Read On...Historical Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste (Read On Series) - Softcover

"Hooper provides a nicely annotated bibliography of recent and classical fiction organized into common-sense categories. In this format, which accommodates the needs of both the library professional and the general reader, Hooper takes the time and print to find the attractions of the hundreds of titles while providing abstracts that are short and concise." - Reference and Research Book News "Hooper's annotations are evocative and compelling; within four pages I had seven titles on a list of must get hold of immediately books. The non-traditional categories and the enthusiastic descriptions are sure to lead readers to a wealth of new titles." - Historical Novels Review "This is definitely an unusual, thoughtful book that will be a useful addition to most professional and reference collections. Recommended." - Library Media Connection "[t]his is a very nice compilation of historical novels, one that will be of interest to both readers and librarians in charge of collection development on this topic." - Collection Building "For collection development librarians and for anyone interested in the historical fiction genre, this is an essential purchase." - Collection Management "Hooper makes some unexpected connections between books, and readers who are familiar with the genre may find themselves surprised to see particular titles grouped together on the same list. His reasoning is solid, however, and his knowledge of and passion for the genre is apparent. Hooper's annotations are brief yet descriptive, so librarians will feel comfortable discussing and recommending the books on each list without having read them....The approach is interesting and will be useful for readers wishing to move beyond their tried-and-true favorites to read something different." - American Reference Books Annual

Hundreds of popular historical fiction titles are described and categorized according to their underlying appeal features, and under topics and themes you'll never find in the library catalog-women with true grit, greatest war stories, royalty rules, quick reads, humor, and many others. Use these unconventional, sometimes whimsical, reading lists to identify read-alikes rooted in shared appeal features or in the specific characteristics on which the lists are based. You can also post individual lists on your library Web site, put them in your newsletter, or use them for patron handouts to encourage circulation and reading. Historical fiction readers and fans looking for new reading material will enjoy browsing through this book and using it for checklists or reading plans. Readers' advisors who wish to better acquaint themselves with the genre and its newer publications, particularly in terms of appeal features, will find it useful as well A great new approach to one of today's hottest genres -historical fiction. Hooper categorizes and describes hundreds of popular historical fiction titles-not according to places or time periods or subgenres, but according to their underlying appeal features, and under topics and themes you'll never find in the library catalog-women with true grit, greatest war stories, the corridors of power, royalty rules, humor, nostalgic and elegiac historical fiction, quick reads, history's forgotten heroes, and many others. More than 400 of the best and most current historical fiction titles are covered, with some popular classics also included. For each title, there is bibliographic information and a lively plot summary designed to spark reader interest. These unconventional, sometimes whimsical, reading lists can be used to identify read-alikes rooted in shared appeal features or in the specific characteristics on which the lists are based. You can post specific lists on your library Web site, put them in your newsletter, or use them for patron handouts to encourage circulation and reading. Historical fiction readers and fans looking for new reading material will enjoy browsing through this book and using it for checklists, reading plans, or as a book club resource. Readers' advisors who wish to better acquaint themselves with the genre and its newer publications, particularly in terms of appeal features, will find it useful as well. In fact, libraries will want to order multiple copies-one for the readers' advisor and reference desk, and one for the circulating collection.