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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
On one hand I found myself despising Beatrice for everything she did, and she made me so angry with her narcissism - constantly referring to herself as beautiful and talking about her 'lovely body'. But as the book progressed, I started to almost feel sorry for her. The way she felt she had to do all these horrible acts to keep hold of Wideacre for herself, but they only contributed to her downfall. The way she no longer felt any love for the land she loved when she was younger and worked so hard for, the way she was ignored and hated by people who once loved her. I was both frustrated and quite enthralled by the book so I kept reading it, although from about the middle it was obvious how it would conclude. I think she is one of the few protagonists that I have really truly despised, but like I said my emotions became conflicted as the horrific acts lessened and she lost control. Her treatment of John was especially cruel and I actually found that part quite hard to read.
I'd recommend it if you're a fan of historical fiction that's a bit... saucier than usual, let's say. There's some squeamish parts that I don't really want to go into, and I think the main thing that kept me reading was that Beatrice's character was just so horrible, I wanted to see how it all ended.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
I'd recommend it if you're a fan of historical fiction that's a bit... saucier than usual, let's say. There's some squeamish parts that I don't really want to go into, and I think the main thing that kept me reading was that Beatrice's character was just so horrible, I wanted to see how it all ended.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
As always, I love Philippa Gregory's writing. Wideacre is certainly very different from her other works and wow, it has some pretty intense scenes. It challenged me and captured me at the same time. I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" the story but I couldn't put it down. I particularly appreciated the way in which Gregory managed incorporate themes of social inequality and really highlighted the suffering of the poor due to the individual choices of the rich. When reading, I couldn't help but think that not much has changed in some respects. Will be reading the next book for sure.
Passionate but poorly executed. I really wanted to like this book, but I found it clumsy and drawn out in places. Some passages made me cringe. I absolutely understood the feminist theme and that Beatrice was striving against the patriarchy, but the pagan goddess that Gregory was trying to portray didn't work for me.
Not so much....Not her best work....couldn't even finish it.
Absolutely awful! The main female character of Beatrice Lacey is proposed to be a better version of Gone With The Wind's Scarlett o'Hara and the only thing they have in common is that they both love the land of their home and will do anything for it. But while Scarlett is a character to root for in her ruthlessness, Beatrice Lacey is just plain trash. If you can get by the incest, baby swapping and brotherly seduction you might just enjoy it, but VC Andrews did a much better job working with less.
I liked the descent into madness of the main character
What a curious and, ultimately, brilliant book. If you're looking for a traditional historical romance, you won't enjoy this. If you're looking for a richly imagined novel that draws on a deep knowledge of rural traditions and of the dark powers behind the pastoral ideal, then you will find this book utterly involving. Beatrice, the heroine, is maddeningly self-absorbed, but she is absolutely real in the way that pagan goddesses are real -- seductive, enchanting, terrifying, destructive. Her actions have consequences that are completely believable, unlike those of Scarlett O'Hara (to whom she's been compared). Her name in Latin means "she who blesses," and Gregory invests that fact with all possible irony. Gregory knows her stuff, both mythically and politically, and she offers a sharp, edgy portrait of just what the infant years of the Industrial Age meant to the English countryside. And, oh yes, there's plenty of sex (though not overly explicit) for those who like that sort of thing.
Both loved and hated it. Not at all into the incest or villainous main character, but it was a page turner and I feel a bit lost now that I've finished- I was definitely absorbed into their world.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fucking wow! I hated every moment of this, I don't respect a single one of these characters at all (Except Celia).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Incest, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy
I purchased this book not knowing anything about it other than it was written by Philippa Gregory. I found it while I was browsing through my local BookOff for a mere $5. I feel as though I got my money’s worth and more!
What I loved most about this book was the despicable heroine, Beatrice Lacey. She’s a headstrong, wickedly smart, ridiculously selfish, and borderline crazy. No wait, she’s insane. Honestly, that’s what makes me like her all the more. I love a good villain! I love it more when the villain is the protagonist/antagonist in the story. I found myself cheering her on even though I knew she would get her just desserts eventually.
It was easy to empathize with Beatrice as I read her story. Here’s a girl who has grown up to love her father’s land, Wideacre. She lives and breathes it. She loves it as much as her father does. Alas, she’ll never own the land because she’s a female and all land ownership automatically goes to the male heir.
The heir to Wideacre is Beatrice’s annoying, irresponsible brother who is also her lover. Weird? Totally. Some may be put off with the incest in this story. I mean who wouldn’t be, right? Then again, as someone who has read more than my share of V. C. Andrews’ novels growing up, I may be a little immune to incest in story lines. While I agree it’s horrifying, I feel it shows the reader just how low Beatrice will stoop to get what she wants. And boy does she stoop! From incest, to murder, attempted murder, hidden pregnancies, to a heart breaking betrayal, she’s willing to do anything (and anyone) to secure herself as sole owner of her beloved Wildacre.
This book had me riveted from the first chapter. The story line was entertaining, flowed well, and the ending was enough to make me want to buy the other books in the trilogy. If you love a good villain, I suggest you give this one a try.
What I loved most about this book was the despicable heroine, Beatrice Lacey. She’s a headstrong, wickedly smart, ridiculously selfish, and borderline crazy. No wait, she’s insane. Honestly, that’s what makes me like her all the more. I love a good villain! I love it more when the villain is the protagonist/antagonist in the story. I found myself cheering her on even though I knew she would get her just desserts eventually.
It was easy to empathize with Beatrice as I read her story. Here’s a girl who has grown up to love her father’s land, Wideacre. She lives and breathes it. She loves it as much as her father does. Alas, she’ll never own the land because she’s a female and all land ownership automatically goes to the male heir.
The heir to Wideacre is Beatrice’s annoying, irresponsible brother who is also her lover. Weird? Totally. Some may be put off with the incest in this story. I mean who wouldn’t be, right? Then again, as someone who has read more than my share of V. C. Andrews’ novels growing up, I may be a little immune to incest in story lines. While I agree it’s horrifying, I feel it shows the reader just how low Beatrice will stoop to get what she wants. And boy does she stoop! From incest, to murder, attempted murder, hidden pregnancies, to a heart breaking betrayal, she’s willing to do anything (and anyone) to secure herself as sole owner of her beloved Wildacre.
This book had me riveted from the first chapter. The story line was entertaining, flowed well, and the ending was enough to make me want to buy the other books in the trilogy. If you love a good villain, I suggest you give this one a try.