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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent read. Interesting, a different take on a woman people view as simply "the wronged wife" or "the elderly, nearly-barren wife". Loved all the scenery of Spain and life with Ferdinand and Isabella vs. the Moors, as well.
Obviously I have no idea if the major supposition is true, but at least it makes sense. I loved TOBG, but I think this one is better!
Obviously I have no idea if the major supposition is true, but at least it makes sense. I loved TOBG, but I think this one is better!
A fictional look into the youth and early years of being the first wife of Henry VIII. I admit that I do not know much about Katherine of Aragon beyond the "stupid rhyme" (as said in the Musical Six). But as with other books of hers I have read, Philippa Gregory has brought an engrossing and entertaining look at on of the Six.
+++++
This was my July "Blind Date with my Bookcase"
+++++
This was my July "Blind Date with my Bookcase"
I gave the book 5 stars for the entertainment factor.
After King Henry the VIII learns more of women, he knows without a doubt that Catalina was indeed, no virgin when she came to his bed. His heart however never strays from Queen Katherine.
Until, he meets a young girl with a strong mind, a stubborn demeanor, and more ambition than any Queen could hope to stand against.
Anne Boleyn.
Which Catalina loses her throne to. I believe, if memory serves me correctly, Catalina was the only Queen to get away from King Henry VIII with her head still intact to the rest of her body.
I was interested to know more about the first Queen of King Henry VIII. Of course, this book is Fiction, but Philippe Gregory's books are generally always based on the facts that she can find, and also what makes the most sense, of the information that she can't find, the information that is still a mystery to the world, as all the people who know the true story are long dead.
Now that I've read this, I honestly think that Catalina, or Katherine, probably helped pave the way for Queen Elizabeth in her own time period.
I think that, although England had never had, and would most likely never accept a woman ruler, Catalina, who basically ran the show for King Henry VIII, opened the minds of the people to Queen Elizabeth, even though she wouldn't come to the throne for many many years to come.
Anyways, it's a good read.
I thought it could have ended a little more gracefully. She seems to go from saving the Scots, to going into her trial when King Henry wants their marriage annulled withing pages. With no mention really of her Daughter Mary, how her husband did against the French, anything like that.
That would be my main complaint about it.
Pick it up! Or, see if the library has it. Worth taking a look at. Especially if your in love with that time period, as I of course, am.
CJ
Until, he meets a young girl with a strong mind, a stubborn demeanor, and more ambition than any Queen could hope to stand against.
Anne Boleyn.
Which Catalina loses her throne to. I believe, if memory serves me correctly, Catalina was the only Queen to get away from King Henry VIII with her head still intact to the rest of her body.
I was interested to know more about the first Queen of King Henry VIII. Of course, this book is Fiction, but Philippe Gregory's books are generally always based on the facts that she can find, and also what makes the most sense, of the information that she can't find, the information that is still a mystery to the world, as all the people who know the true story are long dead.
Now that I've read this, I honestly think that Catalina, or Katherine, probably helped pave the way for Queen Elizabeth in her own time period.
I think that, although England had never had, and would most likely never accept a woman ruler, Catalina, who basically ran the show for King Henry VIII, opened the minds of the people to Queen Elizabeth, even though she wouldn't come to the throne for many many years to come.
Anyways, it's a good read.
I thought it could have ended a little more gracefully. She seems to go from saving the Scots, to going into her trial when King Henry wants their marriage annulled withing pages. With no mention really of her Daughter Mary, how her husband did against the French, anything like that.
That would be my main complaint about it.
Pick it up! Or, see if the library has it. Worth taking a look at. Especially if your in love with that time period, as I of course, am.
CJ
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Glossy version of Henry the VIII first wife. Long diary entries. Having read Wolf Hall, I just couldn't stand this romanticized version of the time & person. Not my kind of book.
Eleanor Hibbert writing as Jean Plaidy covered this stuff WAY better than this author. (Eleanor Hibbert was also known as Victoria Holt which more Americans are familiar with).
Really interesting historic fiction - I wish I had time to read more of it each time I sat down to read because it was very compelling. As per the author's usual, this book is densely packed with details about the Tudor reign, in this case the early days of Catalina, aka Queen Katherine of Aragon, before and during her marriage to Henry VIII.
I've not read an angle like this before when it comes to Katherine and I found it gripping and creative. Really fresh and intelligent.
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is specifically about the early years of Katherine of Aragon. If you're looking for the drama between Henry VIII and his many other wives, this is not it. It's a good read and it is a great set up for Gregory's flagship novel, the Other Boleyn Girl.