Looking for historical fiction books set in Winston-Salem, NC

[RamblingRose]

I like to read historical fiction books for places we will be traveling to learn about the history of the area and the people.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. phone an independent bookstore there

and ask for recommendations. Then order a few from them.

[hippywife]

3. That's a really excellent suggestion. nt

[RamblingRose]

4. Great Idea! n/t

[hippywife]

2. I hope someone has something for you.

I read historical fiction almost exclusively and can't recall any specific to that location. Not that there couldn't be any.

[LoisB]

5. I love historical fiction, especially Irving Stone.

nt

[hippywife]

6. I really enjoyed The Agony and The Ecstasy

and will probably read others, but after reading Those Who Love many years ago, I find his take on American history somewhat dubious, so I tend to take him with a grain of salt.

[LoisB]

7. My favorite is Clarence Darrow for the Defense but they are all great.

nt

[hippywife]

8. James Michener has always been

my number one favorite historical fiction author. I've read all of his in that genre, a few of them more than once, or more.

[LoisB]

11. I only have "Kent State" by Michener. I will have to look into his other books. Is there one you

would recommend as a starter?

[hippywife]

14. My top favorites of his are

The Source, The Covenant, Alaska and Space.

The Source is such an amazing book, I've read it at least half a dozen times in the past 25 or so years since I first read it. It takes place primarily on an archaeologic dig in Israel in the 60s. As each level is revealed and artifacts found, the he takes you back to that time in history, all the way up to the present day of the book. The parts that take place in the kibbutz revolve around the discussions of the scientists and historians, an American, an Israeli and an Arab, at the dig about the Arab Israeli conflict.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Source_(novel)

The Covenant is the history of South Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Covenant_(novel)

Alaska and Space are pretty self-explanatory. I enjoy that, in most of his books, he takes the reader through an almost exhaustive history of a place, from pre-historic or the period of early man, and tells you the history in layers. Most importantly, except in the cases of characters and situations we know from history were truly immoral and malevolent, he doesn't take sides. He just tells the saga and events as they would have been experienced by every day people.

[LoisB]

17. Thank you. I will start with those two.

nt

[hippywife]

19. Really hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Even though I enjoyed them all, if I had to pick the ones that were my least favorite, they would be Poland and Mexico. But it really differs from person to person and can depend on each individual's area interest, too.

[LoisB]

21. Thank you. I'm sure I will.

nt

[RamblingRose]

16. It depends on your geographic interests. Hawaii was my first and got me hooked.

I haven't read any of his books set in the south Pacific. It's obvious he was in the Navy during the war.

I haven't heard of Kent State.

[hippywife]

18. First I've heard of it, too.

since I was just into his fiction. Sounds like it might be interesting, tho.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/380436.Kent_State

[LoisB]

20. Maybe it's not considered historical fiction. I'm not sure.

Kent State: What Happened and Why Hardcover – April 1, 1971
by James A. Michener

"A probing and dramatic study of the tragic events leading up to the killing of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University in the spring of 1970" is how it is described on Amazon.

[hippywife]

22. I believe it's classified as non-fiction.

He didn't exclusively write historical fiction.

[LoisB]

23. Thanks. I appreciate that. I was going nuts trying to figure it out because I had always

assumed it wasn't historical fiction.

[RamblingRose]

9. I'm pretty exclusive to historical fiction too

Michener has been great for a lot of my travels (Hawaii, Alaska, Caribbean, Chesapeake, Texas) but they take sooooooo long for me to read.

[hippywife]

10. I just mentioned to LoisB...

that he's my favorite historical fiction author and that I've read all of his books in that genre. I love that they're good long, detailed reads. My favs out of all of them are: The Source, The Covenant, Alaska and Space.

[RamblingRose]

13. I loved Space since I grew up in Florida & my mom worked at KSC. I struggled through The Source.

Hawaii, Caribbean - they'e all great!

I'm waiting to take a trip out west before reading Centennial. I've tried reading Mexico a couple of times but couldn't do it without crying. The Covenant is probably the next one on my list to read. I picked up Poland & Iberia from the thrift store but haven't read them yet. I doubt I'll be going to Poland anytime soon.

[hippywife]

15. Iberia is non-fiction.

It's basically his travelogue through the region. I've not read it. The Covenant is very, very good. I hope you enjoy it, too.

And whatever you do, do not skip The Source.

ETA: just now notice you said you struggled through The Source. Did not see that when I posted. I thought it was an amazing book, but I've always been a fan of archaeology.

[NNadir]

12. E. L. Doctorow's The March goes through the general area I believe.

[japple]

24. Look up The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash. Though it is set in Bessemer City, NC

it could have been set in almost any area of NC where textile mills were located. I read it several years ago and enjoyed it very much.

You might check with the public library, too, for recommendations.