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#HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportgroup
review
julesG
Doomsday Book | Connie Willis
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Panpan

It's factually wrong about too many things. For over 400 pages nothing much happens. The UK of 2055 looks like someone from 1955 dreamed it up. The Middle Ages part is displayed so stereotypically; it hurts.

#Booked2023 @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen
#ProperNounInTitle

⬇️

julesG Why did the MC learn Middle English for 3 years when she doesn't understand it once on site? And no, language doesn't evolve so much within 20-30 years (that's how far from her time mark she landed) that she couldn't have understood it. Especially given she had to learn German too - even modern German would have helped her. Anyway, she takes ages to decipher the language. ⬇️ 2y
julesG Every person in the 14th century is either a cut-throat or a rapist. Every person is wearing rags. It's dirty. People are dirty. People stink. The villages stink. It's all grey and dirty. Ugh!!! 2y
julesG Oh, I forgot, the favourite sport of people in the early 14th century was, according to the Medieval expert, witch burnings. 🤣🙈 #HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportGroup - I need a meeting! 2y
See All 12 Comments
julesG That's why I had to start re-reading The Chronicles of St Mary's series. It was probably inspired by this book. It has its flaws, but it does get the history right. 2y
Cinfhen Yikes!! Sounds AWFUL 😣 2y
julesG @Cinfhen Can't understand why this book has so many raving reviews. 2y
psalva The problems with the language definitely bothered me- same for pacing. I guess I was less bothered by the inaccuracies, both because I‘m less informed about the accurate history and because I felt like part of the point was to show how uninformed/ill prepared the “experts” were. I totally see where you‘re coming from though, and maybe the more I learn about the era the less I‘ll like it. Your review took me aback but I appreciate your reaction 😂 2y
psalva You definitely have me wondering about my own reaction and perspective which I really appreciate. 2y
julesG @psalva I see your point. It was something I've been wondering about too. I just couldn't fathom how someone would get a job as an expert at Oxford University in a certain field without proper knowledge. Just goes to show, I'm too much of a realist. 😂😂 2y
psalva @julesG That‘s also a really good point. Maybe it ties into when it was written also. From what you say, I imagine Willis was going off of research that quickly became dated or may have already been dated, so how she imagines the future historians‘ theories is more dramatically flawed and makes it not hold up. I‘m off to add some history books about the era to my TBR :) 2y
TrishB I really disliked this book too. 2y
catsuit_mango I am so glad, I really did not like It too and it seems everyone raved about this book. 2y
47 likes12 comments
review
julesG
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Bailedbailed

Ugh!

Disjointed story of a marriage of convenience that turns into more. Both MCs have secrets, neither can articulate or show their feelings for the other.

Kudos for the research that went into creating the Jamaican characters.

I liked Riley's previous books in the series but this was less than meh.

TW: racism, slavery

54 likes2 comments
blurb
julesG
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#HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportGroup

First chapter and I'm not sure I want to continue reading the ARC. I so liked the first book in the series.

Just checked online, pubs were closed at that time. Pubs had to close at 10pm (11pm in London) - changes were made in the 1960s, but definitely no open pubs at 1am.

At the end of the chapter, after a short meeting:"Dawn was coming..." - in North England at 1.30-2.00am? In January?

???

squirrelbrain Well, I suppose at least the Old Bell Tavern *is* across the road from the Pump Rooms! 3y
julesG @squirrelbrain Don't think I didn't check with Google maps. 😛 3y
squirrelbrain Of course you did Jules! 🤣 3y
See All 9 Comments
charl08 😱😱 3y
Mitch Super clumsy and jarring ☹️ 3y
Leftcoastzen 🙄😡 3y
TrishB Ouch 😣 3y
GingerAntics Wow, seems so obvious. 3y
Birdsong28 🤦🤦🤦🤦 3y
60 likes9 comments
blurb
Birdsong28
A Woman's War | S. Block
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The bottom pic is from the first chapter stating the year it is set in and the top photo is one of the starting paragraph of Chap 29. I have just come across and tell me if I am reading this wrong but it seems to me that it reads as if it is set in 1939.

Need help from my #HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportgroup

@julesG @GingerAntics @CoverToCoverGirl @jazzfeathers @RavenLovelyReads @KCorter

julesG I think I need to fact check this. 4y
julesG I was about to write that this part is correct, but then checked on the date for Chamberlain's speech. That was on 30th September 1938. So you are right, the time line doesn't add up 4y
Birdsong28 No the whole book is between November to December of 1940. I just wondered as Chamberlain was out in May 1940 and they would have had Christmas 1939 as their first Christmas as it started in the September so this is their second Christmas during the war. @julesG 4y
See All 7 Comments
Birdsong28 Thought it didn't seem right @julesG glad I can have your help. 😘 4y
GingerAntics That‘s frustrating. WORK WITH A TIMELINE PEOPLE!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y
Birdsong28 @GingerAntics Glad to know that you agree with me and that I am not going mad! 📚 📖 4y
GingerAntics @Birdsong28 I‘m all about the timeline. I actually have a “weird”/“revolutionary” way I like to teach history. It centres around a timeline. I really wish more people would use bloody timelines. I have timelines for every book I‘ve ever written, and I‘ve never written historical fiction. These people drive me nuts. 4y
27 likes7 comments
blurb
julesG
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Attagirl came up in an ARC set in New York in 1888. I'm certainly in the minority for noticing the historically inaccurate usage. Still, it bothers me. Bothered me so much that I had to check the OED too.

#HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportGroup @GingerAntics @JazzFeathers @Weaponxgirl @RavenLovelyReads @Birdsong28 @KCorter @CoverToCoverGirl

Ms_T I would have said this was an Americanism. I never use the word! 4y
julesG @Ms_T Americanism in New York City is fine by me. But it's used 30 years before its time. That's what bugs me. 4y
Birdsong28 No it would bother me as well. It should have been checked, can you use the report function on your kindle to suggest they change it 4y
See All 14 Comments
julesG @Birdsong28 There's a report function? 😲 I'm definitely going to mention it in the comments to the publisher on Netgalley. 4y
Birdsong28 Glad to help 😘📚📖 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 Report doesn't work with ARCs. But, I'll keep it in mind for regular kindle books. 4y
Birdsong28 @julesG Did you try it or did you read it on that link as I have just tried on an arc and it let me 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 it didn't let me, I tried. Probably depends on the publisher, or so. 4y
Birdsong28 @julesG Just mention it in your review on Netgalley 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 Will definitely do. 4y
Ms_T @julesG That would bug me too! 4y
Crazeedi I hear you, things like this bother me too 4y
GingerAntics So it‘s easy to find. Why didn‘t the author do this quick search? So annoying. 4y
64 likes14 comments
review
julesG
Dangerous Remedy | Kat Dunn
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Panpan
Birdsong28 I read your review glad you can be so honest. I have studied the French Revolution what were the main issues? @julesG 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 Thanks. As always I was annoyed at small things, like the cast going to a restaurant for dinner, ordering from a menu, drinking wine from glasses, having coffee from a silver pot set on the table - but the restaurant was described as looking more like a pub than a restaurant would. Not to mention that I seriously doubt there were many restaurants in 1794, and if so, they'd have a set menu and would be a rather stiff affair. 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 And right at the beginning of the book two characters crashed a hot air balloon into a prison. Yes, the brothers Montgolfier had their first success a decade earlier, still doubt it was easy to acquire a hot air balloon. 4y
See All 9 Comments
julesG Every prisoner of importance had to have an iron mask, too. Definitely. @Birdsong28 4y
Birdsong28 @julesG It sounds like it is full of historical holes!! 📚 📖 4y
julesG @Birdsong28 add some plot holes and a bisexual love triangle and you have the perfect YA novel 😜 4y
GingerAntics Ugh. This book sounds like hell. 4y
Crazeedi You are really doing good with your ARCs! I need to get back to the ones waiting for me! 4y
68 likes9 comments
blurb
julesG
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1) Yes. I start other books, often ones that I then procrastinate on by starting yet more books. Visit Litsy. 🙈🙈🙈

2) At 3 ch/30 pp/30% if they are very boring/off-putting. When the urge to whack the author/characters over the head with the hardcover edition (in large print) gets too strong. When the inaccuracies outshine the plot/characters; founding member of the #HistoricalFictionInaccuracyAnnoyanceSupportGroup

TheSpineView Hate inaccuracies!😬 Thanks for playing! 📚📚📚 5y
47 likes1 comment
blurb
Birdsong28
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julesG Thanks for sharing. Strange that the author still insists the book will be published. 5y
GingerAntics I‘m liking this woman less and less. I wasn‘t as excited about The Beauty Myth as others. I actually read her book Vagina, but some of it was really odd. I don‘t think I‘ll be reading any more of her books, that‘s for sure. 5y
32 likes2 comments
blurb
thewallflower0707
The Tattooist of Auschwitz | Heather Morris (Screenwriter)
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Please read this article before you buy the book The Tattooist of Auschwitz and it‘s sequel.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/03/cilkas-journey-heather-morris-sequ...

#thetattoistofauschwitz #heathermorris

Caroline2 Wow! I have The Tattooist on my tbr shelf, but I‘m not reading it now!! I hate historically inaccurate books. 😒 5y
thewallflower0707 @Caroline2 me too, especially with this topic! I hate that this book is so popular and that the author is essentially making a dime by exploiting these people‘s story. 5y
Caroline2 @thewallflower0707 yeah it makes me really angry too. I wish I‘d read this article before I bought the book and put more money in her pocket!!! 🙄 I hope people boycott her next book! 5y
See All 9 Comments
thewallflower0707 @Caroline2 The official twitter account of the Auschwitz Memorial Museum in Poland is tweeting often about these books too and fact-checking it. There a lot of mistakes that could have been solved with more research. They also recommend better books. 5y
Caroline2 That is appalling! I‘m glad people are speaking out against it though. The last thing that Holocaust Memorial organisations need right now is more historical inaccuracies and lies! 😠 5y
julesG @Caroline2 For a book that's supposed to have had a team of researchers to fact check, it's full of inaccuracies and blatant mistakes. One of the main reasons I didn't read it. 5y
Caroline2 Oh I so need to join this group!! 😆 and I am boycotting Heather Morris! 😡 5y
marleed Oh boy, that‘s heartbreaking. 5y
12 likes9 comments
review
Ericalambbrown
The Virgin's Lover | Philippa Gregory
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Panpan

While I understand this is fiction, I‘m disappointed in PG‘s treatment of both Elizabeth and Amy Robsart. Amy was not an illiterate dolt as she is portrayed here. And Elizabeth is made out to be an easily pliable, over emotional ninny who mirrored the opinions of whomever was nearest. By all accounts she was demanding and spoiled, but she was also remarkably astute politically or she‘d never have held her crown.

Boooo, Philippa Gregory.

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics You know, there are some things I don‘t particularly mind in historical fiction - taking conversations that happened by letter and making them face-to-face, for example. Hell, I don‘t even mind speculation to fill in the gaps of a narrative and then noting it as “best guess” from what is known of the subject. But this seemed out of character given everything academic I‘ve read about Elizabeth (a lot) and Amy (the little available). 5y
GingerAntics There are a few (very few) historical fiction pieces I can stand. Most I can‘t. “Best guesses” need to at least keep with the spirit of the person, and fiction authors rarely, if ever, do their homework enough to be able to do that. 5y
70 likes3 comments