Welcome to Litsy!

I picked this up based on a recommendation, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

This is a unique time travel story, published in the 90s, but set in a near future pandemic that feels eerily prophetic, while paralleling a story set in an outbreak of illness in the 14th century.

Part sci fi, part historical fiction, part tragedy, overall, this book examines how human circumstances change, but love, fear, hope, and mourning still remain.

Interesting history of the Black Plague outbreak in Europe in the mid-1300s. I liked all the quotes and stories about individuals living at the time. Kelly also devotes an appropriate amount of text to the cruel atrocities committed by Christians against Jews using wild conspiracy theories as their excuse.

Despite the title, Hamnet is really Agnes‘ story. A dual storyline, one that traces her life with Shakespeare, from their meeting through their marriage and children. The other is told through Hamnet‘s eyes as his sister grows ill. Once he dies, the last third of the book comes as scattered moments of Agnes and Judith‘s grief. Still, the novel is beautifully written, even if its format feels uneven. Book #72 in 2025

The Black Death in London, by Barney Sloane (2011)
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Premise: A look at the impact of the Black Death on the city of London and environs.

Review: This book‘s greatest success is in its incredible detail. Sadly that‘s also it‘s greatest weakness. Even as someone very nerdy about history, archaeology, and public health, the level of detail here was overwhelming and felt unnecessary. ⬇️

#timespacetraveller
#charactercharm
Doomsday Book was my first Connie Willis and an all time favourite, but I can't find my copy atm. @eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A new Rachel Hartman book is cause for celebration in this house! Set in Goredd centuries before Seraphina or Tess of the Road, Among Ghosts is a Decameron-inspired tale of plague, memory, religious violence, and the courage it takes to pursue freedom, truth, peace, and community.

After escaping his abusive father, Charl & his mother find refuge in a small town. Life becomes more complicated when a dragon comes into town hunting them, a plague sweeps through, & Charl can suddenly see ghosts.

Lovely.I was enraptured & felt angry when I had to stop reading to go back to work. I adore Hartman‘s world building. Charl was a wonderful protagonist. He acts his age, but is also kind. Need to dive back into the world.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

I am slow going on this challenge because I‘m also reading other books not on the list ( Bookclubs, buddy reads, sister said I had to drop everything and read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans), but I did finish the first of my #14BooksIn14Weeks
This is a lovely debut novel about a midwife & herbalist in Avignon, France during the 1300s black plague.
I‘m finding myself drawn to midwives and herbalists …

Enjoying this book from a debut author I met at Adventures By The Book Superbook 6 in San Diego in March.
A Healer & Herbalist trying to protect her people of Avignon, France from the 1437 Black Plague Provence.

I am finding I love books about Female Healers, Herbalists, & Midwives
#14BooksIn14Weeks