tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post8839811129067953520..comments2024-03-27T22:25:42.129-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: Giveaway winners, and other historical fiction newsSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-87514689632900681372021-06-15T18:08:02.459-05:002021-06-15T18:08:02.459-05:00I agree a wider range of novels could have been ch...I agree a wider range of novels could have been chosen. Novels don't need to be set in the US to be relevant to American readers today. Looking at the Walter Scott Prize winners list could've remedied that, plus another great example is Min Jin Lee's <i>Pachinko</i>, a immigrant story with contemporary resonance. <br /><br />Just to note, there are a couple others in the article that aren't set in the US, like <i>Washington Black</i> and Lauren Groff's upcoming <i>Matrix</i>, set in medieval France.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-12079253946941244192021-06-15T17:11:09.761-05:002021-06-15T17:11:09.761-05:00Jonathan Lee's article is not only condescendi...Jonathan Lee's article is not only condescending but narrow-minded; except for WOLF HALL and HAMNET, all his references are to U.S.-centered historical fiction. Does HF that takes place in the rest of the world not matter?Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14423978100407065450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-46539116971133831122021-06-14T13:19:11.152-05:002021-06-14T13:19:11.152-05:00Thanks for mentioning Testimony, Kris - I'm ad...Thanks for mentioning Testimony, Kris - I'm adding it to my wishlist. That storyline does speak directly to the issues that we're facing today.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-25467010049603817602021-06-14T13:10:33.813-05:002021-06-14T13:10:33.813-05:00Great post! This makes me think of a novel I just ...Great post! This makes me think of a novel I just reviewed for HNR, Testimony, by Paula Martinac -- it's set in 1960 and depicts the struggle of a history teacher in a small Virginia college to push back against colleagues who don't like her to teach the truth about the Civil War and slavery -- and who also, as a lesbian, has to deal with the gossip of suspicious neighbors and colleagues inspired by a homophobic, McCarthyesque congressman. It's a thoughtful, well-written novel that creates a picture of small town life that could easily be happening in the present moment. Kris McDermotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130207535367861167noreply@blogger.com