Finished THE NICKEL BOYS

Historical novels are wonderful, first because they are a somewhat painless way to learn history.  My history classroom in school was a text with lists of names and dates to memorize.  A good, well researched historical novel can present the reader with well developed characters and then show how history effected them.  Of course, a novel doesn't have to stick strictly to history, as this author showed us in The Underground Railroad.  The Nickel School did not exist and this story is based on a reformatory located in Marianna, FL, a town which appears as you are driving through (which I have a number of times) to be a lovely quiet little rural town.  Read for the history, read for the characters, read for the horror and the twist, but, mostly, read for Colson Whitehead's storytelling..

 I will now return to  Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell for another 50 or so pages.

Finished THE BONE LABYRINTH

 

I find it very difficult to explain books by this author.  I have finally decided they are realistic science fiction.  They are only a little outside Robin Cook's books which could actually be happening while I am reading them.  James Rollins ends his books with an explanation of the scientific, archeological, and geographic features in this book are actually real, showing that no matter how outlandish the story seemed, it could actually happen...possibly.  Yikes!  I can't tell you how very much I love these Sigma Force novels of his.

I have now just barely started The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.  The Nickel School in Florida was a place to send juvenile delinquents.  It has a cemetery in it which is in the process of being excavated in hopes of identifying the bodies and giving families some degree of closure.  This novel tells the story of one of the boys sent there.

Finished A SEARING WIND

Knowing how the real story of European conquest of our country continues rather pulls the rug out of the satisfaction of this story, but nonetheless, I heartily recommend the entire series.  Great characters, great action, brilliant setting (love Florida), a cautionary tale.  Loved it.

I have now started The Bone Labyrinth, another Sigma Force novel by James Rollins.  These are adventure tales that include history, science, military, globe jumping and ACTION.  At this point in the story, we have murders, kidnappings, historical/ archeological mysteries, and genetic science.  We have action going on in three cities on three continents.  Whew...