This month we feature historical fiction, written by women who are master storytellers. Pick up “Mexican Gothic” for chills, “Simon the Fiddler” for these cool autumn nights and “The Pull of the Stars,” a page turner you won’t want to put down.
— Emily Kornak, Lake Geneva Public Library director
“Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
1950s Mexico, a feisty socialite, an old and frightening house, a mysterious illness, hallucinations and healers, and a horrifying family patriarch are just some of the elements that come together in this atmospheric read that will keep you up at night.
“Simon the Fiddler” by Paulette Jiles
National Book Award finalist Paulette Jiles spins a tale of love, drama and frontier life in post-Civil War Texas, as war veteran and fiddle player Simon finds his true love — an indentured servant to a Yankee colonel. A vivid portrayal of colorful characters and scenery that make for perfect early autumn reading.
“The Pull of the Stars” by Emma Donoghue
This bestseller is the best kind of historical fiction: gripping, relevant and full of humanity, compassion, despair and hope — while being a page turner at the same time. Set in Ireland in 1918 as the flu pandemic sweeps through the country, three women — a doctor, nurse and volunteer — battle to save the lives of others.