Snekcoatl: Historical Fiction Reviews

Freya's bookshelf: read

The Lesser Blessed

by Richard Van Camp

Just devastating to read omg and normally I don’t really like books about teenagers and they don’t affect me like this one did but I loved the form and the way the writer captured Larry’s thoughts.

A Grief Observed

by C.S. Lewis

This helps with dealing with loss and grief even if you’re not Christian. C.S. Lewis describes things that we have all felt and reminds us we’re not unique or special in our suffering.

Extinction: A Very Short Introduction

by Paul B. Wignall

I’ve been trying to learn more about nature and creatures and stuff, so this was a nice introduction. The author considers both climate change and human activity explanations for mass extinctions. The chapter on ice age megafauna was the...

The Sea in You

by Jessi Sheron

THIS WAS SOOO GOOD omg it was so accurate at portraying an abusive relationship (between Corinth and Seth). When Corinth was like “You don’t even like me. You just like having me around! Boyfriends aren’t supposed to make you cry and hat...

Kalevala: The Graphic Novel

by Sami Makkonen

The art style and colour palette chosen for this was cool. Unfortunately, the story was very hard to follow along with. At first I thought this was because I am unfamiliar with the original Kalevala, but then I realized it must be cause ...

The Monster Baru Cormorant

by Seth Dickinson

I’M SCREAMING the cliffhanger aaaaaa also Abdumasi Abd is my favourite boy!!!!! I hope there will be more of him in the third book!!!!!!! So many great characters. The first book was tragic and beautiful but this sequel was funnier, more...

The Puritan Family: Religion and Domestic Relations in Seventeenth-Century New England

The Puritan Family: Religion and Domestic Relations in Seventeenth-Century New England

by Edmund S. Morgan

Fascinating monograph on how family life played a major role in economic, ecclesiastical and political matters in New England. I thought the introduction on how the Puritans viewed the order of creation was great context for the rest of ...

The Love Poems of John Donne

by John Donne

Some of these were beautiful, although I prefer Philip Sydney’s sonnets (and of course Shakespeare’s sonnets lol). I adored “The Sun Rising” and “A Valediction of Weeping.” Also I think “The Flea” is the most down bad poem in the history...

Our Ojibwe Grammar, Volume 1: A Reference Grammar In The Chippewa Language

Our Ojibwe Grammar, Volume 1: A Reference Grammar In The Chippewa Language

by Rick Gresczyk

Gichi-minwaabadad o’o mazina’igan. Gidaa-agindaan giishpin nanda-gikendaman ji-anishinaabemoyan. Aapiji ingii-minwendaan.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant

by Seth Dickinson

Just finished this and bruh this was the wildest thing I’ve ever read!!! The ending has devastated me!!! I was hooked from beginning to end. I love the world building. The cultures and countries bear no obvious resemblance to the real wo...

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This book deserves to be one of the most influential of our time. It envisions a world where humans can have a positive relationship with the environment. This can be possible if we learn from Anishinaabe teachings, such as about how to ...

Survival Ojibwe : Learning Conversational Ojibwe in Thirty Lessons

Survival Ojibwe : Learning Conversational Ojibwe in Thirty Lessons

by Patricia M. Ningewance

Ninanda-gikendaan ji-anishinaabemoyaan. Geget sa zanagad!!! Niminwendaanan iniw dibaajimowinensan o’ow mazina’iganing.

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare

the two-part structure of the tragedy was interesting. Also, I found myself sometimes siding with Caesar and other times with Brutus, though Brutus is a more likeable character because of his way with words and how much he appears throug...

The Lover, the Lake

by Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau

This reads more like poetry than like a novel. The language is beautiful. I don’t think this is really something I would read for the “plot” but the writing style is amazing and I love the descriptions of the lake.

The Day of the Triffids

by John Wyndham

Lmao this book was bonkers. Very entertaining. I love the backstory behind the triffids and why most of humanity went blind and how Bill’s sight wasn’t affected. Very cool stuff. I was more interested in reading about the catastrophe and...

Emma, Vol. 10

by Kaoru Mori

Emma and William finally get married!!! This makes for a satisfying conclusion to this series. Also, queen Victoria dies and technology is changing. The automobile and airplane are becoming more common in England. Some of the side storie...

The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

This had a gripping plot and I especially loved the riddles in the scenes where the Portia's suitors fail before Bassiano comes along (the "all that glitters is not gold" quote is iconic.) Shylock is the embodiment of evil, yet at the sa...

Emma Vol. 9

by Kaoru Mori

I loved the one about Dorothea and Wilhelm because they’re both beautifully drawn characters lmao. I also loved the story about the three singers. I was excited that there was a story about how hakim and William became friends but I didn...

Imaginary Maps

by Mahasweta Devi

This book has had a lot of impact on my thinking as I became interested in global issues related to Indigeneity, however I am aware that in some ways it is a problematic book. The first story was really fun as it presents the strong, ind...

De ratione studii

by Erasmus

This just lays out a path of study. I wasn't expecting Erasmus to drop so many random bangers here. However, I was reading this to try to understand his philosophy of language and honestly it appears that he either does not have one or t...

Emma Vol. 8

by Kaoru Mori

I loved these Emmaverse side stories. The one about the couple who goes to the fair was so adorable omg. I’m also so happy for Eleanor in this and i hope she ends up with the Cambridge boy.

Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux

Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux

by John G. Neihardt

I loved the story about White Buffalo Calf Woman and how she gives the sacred pipe to the Lakota. However, I found myself wondering how much of this book was Black Elk’s voice and how much was the anthropologist (going over the interview...

Emma Vol. 7

by Kaoru Mori

Kaoru Mori at her best!!! Emma goes to America in this!!!!

A True Relation of Such Occurences and Accidents of Noate As Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Collony, Which Is Now Resident ... Thereof, Till the Last Returne From Thence

A True Relation of Such Occurences and Accidents of Noate As Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Collony, Which Is Now Resident ... Thereof, Till the Last Returne From Thence

by John Smith

This is considered the most honest of John Smith's writings because it was intended to be read by an anonymous friend and was not meant for publication. It was also written very soon after Smith returned from Virginia. Also, it doesn't h...

Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look in All Directions

Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look in All Directions

by Thomas D. Peacock

This was interesting and it talks about a lot of social issues that affect the Ojibwe and other Native American tribes. The author doesn’t separate himself from his research and inserts a lot of personal stories, but I think this was a g...

Governing the Tongue: The Politics of Speech in Early New England

Governing the Tongue: The Politics of Speech in Early New England

by Jane Kamensky

Very well-written analysis of the weight that Puritan society placed on the spoken word. I liked the chapter on women's speech. There was also an analysis of speech acts where sons defy their fathers and of the Salem witch trials. All th...

A direction for the government of the tongue according to Gods Word

A direction for the government of the tongue according to Gods Word

by William Perkins

So this was literally about how much Perkins hates yapping. He says not to utter blasphemies or take God's name in vain. He emphasizes the importance of listening over speaking. He condemns the circulation of rumours and gossip. However,...

Emma, Vol. 06

by Kaoru Mori

Ok the plot of this series is getting crazy. The suspense really built up in this volume. And I am starting to hate William loll.

Emma Vol. 5

by Kaoru Mori

this volume felt unsatisfying for some reason but maybe it's like that on purpose because William is a coward, and I am getting frustrated as a reader lol. I really liked volume 4 though, which is why I continued on to volume 5. I do wan...

The Language Warrior's Manifesto

by Anton Treuer

Nimindwendaan iw mazina'igan. That was so beautifully written. I really admire how Anton Treuer supports full immersion and wants Ojibwe language programs to have the highest standards of excellence. I really like the part that was descr...

Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown

Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown

by Helen C. Rountree

Some of the methodological choices the author made were fascinating, like referring to the English as “Tassantassa” the way the Powhatan would have, and to John Smith as Chawnzmit. Also, the consideration of the Powhatan names for the se...

WORK FOR CHIMNEY- SWEEPERS or a Warning for Tobacconists.

WORK FOR CHIMNEY- SWEEPERS or a Warning for Tobacconists.

by ATKINS. S. H. (Introduction).

pretty boring anti-tobacco tract (James I's "A Counterblaste to Tobacco" was better, as was Richard Brathwait's "Smoaking Age"). It argues mostly within the framework of humoral theory though. So if that interests you, then you may like ...

The Smoaking Age: Or, the Life and Death of Tobacco. ... In Three Parts. ... To Which is Added, Chaucer's Incensed Ghost

The Smoaking Age: Or, the Life and Death of Tobacco. ... In Three Parts. ... To Which is Added, Chaucer's Incensed Ghost

by Richard Brathwaite

I was expecting this to be another boring antitobacconist pamphlet but it was actually a cool form. Although Brathwaite is aware that tobacco comes from the New World, he gives it a classical origin story. Tobacco is the bastard child of...

The Sonnets (Pelican Shakespeare Series) by William Shakespeare, Stephen Orgel (Editor), John Hollander

The Sonnets (Pelican Shakespeare Series) by William Shakespeare, Stephen Orgel (Editor), John Hollander

by Stephen Orgel (Editor) by William Shakespeare

I’m going to cry now. These were devastatingly beautiful. The horse and rider sonnets (50 and 51), the ones about love as slavery (57 and 58), the ones asking the beloved not to mourn the lover’s death (71 and 72) and so many others almo...

Albumazar: A Comedy (1615)

by Thomas Tomkis

Lmao funniest thing I've ever read. Super underrated play. This was written by Tomkis after he wrote "Lingua." The language is much better here than it was in that play, and so are the plot and characters although I still loved "Lingua" ...

Princess Ugg Vol. 1

by Ted Naifeh

Extremely cute graphic novel. I love the concept. I love the multicultural princesses lol.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

by Jules Verne

I thought the opening of this novel with the Arne Saknusemm manuscript was great. I love Axel’s voice as the narrator and I thought Professor Lidenbrock was a great character. I loved the way geology facts were woven into the story and a...

Astrophil and Stella

by Philip Sidney

There were some beautiful sonnets and songs in here. You will find a lot of conventional Petrarchan love tropes in here. Some are extremely desperate and pathetic (sonnet 59 seems unforgettable because astrophil says he is jealous of Ste...

Emma, Vol. 4

by Kaoru Mori

The plot got better in this volume. I feel very bad for Eleanor and wonder what will happen to her. I hope Monica makes a reappearance.

Emma, Vol. 3

by Kaoru Mori

I didn’t think I would continue this manga series, but the story is improving. I love the new maid characters who are introduced. Hakim is more likeable in the volume and I hope he plays more of a role in helping Emma and William get tog...

Ojibway Ceremonies

by Basil Johnston

Beautiful stories. I particularly liked the chapter on marriage stories. I like how this book followed an Ojibway boy throughout various stages in his life. The ending was quite sad though. I really liked Basil Johnston’s writing style a...

Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall, etc. - For the Colony in Virginea [Virginia] Britannia - Jamestown Documents

Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall, etc. - For the Colony in Virginea [Virginia] Britannia - Jamestown Documents

by William Strachey

Very interesting to read as a primary source about the Virginia Colony. The colonists are not allowed to speak to the Natives without permission. The punishment is death. For speaking ill of the company officers, the punishment is a bodk...

A Consolation for Our Grammar Schools

by John Brinsley

Brinsley believes education is the point of human existence and quotes from banger lines from Proverbs about Wisdom anthropomorphized as a woman. His opinion that a bad education system is more the failure of incompetent teachers than of...

History of the DC Universe, Book Two

by Marv Wolfman

I can't say this made me excited about the DC universe, although I found some characters interesting and I like how it asks the question of what it means to be a hero. I think someone who has been a longtime fan would enjoy this book mor...

History of the DC Universe, Book One

by Marv Wolfman

I didn’t know anything about this universe. I think it’s a cool concept to have the history of this universe interlaced with the real world. But the concept wasn’t very well executed. Nevertheless, there are still some characters here th...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson

That was crazy lmao I loved the narration and found this very suspenseful. But the ideas it presents on good and evil just seemed very simplistic to me.

Talking Gookom's Language Workbook

by Patricia M. Ningewance

Indani-gikendaan ji-anishinaabemoyaan. Ningii-minwendaan o’ow mazina’igan. Zhigwa ningikendaanan niibawa shki-ikidowinan anishinaabemong.

Key into the Language of America

by Roger Williams

This is very interesting to read as a primary source. Although Williams is generally considered to be progressive for his time and a supporter of Native American rights, reading this makes it seem like he was not really that different fr...

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

I liked the passages about the respect that the old man has for the sea and for the fish the most, and the way he talks to the fish in a very respectful way.

New World

by David Jesus Vignolli

Unfortunately I did not like the art style. However, when the Native woman saves an enslaved African man I found that very moving.

A Counterblaste to Tobacco

by James VI and I

I'm giving this a high rating only because this was unintentionally hilarious and I imagined King James seething like a wojack meme while seeing someone smoking the entire time. He criticizes all indulgence in foreign goods, not just in ...

Sacred Seeds: New World Plants in Early Modern English Literature

Sacred Seeds: New World Plants in Early Modern English Literature

by Edward McLean Test

Very interesting monograph that analyzes some beautiful passages from renaissance court masques, the faerie queene and other texts with a prelapsarian image of the americas. I liked how the author suggests that the classical education of...

Emma, Vol. 2 (Volume 2)

by Kaoru Mori

This left on such a cliff hanger but I am not sure if I will continue reading this series because it just doesn’t seem as good as A Brides Story, which is also by Kaoru Mori. Also the character of Hakim is so flat, and it seems like he’s...

Shuna's Journey

by Hayao Miyazaki

A beautiful story. I really wish it could have been a studio ghibli film. There are some similarities with princess mononoke but it’s also a very original story based on a Tibetan folk tale.

Princess Mononoke Film Comic, Vol. 3 (3)

Princess Mononoke Film Comic, Vol. 3 (3)

by Hayao Miyazaki

Literally one of the best animated movies ever made so of course the graphic novels are good too

A Bride's Story, Vol. 14

by Kaoru Mori

Three new brides introduced!!!! And Azel’s wife is the hottest one omg.

The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir Hardcover February 8, 2015

The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir Hardcover February 8, 2015

by Joseph Auguste (Augie) Merasty

Augie's narrative voice is very honest and real. He holds the evil priests and nuns accountable for what they did. I like that the narrative concluded with revenge on Lepeigne. Augie also says that he believes that residential schools we...

Ojibway Heritage

by Basil Johnston

This was so beautiful and I love Johnston’s writing style. The stories about animals and plants were my favourite, especially the one about the rose. The one about the wolverine has a great message too. It was also fascinating to learn a...

Gidinwewin: Your Language, Level One

by Roger Roulette

Ninanda-gikendaan Anishinaabemowin. Nindishkwaa-agindaan o'ow mazina'igan. Ningi-minwendaan.

The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings

The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings

by James Vukelich

I thought this was beautiful and I really enjoyed it even though I normally do not like the "self-help" genre of books lol but this one was different. I appreciated that Vukelich mentioned some of his personal experiences like dealing wi...

Moon of the Turning Leaves

by Waubgeshig Rice

Very well-written and suspenseful plot. You can argue about if Nangohns, Evan or Waawaaskone is the true protagonist here but it really tells the story of a community. Zhaabdiis was a cool character. Also it was awesome to see Anishinaab...

The Break of Dawn

by Khan Mahboob Tarzi

Although I loved Alice and Riyaz as fictional characters and I am very interested in the historical context of the 1857 sepoy mutiny, the writing style of this novel was unfortunately not very enjoyable to read. I wanted to know more of ...

The Forest of Enchantments

by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Beautifully written and impossible to put down! The novel presents complex depictions of all the female characters of the Ramayan. This includes Surpanakha, who is someone we can sympathize with at times instead of only hating her. The l...

The Humble Administrator's Garden

by Vikram Seth

I enjoyed this a lot as it covers the different cultures that Seth has experienced: Indian, Chinese and American. A handful of the poems seemed out place though. I liked the one about Babur a lot. I like how Seth’s nature poems are writt...

Mappings

by Vikram Seth

Seth’s use of metre and rhyme really adds to the humorous effect of some of these poems. This is some of his earlier work so it’s not as good as his other stuff though. I also would have enjoyed the experience of reading this more if the...

Later Poems of Rabindranath Tagore

by Aurobindo Bose

Beautiful poems! The translator was a student of Tagore’s and seems really talented too. Tagore’s poems reflect on the divine source of creative inspiration.

All You Who Sleep Tonight: Poems

by Vikram Seth

The poems in here were amazing. I especially loved the romantic ones and the ones where he imagines speaking through different voices or being in different places. The one about Ghalib two years after the mutiny was my favourite. I reall...

Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

This was so cool, especially the scenes with the witches and Hecate. I also thought Lady Macbeth was a fascinating character, and it is interesting to see her gradually become socially isolated and haunted by guilt until she takes her ow...

The Life And Times Of The Nawabs Of Lucknow

The Life And Times Of The Nawabs Of Lucknow

by Ravi Bhatt

Not very well-written as a work of history but it’s entertaining to read as a tourist visiting Lucknow. It’s basically like a series of short newspaper columns about some of the outrageous things the nawabs (who had too much free time) d...

The Glorious Kingdom of Christ, Described and Clearly Vindicated

The Glorious Kingdom of Christ, Described and Clearly Vindicated

by Richard Baxter

This wasn't easy to understand, but there were passages I found memorable such as when Baxter says that he does not believe the ten lost tribes of Israel are still out there in the world. He thinks explorers would have found them for sur...

An Unreliable Man

by Jostein Gaarder

I liked this a lot, though at times I thought it was a little bit cheesy. I liked that the theme of loneliness reoccurred in the book. The story of Runar's death in the cellar was haunting and probably my favourite part in the whole book...

The Neverending Story

by Michael Ende

This was so fun to read. It’s written in sort of an episodic style, so there are many fascinating characters and settings that Atreyu and Balthazar encounter. My favourite “episodes” were the ones about the hopelessness and despair of th...

The Duke of Death and His Maid Vol. 1

by Koharu Inoue

I didn't realize this was going to be a bit explicit. Also the plot was not intriguing enough but I realized people don't read this for the plot.

An Account of the Chippewa Indians, Who Have Been Travelling Among the Whites, in the United States, England, France and Belgium. Written By, the Self-Taught Indian, Etc.

An Account of the Chippewa Indians, Who Have Been Travelling Among the Whites, in the United States, England, France and Belgium. Written By, the Self-Taught Indian, Etc.

by Henry George. Maungwudaus

Very interesting as there are not many primary historical sources written in English by Indigenous peoples. However, Maungwudaus does not really give much details about the performances his troupe does in Europe (He mentions they involve...

On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe

On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe

by Caroline Dodds Pennock

This was a really fascinating book about Indigenous people who travelled to Europe and the presence of Indigenous trade goods in Europe. It seems like both of these things happened at a larger scale than most would believe. This must hav...

Santa Muerte: The History and Rituals of the Mexican Folk Saint

Santa Muerte: The History and Rituals of the Mexican Folk Saint

by Renata Lopez

This is brief and written in a very casual style, however I think that's actually the best style for introducing this topic. You don't need a very scholarly book to learn about the Santa Muerte cult if your intention is to worship her, b...

Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty

Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty

by John M. Barry

Extremely well-written work on Roger Williams's views on the separation of church and state. Williams believed that the church should not be corrupted by politics and worldly affairs. He despised Quakerism, atheism, and paganism as much ...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare

I know that a lot of people like this for the humour but I mostly liked it for the beautiful pastoral setting with the fairies and the beauty of the language. I loved the descriptions of how the quarrel between Oberon and Titania was aff...

Skraelings

by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley

This was so fun to read, especially with a bit of cultural context on Tuniit stories among the Inuit (Keavy Martin writes about this). The Tuniit were regarded by the Inuit as being less intelligent than them with far less effective hunt...

The Daughters of Madurai

by Rajasree Variyar

Good novel but I found it really unrealistic. Unfortunately the idea of a loving, supportive mother-in-law (Sanjay's mom who accepted Janani right away) a benevolent husband (Sanjay), an intercaste marriage actually working out and a dau...

Emma, Vol. 1

by Kaoru Mori

Although this had nice art, it just wasn’t as good as Mori’s other manga series called “a brides story.”

A Bride's Story, Vol. 13

by Kaoru Mori

Amazing!!!! Also I ship Talas and Mr. Smith so hard.

A Bride's Story, Vol. 12

by Kaoru Mori

Anis and Sherine are gay af lmao

Utopia

by Thomas More

I read this because I was interested in figuring out what More considered to be the proper use of land. The first book is more about problems in England and the rest of Europe, while the second book explains the Utopian society. Raphael ...

Karukku

by Bama

I enjoyed this, though not as much as Bama’s other novel “Sangati.” I still think it is an important contribution to Dalit literature because it details the author’s motivations for wanting to become a nun and teacher and it exposes the ...

Asgardians: Odin

by George O'Connor

I love graphic novels and I love Norse mythology so of course I liked this. The art is beautiful and I like that the story focused on Odin’s sacrifices for wisdom. I also liked that it was all being told to a warrior who died and went to...

A Sioux Story of the War: Chief Big Eagle's Story of the Sioux Outbreak of 1862

A Sioux Story of the War: Chief Big Eagle's Story of the Sioux Outbreak of 1862

by Wamditanka

It's cool that this is a primary source about the Dakota uprising from a Dakota perspective. It's rare that you get to read primary historical sources written by Native people. Of course, this was still recorded and published by white pe...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

This is the most enjoyable book I've read in this kind of genre (fictional diaries of teenagers). The bonds between Junior and his friends are described so well, and there were also a lot of hilarious moments and sad ones.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

by Washington Irving

I like how the author mocks Ichabod Crane with his tone. It reminded me a lot of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short stories (like the evil Puritan in The Maypole of Merry-Mount), although Irving doesn't make Crane seem evil exactly, just like a...

Marrying for a Future: Transnational Sri Lankan Tamil Marriages in the Shadow of War

Marrying for a Future: Transnational Sri Lankan Tamil Marriages in the Shadow of War

by Sidharthan Maunaguru

Interesting study about transnational marriages between Sri Lankan Tamils and Canadian Tamils. The writing was clear, and the book showed how marriage emerged as a critical means of building alliances between diaspora segments of Tamil c...

Venus in Two Acts

by Saidiya Hartman

This essay raises some interesting questions about the methodology in history and makes us see narrative the time of slavery as our present, not something that we can detach ourselves from. When describing the cruelty of Thomas Thistlewo...

Radio for the Millions: Hindi-Urdu Broadcasting Across Borders

Radio for the Millions: Hindi-Urdu Broadcasting Across Borders

by Isabel Huacuja Alonso

This was a delight to read and I was impressed by the author's analysis of the ideology behind the Hindustani language in particular, and the influence of Urdu poetic traditions on letters written to the AIR Urdu Service. It was also pro...

Lingua

by Thomas Tomkis

Edit: My second time reading this and I still think it goes hard. I would really like it if people who knew more about the philosophy of the time period would analyze this. I want to know what they think of corresponding the five senses ...

Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England

Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England

by William Cronon

Fascinating work that really made me more interested in the field of environmental history. Cronon does not want us to view Native Americans as passive victims of colonially-inflicted ecological changes. He describes their precolonial in...

Annie Muktuk and Other Stories

by Norma Dunning

I wanted to like this but I guess I am just not a huge fan of stories like this. Something about the dealing with traumatic subject matter, the writing style... Idk. However there were some stories in here that I did like, such as the on...

Tiger Lily and the Secret Treasure of Neverland

Tiger Lily and the Secret Treasure of Neverland

by Cherie Dimaline

Pretty good for a middle grade book but there weren't really any interesting themes and I agree with the reviews that say the plot moved too slowly. However, there were some passages where I enjoyed the prose. And I did like how Tiger Li...

The Roman Actor: A Tragedy (Revels Plays)

The Roman Actor: A Tragedy (Revels Plays)

by Philip Massinger

A fascinating play, especially if you have some context about the rhetoric spread by puritan anti-theatriclists who wanted to ban theatre, as well as the people who defended the theatre. Domitia is probably one of the most abhorrent fema...

Sanaaq[An Inuit Novel] [SANAAQ] [Paperback]

Sanaaq[An Inuit Novel] [SANAAQ] [Paperback]

by MitiarjukNappaaluk

I found the concept very interesting as it was sort of a slice-of-life. The daily lives of a whole extended family of Inuit are covered. Even with the religious changes being brought by Qallunaat missionaries, the old spirits remain real...

An apology for actors. In three books 1841 [Leather Bound]

An apology for actors. In three books 1841 [Leather Bound]

by Thomas Heywood

I was not expecting to like this as it was a required reading for class, but it was actually kind of a banger if you look at it in the context of answering back to Puritans who hated the theatre. Haywood makes arguments to defend the the...

Across Arctic America: Narrative of the Fifth Thule Expedition

Across Arctic America: Narrative of the Fifth Thule Expedition

by Knud Rasmussen

I read a lot of explorer's accounts, so I was interested in how this one might be different. It's interesting that Rasmussen does seem to respect the intellectual traditions of the Inuit much more than I've seen in other writings of this...

book reviewsbook club

Search this Blog

Historical Fiction Reviews