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How authentic is the culture and era represented in the book?

I wondered this myself, but since I have never been to the areas mentioned in this book (and I've certainly never been to the times the story takes place in! haha) I just gave Kristi the benefit of the doubt that she had done her research and knew what she was talking about.

ALynnPowers wrote:I wondered this myself, but since I have never been to the areas mentioned in this book (and I've certainly never been to the times the story takes place in! haha) I just gave Kristi the benefit of the doubt that she had done her research and knew what she was talking about.

Likewise!

This is the one part of the country I have never been to. I can't even imagine what a hot, dry place feels like! It's so humid where I am from!

ALynnPowers wrote:This is the one part of the country I have never been to. I can't even imagine what a hot, dry place feels like! It's so humid where I am from!

I have never been there as well. It is humid and hot where I am though.

At the very least, the culture and era is simplified and exaggerated for the purpose of furthering the drama and plotline of the story. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure this story is better viewed as a romance that happens to take place during a previous time than historical fiction that happens to include a love story. The reader gets just enough detail to encourage the imagination and no more.

L_Therese wrote:At the very least, the culture and era is simplified and exaggerated for the purpose of furthering the drama and plotline of the story. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure this story is better viewed as a romance that happens to take place during a previous time than historical fiction that happens to include a love story. The reader gets just enough detail to encourage the imagination and no more.

I agree with you to a certain extent. However, sometimes books that combine too many genres (in this case - romance, historical, fantasy) can wind up with a too-busy plot and an excess of description if all of the genres are explored in too much detail. I think it's a difficult balancing act.

ALynnPowers wrote:I wondered this myself, but since I have never been to the areas mentioned in this book (and I've certainly never been to the times the story takes place in! haha) I just gave Kristi the benefit of the doubt that she had done her research and knew what she was talking about.

I agree. I just assumed that all the information that the author wrote was properly researched and correct.

I always like a historical 'living and breathing' vibe. I also can allow artistic licence such that the book reads well, instead of being just a documentary piece.

bookowlie wrote:

L_Therese wrote:At the very least, the culture and era is simplified and exaggerated for the purpose of furthering the drama and plotline of the story. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure this story is better viewed as a romance that happens to take place during a previous time than historical fiction that happens to include a love story. The reader gets just enough detail to encourage the imagination and no more.

I agree with you to a certain extent. However, sometimes books that combine too many genres (in this case - romance, historical, fantasy) can wind up with a too-busy plot and an excess of description if all of the genres are explored in too much detail. I think it's a difficult balancing act.

Agreed. It is quite difficult to pull off.

I feel that this book pulls in too many elements to accurate depict an era. Even though I am not entirely knowledgeable about it, I will accept its accuracy with a grain of salt

What do you mean by too many elements?

Funnily enough I got to see the running man for first time from the beginning, and found it unable to create a future era... More like big 80s glitz with superior technology.

Nit an easy thing transposing time periods.

I meant that the book has a lot to work and develop. The romance has to be believable, especially since they come from such different cultures with-historically- really complicated and tense relations. The differing time periods and their reconciliation are also somethings to be considered. Basically, what I meant is that there's a lot for the author to juggle.

I do think it is over-exaggerated a bit and things were not always so cut and dry, but I only have old western shows to go off of. They are very over-exaggerated and women are always treated like dirt on them, so maybe there is some truth to it.

L_Therese wrote:At the very least, the culture and era is simplified and exaggerated for the purpose of furthering the drama and plotline of the story. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure this story is better viewed as a romance that happens to take place during a previous time than historical fiction that happens to include a love story. The reader gets just enough detail to encourage the imagination and no more.

True that, stories sometimes don't pay much attention to pedantics as that requires a great deal of research, that of which mayhap only a Phd doctorate in history can fully provide. And 'Therese', how can you say you are no expert?!? You apparently read 1667 books in just three years; oh gawd! I hope that has improved your brainpower and imagination...

I remember when I first bought a ten volume set of romance volumes in my first year in university, mainly for show. There certainly is drama in love stories over the most trivial of affairs that indeed are enhanced by a bit of 'fudging' of the culture, era, and mayhap social norms associated with such a setting - most of which would have been lost in time I would gather since historians are not perfect.

1667 books??!?? Seriously?