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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Actual rating 3.5
Let's be honest here, I came for the pretty red-stained page edges and Catherine Parr nerd fangirling. I stayed for that and to lol "swive me". It's not a bad book and once I got into the flow of things I was caught up in the story, compelled to keep reading. Yet the characterisation and commentary- on women reading freely, studying, writing and discussing their faith- was as subtle as a brick. Moments that could have been poignant and lasting were swept away in drama and left me cold.
I enjoyed reading, but I wouldn't be compelled to revisit the book.
Let's be honest here, I came for the pretty red-stained page edges and Catherine Parr nerd fangirling. I stayed for that and to lol "swive me". It's not a bad book and once I got into the flow of things I was caught up in the story, compelled to keep reading. Yet the characterisation and commentary- on women reading freely, studying, writing and discussing their faith- was as subtle as a brick. Moments that could have been poignant and lasting were swept away in drama and left me cold.
I enjoyed reading, but I wouldn't be compelled to revisit the book.
it was a 3 stars until the last part which was exciting and tense
overall a good book and i feel well educated on the tudors
overall a good book and i feel well educated on the tudors
This will be the last time I will read a Gregory. The book wasn't very immersive as the characters just felt too modern and didn't feel believable as Tudor characters.
Katherine Parr, 'Kateryn', was a character that read like one of Gregory's younger heroines - a teenager - not a scholarly woman in her early thirties. It does covered Parr's theological pursuits but lacked any depth. The only historical figure she got right was Henry VIII and his madness. Even then, Gregory liked to focus more on how fat and disgusting he was. Constantly reminding us of this throughout the book.
A lot of the plot was focused on Katherine pining for Thomas Seymour (which she always referred to him by his full name). It was very boring and repetitive.
Katherine Parr, 'Kateryn', was a character that read like one of Gregory's younger heroines - a teenager - not a scholarly woman in her early thirties. It does covered Parr's theological pursuits but lacked any depth. The only historical figure she got right was Henry VIII and his madness. Even then, Gregory liked to focus more on how fat and disgusting he was. Constantly reminding us of this throughout the book.
A lot of the plot was focused on Katherine pining for Thomas Seymour (which she always referred to him by his full name). It was very boring and repetitive.
I would pretty much read the ingredients on my shampoo bottle if Phillipa Gregory wrote it; she has a knack for presenting historical events in a fresh, fascinating light. The Taming of the Queen does convey the cruelty and utter lack of reason in Henry VIII's later years; the rest of the book is, however, disappointing as it is poorly paced and harps on one or two central ideas too much.
Taming of the Queen was not my favorite in the Tudor series. I did learn some th8ngs about Kateryn Parr, which was very interesting. However, I feel that I, like Kateryn Parr, was impatiently waiting for the crazy old bastard to die.
What a delightful addition to Philippa Gregory's ouevre of royal fiction. Her admiration for Kateryn Parr manifests in a detailed portrait of the Queen's studious and writerly character. Very interesting to read about a royal Protestant experience as loving and full of awe as Catherine of Aragon's Catholic perspective in The Constant Princess.
I accidentally let it expire and go back to the library, and didn't bother to finish it.
Not her best, but as always a good read with some fascinating history thrown in
I found this to be a very slow starter and perhaps it is because I have read so much Tutor history. I hung in there and hit the payoff about halfway thru the book. Faster pace, interesting information and better storyline. Made it worth the time of dragging thru the first half. I recommend hanging in there to read it.
I found this to be a very slow starter and perhaps it is because I have read so much Tutor history. I hung in there and hit the payoff about halfway thru the book. Faster pace, interesting information and better storyline. Made it worth the time of dragging thru the first half. I recommend hanging in there to read it.
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
This book tells the story of the sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. As a Tudor-phile I knew what would happen but it still kept me on the edge of my seat. Henry VIII is portrayed as a sadistic jailer whose flip-flopping ideals constantly put Katherine (a Protestant scholarly woman) in danger.
I wish Henry's development had been as pronounced in other books of the series as it was in this book. I am very interested in his wives but there's a huge difference between the young prince in "A Constant Princess" and the near serial killer in this novel. I would have liked to see a development but I enjoyed this enough.
This book tells the story of the sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. As a Tudor-phile I knew what would happen but it still kept me on the edge of my seat. Henry VIII is portrayed as a sadistic jailer whose flip-flopping ideals constantly put Katherine (a Protestant scholarly woman) in danger.
I wish Henry's development had been as pronounced in other books of the series as it was in this book. I am very interested in his wives but there's a huge difference between the young prince in "A Constant Princess" and the near serial killer in this novel. I would have liked to see a development but I enjoyed this enough.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No