Tag: When Are You Reading?

The When Are You Reading? Challenge is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It involves reading a book set in each of twelve time periods. Although determining what period a book belongs in is the decision of the participant, generally the rule is to choose the years where the largest part of the action occurs or the most important events.

I’ve completed the challenge for the past two years and I’ve managed to do it again this year. It probably helps that historical fiction is my favourite genre. Links from each title will take you to my review.

---

Pre-1200:           Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson – Europe in 436AD

1200-1499:        A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien – England in 1399

1500-1699:        The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola – Rome in 1659

1700-1799:        The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable – Venice in 1704

1800-1899:        The Household by Stacey Halls – London in 1847

1900-1919:         The Paris Peacemakers  by Flora Johnston – Paris in 1919

1920-1939:        A Madras Miasma by Brian Stoddart – Madras in the 1920s

1940-1959:        The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear – London in 1945

1960-1979:        Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers – Croydon, near London in 1964

1980-1999:       Possible Happiness by David Ebenbach – USA in the late 1980s

2000-Present:  A Place Without Pain by Simon Bourke – Dublin, Ireland from the 2000’s onwards

The Future:       The Coming Storm by Greg Mosse – a chaotic world in 2037

The When Are You Reading? Challenge is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It involves reading a book set in each of twelve time periods. Although determining what period a book belongs in is the decision of the participant, generally the rule is to choose the years where the largest part of the action occurs or the most important events.

I’ve managed to complete the challenge for the past two years and I’m taking part again this year.  I shared a provisional list back in January, deliberately trying to include books that have been in my TBR pile for a long time.  I thought it was time to take a look at my progress and I’m pleasantly surprised. Links from the title will take you to the book description on Goodreads or to my review.

If you love historical fiction but often find yourself sticking to one or two favourite time periods, or if you’re keen to read more historical fiction in 2024, there’s still time to sign up. Plus the time periods go up to the present day and into the future so you don’t even have to stick to historical fiction. 

---

Pre-1200:           Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson Read and reviewed

1200-1499:        A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien Read and reviewed

1500-1699:        The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola Read and reviewed

1700-1799:        The Ballad of Lord Edward and Citizen Small by Neil Jordan

1800-1899:        The Household by Stacey Halls Read and reviewed

1900-1919:         The Paris Peacemakers  by Flora Johnston Read and reviewed

1920-1939:        A Madras Miasma by Brian Stoddart Read and reviewed

1940-1959:        The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner

1960-1979:        Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

1980-1999:       Little Fires Everywhere by Celete Ng

2000-Present:  How To Make A Bomb: A Novel by Rupert Thomson Read and reviewed

The Future:       The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller