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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Weir really does transport you back to another time, to the point where you become so wrapped up in it that reading the story from another perspective (the second book and wife in the series) takes you by surprise, even if you know how the story goes. Even so, Weir is not an historian and at some points it is painfully obvious. Specifically whenever Katherine argues that Princess Mary should be queen in her own right. The story is, many times, plagued by her modern eyes looking back on history, trying to mould Katherine into something she was not simply for the sake of making her more relatable to modern women. Though it isn’t as easy to spot it when only reading this book, reading the Anne Boleyn sequel also makes it painfully obvious how biased Weir is towards Katherine. The writing was dry at times and repetitive. However, it is not the language that you read this novel for, but for the story. My tip would be to skip the sequel, roll your eyes at the inaccurate moments, and enjoy 500+ pages of Tudor history coming alive at your fingertips.
I surprised myself and actually really enjoyed this book, the story and life of Katherine of Aragon is really interesting. She went through so much to become Queen and for Henry the VIII to just cast her aside is really heart breaking.
The story of Katherine of Aragon is told in a very sympathetic way, and you start to feel sorry for her as you read on.
The book is a hefty 600 pages and there were times that the book felt as if it dragged at some parts, but it was well written and an enjoyable read.
The story of Katherine of Aragon is told in a very sympathetic way, and you start to feel sorry for her as you read on.
The book is a hefty 600 pages and there were times that the book felt as if it dragged at some parts, but it was well written and an enjoyable read.
Really enjoyable, well-researched and an absolute pleasure.
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I am a fan of Alison Weir's novels. However, this one did not grab me in the way some of her others have. I don't entirely know why. Perhaps it is because I knew a lot of this story already. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset to read this book at this time. I did enjoy the first half of it more than the last. I found the second half to be dry and tedious to read. Also, for historical figures who have a large presence, neither Katherine nor Henry seemed to be very dynamic in this telling. Both just seemed to be there but not much more. I am still interested to read more in this series as this time period is a personal fascination.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep going back to these types of novels. It's no secret I'm fascinated by Tudor England and the War of the Roses- heavens knows I devour anything relating to it, fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction and so forth. It's more or less the same story every single time, with just some characterisation flavour from the author... and yet I always go back.
Weir is definitely one of the strongest authors when it cames to historical fact. This is perhaps the first time I've seen someone really delve into what Katherine's life was like, post-separation and divorce, and the awful nature of how she lived in the Fens. I was also particularly intrigued by her approach to Katherine's relationship with Arthur, his ill health and the idea that Henry VII didn't want his son exerting himself in the bedroom. I'm not sure how much of this would be based in fact (after all, this is the entire point of contention regarding her divorce to Henry VIII), and a teeny tiny part of me likes to imagine Weir included it as the antithesis to Philippa Gregory's idea that the pair were madly in love and bonked like rabbits.
The writing in the first third of the novel felt a bit clunky, like Weir was uncertain about the way characters interacted with one another. Either I became accustomed to her writing or it improved by the end. I did find Henry's repeated usage of Kate a little jarring, too- I suppose it's a bit like 'Tiffany' being an actual medieval name and a form of Theophania, but I did hope by the end he'd revert to calling her Katherine as a way of formally putting distance between them.
I liked how Weir humanised Henry. Okay, okay, he killed two of his wives and was clearly abusive, but I do like he wasn't an absolute monster from the start. Katherine loved him here and they spent many happy years together. Her hurt and confusion was palpable. I'm sure she was a little more aware of his infidelities than she appeared in this book, but I enjoyed that she didn't hate Anne from the start... and didn't even really think of her.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this collection- I hope I enjoy them as I did buy all six!
Weir is definitely one of the strongest authors when it cames to historical fact. This is perhaps the first time I've seen someone really delve into what Katherine's life was like, post-separation and divorce, and the awful nature of how she lived in the Fens. I was also particularly intrigued by her approach to Katherine's relationship with Arthur, his ill health and the idea that Henry VII didn't want his son exerting himself in the bedroom. I'm not sure how much of this would be based in fact (after all, this is the entire point of contention regarding her divorce to Henry VIII), and a teeny tiny part of me likes to imagine Weir included it as the antithesis to Philippa Gregory's idea that the pair were madly in love and bonked like rabbits.
The writing in the first third of the novel felt a bit clunky, like Weir was uncertain about the way characters interacted with one another. Either I became accustomed to her writing or it improved by the end. I did find Henry's repeated usage of Kate a little jarring, too- I suppose it's a bit like 'Tiffany' being an actual medieval name and a form of Theophania, but I did hope by the end he'd revert to calling her Katherine as a way of formally putting distance between them.
I liked how Weir humanised Henry. Okay, okay, he killed two of his wives and was clearly abusive, but I do like he wasn't an absolute monster from the start. Katherine loved him here and they spent many happy years together. Her hurt and confusion was palpable. I'm sure she was a little more aware of his infidelities than she appeared in this book, but I enjoyed that she didn't hate Anne from the start... and didn't even really think of her.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this collection- I hope I enjoy them as I did buy all six!
Alison Weir is one of my favorite writers and I very much enjoyed this first book in her historical fiction take on the Tudor Queens. Katharine was a strong determined woman and this made me feel like I was at her side during her incredible, heartbreaking life. I’m starting the second one about Anne Boleyn immediately!
Listened to this on audio, the audio book narrator was amazing. I could not stop listening, even though I knew the end result of what happened I was still gripped till the end.
The story I enjoyed as well, I never knew how many miscarriages she had, it was just heartbreaking hearing about all those.
My only issue is that Katherine was sooo good and sooo forgiving of Henry that as a modern lady it was really bothering me. I do admire and love that she was so firm and unwavering, not backing down at all, in her stance as Henry's true wife, which I completely agree with her on, but then she was always blaming Anne, Wolsey, etc, rarely ever Henry and she'd forgive in a heartbeat. It drove me nuts.
I'm sure that's how she truly was but it still didn't stop the annoyance I was feeling.
I'm very excited to continue this series.
The story I enjoyed as well, I never knew how many miscarriages she had, it was just heartbreaking hearing about all those.
My only issue is that Katherine was sooo good and sooo forgiving of Henry that as a modern lady it was really bothering me. I do admire and love that she was so firm and unwavering, not backing down at all, in her stance as Henry's true wife, which I completely agree with her on, but then she was always blaming Anne, Wolsey, etc, rarely ever Henry and she'd forgive in a heartbeat. It drove me nuts.
I'm sure that's how she truly was but it still didn't stop the annoyance I was feeling.
I'm very excited to continue this series.
This was about 300 pages too long and When I tell you I STRUGGLED to finish it. The strep throat also did not help but the end was just sooooo dragged out. I would have probably give the first half 4 stars because I liked learning about her life before her marriage to Henry, which is something that I think is overlooked in the stories of the 6 wives. It was well written and I may consider reading the next one but not for a while.