Didn't Actually Happen, Wish It Did
Written by Jules Rivera
When I was in school I remember history being one of my favorite subjects. Now, at 25, I can hardly remember a thing from any of those classes. I can, however, remember a good juicy plot from a historical fiction novel. It’s the best of both worlds: the truth, and not the truth! Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has to be true! Half of real events in these books didn’t actually go down how they’re portrayed, but I sure wish they did.
When We Lost Our Heads, Heather O’Neill
“To be alive is to be in a constant state of revolution.”
It’s the 1800’s. Marie Antoine’s father is rich. Like, ye olde rich. She can have whatever she wants. Sadie Arnett moves into the neighborhood and the two hit it off in an absolutely chaotic whirlwind. These two love to challenge each other: who can do the most heinous, insane thing? The two are headstrong and adamant on outdoing each other. Eventually, these games become impetuous, risky, and bloodthirsty. The two are forced apart until one singular event gets the band back together again. This historical fiction covers it all: crime, class wars, girlhood, dilapidated factories, sex, and what happens when someone else’s grip just can’t let you go. A fun modern twist brings a new life to these girls that makes them tangible, crude, and just so real. Give it a read.
The Water Dancer, Ta-Nehisi Coates
“But we must tell our stories, and not be ensnared by them.”
It’s the 1860’s. This story follows Hiram Walker, a young man born into slavery who is coping of the loss of his mother once she’s sold away. After some time he almost drowns. He survives, but there’s one catch: he discovers he has a special gift. He is able to recall things to almost perfect detail, stories, faces, legends, facts upon touching water. He then finds himself on a dangerous journey through plantations in Virginia to not only remember and save the family he’s left behind and lost, but reach for a new future in the North. This book covers the complexities of generational trauma and how its roots grow deeper than we realize. What life would be like if you could remember and feel all of the memories before you. I don’t have anything funny or quirky to say about this one: it’s a must read.
The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O’Farrell
“Lucrezia’s fingers tremble a little, not from reluctance, perhaps, but a kind of raw thrill.”
Beginning in Florence, in the 1550’s, we follow Lucrezia de Medici’s life as the third child of the grand duke. Born a “difficult child”, she becomes almost the badly behaved black sheep of her family. She’s a rebellious artist at heart, but when her older sister passes away suddenly, she’s now destined for a life of tight structure and marriage. At age 15, she weds Alfonso II d’Esta, colliding their two courts. You read that right—15! Her new husband seemed to be playful, yet sophisticated, happy, and dare I say goofy for his status upon first sight- but will that remain true with time? Lucrezia must now produce an heir for this new dynasty, it is seemingly the only real choice she has to prove her determination and worth. Woof! Written by the same author who wrote Hamnet, this is a gorgeous story full of love, power, desire, and artistry. A young woman’s desire to express herself in a time and space that doesn’t allow her to. A best-selling beauty!
Take My Hand, Dolen Perkins-Valdez
“The past doesn’t work that way. You can’t make it disappear. You can’t pretend certain things didn’t happen.”
It’s 1973 in Montgomery, Alabama and Civil Townsend just graduated from nursing school. She’s determined to make a difference in her local community, especially for its black residents- specifically black women. Unexpectedly, her first patients are two young sisters,ages 11 and 13. Their family is poor, just on the edges of making it financially, and Civil takes it upon herself to look after them as best she can. An unfortunate thing happens to these two girls, and suddenly we’re brought forward decades later following Civil with her own child who has since grown up. Civil became a doctor and is ready to retire, however, there are two small voices beckoning her to make peace with what happened- and she just can’t ignore them, it’s not in her nature. A gorgeous story about struggling through times in the south being young, gifted, and black, this is an amazing story about love, strength, empathy, and family. Check it out.
Briefly a Delicious Life, Nell Stevens
“...I realized that it was not a man after all. It was a woman dressed as a man. Which was the second great surprise of my morning.”
In 1743 Blanca died. By accident. She was fourteen and living in a monastery in Mallorca. Fast forward almost four hundred years later and George Sand, her kids, and her lover Frederic move into the village, and Blanca’s still haunting! She’s haunting, humorous, and oh so mischievous. Once she sees George she is head over heels for her. Ghostly yearning, everyone!! If George can’t see her, how in the world could they ever talk, let alone smooch? All Blanca can do is either watch the woman of her (ghostly) dreams have a torrid affair with a monk-in-training or just ruminate over her death. This book is a hilarious coming-of-death tale. There’s nothin’ better.
Shoutout to Madz for all of their help with recs!
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