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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Beautiful retelling of a well-known tale from another's point of view. It reminds me of Cinderella told from a stepsister's view. I've read other takes on this relationship and though this one stays in line with what one might expect, it is entertaining - and as you already know how it ends, watching the train heading to certain wreck is strangely exhilarating.
Novels like this are great in that they make me look up the historical events and people - just to compare how close we stayed or how far we strayed. I suppose with something like this there was only so much actual written confirmation. Mary Boleyn must have been quite the woman to marry for love in such an atmosphere.
This is A Very Long Book. That being said, I very much enjoyed it. It is a fairly quick read despite its length, and I suspect it is greatly helped by its topic.
Mary Boleyn is a fascinating narration choice, a character who develops over time from being a young girl to an adult woman, complicated by marriage, adultery, lies, intrigue, plotting, and the understandably bitter yet resigned rivalry between herself and her sister Anne. The political maneuverings and the court power plays were absolutely foreign but enthralling, and Gregory's strengths are obviously in character creation and historical fiction.
Quite a good way to spend a few hot afternoons!
Mary Boleyn is a fascinating narration choice, a character who develops over time from being a young girl to an adult woman, complicated by marriage, adultery, lies, intrigue, plotting, and the understandably bitter yet resigned rivalry between herself and her sister Anne. The political maneuverings and the court power plays were absolutely foreign but enthralling, and Gregory's strengths are obviously in character creation and historical fiction.
Quite a good way to spend a few hot afternoons!
I was surprised how hard I was rooting for everything to turn out alright. Subvert the dominant paradigm Anne! COME ON!
Usually historical fiction leaves me a little cold, but this was totally enjoyable.
Usually historical fiction leaves me a little cold, but this was totally enjoyable.
Could not put it down. I knew how it was going to end...obviously, but I wanted to see how things were going to unfold. Are men really that controlled by lust? I hope not.
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. My only complaint is that it is quite long & dragged in the middle for a bit. Maybe I like historical fiction more than I thought I did!
Definitely fiction and definitely different from the movie. Still an entertaining read - just don't take it as a complete or accurate view of history. Fun sibling rivalry!