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sony08's review against another edition
4.0
This book has reminded me how much I love that period in British history and how much I love reading about Anne Boleyn. Her position in history has been misunderstood in the past but it is books like this that help to give her some innocents to her character and show how much of a victim of time and family connections she was.
Well written diary. This writing form helps to bring authenticity to those times, although if anyone was to find such a diary in those days I dread to think what would have been done to the author.
Well written diary. This writing form helps to bring authenticity to those times, although if anyone was to find such a diary in those days I dread to think what would have been done to the author.
libreva's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
This book is written in the form of a diary of a young girl serving in the court of King Henry VIII. It is set during the time when Henry was seeking a divorce from Katharine of Aragon in order to marry his new love Anne Boleyn.
These are not in depth books but are a good introduction to the subjects they cover and it was an enjoyable read.
These are not in depth books but are a good introduction to the subjects they cover and it was an enjoyable read.
elleneam's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book following Elinor from the age of 11 until she is 22. You go with her as she changes from a lively 11 year old girl living in a happy court, to a mature 22 year old women, who has experienced much, and is aware of the dangers and scheming of a Tudor court.
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's been a rough few days, so I needed something quick and simple that I could read in very small chunks if necessary, so I turned to one of my favourite childhood series; the 'My Story' diaries, and a book I've read before (albeit quite some time ago). This particular book focuses on the story of Elinor, a lady-in-waiting at the Court of Henry VIII, and her view of the King's 'Great Matter'; his separation from Catherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
The reason I loved these as a kid and still do now is that they take well known events of history and bring them right down to earth. The diary format is a great way of personalising these milestones, and drawing the focus away from the main players to imagine how an 'ordinary' person may have viewed events in the context of their own lives. It's a very clever balance that's struck between involving these fictional young girls in real events, while also staying true to history and giving the reader a glimpse into their 'normal' lives.
Where this one falls down slightly is that the diary format doesn't really work, as it covers such an extended period of time. As a result, Elinor's diary entries have been spaced quite a long way apart. I appreciate that if it had been done with entries for every few days, the book would be huge, but when you're looking at an average of one entry every two to three months, it just doesn't feel like you get the depth you would expect from a person recording their intimate thoughts. It really is jst an overview of the main plot points of this moment in history - the pace is very quick as you bounce from one recognisable moment to another, with very little in between. There are some personal touches, but just not enough to make it feel as 'real' as many of the other books in the series. However, the fact that it doesn't go into a lot of depth means that it is an engaging read for someone with a short attention span (me at the moment!).
If I were a child learning about the Tudors for the first time, and thus a member of the target demographic for this book, I'd learn an awful lot very quickly. This series is a great way into history for the uninitiated, and I love the fact that they also include some additional material such as a timeline, images that relate to the story etc. in the back of each book so that children can be guided to further reading and understand where the story fits within history. I know I certainly made use of the information I found in there on more than one occasion (even as an adult!).
Usually, these books are pretty good at sticking with established fact, right down to the little things. But, there is one absolute clanger of a historical inaccuracy right at the end, which really annoys me - Anne Boleyn did not have a block at her execution! In light of this and the big gaps in the narrative, it does make me wonder if the author of this particular book was given a subject to write on that she only had limited knowledge of? It feels like perhaps she mainlined a couple of the major works of non-fiction on this period and fairly quickly rehashed them into a fictional narrative.
I'll always enjoy a book on the Tudors, and this one certainly did what I needed it to in this particular set of circumstances, but there are definitely better books in the series.
The reason I loved these as a kid and still do now is that they take well known events of history and bring them right down to earth. The diary format is a great way of personalising these milestones, and drawing the focus away from the main players to imagine how an 'ordinary' person may have viewed events in the context of their own lives. It's a very clever balance that's struck between involving these fictional young girls in real events, while also staying true to history and giving the reader a glimpse into their 'normal' lives.
Where this one falls down slightly is that the diary format doesn't really work, as it covers such an extended period of time. As a result, Elinor's diary entries have been spaced quite a long way apart. I appreciate that if it had been done with entries for every few days, the book would be huge, but when you're looking at an average of one entry every two to three months, it just doesn't feel like you get the depth you would expect from a person recording their intimate thoughts. It really is jst an overview of the main plot points of this moment in history - the pace is very quick as you bounce from one recognisable moment to another, with very little in between. There are some personal touches, but just not enough to make it feel as 'real' as many of the other books in the series. However, the fact that it doesn't go into a lot of depth means that it is an engaging read for someone with a short attention span (me at the moment!).
If I were a child learning about the Tudors for the first time, and thus a member of the target demographic for this book, I'd learn an awful lot very quickly. This series is a great way into history for the uninitiated, and I love the fact that they also include some additional material such as a timeline, images that relate to the story etc. in the back of each book so that children can be guided to further reading and understand where the story fits within history. I know I certainly made use of the information I found in there on more than one occasion (even as an adult!).
Usually, these books are pretty good at sticking with established fact, right down to the little things. But, there is one absolute clanger of a historical inaccuracy right at the end, which really annoys me - Anne Boleyn did not have a block at her execution! In light of this and the big gaps in the narrative, it does make me wonder if the author of this particular book was given a subject to write on that she only had limited knowledge of? It feels like perhaps she mainlined a couple of the major works of non-fiction on this period and fairly quickly rehashed them into a fictional narrative.
I'll always enjoy a book on the Tudors, and this one certainly did what I needed it to in this particular set of circumstances, but there are definitely better books in the series.
lillyminasyan's review against another edition
4.0
Getting new perspective of Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor could be well considered as my hobby. This time their story was told by Elinor Valjean, who was a servant for Anne Boleyn.
I quite liked how Elinor was different than other ladies in this book, quite boyish at first, who wanted to be a boy and declared that she wouldn't marry anyone than she fell in love, married and became mother who loved her small family and her life. She wasn't ambitious and wanted a quite life. Unlike Anne Boleyn. Who was (to say the least) ambitious. She was no one, but became the Queen of England.
I'd hate to be alive at that time, when your life could be taken away from you because the King wanted something and was arrogant. I wish someone would slap the shit out of Henry and made him think that he is a plain fat human being and he should to calm down. Though both Catherine of Aragon (his first wife) and Anne Boleyn (second wife) were of ambitious nature, which I think he liked. Both women got what they desired the most, they both became The Queen of England. Though for Anne it ended with not having her head on her shoulders (ouch!).
This book wasn't as detailed as the books I've read of this matter, but you could grasp the characteristics of both Henry and Anne.
I actually would want to know more about Elinor. Her personality was interesting, at least for me.
I quite liked how Elinor was different than other ladies in this book, quite boyish at first, who wanted to be a boy and declared that she wouldn't marry anyone than she fell in love, married and became mother who loved her small family and her life. She wasn't ambitious and wanted a quite life. Unlike Anne Boleyn. Who was (to say the least) ambitious. She was no one, but became the Queen of England.
I'd hate to be alive at that time, when your life could be taken away from you because the King wanted something and was arrogant. I wish someone would slap the shit out of Henry and made him think that he is a plain fat human being and he should to calm down. Though both Catherine of Aragon (his first wife) and Anne Boleyn (second wife) were of ambitious nature, which I think he liked. Both women got what they desired the most, they both became The Queen of England. Though for Anne it ended with not having her head on her shoulders (ouch!).
This book wasn't as detailed as the books I've read of this matter, but you could grasp the characteristics of both Henry and Anne.
I actually would want to know more about Elinor. Her personality was interesting, at least for me.
alyssa01's review against another edition
3.0
The My Story series were the first books that I was really interested in and recently I have gone back to read some of them. I have always had an interest in the Tudor era and Anne Boleyn and Me gives a great new perspective on the history.
The characters whose journal format this book is written in is not what you read the story for. The character Elinor has enough of a storyline but the main focus is on the Royal history. I didn't mind though as the pace of the story was really good and kept you interested the whole time.
I originally started this book with only a little bit of general knowledge on Anne Boleyn. I was greatly informed by the end though, it was educational but in a light matter.
I never really knew what the character of Anne Boleyn was like but after reading this I feel a little more enlightened. Anne is such a puzzling person. Initially I thought she was an evil, manipulative women trying to win the crown. But towards the end when she lost everything I couldn't help but feel sad for her.
The sick ways of the Tudors shocked me at every page. I can never imagine a time like that but sadly it makes for interesting reading.
The characters whose journal format this book is written in is not what you read the story for. The character Elinor has enough of a storyline but the main focus is on the Royal history. I didn't mind though as the pace of the story was really good and kept you interested the whole time.
I originally started this book with only a little bit of general knowledge on Anne Boleyn. I was greatly informed by the end though, it was educational but in a light matter.
I never really knew what the character of Anne Boleyn was like but after reading this I feel a little more enlightened. Anne is such a puzzling person. Initially I thought she was an evil, manipulative women trying to win the crown. But towards the end when she lost everything I couldn't help but feel sad for her.
The sick ways of the Tudors shocked me at every page. I can never imagine a time like that but sadly it makes for interesting reading.
thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
This was a relatively good read. I cannot comment on the historical accuracy, but the story itself was interesting. It did feel a bit like it bunny-hopped by stopping and starting and weird places but it was an okay read.
katygoodall's review against another edition
4.0
Being a history nerd, I really enjoyed this! I know it is only based on a few factual notes, but it still seemed so realistic that I couldn't put it down. I felt real sympathy for Ellie Valjean and somehow, it felt like you were seeing into the eyes of the palace through the novel (hard to do when these events happened over 500 years ago!)
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