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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Historical fiction and chick lit are not my usual genres. I think I picked up a copy of this book after finding Katherine of Aragon the most intriguing figure in the Showtime series THE TUDORS. I already knew the basic historical facts, but I found Katherine as a fictionalized character quite interesting. I continued to find her intriguing for the first half of the novel especially as she describes her childhood in Spain and how she perceives her parents, Ferdinand and Isabella. The book keeps returning to that material to illustrate how the maturing Katherine's understanding of her parents changes. And it becomes tedious. The same is true of her evolving perceptions of the English court and English politics. I skimmed my way through the last third. The story is told well enough, though exhaustively. Apparently I didn't want to know quite this much about the character.
Didn't care for the way they changed between 3rd person and 1st person (regular text vs italicized) and the last few chapters about military movements was rather dull and didn't add anything to the overall story.
I don't care how historically inaccurate this story may be, it totally swept me up and I loved it-- and I'm not usually one for historical romances. I read this two years ago and I just remember feeling all warm and fuzzy and then heartbroken and angsty as I went on this journey with Katherine of Aragon.
Favorite book of the Tudor Court series by far-- reading the Other Boleyn Girl after this felt like a big disappointment.
Favorite book of the Tudor Court series by far-- reading the Other Boleyn Girl after this felt like a big disappointment.
I received this book from my calculation in Dec 2006 (books used to always be delayed in Aus, once they discovered printers and email in about 2010 onwards, this began to change) from my grandfather for Christmas.
Dar would have hated this book. Which is sort of hilarious. He would of hated the supposition and the lack of facts. He did like historical fiction, but only if there was a murder involved. I however got a bit more out of this book, although did lament the lack of murders.
This book made me realise how little I knew of Catherine of Aragon. I knew her name, but had no idea she was the daughter of Queen Isabella who took back Grenada from the Moors for example (Phwar, respect!). I also had no concept of her being married to Prince Arthur (who the fuck is that?) before Henry. Which, makes a lot of the hours I spent watching The Tudors make a lot more sense instead of just focusing of King GrumpFace and Duke SexyPants.
This book, again, needed an editor. Every time, something happened in the story, and then we were subjected to a retelling of what we just read in italics which was Catherine's mind. It was like a drunk person recounting a story in infinite detail as they forgot you were right there at the time.
I put this book off for so long as I didn't know how to tackle her books as every time I blink the series gets longer. I am glad I jumped in somewhere. But god I hope the writing picks up.
Dar would have hated this book. Which is sort of hilarious. He would of hated the supposition and the lack of facts. He did like historical fiction, but only if there was a murder involved. I however got a bit more out of this book, although did lament the lack of murders.
This book made me realise how little I knew of Catherine of Aragon. I knew her name, but had no idea she was the daughter of Queen Isabella who took back Grenada from the Moors for example (Phwar, respect!). I also had no concept of her being married to Prince Arthur (who the fuck is that?) before Henry. Which, makes a lot of the hours I spent watching The Tudors make a lot more sense instead of just focusing of King GrumpFace and Duke SexyPants.
This book, again, needed an editor. Every time, something happened in the story, and then we were subjected to a retelling of what we just read in italics which was Catherine's mind. It was like a drunk person recounting a story in infinite detail as they forgot you were right there at the time.
I put this book off for so long as I didn't know how to tackle her books as every time I blink the series gets longer. I am glad I jumped in somewhere. But god I hope the writing picks up.
slow-paced
Catarina de Aragão é uma das filhas de Isabel de Castela com Fernando de Aragão, rivais e amantes.
Ficou noiva de Artur, filho de Henrique VII, aos 3 anos e foi treinada desde criança para ser Princesa de Gales e Rainha de Inglaterra.
Quando era mais nova viajou muito com os pais por Espanha, assistiu a muitas batalhas com os Mouros e aprendeu muita coisa que tentou sempre transmitir à corte inglesa.
Teve muita dificuldade na adaptação a Inglaterra por ser um país muito mais frio, com comida e costumes muito diferentes dos seus.
Infelizmente Artur morreu 5 meses depois do casamento e Catarina, depois de várias peripécias, acaba por casar com Henrique VIII, irmão mais novo de Artur.
De todos os livros que li até agora sobre esta saga e sobre todas estas mulheres importantes ao longo da história de Inglaterra, Catarina de Aragão foi das minhas preferidas. Não sei se por ter sido treinada desde cedo, se por ter nascido em Espanha ou por ser naturalmente seu, foi uma mulher determinada, inteligente, destemida, corajosa, refilona, respondona, lutadora e indomável, a verdadeira mulher de pelo na venta. Não se resignou, lutou pelo que queria mesmo num cenário com poucas probabilidades de sucesso e sozinha. Que esta mulher possa ainda inspirar muitas outras.
Ficou noiva de Artur, filho de Henrique VII, aos 3 anos e foi treinada desde criança para ser Princesa de Gales e Rainha de Inglaterra.
Quando era mais nova viajou muito com os pais por Espanha, assistiu a muitas batalhas com os Mouros e aprendeu muita coisa que tentou sempre transmitir à corte inglesa.
Teve muita dificuldade na adaptação a Inglaterra por ser um país muito mais frio, com comida e costumes muito diferentes dos seus.
Infelizmente Artur morreu 5 meses depois do casamento e Catarina, depois de várias peripécias, acaba por casar com Henrique VIII, irmão mais novo de Artur.
De todos os livros que li até agora sobre esta saga e sobre todas estas mulheres importantes ao longo da história de Inglaterra, Catarina de Aragão foi das minhas preferidas. Não sei se por ter sido treinada desde cedo, se por ter nascido em Espanha ou por ser naturalmente seu, foi uma mulher determinada, inteligente, destemida, corajosa, refilona, respondona, lutadora e indomável, a verdadeira mulher de pelo na venta. Não se resignou, lutou pelo que queria mesmo num cenário com poucas probabilidades de sucesso e sozinha. Que esta mulher possa ainda inspirar muitas outras.
I decided that I wanted to re-read Philippa Gregory's series on the Tudor's in order, to try and get a better feel of the history. According to a timeline found online, The Constant Princess should be read first.
I really loved this book, as I've loved all of hers. I'm not a major English history buff, so I don't know anything about the historical accuracy of the novels, but they're great to get a basic timeline and a wonderful story.
I really loved this book, as I've loved all of hers. I'm not a major English history buff, so I don't know anything about the historical accuracy of the novels, but they're great to get a basic timeline and a wonderful story.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the goodness of Catherine of Aragon.