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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd been procrastinating over starting this series of chunky books, but once I started reading Alison Weir's familiar writing style I was soon sucked in, churned about and spat out. Katherine of Aragon went through so much in her lifetime, two marriages, so many child losses and then to lose her beloved husband, all because he wanted a son....
Towards the end, when Henry VIII moved Katherine from one place to another in order to get her further and further away from him, my heart was truly breaking. She remained totally in love with him and suffered the most awful betrayal, being cast away for being unable to give him what he thought was the most important thing.
Towards the end, when Henry VIII moved Katherine from one place to another in order to get her further and further away from him, my heart was truly breaking. She remained totally in love with him and suffered the most awful betrayal, being cast away for being unable to give him what he thought was the most important thing.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow. Katherine is a frustrating protagonist, but I do believe Weir's research as to her temperament. I struggled to read about her fertility troubles and will probably delay reading the rest of the series for that reason.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
N/A
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75/ 4 stars
I am very glad that I read this. I feel I have learned so much about Katherine of Aragon's whole life instead of just the part about her when Anne Boleyn came in.
At the start, I found the writing a little dry and the dialogue a bit stale, but I got used to it as the book went on and found that it actually effectively reflected the tone of Tudor life.
Weir makes us feel what life was like in these times- the reader can feel the women's frustration, anger, hurt and distress, but it was beyond women's power to do anything within the confines of their society. It is utterly baffling how women in these times could live like this. We see the effect that this has on Katherine through the tragic and heartbreaking events that occurred throughout her life and I found very moving, especially the ending.
I did find this quite hard to read with its sorrow and sadness embedded into most of the book, but the way that Weir has created this world is very skillfully done it is obvious that a huge amount of research gone into it.
I am very glad that I read this. I feel I have learned so much about Katherine of Aragon's whole life instead of just the part about her when Anne Boleyn came in.
At the start, I found the writing a little dry and the dialogue a bit stale, but I got used to it as the book went on and found that it actually effectively reflected the tone of Tudor life.
Weir makes us feel what life was like in these times- the reader can feel the women's frustration, anger, hurt and distress, but it was beyond women's power to do anything within the confines of their society. It is utterly baffling how women in these times could live like this. We see the effect that this has on Katherine through the tragic and heartbreaking events that occurred throughout her life and I found very moving, especially the ending.
I did find this quite hard to read with its sorrow and sadness embedded into most of the book, but the way that Weir has created this world is very skillfully done it is obvious that a huge amount of research gone into it.
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
It is so sad :( she is such a principled woman and I admire her. I hope she is resting in peace.
Listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Not sure I'll read more in this series, it's more historical than I prefer, but overall a good listen.