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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review - I was actually pleasantly surprised by this one of Gregory's novels. It seems that the last couple haven't been as good as some of her earlier novels, and I was quite disappointed, so unsure of what to expect from this one, but I actually really enjoyed it. There are a few quite disturbing bits which give an interesting insight into the possibilities of Henry VIII's character (you'll probably know which bit in particular I'm referring to if you've read the book, without giving away any spoilers). I thought the character development of Katherine Parr was excellent.
Genre? - Historical
Characters? - Henry VIII / Katherine Parr / Katherine Brandon / Thomas Seymour / Edward Seymour / Thomas Wriothesley / Richard Rich / Anne Askew / Thomas Cranmer / Elizabeth I / Mary I / Anne Herbert / William Herbert / William Parr / Anne Seymour
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #11
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2018/08/18/the-taming-of-the-queen-by-philippa-gregory/
Genre? - Historical
Characters? - Henry VIII / Katherine Parr / Katherine Brandon / Thomas Seymour / Edward Seymour / Thomas Wriothesley / Richard Rich / Anne Askew / Thomas Cranmer / Elizabeth I / Mary I / Anne Herbert / William Herbert / William Parr / Anne Seymour
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #11
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2018/08/18/the-taming-of-the-queen-by-philippa-gregory/
Despite the rating this book was not without flaws. It definitely sticks very closely to formulas that Gregory uses in her writing and therefore bears similarity to The Other Boleyn Girl as well as other previous Gregory books. The unnecessary references to Katherine's beauty compound this. The book suffers from the fact that in recent years Gregory has churned out a book year, always conveniently timed for Christmas sales.
What did I like about the book? I found the feminism in particular moving, Kathrine is portrayed is delicately walking the tight rope which marriage to the older Henry VIII must have been. She forced eventually to play of the role of a weak and feeble women". Gregory manages to show in this novel, unlike in any of her others, the complete lack of power held by women at this time. These references draw interesting relevance to our own time, particularly when considering the recent backlash against feminism. Whether or not Henry VIII can be considered a mass killer of wives is certainly an interesting debate. I found this pertinent to life in South Africa today where alarming numbers of women suffer violence from domestic partners.
The references to Katherine's scholarship are fascinating and also show the uncertain state of the English church at the time. Perhaps to someone who knows more about Katherine Parr this book would not be as interesting. I found the book informative about the Tudor era but also, perhaps more importantly, of my own time.
What did I like about the book? I found the feminism in particular moving, Kathrine is portrayed is delicately walking the tight rope which marriage to the older Henry VIII must have been. She forced eventually to play of the role of a weak and feeble women". Gregory manages to show in this novel, unlike in any of her others, the complete lack of power held by women at this time. These references draw interesting relevance to our own time, particularly when considering the recent backlash against feminism. Whether or not Henry VIII can be considered a mass killer of wives is certainly an interesting debate. I found this pertinent to life in South Africa today where alarming numbers of women suffer violence from domestic partners.
The references to Katherine's scholarship are fascinating and also show the uncertain state of the English church at the time. Perhaps to someone who knows more about Katherine Parr this book would not be as interesting. I found the book informative about the Tudor era but also, perhaps more importantly, of my own time.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I don't really know how much of what I'm reading is fiction and how much is history - usually that doesn't bother me too much but for some reason it did in this book. I mostly liked Kateryn but I found it hard to root for her and Thomas because Thomas has 0 personality and we don't know anything about him. Also I found it odd how much she thought about and dwelt on the difficulties of being a woman and particularly a wife of Henry VIII and yet she was so hostile about the women who had come before her.
Overall Gregory brought Kateryn's story to life in a way I wasn't expecting but didn't fully believe.
I don't really know how much of what I'm reading is fiction and how much is history - usually that doesn't bother me too much but for some reason it did in this book. I mostly liked Kateryn but I found it hard to root for her and Thomas because Thomas has 0 personality and we don't know anything about him. Also I found it odd how much she thought about and dwelt on the difficulties of being a woman and particularly a wife of Henry VIII and yet she was so hostile about the women who had come before her.
Overall Gregory brought Kateryn's story to life in a way I wasn't expecting but didn't fully believe.
3.5 stars
I liked this one. However, I felt that the author had to do a lot of explaining about the religious atmosphere of the day that really was not necessary. Every other chapter talks about the same thing, in slightly different terms. Could have done with less of this, and more of the court atmosphere.
I liked this one. However, I felt that the author had to do a lot of explaining about the religious atmosphere of the day that really was not necessary. Every other chapter talks about the same thing, in slightly different terms. Could have done with less of this, and more of the court atmosphere.
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
"Our Lord said: This is my body, this is my blood," but He was no trickster like the false priests who dribble red ink from the wounds of statues."
The sixth and final queen that fell victim to the monster that was Henry VIII. Katherine Parr seems to have obtained a secured position of favour with the king but everyone at court already knows that his favour changes by the hour. Seeing this intelligent and passionate woman try to establish herself is close to painful. A wonderfully strong woman but character is no match for a tyrant. It becomes clear relatively quickly that no one is ever safe at court, except perhaps the fool which says a great deal about the kind of court Henry held.
I found Henry absolutely terrifying in this novel. In all the books that I've read so far, he seemed to be an overly spoiled child that has never been denied a thing. This book shows how his absolute power and greed has turned him into a immensely selfcentered, irresponsible and vicious monster.
Henry's ways of dealing with the divided church are nothing if not inconsequential. Every now and then, his true beliefs float to the surface but his judgement is then immediately clouded by his constant need of appraisal and reward. It is sickening and truly horrifying.
Excellent depiction of life at court! Philippa Gregory never disappoints...
The sixth and final queen that fell victim to the monster that was Henry VIII. Katherine Parr seems to have obtained a secured position of favour with the king but everyone at court already knows that his favour changes by the hour. Seeing this intelligent and passionate woman try to establish herself is close to painful. A wonderfully strong woman but character is no match for a tyrant. It becomes clear relatively quickly that no one is ever safe at court, except perhaps the fool which says a great deal about the kind of court Henry held.
I found Henry absolutely terrifying in this novel. In all the books that I've read so far, he seemed to be an overly spoiled child that has never been denied a thing. This book shows how his absolute power and greed has turned him into a immensely selfcentered, irresponsible and vicious monster.
Henry's ways of dealing with the divided church are nothing if not inconsequential. Every now and then, his true beliefs float to the surface but his judgement is then immediately clouded by his constant need of appraisal and reward. It is sickening and truly horrifying.
Excellent depiction of life at court! Philippa Gregory never disappoints...
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced