Books Like...
'How Green Was My Valley' by Richard Llewellyn is a novel set in a small Welsh mining town in South Wales during the Victorian era. The book follows the life of Huw Morgan and his family, providing a snapshot of life in that time period. The novel beautifully captures the highs and lows of life in a simpler time, conveying the joy found in simple things through its beautiful prose.
If you liked How Green Was My Valley, here are the top 59 books to read next:
- #1
Save:'Here Be Dragons' is a historical fiction novel set in the late 1100s to early 1200s, focusing on the lives of Prince Llewelyn of Wales and Joanna, the illegitimate daughter of King John of England. The narrative intricately weaves political allegiances, complex family dynamics, and the tumultuous relationship between England and Wales. Through Joanna's perspective, the story explores themes of loyalty, love, and the struggles faced by the Welsh against the backdrop of English dominion. The author, Sharon Kay Penman, immerses readers in a richly detailed historical setting, bringing to life the characters and their motivations while depicting the socio-political landscape of medieval times.
Penman's writing style is characterized by its vivid character development and meticulous attention to historical accuracy. Readers have noted her ability to create a compelling narrative that balances romance and political intrigue, making the historical events both engaging and relatable. The novel's pacing allows for a deep exploration of its characters, particularly Joanna and Llewelyn, capturing their emotional journeys amidst the larger historical context. Despite the book's considerable length, many readers found it to be a captivating read that drew them into the lives of its characters and the complexities of their world.
He was ten years old and an alien in an unfriendly land, made an unwilling exile by his mother’s marriage to a Marcher border lord. His new stepfather seemed a kindly man, but he was not of Llewelyn’s... - #2
Save:'Ragged Alice' by Gareth L. Powell is a fast-paced paranormal crime novel set in a small Welsh town, following DCI Holly Craig as she returns to her hometown to investigate a murder. The story unfolds with a blend of police procedural and supernatural elements, where the body count rises with every tide, and the spirits of the dead are ever present. The book is praised for its evocative descriptions of Wales, intriguing characters like Mrs. Phillips, and a plot that keeps readers engaged until the surprising ending.
BY THE TIME DCI Holly Craig pulled up at the scene, the local police had closed the road and placed a tent over the body. The last traces of the night’s rain had blown inland on a stiff southwesterly,... - #3
Save:'A String in the Harp' by Nancy Bond is a story about a family coping with the loss of their mother and adjusting to a new life in Wales. The plot follows the Morgan family as they navigate their grief, healing, and coming of age experiences. The story intertwines elements of Welsh mythology, time travel, and family dynamics, creating a blend of fantasy and realism. The writing style is described as meandering, capturing the moods of a young family in a realistic way, with a focus on character development and emotional depth.
- #4
Save:'A Kestrel for a Knave' by Barry Hines is a poignant story set in a northern mining town, focusing on the life of Billy Casper, a troubled working-class boy who finds solace in training a kestrel. The narrative delves into Billy's harsh reality, including his strained relationships with his family and the challenges he faces at school. Through Billy's bond with the kestrel, the story explores themes of hope, love, and the harshness of life in a working-class community, all depicted with a keen eye for detail and a mix of melancholy and humor.
The novel beautifully captures Billy's struggles and moments of personal growth, intertwined with the bleakness of his surroundings and the limited opportunities he faces. Barry Hines weaves a compelling tale that showcases the transformative power of love and responsibility, offering a glimpse into the harsh yet hopeful world of a young boy trying to navigate his circumstances through his connection with a kestrel.
THERE WERE no curtains up. The window was a hard edged block the colour of the night sky. Inside the bedroom the darkness was of a gritty texture. The wardrobe and bed were blurred shapes in the darkn... - #5
Save:'In the Shadow of the Banyan' by Vaddey Ratner is a fictionalized memoir that vividly portrays the horrors of life in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime through the eyes of a child. The story follows seven-year-old Raami and her family as they face the brutality of the Organization, struggle to survive, and find solace in storytelling and poetry amidst great hardship and tragedy. The author's lyrical and poetic writing style beautifully captures the emotional turmoil and resilience of the characters, leaving a haunting impact on the readers.
War entered my childhood world not with the blasts of rockets and bombs but with my father’s footsteps as he walked through the hallway, passing my bedroom toward his. I heard the door open and shut w... - #6
Save:'Aberystwyth Mon Amour' by Malcolm Pryce is a humorous and entertaining spoof of hard-boiled detective stories, set in a parallel universe where Wales is run by a mafia of Druids. The story follows private detective Louie Knight as he investigates the disappearance of a schoolboy in the mean streets of Aberystwyth, encountering strange characters, surreal events, and dark humor along the way. The book is written in a 'noir' style, blending PI investigations, dames, murder, and mayhem with witty and dark humor, creating a unique and engaging narrative that pays homage to the detective genre.
The novel is set in a fictional version of Aberystwyth that is both familiar and fantastical, filled with references to Welsh culture and landmarks. The plot unfolds rapidly, keeping readers engaged with a mix of humor, mystery, and clever storytelling. Pryce's writing style combines elements of Raymond Chandler and Dylan Thomas, creating a rich and fantastical mythology within the familiar setting of Aberystwyth, making the book a clever and enjoyable read for fans of detective fiction and Welsh culture alike.
THE THING I remember most about it was walking the entire length of the Prom that morning and not seeing a Druid. Normally when I made my stroll shortly before 9am I would see a few hanging around at ... - #7
Save:Roughing It by Mark Twain is a semi-non-fiction travel literature that chronicles Twain's experiences during his six years out west from 1861 to 1867. The book details Twain's time prospecting for gold, navigating through the Old West, and finding his path as a writer. It offers a mix of stories, anecdotes, and tall tales, capturing the essence of the time period and the adventurous spirit of the American West. Twain's writing style blends humor, wit, and a touch of exaggeration, providing a vivid depiction of his travels and encounters during this transformative period in his life.
This book is merely a personal narrative, and not a pretentious history or a philosophical dissertation. It is a record of several years of variegated vagabondizing, and its object is rather to help t... - #8
Save:Emile Zola's 'Germinal' is a powerful novel that delves into the lives of coal miners in Northern France during the 1860s. The book vividly portrays the harsh working conditions, the desperate poverty of the miners' families, and the contrast with the bourgeois managers. Through the lens of a coal miners' strike, Zola explores themes of social injustice, labor movements, and the human struggle for better living conditions. The writing style is described as brutally honest, committed, and unrelenting, capturing the reader's attention with its vivid descriptions and deep exploration of human relationships in the face of adversity.
Out on the open plain, on a starless, ink-dark night, a lone man was following the highway from Marchiennes to Montsou, ten kilometres of paved road that cut directly across the fields of beet. He cou... - #9
Save:Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam is a memoir about a boy growing up in a coal mining town who starts building rockets. Inspired by the start of the space race, Sonny and his friends in southern West Virginia build and launch model rockets, eventually winning the National Science Fair. The book vividly captures small-town America in the 1950s, the characters, and the relationships, making the reader feel the ups and downs of Sonny's journey towards his dream of becoming a rocket engineer.
UNTIL I BEGAN to build and launch rockets, I didn’t know my hometown was at war with itself over its children and that my parents were locked in a kind of bloodless combat over how my brother and I wo... - #10
Save:'Under Milk Wood' by Dylan Thomas is a radio play that captures a day in the life of the small Welsh village of Llareggub. Through dreams, secrets, desires, and fears of the villagers, the narrative unfolds in a poetic and dreamlike manner. The play is a blend of humor, sadness, and lyricism, portraying the ordinary yet magical events of a quotidian day in a Welsh town. Characters are introduced as they sleep, their dreams are laid bare, and as they wake, the audience moves through the day with them, experiencing the nuances of small-town life.
The play is a symphony of language, evocative poetry in prose, best heard rather than read. Dylan Thomas' rich and descriptive language makes the book a must-read for lovers of the English language. The narrative is filled with unique characters that are both humorous and poignant, creating a vivid and immersive experience that showcases Thomas' genius in storytelling.
It is Spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters’-and-rabbits’ wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, cr...
