011: Hist Fic AND Books That Hurt Yer Guts

Historical Fiction is a well-loved genre, but it's also very wide ranging in its topics, style, and time periods. Kate and Polli give you a rundown on the genre, including some great recommendations depending on your taste. We also talk about crying. 

Bookish News:

The long lists for the 2017 National Book Award are coming out this week!

The Man Booker Prize short list has also been revealed:

Two Book Minimum:

Hunger: A Memoir of (my) Body by Roxane Gay (2017)
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (2017)
Dying by Cory Taylor (2017)
The Dinner by Herman Koch (2009 / trans. 2013)

Instead of She Said/She Said, this episode addresses the wide world of HISTORICAL FICTION:

Definitions of Historical Fiction vary, sometimes being described as “a story that is set at least a generation (25 years) prior to when it was written” (League of Extraordinary Librarians). We have also seen it defined that the novel must be set before the author was born, and others claim that anything older than 50 years counts!

Here are some examples of Historical Fiction types and some novels that fall within these categories:

African American Historical Fiction – Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi & Grace by Natashia Deon
Biblical Fiction – The Red Tent by Anita Diamant & Cain by Jose Saramago
Classic Historical Fiction – Roots by Alex Haley & The Other Boleyn Girl by Gregory
Dear Diary - Bright Edge of the World by Eowen Ivey & Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
Discovery and Exploration in Fiction – Euphoria by Lily King
Family Sagas – Before we visit the goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni & We Are not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas
Historical Women – Jam on the Vine by LaShonda K Barnett, Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

…LOTS more can be found by using your library card to log in at NoveList!

Upcoming Events:

• Ian from the Info Services team at LPL has started Doc Discussions, a documentary watching club! The inaugural event is Saturday, Sept 16th (events will take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month) — Details here!
• Banned Book Trading Cards are coming! Our guest presenter will be… Zora Neale Hurston! Performed by Dr. Carmaletta Williams, a retired professor of English & African American Studies, AND an Emmy-winning performer. Dr. Williams has been working on the upcoming Langston Hughes documentary, I, Too, Sing America.The Banned Book Trading Cards reveal is at 5pm on Friday, Sept. 22nd in the LPL Auditorium

TWICE a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond. This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio.
You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, opens a new window, Stitcher, opens a new window, or SoundCloud, opens a new window. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate