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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I thought the narration was great, and I really had sympathy for all three main characters.
This book was better written than its predecessor, The Other Boleyn Girl. Told from the perspectives of three women--Jane Boleyn, Katherine Howard and Anne of Cleves-- it gives all the characters a chance to have more depth, because they are seen from multiple angles. Also, Gregory learned how to use semicolons, which is a vast stylistic improvement over her rampant abuse of the comma in her previous book.
Unfortunately, the story wasn't as good in the previous book. This was no real fault of Gregory's; Henry's fourth and fifth marriages were both too brief to develop the drama of the first two. But Gregory's focus on, as she calls it, the "Boleyn inheritance" really makes this book merely a coda to the last one. Jane Boleyn is haunted by what happened to her husband and his sister, and her parts constantly recall the events of The Other Boleyn Girl. Katherine Howard is portrayed as a vainer, dumber Anne Boleyn, while Anne of Cleves plays the virtuous wronged woman, the role originated by Katherine of Aragon.
Unfortunately, the story wasn't as good in the previous book. This was no real fault of Gregory's; Henry's fourth and fifth marriages were both too brief to develop the drama of the first two. But Gregory's focus on, as she calls it, the "Boleyn inheritance" really makes this book merely a coda to the last one. Jane Boleyn is haunted by what happened to her husband and his sister, and her parts constantly recall the events of The Other Boleyn Girl. Katherine Howard is portrayed as a vainer, dumber Anne Boleyn, while Anne of Cleves plays the virtuous wronged woman, the role originated by Katherine of Aragon.
This is a sequel to The Other Boleyn Girl. I found the history interesting, but in both books, Gregory's writing was lacking. She's very big on stating the obvious--that women have no control over their lives and are pawns in their families' schemes. Where The Other Boleyn Girl kept me engaged with a single narrator I didn't find annoying, The Boleyn Inheritance's three narrators didn't pull me in in the same way.
I was not really a fan of studying history until I got to seminary and took my History of Christianity classes and then I started to love it. I was fascinated with certain time periods, and the time of Henry VIII was one of my favorites to study. And I've been intrigued since then with all the TV shows, movies and books that cover that time period-even when it's turned into fiction, like this novel.
It was easy for me to get into this book. I love the short chapters and alternating view points of the 3 women. I love the character development of Anne of Cleves-the only character of the book that I really liked. I love that in parts the writer was able to make me like Jane Boleyn and feel sorry for her, when in truth she was a horrible woman. I hated Katherine from the first of her chapters until the end, but did feel a little bit of pity for her at times. I was incredibly frustrated throughout most of this book with how it is that a country allowed Henry, when he was clearly insane, to continue to reign, and to accept as "God's will" the thousands of people he displaced or killed to suit his own desires.
Basically I really enjoyed this book, and it makes me want to pull out my old notebooks from school and look back over my notes on all of these people.
It was easy for me to get into this book. I love the short chapters and alternating view points of the 3 women. I love the character development of Anne of Cleves-the only character of the book that I really liked. I love that in parts the writer was able to make me like Jane Boleyn and feel sorry for her, when in truth she was a horrible woman. I hated Katherine from the first of her chapters until the end, but did feel a little bit of pity for her at times. I was incredibly frustrated throughout most of this book with how it is that a country allowed Henry, when he was clearly insane, to continue to reign, and to accept as "God's will" the thousands of people he displaced or killed to suit his own desires.
Basically I really enjoyed this book, and it makes me want to pull out my old notebooks from school and look back over my notes on all of these people.
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the multiple POV
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i wish philippa gregory had kept the multiple perspectives for kingmaker's daughter and three sisters too
dark
emotional
informative
medium-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
I am currently re-reading this book and have changed my rating on it. Initially, I gave it 4 stars and I would now give it 2.5 if there was the option. I have opted for three because, initially, i enjoyed it.
On second reading, it does not stand up to my first opinion. It is so drawn out and the writing style gives me a headache in places. The grammar and punctuation are so bad throughout the whole thing. In one sentence, there were 7 uses of the word "and" that could easily have been avoided with a simple full stop and the start of a new sentence. It almost reads like a primary school child's first attempt to write a story.
It's a pity the writing style is so juvenile as the story matter itself is hugely fascinating. this could be a good book if in the hands of a better writer.
On second reading, it does not stand up to my first opinion. It is so drawn out and the writing style gives me a headache in places. The grammar and punctuation are so bad throughout the whole thing. In one sentence, there were 7 uses of the word "and" that could easily have been avoided with a simple full stop and the start of a new sentence. It almost reads like a primary school child's first attempt to write a story.
It's a pity the writing style is so juvenile as the story matter itself is hugely fascinating. this could be a good book if in the hands of a better writer.