Here are 100 books that By Any Other Name fans have personally recommended if you like
By Any Other Name.
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What an amazing book! I'd had it on my TBR list for a long time, but I kept myself from reading novels and especially anything medieval while I was getting The Last Highland King completed. This was a treat and a treasure after a lot of studying and writing. I knew Marie de France somewhat, as the writer of lais and courtly romances, but this evocation of the scholarly writer places her at the help of an English abbey that she remakes into a female utopia, protected from the outside world by a massive labyrinth. Wildly inventive, but also emotionally charged as Marie comes to terms with her own intellectual, sexual, and political nature.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS AN OBAMA'S BOOK OF THE YEAR
'Gorgeous, sensual, addictive' SARA COLLINS 'Brightly lit' NAOMI ALDERMAN
Born from a long line of female warriors and crusaders, yet too coarse for courtly life, Marie de France is cast from the royal court and sent to Angleterre to take up her new duty as the prioress of an impoverished abbey.
Lauren Groff's modern masterpiece is about the establishment of a female utopia.
'A propulsive, captivating read' BRIT BENNETT 'Fascinating, beguiling, vivid' MARIAN KEYES 'A dazzlingly clever tale' THE TIMES 'A thrillingly vivid,…
Secrets, lies, and second chances are served up beneath the stars in this moving novel by the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends. Think White Lotus meets Virgin River set at a picturesque mountain inn.
Seven days in summer. Eight lives forever changed. The stage is…
This is historical fiction at its finest, especially as it tells the story of a woman who faced down racism and bigotry while impressing the elite world in which she found herself. I learned a lot about the art world, an arena that I am not familiar with very much, and how people regarded each other within it.
The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick!
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post!
“Historical fiction at its best!”*
A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by…
Born and raised in China, I moved to Canada in my late 20s to pursue a master's degree and stayed here, becoming a first-generation immigrant. But home is always home—my ancestors lived and died on that land. My country's history, culture, traditions, and social structures deeply fascinate me, especially its modern history, which has profoundly shaped me. China's history is rich, captivating, and often brutal, and I believe the world needs to know what we have gone through. The five books I recommend, including works by two Nobel Prize-winning authors, are literary masterpieces. They not only offer deep insights into China's modern history but also showcase extraordinary literary artistry.
I first listened to this book about 20 years ago, and to write this article, I revisited it. In 20 years, many things have changed. Yet, my love for this book remains as strong as ever. I love its simple opening sentence and foreshadowing closing sentence. I love the details—the vivid, realistic descriptions of the characters, emotions, setting, culture, customs, and language. I felt immersed in the scenes, right alongside the characters. Using a Chinese expression, the book flows smoothly and naturally, like clouds and water. I believe this book represents the pinnacle of Pearl S. Buck’s career, not just because it won the Nobel Prize for Literature but because the quality of the writing is truly extraordinary.
I must also mention that Anthony Heald narrates this audiobook. His voice is captivating and mesmerizing; I believe he’s one of the best narrators in the world. I recently watched a short…
The Year Mrs. Cooper Got Out More
by
Meredith Marple,
The coastal tourist town of Great Wharf, Maine, boasts a crime rate so low you might suspect someone’s lying.
Nevertheless, jobless empty nester Mallory Cooper has become increasingly reclusive and fearful. Careful to keep the red wine handy and loath to leave the house, Mallory misses her happier self—and so…
It’s a fantastic re-imagining of David Copperfield, which I enjoyed much more than the original. It taught me a lot about a side of the USA which, as a Brit, I had never given much thought to. The characters were fresh and engaging - even when they were unlikeable - and I became really invested in them. I know this is a book I’ll re-read and it might even tempt me to have another try at the Dickens,
Demon's story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking 'like a little blue prizefighter.' For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise.
In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty isn't an idea, it's as natural as the grass grows. For a generation growing up in this world, at the heart of the modern opioid crisis, addiction isn't an abstraction, it's neighbours, parents, and friends. 'Family' could mean love, or reluctant foster…
Despite the adage to not judge a book by its cover, I’m a highly visual person who loves the art of design. I teach workshops and write articles about book cover design, and love to analyze what makes a cover eye-catching. So, these recommended books are not only beautiful in their storytelling, but are also visually arresting. It’s an extra fun fact that they all have floral touches on their covers, much like my Orchid series which has won awards for cover design!
Want to spend 10 glorious hours with Meryl Streep?
I loved her audiobook performance of TomLake. Her intonation mirrors the exact qualities that the main characters, who are actors, strive for: neither underacted nor overacted. Just genuine.
Ann Patchett is a treasure, and in Tom Lake, she effortlessly navigates two timelines: one in which Lara tells her daughters about meeting famous actor Peter Duke in a long-ago play. These scenes are just as compelling as the flashbacks in which we learn about her time with Duke before he became a famous movie star.
It's a talent, the ability to tell a mostly ordinary life in a page-turning way. Her imagery is magnificent. Every scene is wondrous. Touching. So real.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * THE NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *
A REESE WITHERSPOON AND BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK
'A new Ann Patchett novel is always cause for celebration ... and Tom Lake is one of her best' i
'This comforting summer read has it all ... Young love, sibling rivalry and deep mother-daughter relationships' REESE WITHERSPOON
'Filled with the moments I live for in a story' BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry
'One of the most beloved authors of her generation' SUNDAY TIMES
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This is a story about Peter Duke who went on…
The River We Remember is emotionally engaging, perfectly paced, and beautifully written. A complex, credible plot. Excellent character development. As with his earlier standalone novels, Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, and his series prequel, Lightning Strike, Krueger does a terrific job portraying the young boys, Scott and Del, on the cusp of understanding, though they are secondary characters, unlike the boys in the earlier books.
In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances in this dazzling standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the "expansive, atmospheric American saga" (Entertainment Weekly) This Tender Land.
On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern,…
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post
"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine
Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) by best-selling Wiradyuri author, Dr Anita Heiss, is an outstanding Australian historical novel. - truth-telling through fiction, a story of love and resilience in a time of war. I loved this beautifully written book, especially the weaving of Wiradyuri language throughout as part of storytelling, and critically, Mother Earth’s poignant contemplation and her comments, book-ending this story. In Anita’s acknowledgements, she writes “Dirrayawadha is probably the most important book I will ever write.” I believe her. The love story between Miinaa and Dan is heartbreakingly beautiful, but the tragedy and utter desecration and displacement of the indigenous people, is gut wrenching and horrifying.
From the bestselling author of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) comes a sweeping new historical blockbuster about resistance, love and resilience during the frontier wars.
Miinaa was a young girl when the white ghosts first arrived. She remembers the day they raised a piece of red and white cloth and renamed her homeland ‘Bathurst’. Now she lives at Cloverdale and works for a white family who have settled there. The Nugents are kind, but Miinaa misses her miyagan. Her brother, Windradyne, is a Wiradyuri leader, and visits when he can, bringing news of unrest across their ngurambang. Miinaa hopes the…
I thoroughly enjoyed A Killer Among Friends, written by Andrea Barton, and the second novel in the captivating Jade Riley Mysteries series. Whilst it can be read as a stand-alone, I was thrilled to continue with Jade’s story following The Godfather Of Dance. Excellent writing and a compelling and tense mystery, with many conceivable twists. The characters are convincing and well-drawn, and Jade in particular, is complex and feisty, battling her own demons and insecurities. I’d definitely want her on my side if I was in trouble. Highly recommend if you enjoy rollicking whodunnits.
Murder. Music. Company secrets. Soon after journalist Jade returns from abroad to her hometown, Melbourne, her friend Nick is found dead in a dumpster. She turns to their tight-knit circle for answers, only to uncover a web of lies. Mounting evidence suggests her best friend Elena’s suicide three years earlier is connected. Was she, too, murdered? As Jade closes in on the killer, she realizes the suspects are all people she loves. Her life depends on knowing which of them to trust.
“A compelling whodunnit. Jade is a complex, feisty character, battling her own demons and insecurities.” Lisa Darcy, author…
I was snared by the simple phrase of a romance between unicorns and dragons. I had to find out what that fantasy world was all about! I don't read a ton of epic fantasy, but this was an interesting and entertaining story. Lots of shape shifting and magic woven into this romantic tale, too. It's a fun read.
From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon comes an all new world unlike anything ever seen before...
TAKE BACK YOUR KINGDOM
For centuries, they've been bitter enemies and their kingdoms at war. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Tanis's beloved older brother and heir to their throne has been slain by a human who continues to flaunt her brother's death.
In order to restore her family's honor, she's willing to make a deal so that she can infiltrate the human world and recapture what was so cruelly taken.
