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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Towards the end I admit it did feel like a slog and I was reading it to get to the end rather than because I was enjoying it.
That said, as a piece of historical fiction that relies heavily on real documents and research I thought this was fantastic. Having read/seen the other Boleyn girl and wolf hall I’d never considered the situation from Katherine of Aragon’s perspective and I found myself in awe of her resolve!
I’m intrigued to read the rest of the books in the series and others written by Alison Weir!
That said, as a piece of historical fiction that relies heavily on real documents and research I thought this was fantastic. Having read/seen the other Boleyn girl and wolf hall I’d never considered the situation from Katherine of Aragon’s perspective and I found myself in awe of her resolve!
I’m intrigued to read the rest of the books in the series and others written by Alison Weir!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, War
This is the first book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book but I had find the first 100 pages hard going.
It was educational as well as a well researched novel.
Can’t wait to carry on with this series
I really enjoyed this book but I had find the first 100 pages hard going.
It was educational as well as a well researched novel.
Can’t wait to carry on with this series
Very well written account from Katherine of Aragon's perspective. So often have I read books of this era but so far, this is the first book I've read that is purely from her perspective and does not account for anything which she does not know or learn. I'd also never really known the exact details of the last few years of her life; this book delivered all that and more. I was reminded, in a way, of the musical 'Six', which through the clever lyrics and music seeks to tell the story from the female perspective of each of his wives. I'm starting the second book too - this was really worth it.
I really love the Tudors but confess that Kathrine of Aragon was one I could never understand. I could never understand why she didn’t run with Mary to Spain. But this helped me see her in a new light that helped me understand her better.
I love the unique view this book offers in that we see all events from the perspective of Katherine of Aragon. I love how historically accurate the book is whilst also inferring her feelings and views about certain situations, specifically her love for Henry remaining throughout her life. I am excited to read the next book in the series as Anne Boleyn is painted in a negative light in this book, due to it being from Katherine's pov, however in her book, we can see her side.
The story of Katherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII's first wife. Her life kind of goes like this:
Not so great
Could be better
Worse
Awful
Amazingly blissful
Terrible
Downhill from there
Might as well die now
She had an exciting life but reading about it is kind of a downer since things don't end well. I was amazed by how long things took, and how long she ended up waiting for the bad things to happen. Ugh. Poor Katherine. Also I thought it was sad that her favor with others around her depended so much on England's relations with her relatives in Spain. Wouldn't want to be her!
The writing style here is very straightforward, a this-is-what-happened sort of approach. As author Alison Weir is a historian, I was not surprised it read this way. I was glad I could trust the author's details, and this is a great way to learn history (which I generally don't love studying). Much better than a textbook. On the down side, I didn't feel much connection with the characters—I think she stuck to facts so well that she didn't take as much time to develop the characters and make me love them.
I'm still trying to decide whether I want to read the books about Henry VIII's other five wives when they come out.
Content warning: this book goes a little farther into the bedroom than I like. Nothing gross or graphic, and it is relevant to the plot, but I could have done with less.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads
Not so great
Could be better
Worse
Awful
Amazingly blissful
Terrible
Downhill from there
Might as well die now
She had an exciting life but reading about it is kind of a downer since things don't end well. I was amazed by how long things took, and how long she ended up waiting for the bad things to happen. Ugh. Poor Katherine. Also I thought it was sad that her favor with others around her depended so much on England's relations with her relatives in Spain. Wouldn't want to be her!
The writing style here is very straightforward, a this-is-what-happened sort of approach. As author Alison Weir is a historian, I was not surprised it read this way. I was glad I could trust the author's details, and this is a great way to learn history (which I generally don't love studying). Much better than a textbook. On the down side, I didn't feel much connection with the characters—I think she stuck to facts so well that she didn't take as much time to develop the characters and make me love them.
I'm still trying to decide whether I want to read the books about Henry VIII's other five wives when they come out.
Content warning: this book goes a little farther into the bedroom than I like. Nothing gross or graphic, and it is relevant to the plot, but I could have done with less.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads
I have read much Weir, both fiction and non-fiction, and I think I prefer her fiction--it's much more fun to inhabit a character's head and let her lead the story while setting all of it in a web of actual historical fact.
I did find Katherine of Aragon somewhat infuriating as her marriage was falling apart. I admire someone who can stand up for her convictions the way she did. BUT. I guess I hadn't realized the extent to which Henry flat out told her that there was no way that he'd either 1-come back to her or 2-recognize the authority of the Pope if the Pope disagreed with him. I knew it happened, but they apparently had many letters and conversations about it. With that in mind, Katherine would have been much better off just accepting her fate and being treated like Henry's sister (hey, it worked REALLY WELL for Anne of Cleves later. But that's neither here nor there). I just was frustrated that she kept being angry at Henry for essentially doing what he said he would. I get exactly why she acted as she did, but it screwed over far more people than just herself, and her naivete in thinking Henry would suddenly go along with the Pope once the Pope made a decision in the "Great Matter" was...well, I need a stronger word than frustrating.
I did find Katherine of Aragon somewhat infuriating as her marriage was falling apart. I admire someone who can stand up for her convictions the way she did. BUT. I guess I hadn't realized the extent to which Henry flat out told her that there was no way that he'd either 1-come back to her or 2-recognize the authority of the Pope if the Pope disagreed with him. I knew it happened, but they apparently had many letters and conversations about it. With that in mind, Katherine would have been much better off just accepting her fate and being treated like Henry's sister (hey, it worked REALLY WELL for Anne of Cleves later. But that's neither here nor there). I just was frustrated that she kept being angry at Henry for essentially doing what he said he would. I get exactly why she acted as she did, but it screwed over far more people than just herself, and her naivete in thinking Henry would suddenly go along with the Pope once the Pope made a decision in the "Great Matter" was...well, I need a stronger word than frustrating.