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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a great read and perspective of Henry VIII Queens - that have been pretty much only characterized by origin and how they came to be an ex-Queen.
informative
slow-paced
This book systematically changed me. I was just a Six nerd being like 'wow I should read a book about the Six Queens!! Yasss queeeeeeen" so that I could be a little more pretentious about the musical.
I tried The Six Wives, but felt it was a little dry for me (I'm so sorry to all, but I need dialogue or something otherwise its a chore)
But this?
This was perfection. Katherine is such an incredibly interesting character and everyone is so well-rounded and I'm so pissed that King Henry didn't realize that Katherine was such a banger of a wife and he kinda buried his own grave.
My favorite scene was the wrestling match between King Henry and King Francis. That'll stick with me for a LONG time. WrestleMania, eat your heart out.
But legit, a story about a strong woman persevering when everything was against her. Someone get her a "And yet, she persisted" shirt!!
I tried The Six Wives, but felt it was a little dry for me (I'm so sorry to all, but I need dialogue or something otherwise its a chore)
But this?
This was perfection. Katherine is such an incredibly interesting character and everyone is so well-rounded and I'm so pissed that King Henry didn't realize that Katherine was such a banger of a wife and he kinda buried his own grave.
My favorite scene was the wrestling match between King Henry and King Francis. That'll stick with me for a LONG time. WrestleMania, eat your heart out.
But legit, a story about a strong woman persevering when everything was against her. Someone get her a "And yet, she persisted" shirt!!
Wow. That was a loooong ride. A very well-written and thoroughly well-researched one, but then I'd expect nothing less from this author.
Weir brings Katherine of Aragon to life in all her righteous glory, from her early, harrowing years in Henry VII's England, to the height of her political power as Henry VIII's Queen, to her slow, steady downfall as the Reformation spreads its influence over Europe and collides with her husband's desperation for a son. It's obvious that Weir is very much attached to her subject and went into incredible depth.
My problem is that it's a story we've heard before. Good Saint-Queen Katherine who is tragically and unjustly deprived of her place because none of her sons survived. I didn't feel like there was any attempt to put any kind of unique spin on the story to make it stand out from the dozens of versions of the story that we've heard in the centuries since Katherine's death. Say what you will about Philippa Gregory, at least she gave the story a new and different perspective.
Nonetheless, I'm still hopeful for the rest of the series because each book is exclusively from the point of view of its subject. I remind myself that the book was strictly from Katherine's point of view, and thus we're limited to her view and the resources she had to learn what was going on in the outside world - namely Chapuys and what few friends she had remaining to her, like Maria Willoughby. Anne Boleyn's book is next, and given that she was in the heart of everything that was going on, I'm hoping for a more complete picture.
Weir brings Katherine of Aragon to life in all her righteous glory, from her early, harrowing years in Henry VII's England, to the height of her political power as Henry VIII's Queen, to her slow, steady downfall as the Reformation spreads its influence over Europe and collides with her husband's desperation for a son. It's obvious that Weir is very much attached to her subject and went into incredible depth.
My problem is that it's a story we've heard before. Good Saint-Queen Katherine who is tragically and unjustly deprived of her place because none of her sons survived. I didn't feel like there was any attempt to put any kind of unique spin on the story to make it stand out from the dozens of versions of the story that we've heard in the centuries since Katherine's death. Say what you will about Philippa Gregory, at least she gave the story a new and different perspective.
Nonetheless, I'm still hopeful for the rest of the series because each book is exclusively from the point of view of its subject. I remind myself that the book was strictly from Katherine's point of view, and thus we're limited to her view and the resources she had to learn what was going on in the outside world - namely Chapuys and what few friends she had remaining to her, like Maria Willoughby. Anne Boleyn's book is next, and given that she was in the heart of everything that was going on, I'm hoping for a more complete picture.
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a very interesting take on Catherine of Aragon's life. From the moment she arrives in England to her death, it chronicles her whole life. I think it was a nice way to learn a small bit about history while still being captivating. I really enjoyed it, even though it did drag on occasionally. I would definitely recommend reading this if you enjoy historical fiction at all!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Religious bigotry
emotional
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:
No