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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I realized it was this book's turn on the list (I keep about 15 or so books in my car out of the library at a time, and go by order of the list on the library's site), I really wasn't excited. I considered returning it and thinking about picking it up later. I'm glad I didn't.
I really, really enjoy Gregory's style of writing, I have to admit. It's extremely easy to read, which isn't so easy when dealing with historical fiction.
I did not sympathize even a little bit with Katherine Howard. I did feel bad for Anne of Cleves, but since I'm a google whore, I knew she wouldn't die, so it was a little easier to read her parts.
I understand that there are Jessica Simpson-esque women throughout history, but I was really under the impression that in the 1500's and such, young women weren't quite as flaky as they are now. Katherine Howard could well have been plucked from the mall of today and placed in Henry's court, for how she acted. I don't know how much of that I buy. She certainly did irritate me like the women of today.
Henry's descent into madness was well played, but god, if I had to hear about the damn constipation, the rotten teeth, the fat, the pus in his leg one more time, I was going to slam the book shut. I can handle anything one time, but 25?
The ending chapters, with Jane and Katherine going back and forth, were my personal favorite parts. I snuck and read them this morning at work. It wasn't like, "Oh, do they survive?! Do they survive?!" I just liked seeing their individual reactions to the axe.
Jane Boleyn was a bitch, man. Her insanity was wickedly fun, though. And I don't mean just at the end.
I really, really enjoy Gregory's style of writing, I have to admit. It's extremely easy to read, which isn't so easy when dealing with historical fiction.
I did not sympathize even a little bit with Katherine Howard. I did feel bad for Anne of Cleves, but since I'm a google whore, I knew she wouldn't die, so it was a little easier to read her parts.
I understand that there are Jessica Simpson-esque women throughout history, but I was really under the impression that in the 1500's and such, young women weren't quite as flaky as they are now. Katherine Howard could well have been plucked from the mall of today and placed in Henry's court, for how she acted. I don't know how much of that I buy. She certainly did irritate me like the women of today.
Henry's descent into madness was well played, but god, if I had to hear about the damn constipation, the rotten teeth, the fat, the pus in his leg one more time, I was going to slam the book shut. I can handle anything one time, but 25?
The ending chapters, with Jane and Katherine going back and forth, were my personal favorite parts. I snuck and read them this morning at work. It wasn't like, "Oh, do they survive?! Do they survive?!" I just liked seeing their individual reactions to the axe.
Jane Boleyn was a bitch, man. Her insanity was wickedly fun, though. And I don't mean just at the end.
Trying to remind myself that I enjoy reading, even when the sky is falling, by re-reading easy, mindless books.
It's been 13 years since I first read this, and I'm far more well versed on Tudor history now, but this is still a really fun read.
It's been 13 years since I first read this, and I'm far more well versed on Tudor history now, but this is still a really fun read.
This was the first of Philippa Gregory's books that I'd read. I enjoyed how she interwove the stories of the three main characters & had distinct voices for each of them. This book started my fetish with Tudor History... readers be forewarned!
These Philippa Gregory books are my guilty pleasure. I love the way she writes historical fiction.
Not as good as the Other Boleyn Girl because it switches between so many point of views. But it was great to see Jane get her comeuppance
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
