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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this companion book to the PBS series "Victoria". It clarified things that happened too quickly on the screen and explained in more detail what happened. I can't wait to read the next in the series!
Nice companion for the TV series.
This book isn't a difficult read. I read it after watching season one of the TV series though it doesn't cover the whole season. Reading this prompted me to watch the corresponding episodes again. The little bits of trivia explained in the book made the episodes better. I do hope there is a companion book for the rest of the series.
This book isn't a difficult read. I read it after watching season one of the TV series though it doesn't cover the whole season. Reading this prompted me to watch the corresponding episodes again. The little bits of trivia explained in the book made the episodes better. I do hope there is a companion book for the rest of the series.
This book was never too dull or over entertaining. It just got the job done to pass the time without regretting to pick the book up. I definitely felt the more entertaining part came when Albert finally came to England and I liked reading from his perspective. However, I never quite understood the light Victoria herself was written in. Maybe I just don't know enough about her? Which is definitely possible. I just found myself not understanding her thoughts or actions most of the time. She was a believable character, but not a trustworthy one. So it was harder for me to get into this book when compared to others. That being said, I didn't mind the story and liked how it focused on just Victoria's early years. I could definitely see myself suggesting this to someone, especially if that person knows and is interested in Queen Victoria herself!
Loved the beginning, the middle was a little hard to get through, but the ending tore open my heart. Such feels. I think this is a model historical fiction should base itself on. It was engaging and not too heavy in its historical tidbits. Goodwin was able to give life and dimension to these people (characters?). I often find realistic historical fiction to be too serious. I think authors are afraid to take too many liberties. I loved Victoria's spunky, go-get-em attitude. I'm assuming much of the relationship between Lord Melbourne and Victoria was creative licensing, but it is still sweet to read about. It makes me interested in her life, now the only problem is to find a biography that isn't too dense.
"I think it will be a marriage of inconvenience"
A quick easy read that is 90% faithful to the tv show without the Skerritt subplot.
Dialogue could have been copied from the script and whilst it wasn't groundbreaking it passed a few hours.
A quick easy read that is 90% faithful to the tv show without the Skerritt subplot.
Dialogue could have been copied from the script and whilst it wasn't groundbreaking it passed a few hours.
3.5 stars. This was a light-hearted and enjoyable coming-of-age historical romance novel. Victoria becomes the Monarch at age 18 and navigates her duties with the help of her dreamy older Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. Too much of the book is dedicated to the flirtation between them. I haven’t researched to see if that part of the story is accurate. I would much rather there have been a focus on her marriage to Albert. The book went on too long for me, and Albert only shows up at the very end. I became bored about two-thirds of the way through, but still happy that I read it. I think this sweet story would be great for young adults. I’m looking forward to getting caught up on the PBS series “Victoria,” also written and produced by Daisy Goodwin.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
If you are a historical fiction fan, stop what you are doing and get this book!
Ok. Started this review with an exclamation, but I am serious. I absolutely adored this book. A fiction tale based on a real person (which are always good!) on a former Queen of England who took the throne at an early age and had to put her foot down to give herself the authority to make the decisions a queen should.
If you are a historical fiction fan, stop what you are doing and get this book!
Ok. Started this review with an exclamation, but I am serious. I absolutely adored this book. A fiction tale based on a real person (which are always good!) on a former Queen of England who took the throne at an early age and had to put her foot down to give herself the authority to make the decisions a queen should.
Goodwin wrote this novelized version of the early days of Victoria's reign as she wrote the screenplay for the tv series (coming up on PBS here in the US January 15th!). I simply couldn't resist. I've been interested in her books before now (they are clearly perfect for fans of Downton Abbey...), but she seemed a little too fluffy for me. I really enjoyed her writing however--she is highly entertaining, and I can see she'll be successful with the Masterpiece crowd. She's clever and amusing, and manages to make her main subject, Victoria be those things also. I was easily immersed in this novel, it's an easy, fun read, and I've been watching the Netflix series, The Crown, so I really enjoyed seeing the parallel relationships of Elizabeth with her PM, Winston Churchill, and Victoria with hers, Lord Melbourne, as well as the struggle for a young woman to be taken seriously as the heiress to the throne. Fascinating and entertaining. I definitely recommend this as a perfect read for pre-Christmas, and it will also make a lovely gift as well! (I'll be selling it in my store!).
Wonderful read. But it ended just as Albert came on the scene. I want to know more!