I am admittedly a garbage reader. That does not mean I choose to read trashy novels, because I really do not like poorly written drivel. It means I will read anything and everything put in front of me, regardless of genre, plot, or characters. I love the written word and am so envious of those wordsmiths who can tell a tale and make me long for the day that I will have forgotten enough of the plot to read it again. THOSE are the books on this list. The ones you weep when they are finished; the books you think about long after the final page has turned. So in order to make this list, I have to have some history with you. I have to read you once, put you on a shelf for a bit (sometimes a LONG bit) and picked you up again, just to fall as deeply in love as the first time. That does not mean that they are love stories, although some are, it just means I love the final product these authors produced. Typically I love them because the character development is phenomenal, even if it means that I hate the main character with a passion. The stories are told in such a way to draw you in, so once I am thoroughly invested, I love nothing better than a L O N G haul with these books. Keep the quality of the story up and I will follow you to the bitter end, even if it is 8 books later (hello Diana Gabaldon). I think that is why so many of these are multi-book series. But I also love a book that teaches me about a time in history without me being aware that I am learning history. Many of these books have been made into movies or miniseries and I would beg you to indulge yourself in a book and let your imagination go where it will. The people who are cast in these roles never amount to anything in comparison to who you imagined the characters would be! And one of the very best things about this list is because the titles are not new or considered noteworthy any more, you can pick them up used and you receive a true diamond for the price of a cubic zirconia!
#10 Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. This book is so extraordinary in that it is a part of our history of which very few stories have been told. Rachel is growing up in Honolulu in the 1890s in a big, loving family. She dreams of traveling and seeing the world but all those dreams are cut short when she contracts leprosy at age seven. Rachel is sent to an isolated leper colony on Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka’i. In exile, she finds friends to replace the family that she has lost and eventually meets the man she will marry. This book is true to the historical details but instead of being a trudge through the details of disease and death, it is really an uplifting tale of joy, courage, dignity and hope. You need to read this!
#9 Cry to Heaven by Anne Rice. This novel was originally published in 1982 to the acclaimed author of The Vampire Chronicles. It is an intense dive, sometimes graphic, into the exquisite society of the 18th century castrati. These alluring male sopranos with glorious voices and delicate bodies received the adulation of Europe. But even as they lived as idols and were adored from afar, they were shunned as half men. The story follows two men and the tale is wonderfully packed with love, lust, family rivalry & dysfunction, and revenge. Allow yourself to surrender to the enchantment of the 18th century castrati!
#8 Shogun by James Clavell. This book is a must read as is evidenced by the fact that by 1990, more than 15 million copies had been sold worldwide and went on to become one of the most read books of all time. His inspiration for this sweeping novel about Japan was reading a sentence in his daughter’s textbook that stated, “in 1600, an Englishman went to Japan and became a samurai”. It is a virtual encyclopedia of Japanese history and culture. But in all that, you can miss that it is an amazing, sweeping saga that will suck you in and make you feel like you are living in feudal Japan with all its brutality, xenophobia, and beauty. In a humorous antidote that Clavell told after the smashing success of the book, a ruler of a Middle Eastern petrostate offered him a full tanker of oil for a novel that would do for his country what Shogun did for Japan. If you haven’t read it, treat yourself. If you have, maybe now is the time to pick it up again!
#7 Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. This book is the first of a epic series about prehistoric times. It is set at the dawn of modern humans in a harsh and beautiful Ice Age world. Five year old Ayla’s family and home is lost to a devastating earthquake. She is homeless and barely surviving in the harsh environment until she is found by Iza, a member of the Clan of the Cave Bear. Although most of the clan is suspicious of Ayla because she looks different than they do, most accept and learn to love her with one notable exception. The future ruler of the clan has a deep and abiding hatred for her. Not only is it a grand story, you can also get a glimpse into Auel’s version of what life during the Ice Age was like. Thoroughly entertaining and will keep the pages turning!
#6 The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George. George is known for her meticulous research and the large scale of her books and this book is no exception. This novel is a product of 15 years of research and 5 hand-written drafts. She writes in the first person as Henry VIII’s private journals. It is a brilliant combination of storytelling and imagination about an egotistical man who dismantled the church, married six women & beheaded two of them; executed his friend Thomas More; sacked the monasteries; who longed for a son but neglected his daughters; and who finally grew fat and disease-ridden. She has an urgent rhythm to her writing that combines rousing drama, robust atmospheres and solid characterizations. Even if you have read books about Henry VIII before, you should treat yourself to this one!
#5 Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. You know that a writer is talented when he chooses to write about the humdrum topic of the building of a cathedral and turns it into a 4 book blockbuster best seller. But that is exactly what Welsh author, Ken Follett did. The first book is EPIC in scope as it literally recreates the entire life of the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England and all the people who live there. The saga follows most of the main characters from cradle to grave. It sounds boring and I am not quite sure how it isn’t awful but I assure you, it is fantastic. Follett is a master storyteller who draws the reader into the character’s dreams, their work, and their lives. It is a beautifully told story of betrayal, revenge and hope. I have read the first 3 and just pre-ordered the fourth. A must read!
#4 Diane De Poitiers: The Story of the Mistress of Henri II by Barbara Cartland. Because I loved this book I expected to see other work from Cartland & was excited to try them. But I believe this book was her only foray into historic fiction (although she seems prolific in the romance genre) which is a shame. Based on this book, she may have missed her calling! This is the story of a sharply intellectual, politically astute woman who helped to rule France through Henri II during his life. She was WAY ahead of her time and believed in exercise, regular bathing, and brushing her teeth hundreds of years before most people. And although you may scoff at the home wrecker part (she was a mistress after all), don’t. When Catherine De Medici faced a possible royal repudiation because the couple was childless, Diane made sure that he visited her bed frequently. Catherine & Henri eventually had 10 children together. Diane also nursed Catherine back to health after she got scarlet fever. But that is not to say that there wasn’t plenty of royal jealousy to go around the block a few times! Particularly when the King gifted Diane the Chateau de Chenonceau, a royal palace that Catherine wanted for herself, the claws come out. This book is a true life tale of love, devotion, and respect…and a rollickingly good read!
#3 The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Okay, so it is really hard to not rate this series as #1 or #2. I simply LOVE this series! An American author, Diana Gabaldon manages to merge multiple genres in one series. She almost effortlessly spans the elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery and science fiction to create one incredibly delicious story spanning 8, 9,10 books…? It begins in 1945 when Claire Randall, a former combat nurse is celebrating a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank when she walks through a standing stone circle in the British Isles. Suddenly she is an outlander in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in 1743. Claire is thrust into the intrigues of Scotish lairds and spies. But then, James Frazier, a brave Scots warrior loves her so absolutely that she must chose between desire and fidelity with two vastly different men in two irreconcilable decades and lives. That is where it starts, but it is FAR from where it ends. Do not trust the producers of television to do this series better than your imagination because they cannot.
#2 The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. This book came out to rave reviews in 1977. It is set in outback Australia at Droghedaa, a fictional sheep station from 1915-1969. Honestly, this book has it all, drama, taboo themes, forbidden love, angst, and secrets. The relationship between Father Ralph de Bricassart & Meggie Cleary will have you questioning all of societal norms. It includes 3 generations of the Cleary family in a sprawling saga. It is a very addictive story and a super engrossing read!
#1 Trinity by Leon Uris. This is a sweeping and powerful novel that captures the “terrible beauty” of Ireland in its struggle for independence. Uris did herculean research back to the potato famine and the story flows through to the Easter Monday Uprising in 1916. A small warning: the first 100 pages can be a little tough because much of the dialog is written as they would have talked at the time. Don’t worry though, by the end of the book you will wish you could talk in a Irish brogue. The main character of this electrifying story is the idealistic Conor Larkin, a young Catholic rebel. He falls for a valiant, beautiful Protestant girl who defies her heritage to join Conor’s cause. It is a tale of love and danger and of triumph at monumental costs. It is a fantastic portrait of a land divided by class, faith and prejudice. Trinity shows the devastation of Ireland and the unquenchable flames that burn in the human heart. Read it and prepare to make room on your favorites shelf!