I haven’t had a chance to participate in Weekly Geeks in a while but I loved this week’s topic so here it goes:

Let’s take a magical history tour this week, with a focus on Historical Fiction. That is, contemporary novels with a historical setting. I like to give choices, so here they are, pick the question(s) that appeal to you:

Is there a particular era that you love reading about? Tell us about it–give us a book list, if you’d like. Include pictures or some fun facts from that time period, maybe link to a website that focuses on that time. Educate us.

I think you guys know that I’m a big fan of historical novels, especially those set in the Victorian Era. Something about the customs, the dresses, the gaslights, it all appeals to me. Here’s a short list of some of my favorite books set in this time frame.

• Lady’s Maid by Margaret Forester. I believe this was the book that start it all for me.
• Affinity by Sarah Waters
• Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
• Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris

And, there are a bunch of mystery series I follow which are set in Victorian times too. I know I recently listed some of these but here are even more:

• Lizzie Martin series by Ann Granger
• Sarah Brandt series by Victoria Thompson
• Barker & Llewelyn series by Will Thomas
• Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn
• Sir Charles & Kate Sheridan series by Robin Paige
• William Murdoch series by Maureen Jennings

You should see just how many more books I have that are also set in this period which are waiting for me. Of course, if you have any recommendations let me know. I’m always adding to the list.

For those of you who enjoy historical fiction check out this web site. Your wish list will go overboard.

Sandy from You’ve GOTTA Read This! was super sweet and passed on this Sisterhood Award to me. You know I love awards and all that but I admit sometimes I get behind. Plus, it’s always tough to pass these awards too because you want to honor all your friends right? But, okay I’ll stick to the rules and pass it on to some of you.

And for everyone I’m also posting a poem I’ve recently read which I greatly enjoyed. I think we can all say there’s been times where we’ve been waiting for our life to start so I hope you’ll find something about it that speaks to you.

First the Sisterhood Award goes to:

• Karen from BookBath. She’s having some reading struggles so stop by and offer up a good book recommendation.
• Priscilla from The Evening Reader. Check out the crazy bookshelves she just posted about.
• Danielle from A Work in Progress. I swear every book she recommends goes on my wish list.
• Nancy from Mercury’s Girl. She took a breather from blogland but she’s back – yay!
• Dawn from She Is Too Fond of Books. She’s got a great Spotlight on Bookstores series that you must check out.

Now the poem:

Waiting for My Life from Carnival Evening by Linda Pastan

I waited for my life to start
for years, standing at bus stops
looking into the curved distance
thinking each bus was the wrong bus;
or lost in books where I would travel
without luggage from one page
to another; where the only breeze
was the rustle of pages turning,
and lives rose and set
in the violent colors of suns.

Sometimes my life coughed and coughed:
a stalled car about to catch,
and I would hold someone in my arms,
though it was always someone else I wanted.
Or I would board any bus, jostled
by thighs and elbows that knew
where they were going; collecting scraps
of talk, setting them down like birdsong
in my notebook, where someday I would go
prospecting for my life.