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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
All right, Jean Plaidy is not the author for me. I've read her Lucrezia Borgia series, and the same complaints I had about that series also apply to this book. To quote directly from my review on the Borgias: "A lot of information is dumped at the reader, and it is very hard to get a sense of time passing as months can pass in a paragraph, and years are never explicitly stated. I found Plaidy’s writing to be tedious at times, as she is quite fond of mentioning certain details over and over again throughout the story."
I try not to penalize historical fiction books for the choices and decisions a historical figure has made, but I was severely tested here. To put it frankly, Margaret Tudor is the architect of her own suffering because most of her problems stem from her terrible decision-making. It's hard to feel any sympathy for her because Plaidy's writing is so lackluster. Plaidy makes the choice to focus mainly on Margaret's love life rather than the political malcanations occurring in Scotland, which only highlights how vapid Margaret is.
A misery to get through by the end.
I try not to penalize historical fiction books for the choices and decisions a historical figure has made, but I was severely tested here. To put it frankly, Margaret Tudor is the architect of her own suffering because most of her problems stem from her terrible decision-making. It's hard to feel any sympathy for her because Plaidy's writing is so lackluster. Plaidy makes the choice to focus mainly on Margaret's love life rather than the political malcanations occurring in Scotland, which only highlights how vapid Margaret is.
A misery to get through by the end.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
As usual I love Jean Plaidy. The one thing I didn't like about this book was the very end because it was written almost as if she was quickly trying to wrap up the story. It was so engaging and then it just ended and you turn the page thinking there must be one more chapter but no, it just ends. Other than that it was fantastic.
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I guess I just can’t get past the Uber horny 12 year old presented with nary a deconstruction
I've only read one other book based around Margaret Tudor (Philippa Gregory) and this was better overall. It was a quick read and Plaidy does a really good job with the third person perspective in her novels. There were some issues with grammar but otherwise a decent read.
I have read many-a-book about the Tudors, but surprisingly, this is my first novel by Ms. Plaidy. I knew NOTHING about Margaret Tudor before reading this, other than she was Henry's older sister and daughter of Elizabeth of York. Her story is an interesting, albeit irritating one.
Married to the Scottish King James IV at the still tender age of 14 (while he was 30), Margaret was forced to grow into her Queenly duties very quickly. While she appears to have loved her husband very much in the beginning, she was tormented by his many infidelities. I could understand her being hurt and angry while she was still young, but this was a trend throughout the entire book. Margaret being continually surprised and enraged by her husbands (all three of them) betraying her. Adultery in this period was VERY common among husbands, so why Margaret expected herself to be exempt from it was beyond me. Especially when she carried on an affair with Albany, who was married at the time, maker her the dreaded 'Other' woman!
Overall, Margaret seems to have lead a very hard and melancholy life. I don't know that the woman ever had an extended moment of happiness. She started out angry at James IV for cheating on her, then heartbroken when he was killed in battle. She recklessly married the Earl of Angus, whom she was happy with VERY briefly, only to spend the better part of 10 years trying to divorce him...all the while fighting to see her son, King James V, who, while King, was still a child under a Regent. Margaret fought for years to be in control of her son, but she never seemed to get very far for all the plotting and planning she did.
I won't go into the entire book, but just know that while Margaret herself may not be the most likable of women (or Queens), the book is very well written. I did think the last couple of chapters felt a bit rushed though. It seemed years would fly buy in the space of a few paragraphs, but this aside, it's a very good book about the reign of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots. I can't vouch for its historical accuracy since this is the only book I've read about Margaret, but I enjoyed it, and absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in reading it.
Married to the Scottish King James IV at the still tender age of 14 (while he was 30), Margaret was forced to grow into her Queenly duties very quickly. While she appears to have loved her husband very much in the beginning, she was tormented by his many infidelities. I could understand her being hurt and angry while she was still young, but this was a trend throughout the entire book. Margaret being continually surprised and enraged by her husbands (all three of them) betraying her. Adultery in this period was VERY common among husbands, so why Margaret expected herself to be exempt from it was beyond me. Especially when she carried on an affair with Albany, who was married at the time, maker her the dreaded 'Other' woman!
Overall, Margaret seems to have lead a very hard and melancholy life. I don't know that the woman ever had an extended moment of happiness. She started out angry at James IV for cheating on her, then heartbroken when he was killed in battle. She recklessly married the Earl of Angus, whom she was happy with VERY briefly, only to spend the better part of 10 years trying to divorce him...all the while fighting to see her son, King James V, who, while King, was still a child under a Regent. Margaret fought for years to be in control of her son, but she never seemed to get very far for all the plotting and planning she did.
I won't go into the entire book, but just know that while Margaret herself may not be the most likable of women (or Queens), the book is very well written. I did think the last couple of chapters felt a bit rushed though. It seemed years would fly buy in the space of a few paragraphs, but this aside, it's a very good book about the reign of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots. I can't vouch for its historical accuracy since this is the only book I've read about Margaret, but I enjoyed it, and absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in reading it.