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Who says History is Boring? Read a great novel and you may learn something new!
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items I used to think history was dull and boring, but then I started reading historical novels and narrative stories. It was the best way to learn about world history and culture. Beats every history class I ever took!
Sections
2
World History
American History
World History
So many things that I didn't know or understand came to light when I reac these books!
The story of the tumultuous life of Dinah and other women in Biblical times. Affiliate link
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Medieval England and the building of Cathedrals are wrapped up in this epic story about power and ambition. Affiliate link.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The story of a young girl during the Renaissance period in Florence, Italy that exposes the lust for power by the wealthy of the time. Affiliate link
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
A female physician in 15th Century China provides an amazing look back on medicine and ancient Chinese culture. Affiliate link
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
A compelling story of the early, difficult interaction between Africa and European Colonialism. Affiliate link
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The fascinating story of the development of the Oxford English Dictionary. Affiliate link
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
The is an epic story of Hawaii from volcanic eruption through exploration, settlement, and missionary arrival. Affiliate link
Hawaii by James A. Michener
This is a true story of a young Jewish girl in Holland during the Nazis occupation. Everyone needs to read her story. Affiliate link
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
A fictional story of survival in World War II France gives another perspective of a difficult time in world history. Affiliate link
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from Europe after WW II to the founding of the State of Israel. Affiliate link
Exodus by Leon Uris
The story of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Hiroshima by John Hersey
The Story of a young girl who learns the art of being a Geisha. Affiliate link
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The story of a young French girl in Paris where arrests resulted in a trip to Auschwitz. Affiliate link
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
The story of an apothecary in London that stretches across three generations of women helping other women. Affiliate link
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
American History
And I thought I knew everything about American History
The saga of the challenges of an American family who did not come to the American Continent by choice. Affiliate link
Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
The story of the Underground Railroad in pre civil war times and the cruelty that encouraged its development and use. Affiliate link
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This is a classic Civil War story that provides insight into the time period, the people, and the conflicts of the time. Affiliate link
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The experience of a boy born into the institution of American slavery. Affiliate link
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coats
A classic story that takes place during the 1920’s and touches on the culture and societal spectacles of the time and makes one question if history really does repeat itself. Affiliate link
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The story of immigrants in the 1920’s American meat packing industry and the challenges they face with the horrendous labor conditions of the time. Affiliate link
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A saga of the settlement of the American West. Affiliate link
Centennial by James A. Michener
This is a classic American story. If you didn’t read it in high school, it is time to read it now. Affiliate link
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A sprawling story set during the Great Depression provides a saga of a family that travels from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to California. This is a classic that every American should read. Affiliate link
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
A story of the Vietnam War and the burdens carried, both physically and emotionally, by those who tell their story. Affiliate link
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
The life of a female scientist in the 1960’s. Affiliate link
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus