Good NH Historical Fiction Recommendation

CateP · 07-24-2011, 03:08 PM

I am looking for some recommendations for a good book that takes place in NH and is historical fiction. (I like to be entertained by a good story while learning something). It could be non-fiction too, but not too dense. (it's summer afterall)

Thanks in advance for your title recommendations.

Argie's Wife · 07-24-2011, 03:27 PM

Payton Place by Grace Metalious
Cell by Stephen King
Our Town by Thornton Wilder (hated that book when I was in high school - now I love it...)

Then there's some great NH authors:
Robert Frost
Dr. Suess (probably not what you had in mind - but a brilliant man!) (I can recite Green Eggs and Ham from cover to cover from memory!)
Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code)
J.D. Salinger

beaner · 07-24-2011, 03:39 PM

More NH authors worth checking out:

Jodi Picoult
Lisa Gardner

skprbob · 07-24-2011, 03:55 PM

Any/all of the above are excellent titles and authors and would be highly recommended.

Mark Twain spent time in Dublin, NH so I suppose he could qualify as a NH author.

In the area of "pulp fiction" there's "Mystery on the Mount" and "Nazi Gold in New Hampshire" which are set around the Lake and involve the Mt. Washington.

Finally, there's "Revenge of the Elegant Lady" - possibly the worst written story I've ever had the pleasure to read. Set on the Lake and so bad it should be read by everyone!

MDoug · 07-24-2011, 03:58 PM

Try John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River

john60ri · 07-24-2011, 04:17 PM

Anything by Willa Cather. She lived and wrote in Jaffrey NH for many years, and chose to be buried in Jaffrey near Monadnock.

Jonas Pilot · 07-24-2011, 04:19 PM

Three centuries on Winnipesaukee.

Paul Blaisdale.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1194

For some excerpts.

Great read.

CateP · 07-24-2011, 05:19 PM

I'm not really interested in NH authors specifically, but stories that take place in NH. Or historical adventure stories of early settlers. That kind of stuff.

But thanks for the list of NH authors.

Jmo77011 · 07-24-2011, 05:21 PM

"Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving is a beautiful book. Any of his books have connections to NH, and they are all good reads!

I love historical fiction. Phillipa Gregory and Karleen Koen are two of my favorites that come to mind (no connection to NH, though).

Jonas Pilot · 07-24-2011, 05:46 PM

More Yankee Yarns, Alton H. Blackington, Dodd, Mead and Co., New York, 1956.

Contents

Heroic Escapes, Captains and Cannibals, Unexpected Finds, The Man With the Hole in His Head, Rindge House Mystery, and more.

This is a fun read.

tis · 07-24-2011, 05:55 PM

Barbara Delinsky wrote "Lake News". It is light fun reading.

Jonas Pilot · 07-24-2011, 06:02 PM

Spooky New England, Tales of hauntings, strange happenings, and other local lore.

S. E. Schlosser

trfour · 07-24-2011, 06:36 PM

Some of Mondays line up.

There have been multiple Big Foot sightings in NH over the years. It turns out the Granite State is home to a number of legendary creatures. Sean McDonald goes in search of some of the most talked about, rarely seen, and extremely shy residents of our state.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/chronicle/286230...#ixzz1T4D4EhTU

I had a Big Foot that really loved Bar-b-Q'ed veggies that used to visit at the camp on Paugus Bay. He nodded off after dinner on my deck one late afternoon when an cold front and heavy snowstorm came through.
I found him the next early morning in a state of hibernation and took a picture of him. He was very shy, and didn't like his picture taken, so this is one of two that I got.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...7218&ppuser=83

Terry
__________________________________________________ ___

Sunrise Point · 07-24-2011, 06:06 PM

Cate,

I second the recommendation of Peyton Place and anything by John Irving (NH author). A group of friends here read Peyton Place about 3 summers ago and LOVED it. It's not great literature, but was an absolute scandal and blockbuster when it was written. It is supposedly based in Gilmanton, NH.

If you like to hike, a great non-fiction read is: Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure in the Presidential Range by Nicholas Howe.

I am looking forward to reading the some of the other books recommended by forum members.

Jonas Pilot · 07-24-2011, 06:11 PM

I second , Not Without Peril.

Paugus Bay Resident · 07-24-2011, 06:17 PM

Wow, nobody's put in a plug for Fritz Wetherbee? Non fiction for sure but great reads. I still treasure my Fritz bobble-head.

Every story in every one of my books has a New Hampshire connection. These are the stories you hear each evening on WMUR-TV’s “New Hampshire Chronicle.”

Good stuff. These books have historical stories and humorous stories and stories about places and things. Also there are stories about me and my “nutso” family.

The Speak N’Hampsha CD could come in handy too

http://www.fritzwetherbee.com/Fred_Wetherbee/store.html

tis · 07-24-2011, 06:22 PM

Henry Maxfield who still lives in Wolfeboro, wrote "Another Spring". I am trying to think of books that take place locally. Still thinking……

Another one: Waiting for William; letters from Wolfeboro, NH by Jacqueling Rogers Cleary. I found this a little slow but historical.

SteveA · 07-24-2011, 06:28 PM

from the NH.gov website. It's an extensive list.

http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/nhbooks/fiction.html

Non-Fiction but a wonderful read is the story of General John Stark, of "Live Free or Die" fame. The whole quote from John Stark was, "Live Free or Die, for death is not the worst of evils" The whole quote wouldn't fit on the license plates.

http://www.amazon.com/John-Stark-Mav...owViewpoints=1

Jonas Pilot · 07-24-2011, 06:44 PM

More New Hampshire Folk Tales

Gore, Effie K. & Eva A. Speare
(privately printed, 1936)

I loved reading this!

As you can tell, I'm a fan of older writers.

jeffatsquam · 07-24-2011, 08:44 PM

I can Third not without peril

the best story about the earliest settlers of this area is
" look to the mountains" by La grand Cannon

I also very much enjoyed "high sheriff" a story about the Carroll county sheriff in the 1920"s and thirty's

mg2107 · 07-24-2011, 08:50 PM

Look To The Mountain by Legrand Cannon. Its about early settlers at the foot of Mt. Chocoura. Good tale. I'm sure most of the local librarys have it . If not Amazon does.

CARDER LANE · 07-24-2011, 09:47 PM

This book by Judson Hale is a great read. He is/was the editor of Yankee magazine.

Jmo77011 · 07-25-2011, 05:34 AM

Yes! I third "Look to the Mountain". I was trying to remember the author but couldn't come up with the name. Great book!

07-24-2011, 03:08 PM	#1
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Good NH Historical Fiction Recommendation I am looking for some recommendations for a good book that takes place in NH and is historical fiction. (I like to be entertained by a good story while learning something). It could be non-fiction too, but not too dense. (it's summer afterall) Thanks in advance for your title recommendations.

07-24-2011, 03:27 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Oh, the places you'll go...! Payton Place by Grace Metalious Cell by Stephen King Our Town by Thornton Wilder (hated that book when I was in high school - now I love it...) Then there's some great NH authors: Robert Frost Dr. Suess (probably not what you had in mind - but a brilliant man!) (I can recite Green Eggs and Ham from cover to cover from memory!) Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) J.D. Salinger

07-24-2011, 03:55 PM	#4
skprbob Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 19 Mile Bay Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 90 Times in 29 Posts	books & authors Any/all of the above are excellent titles and authors and would be highly recommended. Mark Twain spent time in Dublin, NH so I suppose he could qualify as a NH author. In the area of "pulp fiction" there's "Mystery on the Mount" and "Nazi Gold in New Hampshire" which are set around the Lake and involve the Mt. Washington. Finally, there's "Revenge of the Elegant Lady" - possibly the worst written story I've ever had the pleasure to read. Set on the Lake and so bad it should be read by everyone!

07-24-2011, 03:58 PM	#5
MDoug Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 342 Thanks: 116 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Good Read Try John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River

07-24-2011, 04:17 PM	#6
john60ri Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pawtucket RI Posts: 146 Thanks: 1 Thanked 22 Times in 16 Posts	NH authors Anything by Willa Cather. She lived and wrote in Jaffrey NH for many years, and chose to be buried in Jaffrey near Monadnock.

07-24-2011, 03:39 PM	#3
beaner Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 178 Thanks: 17 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	More NH authors worth checking out: Jodi Picoult Lisa Gardner

07-24-2011, 04:19 PM	#7
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Three centuries on Winnipesaukee. Paul Blaisdale. http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1194 For some excerpts. Great read.

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CateP (07-24-2011)

07-24-2011, 05:19 PM	#8
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	I'm not really interested in NH authors specifically, but stories that take place in NH. Or historical adventure stories of early settlers. That kind of stuff. But thanks for the list of NH authors.

07-24-2011, 05:21 PM	#9
Jmo77011 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 86 Thanks: 60 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	Good Thread "Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving is a beautiful book. Any of his books have connections to NH, and they are all good reads! I love historical fiction. Phillipa Gregory and Karleen Koen are two of my favorites that come to mind (no connection to NH, though).

07-24-2011, 05:46 PM	#10
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	More Yankee Yarns, Alton H. Blackington, Dodd, Mead and Co., New York, 1956. Contents Heroic Escapes, Captains and Cannibals, Unexpected Finds, The Man With the Hole in His Head, Rindge House Mystery, and more. This is a fun read.

07-24-2011, 05:55 PM	#11
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,744 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	Barbara Delinsky wrote "Lake News". It is light fun reading.

07-24-2011, 06:02 PM	#12
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Spooky New England Spooky New England, Tales of hauntings, strange happenings, and other local lore. S. E. Schlosser

07-24-2011, 06:36 PM	#13
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	NH Chronicle Is Also Fun To Watch Some of Mondays line up. There have been multiple Big Foot sightings in NH over the years. It turns out the Granite State is home to a number of legendary creatures. Sean McDonald goes in search of some of the most talked about, rarely seen, and extremely shy residents of our state. Read more: http://www.wmur.com/chronicle/286230...#ixzz1T4D4EhTU I had a Big Foot that really loved Bar-b-Q'ed veggies that used to visit at the camp on Paugus Bay. He nodded off after dinner on my deck one late afternoon when an cold front and heavy snowstorm came through. I found him the next early morning in a state of hibernation and took a picture of him. He was very shy, and didn't like his picture taken, so this is one of two that I got. http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...7218&ppuser=83 Terry __________________________________________________ ___ __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html Last edited by trfour; 07-25-2011 at 11:02 PM.

07-24-2011, 06:06 PM	#14
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Cate, I second the recommendation of Peyton Place and anything by John Irving (NH author). A group of friends here read Peyton Place about 3 summers ago and LOVED it. It's not great literature, but was an absolute scandal and blockbuster when it was written. It is supposedly based in Gilmanton, NH. If you like to hike, a great non-fiction read is: Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure in the Presidential Range by Nicholas Howe. I am looking forward to reading the some of the other books recommended by forum members.

07-24-2011, 06:11 PM	#15
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I second , Not Without Peril.

07-24-2011, 06:17 PM	#16
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	Wow, nobody's put in a plug for Fritz Wetherbee? Non fiction for sure but great reads. I still treasure my Fritz bobble-head. Every story in every one of my books has a New Hampshire connection. These are the stories you hear each evening on WMUR-TV’s “New Hampshire Chronicle.” Good stuff. These books have historical stories and humorous stories and stories about places and things. Also there are stories about me and my “nutso” family. The Speak N’Hampsha CD could come in handy too http://www.fritzwetherbee.com/Fred_Wetherbee/store.html

07-24-2011, 06:22 PM	#17
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,744 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	Henry Maxfield who still lives in Wolfeboro, wrote "Another Spring". I am trying to think of books that take place locally. Still thinking…… Another one: Waiting for William; letters from Wolfeboro, NH by Jacqueling Rogers Cleary. I found this a little slow but historical.

07-24-2011, 06:28 PM	#18
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Check out this list... from the NH.gov website. It's an extensive list. http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/nhbooks/fiction.html Non-Fiction but a wonderful read is the story of General John Stark, of "Live Free or Die" fame. The whole quote from John Stark was, "Live Free or Die, for death is not the worst of evils" The whole quote wouldn't fit on the license plates. http://www.amazon.com/John-Stark-Mav...owViewpoints=1 __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

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CateP (07-24-2011)

07-24-2011, 06:44 PM	#19
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	More New Hampshire Folk Tales Gore, Effie K. & Eva A. Speare (privately printed, 1936) I loved reading this! As you can tell, I'm a fan of older writers.

07-24-2011, 08:44 PM	#20
jeffatsquam Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: moultonborough/sandwich Posts: 187 Thanks: 173 Thanked 77 Times in 50 Posts	I can Third not without peril the best story about the earliest settlers of this area is " look to the mountains" by La grand Cannon I also very much enjoyed "high sheriff" a story about the Carroll county sheriff in the 1920"s and thirty's

07-24-2011, 08:50 PM	#21
mg2107 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 169 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Look To The Mountain by Legrand Cannon. Its about early settlers at the foot of Mt. Chocoura. Good tale. I'm sure most of the local librarys have it . If not Amazon does.

07-24-2011, 09:47 PM	#22
CARDER LANE Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 10 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Eduction of a Yankee This book by Judson Hale is a great read. He is/was the editor of Yankee magazine.

07-25-2011, 05:34 AM	#23
Jmo77011 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 86 Thanks: 60 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	Yes! I third "Look to the Mountain". I was trying to remember the author but couldn't come up with the name. Great book!

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KPW (08-02-2011)