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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wonder what Philippa Gregory was going for in this novel, because she certainly didn't give us a likable heroine in the slightest. Beatrice Lacey is one of the most horrible, nasty protagonists I've read...and honestly I enjoyed her scandalous behavior. I went into this novel knowing that she was a universally disliked character, and I think that really helped my overall enjoyment of this.
I did find myself actually wishing Beatrice would get her way during parts of the novel, which surprised me. While she is such a hateful creature, I felt Gregory did a really good job of making her someone I could root for. The more the story progressed, the less I felt that way, but there were times when I totally could get behind her.
This is definitely not a novel for people that are easily disgusted by very, very scandalous behavior--not only does Beatrice help out in having people murdered, but she has an incestuous relationship that is really foul and disgusting. She will do anything necessary to keep Wideacre under her control....anything.
It's one of those books a reader should go into expecting to be shocked and entertained by outrageous behavior. It seems a lot of readers have gone into it expecting something along the lines of Gregory's newer novels and finding something much more gritty and scandalous. It's a long, sordid tale that is definitely not for the faint-of-heart.
I did find myself actually wishing Beatrice would get her way during parts of the novel, which surprised me. While she is such a hateful creature, I felt Gregory did a really good job of making her someone I could root for. The more the story progressed, the less I felt that way, but there were times when I totally could get behind her.
This is definitely not a novel for people that are easily disgusted by very, very scandalous behavior--not only does Beatrice help out in having people murdered, but she has an incestuous relationship that is really foul and disgusting. She will do anything necessary to keep Wideacre under her control....anything.
It's one of those books a reader should go into expecting to be shocked and entertained by outrageous behavior. It seems a lot of readers have gone into it expecting something along the lines of Gregory's newer novels and finding something much more gritty and scandalous. It's a long, sordid tale that is definitely not for the faint-of-heart.
Beatrice Lacy is horrible and crazy and perhaps one of the most vile characters I have come across - but I actually almost liked her despite all this.
I was fascinated to see what she would do next, and this story is very memorable to me. It was the first Phillipa Gregory book I read, and I loved the way she was ballsy enough to write something so dark and twisted, I haven't found her other books have had as much guts to them.
Update 2nd read: It's been several years since I last read this, and the order of some events were mixed in my memory, but once again it felt like a train wreck waiting to happen, as you keep wondering just how far Beatrice will go to keep her farm under her control. I remembered how much I like Dr John McAndrew. This is the best Gregory book I've read.
I was fascinated to see what she would do next, and this story is very memorable to me. It was the first Phillipa Gregory book I read, and I loved the way she was ballsy enough to write something so dark and twisted, I haven't found her other books have had as much guts to them.
Update 2nd read: It's been several years since I last read this, and the order of some events were mixed in my memory, but once again it felt like a train wreck waiting to happen, as you keep wondering just how far Beatrice will go to keep her farm under her control. I remembered how much I like Dr John McAndrew. This is the best Gregory book I've read.
Nice basic idea but badly developed. Very boring and disappointing...I really struggled to finish it.
One of the all time worst books I have ever read. I was so disgusted with the main character I felt unclean. I eventually just stopped reading it, and threw it across the room.
the writing was good but I really struggled to connect to this story due to the main character's self-centered behavior.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVE Phillippa Gregory. I don't love porn. And there is definitely a lot of sex, much of which is disturbing. Gregory is such a good author, so I push through the incest scenes and the twisted murder scenes because you want to know if this heroine you both love and hate will find redemption. You find yourself rooting for her, and then rooting against her, and then you feel conflicted altogether because you are not sure what you want, but it's not what is actually happening. But as much as I love her writing, towards the end it just dragged and you already know what is going to happen so you kinda just want Ralph to come out and kill her already. Probably my least favorite Gregory book. But I still love her.
I wanted to like this more as I have trouble finding good historical fiction based in the 18th century alas it was not as I hoped. I had good hopes for this novel as the librarian who helped me find it said it was one of her favorite books. Well, ma'am, I no longer trust your judgement in books.
I enjoyed the first part of it but as Beatrice grew up she got crazier and crazier. I understand she wanted to own Wideacre but still, come on. I liked all the characters a vast amount more than I liked her. I wanted to root for her as I understood the laws that she was fighting against but the methods she used to get what she wanted are unspeakable.
It also didn't help that Gregory didn't use accurate descriptions in her wardrobe so along with Beatrice pissing me off I had the author writing that the silk and velvet were against her bare skin. Lies I tell you, lies.
I enjoyed the first part of it but as Beatrice grew up she got crazier and crazier. I understand she wanted to own Wideacre but still, come on. I liked all the characters a vast amount more than I liked her. I wanted to root for her as I understood the laws that she was fighting against but the methods she used to get what she wanted are unspeakable.
It also didn't help that Gregory didn't use accurate descriptions in her wardrobe so along with Beatrice pissing me off I had the author writing that the silk and velvet were against her bare skin. Lies I tell you, lies.