Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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| style="padding:15px;" | [[File:AnatomyLoveStory.jpg|250px]]<br>
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| style="padding:15px;" | [[File:CityBeautiful.jpg|250px]]<br>
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'''[[Anatomy: A Love Story]]''' <br>
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'''[[The City Beautiful]]'''<br>
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'''Author:''' Schwartz, Dana<br>
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'''Author:''' Polydoros, Aden<br>
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'''[https://amzn.to/3BHwdVG Buy at Amazon] | [https://bookshop.org/a/15682/9781250774156 BookShop.org]<br><br>'''
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'''[https://amzn.to/3oX7Xt7 Buy at Amazon] | [https://bookshop.org/a/15682/9781335402509 BookShop.org]<br><br>'''
 
'''Time Period:''' Industrial Age <br>
 
'''Time Period:''' Industrial Age <br>
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'''Time Frame:''' 1817<br>
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'''Time Frame:''' 1893<br>
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'''Geographic Area:''' Europe <br>
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'''Geographic Area:''' North America <br>
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'''Country:''' Great Britain<br>
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'''Country:''' United States<br>
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'''Topics:''' Medicine, Graverobbers, Women in Science<br>
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'''Topics:''' Gilded Age, Jewish Immigration, Chicago World's Fair<br>
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'''Genre:''' Fiction<br>
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'''Genre:''' Fiction <br>
 
'''Reading Age:''' Young Adult, Adult<br>
 
'''Reading Age:''' Young Adult, Adult<br>
 
'''Format:''' Novel<br>
 
'''Format:''' Novel<br>
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'''Published:''' 2022
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'''Published:''' 2021
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|}
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{| class="infobox bordered" style="font-size:95%; width:25em;"
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! style="font-size:120%; background:#fb607f; text-align:center; padding:5px 0;" | Content Warning
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|-
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| style="padding:15px;" | murder, antisemitism, homophobia, mentions of rape
 
|}
 
|}
  
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'''''[[World History|American History]]''' > [[Industrial Age Booklist|Industrial Age]] > Women in Science''
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'''''[[American History|American History]]''' > [[Industrial Age Booklist|Industrial Age]] ''
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'''"Schwartz's magical novel is at once gripping and tender, and the intricate plot is engrossing as the reader tries to solve the mystery. She doesn't miss a beat in either the characterization or action, scattering clues with a delicate, precise hand. This is, in the end, the story of the anatomy of the human heart." - Booklist (starred review)'''
 
  
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'''Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story is a gothic tale full of mystery and romance.'''
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''' "An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness'''
  
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Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.
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Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together. 
 +
 +
Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he’ll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania.
 +
 +
But when Alter’s best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World’s Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows.
 +
 +
Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter’s body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer—before the killer claims them next.
  
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Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.
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"Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams."—Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies
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When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, Beecham will allow her to continue her medical career. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books―she’ll need corpses to study.
 
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Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living.
 
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But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets, and the dreaded Roman Fever, which wiped out thousands a few years ago, is back with a vengeance. Nobody important cares―until Hazel.
 
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Now, Hazel and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.
 
  
 
==Emily's Review==
 
==Emily's Review==
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I would describe this as Get Out meets Frankenstein. This story has such great gothic vibes with a wonderfully plucky heroine.
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I'm struggling to put my thoughts into words, so bear with me. Growing up, if I managed to find books with Jewish characters at all, they were inevitably set during the Holocaust. It wasn't until I was an adult that I found books with Jewish characters set in other places and times. So I resonate with what the author says in the Author's note about being frustrated by that and wanting to write the books that he needed growing up. I also loved that this story is about Jews fighting back against injustice. We need more of that.
  
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Hazel Sinnet lives in a secluded gothic mansion, where she spends her days studying medicine. She's determined to become a surgeon, even going so far as to dress in her dead brother's clothes so she can attend classes and lectures. Her future has already been planned out for her - she'll have to marry her cousin Bertrand eventually. But she hopes he'll be willing to let her continue her studies and even become a physician someday.  
+
This is a story about grief, longing, and acceptance. It is about a young man finding his way in an America that doesn't seem to want him. Alter is doing everything he can to save enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America. Romania is no longer safe for them, but he's discovering that America is only marginally safer. Jewish boys are being killed and when Yakov, Alter's roommate and friend, dies, his dybbuk takes hold of Alter. A dybbuk is the spirit of a dead person who has unfinished business. It can possess a person to try and make them do their will - in this case, Yakov needs Alter to find the man who is killing Jewish boys and stop him before anyone else dies.  
  
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Jack Currer is a resurrection man - he digs up fresh corpses to sell to doctors willing to pay. But there are dangers in this trade far beyond what Jack could imagine.  
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This book has a lot going for it - a creepy atmosphere, romance, and a murder mystery. The characters are compelling and well-written. This is an unabashedly Jewish story, from dybbuks to mikvahs, Yiddish, matchmaking, shul, and the challenges of being a Jewish immigrant in America. It is a very gritty novel, with lots of blood and gore. And again - love that it was set in 1893 Chicago and not the Holocaust or New York.  
  
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Their paths cross when Hazel requires bodies for her studies and they quickly become partners in crime. Hazel is willing to get right down into the graves to dig up corpses with Jack. Roman Fever is raging through the city, and it is leaving more than enough corpses to study. However, there is something dark and sinister at play, leaving them behind as well.
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While I really liked a lot of things about this story, I found the romance element a little bit bland. I didn't feel there was much chemistry between Alter and Frankie. I also thought there were a few things that happened a little too conveniently. But these were minor enough that I still found the story engaging. My favorite character by far was Raizel, the girl that the matchmaker wants to match Alter with - she is feisty and smart and I loved what she brought to the story.  
  
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I LOVE stories about girls and women in science, particularly in a time period when a young woman's job was to just be pretty and get married. Hazel is such a fantastic character. I loved her can-do attitude, but also appreciated her moments of self-doubt. She had a brilliant mind and desperation to learn which I found endearing. The story is very well-written and fast-paced - I found it difficult to put the book down.  
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Because of the content warnings, I recommend this book for ages 16+.
  
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I also loved the setting - the Edinburgh of this book felt deliciously gothic and creepy. Not to mention that medicine in the 1800s, surgery, in particular, was completely in horror territory. This novel is full of corpses and there is some gore but of the Frankenstein variety.  
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==Other Similar Books==
 +
Other suggestions on the subject of the '''Gilded Age'''.
  
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This is called "A Love Story" and I was a little concerned going in that it was going to be a full-on romance novel. There is a romance between Hazel and Jack, and it's very well done. However, after reading it, I think the love story is actually between Hazel and medicine.
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{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[Topic::Gilded Age]]
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| ?Author = by
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| ?Topic =
 +
| ?Reading Age =
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| sort=ReadAgeNum
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| format=ul
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}}
  
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Overall, I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good gothic story about medicine, grave robbing, and surgery. This is best for ages 14+
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Other suggestions on the subject of the '''Chicago World's Fair'''.
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==Other Similar Books==
 
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Other suggestions on the subject of '''Women in Science'''.
 
  
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{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[Topic::Women in Science]]
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{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[Topic::Chicago World's Fair]]
 
  | ?Author = by
 
  | ?Author = by
 
  | ?Topic =
 
  | ?Topic =

Revision as of 18:02, 8 January 2023

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Welcome to History Book By Book,
Reading your way through history... one book at a time...

> We are currently recommending a total of (1,100) books, divided into (65) specific booklists on this website.

First Time Here? Check Out: Frequently Asked Questions | How Do I Use History Book By Book (HBBB)?

General Outline

Prehistory Booklist (4,500,000,000-6000 BCE)

  • Stone Age (2,600,000-3300 BCE)

Early Civilization Booklist (6000-3000 BCE)

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Classical Age Booklist (3000 BCE-400 CE)

Early Medieval Booklist (400–699 CE)

High Middle Ages Booklist (700-1399 CE)

  • Vikings (790–1100)
  • Aztec Civilization (1345–1521)

Renaissance Booklist (1400-1599 CE)

Enlightenment Booklist (1600-1699 CE)

Age of Revolutions Booklist (1700-1839 CE)

Industrial Age Booklist (1840-1899 CE)

Modern Age Booklist (1900 CE - present)


See also: American History | African American History | Indigenous American History | Jewish History


List of All Booklists

Other Booklists

Why is HBBB a thing?

I am a list maker. I love organizing booklists, to-do lists, checklists of all kinds. I spend a great deal of my time researching books for my job and I’ve often found it frustrating that there isn’t one reliable resource where I can find an organized timeline of literature. So I’ve created one. I’ve set out to create a resource that will guide you on a literary adventure through history.

You can find books here on just about every time period or historical topic and for any age level. I’ve done my best to research and vet each title to ensure that this list is filled with living books. I’ve noted content warnings when necessary and my daughters and I have reviewed many of the titles recommended. This has been and will continue to be a labor of love, as we continue to build this website and update these book suggestions. I hope you find it helpful!

Thanks and Happy Reading, Emily

Emily's Favorites

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Book Suggestions Published in 2023


See also: 2022 | 2021 | 2020

Featured Weekly Book Suggestion - 1/9/2023

Industrial Age
CityBeautiful.jpg

The City Beautiful
Author: Polydoros, Aden
Buy at Amazon | BookShop.org

Time Period: Industrial Age
Time Frame: 1893
Geographic Area: North America
Country: United States
Topics: Gilded Age, Jewish Immigration, Chicago World's Fair
Genre: Fiction
Reading Age: Young Adult, Adult
Format: Novel
Published: 2021

Content Warning
murder, antisemitism, homophobia, mentions of rape

American History > Industrial Age

"An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness

Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together.

Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he’ll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania.

But when Alter’s best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World’s Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows.

Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter’s body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer—before the killer claims them next.

"Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams."—Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies

Emily's Review

I'm struggling to put my thoughts into words, so bear with me. Growing up, if I managed to find books with Jewish characters at all, they were inevitably set during the Holocaust. It wasn't until I was an adult that I found books with Jewish characters set in other places and times. So I resonate with what the author says in the Author's note about being frustrated by that and wanting to write the books that he needed growing up. I also loved that this story is about Jews fighting back against injustice. We need more of that.

This is a story about grief, longing, and acceptance. It is about a young man finding his way in an America that doesn't seem to want him. Alter is doing everything he can to save enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America. Romania is no longer safe for them, but he's discovering that America is only marginally safer. Jewish boys are being killed and when Yakov, Alter's roommate and friend, dies, his dybbuk takes hold of Alter. A dybbuk is the spirit of a dead person who has unfinished business. It can possess a person to try and make them do their will - in this case, Yakov needs Alter to find the man who is killing Jewish boys and stop him before anyone else dies.

This book has a lot going for it - a creepy atmosphere, romance, and a murder mystery. The characters are compelling and well-written. This is an unabashedly Jewish story, from dybbuks to mikvahs, Yiddish, matchmaking, shul, and the challenges of being a Jewish immigrant in America. It is a very gritty novel, with lots of blood and gore. And again - love that it was set in 1893 Chicago and not the Holocaust or New York.

While I really liked a lot of things about this story, I found the romance element a little bit bland. I didn't feel there was much chemistry between Alter and Frankie. I also thought there were a few things that happened a little too conveniently. But these were minor enough that I still found the story engaging. My favorite character by far was Raizel, the girl that the matchmaker wants to match Alter with - she is feisty and smart and I loved what she brought to the story.

Because of the content warnings, I recommend this book for ages 16+.

Other Similar Books

Other suggestions on the subject of the Gilded Age.

Other suggestions on the subject of the Chicago World's Fair.

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