The best historical fiction evokes the sense of living and breathing in a bygone era. These novels are no exception. Whether mining the horrors of World War II, investigating a trembling East Berlin on the brink of change, or plunging into a South American jungle at the beginning of the 19th century, these novels transport readers into the past and, in their own ways, teach us about the present.
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Dominicana
By Angie Cruz
Written in musical prose, this coming of age story is a portrait of the immigrant experience in NYC. Though she had never aspired to live in New York like many of her peers, fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion is forced to marry a man twice her age and relocate to Washington Heights for the opportunity to move her family to the United States. Beautifully engaging and fearless, this story follows Ana as she finds her voice in the bustle of New York City, navigating a loveless marriage, her responsibility to her family and her personal aspirations. This book reads surprisingly quickly and is great for travel, those looking for a beach reach with depth, or for the mature young adults in your life.
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Doxology
By Nell Zink
Why haven’t you read Nell Zink yet? Punk rock, multiple generations of life in New York City, love, loss, the trauma of the 2016 election—if any of this resonates for people you know, they’ll probably love Zink’s latest.
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The Dutch House
By Ann Patchett
In this masterful new novel, Ann Patchett—beloved author (and bookseller!)—dives into the past, exploring the fortunes of a family at the end of World War II. A patriarch, recently wealthy, decides he must buy a house—the Dutch House—in Philadelphia, a decision that slowly unravels his family. Patchett can write characters and propulsive narratives like nobody else, and this book combines her piercing eye for humanity with rich historical detail. Any Patchett novel is an event for lovers of literature.
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The Man Who Saw Everything
By Deborah Levy
Crossing-cutting in time and place, from East to West Berlin, first love to last love, Levy tracks the life of Saul, which is inexorably changed when he steps off a curb on London’s Abbey Road. Her inimitable style sweeps you away and leaves you haunted. It is like watching a good French film.
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Reinhardt's Garden
By Mark Haber
No, no, go not to Lethe x 10! Jacov Reinhardt—scholar of Melancholy, connoisseur of dust—sets out in search of an unsuspecting philosopher whom he has deified and deemed his mentor. We witness his journey and antics through the eyes of his endeared-but-overwhelmed scribe. Rich, elliptic, satiric prose. Jacov is a passionately obsessive, irritable, and asinine character—think John Keats meats Larry David. What’s not to love?
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The Shadow King
By Maaza Mengiste
Hirut, scholar and author Maaza Mengiste’s powerful protagonist, rises and persists in the face of Mussolini’s armies and Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in this brilliantly written and well-researched novel. Mobilizing and offering solutions following Emperor Hailie Selassie’s exile in the face of an impending, one-sided war, she takes up arms against the fascist invaders in defense of her country and her personhood. Fans of Toni Morrison and Nawal El Saadawi will love Mengiste’s beautifully lyrical prose
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The Topeka School
By Ben Lerner
An exploration of the effects of toxic masculinity, Guggenheim Fellow and MacArthur Grant-recipient Ben Lerner’s latest novel follows the narratives of the Gordon family through multiple generations. The Topeka School invites readers to observe the ways that manhood has impacted the lives of Lerner’s detailed characters, and, in the context of modern American politics, also urges white men to take a closer look at their roles in society and their personal relationships. For the cultural and political observer, and lover of family sagas.
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The World Doesn't Require You
By Rion Amilcar Scott
Passion is central theme that glues together the stories in Rion Amilcar Scott’s new collection. Whether is finding the specific rhythm of Cross River or tussling with feelings about the church, the things that compel each character is deeply felt and pursued. Perfect for fans of Winesburg, Ohio and Nafissa Thompson Spires, and lovers of funk and gospel.
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The World That We Knew
By Alice Hoffman
Hoffman, ever prolific, ever masterful, visits Berlin of 1941 in her newest novel, exploring the relationship between a mother and a daughter trying to escape Nazi Germany. But Hoffman adds a twist, a magical realist element: a Golem, sworn to protect the youngest and most vulnerable. But will this magical element be enough to stop real world horrors? Moving and marvelous, Hoffman’s latest is great for anyone looking for their next book club read.