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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Compared to Gregory's other writing this was merely mediocre. Her version of both Henry VIII as a murderous rapist, Katherine as a weak, naive woman, and Thomas Seymour as a dashing romantic hero are confusing, given the actual historical record. The descriptions of life in the Tudor court were, as usual, spot on, making her misses on the characterizations of these individuals even odder.
The book was okay but a bit of a disappointment from one of my favorite authors. Hopefully her new book will be an improvement.
The book was okay but a bit of a disappointment from one of my favorite authors. Hopefully her new book will be an improvement.
This is not a happy story, nor your typical historical fiction. Prior to reading this, I knew little of Kateryn Parr. That she authored and edited liturgy and prayers of the early Church of England is pretty cool for the time period - and fairly amazing considering the instability at Henry's court as regards religion and heresy. The Reformation is not a particular area of interest to me, but this was a fascinating read, imaging the balancing act.
Am notat cartea cu 4 stele pentru potentialul ei de divertisment. Intradevar iti ia mintea de la alte lucruri si te tine cu sufletul la gura chiar daca iti e cunoscuta istoria. Totusi, fata de alte romane ale autoarei, acesta mi se pare mai teatral, mai hollywoodian, mai centrat pe spectaculos. PG incepe sa scrie "dupa reteta" si asta nu imi place.
An interesting read about one of Henry's overlooked queens. Some of the information was a bit too much (such as the smell of his putrefying leg) but a lot of it was fascinating and I think it gave a fair portrayal of Henry. Katherine was lucky that he died before she did but it was a close run thing!
This was one of my favorites from the Plantagenet series! I didn't want this one to end for sure, Katherine Parr is such an interesting figure in history, Philippa does such a great job capturing her strength and perseverance.
This is my fifth Philippa Gregory novel, and it is in competition with The Other Boleyn Girl as my number one favorite. The Taming of the Queen was so well done. Gregory's storytelling is in a league of its own; the way she writes transports me back to Tudor England, and I can't get enough of it. This time period is fascinating to me.
The last two Gregory novels I read had three different narrators, so in this novel, there was an adjustment to go back to a single narrator. But I'll say that it was a welcomed adjustment. As a reader, we're able to really get inside the head of Kateryn Parr, and it was nice to not be taken out of her thoughts. I loved seeing how this character developed and molded herself to blend with the dangerously changing minds of the Tudor court, specifically how she worked Henry VIII and managed to save her own neck. We see a woman of determination - and even Stoicism - and she maneuvered herself with admirable grace and pure knowledge. She could be seen as role model for women today in so many ways.
I know so little about this final queen of the infamous monarch, but to see Gregory's perspective makes me want to learn more about her. She had to have been a remarkable woman to survive for four years as Henry's wife. And to know the little facts of this work of fiction is opening my eyes to how intelligent, witty, and conscious Kateryn Parr truly was. She was indomitable in a court where heads were chopped as easily as the wind blows. And I think this speaks well to the knowledge and skill of the author. To be able to write a fiction novel that encourages and excites a reader to seek out the true history is something to be respected and applauded.
The last two Gregory novels I read had three different narrators, so in this novel, there was an adjustment to go back to a single narrator. But I'll say that it was a welcomed adjustment. As a reader, we're able to really get inside the head of Kateryn Parr, and it was nice to not be taken out of her thoughts. I loved seeing how this character developed and molded herself to blend with the dangerously changing minds of the Tudor court, specifically how she worked Henry VIII and managed to save her own neck. We see a woman of determination - and even Stoicism - and she maneuvered herself with admirable grace and pure knowledge. She could be seen as role model for women today in so many ways.
I know so little about this final queen of the infamous monarch, but to see Gregory's perspective makes me want to learn more about her. She had to have been a remarkable woman to survive for four years as Henry's wife. And to know the little facts of this work of fiction is opening my eyes to how intelligent, witty, and conscious Kateryn Parr truly was. She was indomitable in a court where heads were chopped as easily as the wind blows. And I think this speaks well to the knowledge and skill of the author. To be able to write a fiction novel that encourages and excites a reader to seek out the true history is something to be respected and applauded.
- M-am dus la Lincoln, răspunse ea cu un zâmbet. M-am așezat în fundul măreței catedrale, am luat o Biblie în mâini și am citit din ea în văzul enoriașilor și al pelerinilor pe care îi prinsese noaptea pe drum și care intrau pe uși, sărutau pardoseala și se târau pe coate și genunchi. Sărmane suflete, zornăiau toți de la medalioanele de pelerinaj pe care și le prinseseră de haine, dar credeau că e o erezie ca o femeie să citească din Cuvântul Domnului într-o biserică. Închipuiți-vă numai! Să crezi că e o erezie ca o credincioasă să citească Biblia în biserică! Le-am citit cu glas tare tuturor celor care veneau și plecau din clădirea aia impunătoare, cumpărând și vânzând indulgențe, făcând negoț cu medalioane de pelerinaj și moaște, le-am citit tuturor neghiobilor și negustorilor de mărunțișuri. Am citit Biblia pentru a-i învăța că singura cale prin care pot ajunge la Dumnezeu nu e cea a bucățelelor de piatră și os, a sticluțelor cu apă sfințită și a rugăciunilor scrise de-a-ndoaselea pe hârtiuțe prinse de haină. Nu e nici cea a inelelor sfinte sau a sărutatului picioarelor unei statui. Le-am arătat că singura cale prin care pot ajunge la Dumnezeu este prin Cuvântul lui sfânt, prin adevăratele Lui vorbe sfinte.
It was really interesting to read about Kateryn Parr and how she had to go through hard times.
I admired her strength and how she dealt with King Henry.
Sometimes she seems to be really naive at some points of the story she is, but then she shows the reader how she talks to the King or does diferrent things.
On the contrary she is very clever and can have an impact on him, even though he does cruel things to her or people who are important for her.
All in all I liked it very much that she wasn't perfect. She loved another man but tried to forget him and fulfill her duty. It was definitely not easy for her when King Henry includes her in his plan to play with her life.
I grew to dislike him a lot and I think that was Philippa Gregorys intention. He was such a terrible person on the other hand somehow in small parts of the book you feel pity for him. It was amazing how Gregory combined the parts which show his horrible character traits and those who arouse pity for him in one book.
I admired her strength and how she dealt with King Henry.
Sometimes she seems to be really naive at some points of the story she is, but then she shows the reader how she talks to the King or does diferrent things.
On the contrary she is very clever and can have an impact on him, even though he does cruel things to her or people who are important for her.
All in all I liked it very much that she wasn't perfect. She loved another man but tried to forget him and fulfill her duty. It was definitely not easy for her when King Henry includes her in his plan to play with her life.
I grew to dislike him a lot and I think that was Philippa Gregorys intention. He was such a terrible person on the other hand somehow in small parts of the book you feel pity for him. It was amazing how Gregory combined the parts which show his horrible character traits and those who arouse pity for him in one book.
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A little repetitive, a little boring. Philippa Gregory did a good job portraying Henry VIII but Kateryn Parr’s character wasn’t clear to me. What was her motivations, what was her goal? At one point she seems to only want to survive, then later she wants to be the best queen for England. In the end, seems like she only wanted 2 things: Thomas Seymour and religious reform. And yet, even though she wanted to push her views about christianity in England, her views and opinions weren’t that strong. She cared only for whatever would directly affect her and her close cycle of “scholars”, at least in this novel. I could not care for Kateryn. Not once did she stop to seriously think about anyone else but herself and Thomas Seymour (except Anne Askew, a weird obsession of KP): not her sister, not her brother, not the peasants, not royal children. She seemed to find pride in being the Queen and could not stop comparing herself to all the previous queens, how much better she was, how much more careful. Yet I found none of the greatness she was describing, and she wasn’t even careful around the king, especially at the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Torture
Fascinating account and a good read, but I felt the pacing lagged in the second half of the book.