It is hard to ignore that this year is coming to an end soon. But that just means that you get to lock in and read more books to reach your reading goal if you haven’t already. That is why we have curated a list of three historical fiction novels that you need to read before the end of the year!
There is no greater feeling than reaching your reading goal. And the last stretch is sometimes the only one that matters. You could have ignored your reading goal for most of the year and still achieve it in the last few weeks.
And the one genre that is surely to pique your interest with some of the best novels is historical fiction books. It is a genre that always surpasses my expectations and has most of my favorite novels in it. And the three novels I will be sharing are amazing and all have gotten a TV show over the past decade. You can see the full list below!
Historical Fiction Novels You Need to Read
Shōgun
I came across Shogun by James Crowell on the daily Amazon deals and my curiousity led me to add it to my reading list. With nothing on my currently reading list, I dived right into the novel and ended up devouring both book in the series within a few days.
The novel follows John Blackthorne and the crew of Erasmus as they find themselves on the shores of Japan. They are instantly imprisoned and their ship full of weapons may change the course of Japan and who rules over this island that England is eager to discover.
Blackthorne is forced to learn a new culture and language and has to play along with his new “friends” if he ever wants to return to England. What follows is an adventure novel unlike anything else. Even if you know nothing about Japan, the novel will make you feel like you also washed on the shores of Japan, taking it all in just like the crew of Erasmus.
A Gentleman in Moscow
A novel that has stayed with me for over a decade is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. This was one of the most beautifully written novels I have read and I still can’t stop raving about it. The story follows Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov as he is sentenced to house arrest for the rest.
What follows is one of the best novels written in the 21st century. The Count is one of my favorite literary characters and his wit and personality make this a must read for all fans of historical fiction novels. You would think little would happen when a character is under house arrest but you’d be very wrong.
Pachinko
For the longest time, I have avoided writing a book review for Pachinko by Min Jin Lee because I knew I wasn’t up for the task. Few novels are so good that I feel like my writing won’t do them justice. It is a double-edged sword because by not sharing the novel, I am not giving it my approval to my readers.
This was one of the most powerful novels I have ever read and one everyone should read at least once in their lives. Min Jin Lee tells a tale following two sisters and their offsprings as they face one crisis after another. But what shines throughout the novel is the power of love, sacrifice, and how one choice can reshape the future.
Conclusion
In the coming weeks, I think I will finally be bold enough to write book review for Pachinko. One of the reasons for this blog was to give books I loved the platform they deserved so other readers could discover them.
Each of the three books on this list were amazing reads and while Shōgun isn’t as great as the latter two novels, it is still a great read. There are still a bunch of weeks left and these novels are ones you will love and hopefully they help you reach your reading goal. Happy reading!