical detail and with a heroine so brave and true to life, modern even, that I simply could not put it down.  

There you have it.  Ladies, please share with me your faves because summer vacation is coming up and I plan to read read read (when the kids are napping, of course). 

[MommaK2007]

May. 4, 2008 at 3:03 PM

The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer