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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This was the first time I spent some time with a book exclusively involving Elizabeth Woodville. I was not disappointed. Philippa Gregory did a wonderful job with including a lot of detail that is known about this time period. I thought that it was interesting that she opted to go with the most believed ending (her sons disappearing from the Tower) to a more hopeful one; although, anyone who is just a little versed in early English history knows that nothing would become of it. For a woman that lost so much during the wars, it was a ending fit for any mother. It added a warming touch to what would otherwise be a novel with so much death.
The White Queen is the story of Elizabeth Woodville, a woman not of royal descent, who married the King of England in secret. She married Edward IV as a widow with two sons. Elizabeth's new husband the king must fight his whole life to maintain the throne he had fought to obtain. He leaves two male heirs in a court wrought with jealousy and malice. This is the story of a woman who fights for the rights of her family. She has fought so hard to achieve her position, and she will not give up now. In the War of the Roses, known to the players in it as the Cousins' War, you can trust no one, and war is always imminent.
I loved this book. I could not put it down. I really liked The Lady of the Rivers (the third of the Cousins' War series, but first chronologically), but The White Queen was even better! There was a lot of action and intrigue, keeping me completely engaged the whole time. I was most intrigued by the novel knowing that it involved the mystery of the Princes in the Tower and Richard III. It didn't disappoint. It did surprise, but did not disappoint. When I started reading it, I was a little distracted by the narration being in the present tense--that usually bothers me. However, as the story went along, I found I actually liked it. It made me feel as if I was a part of the action, rather than having someone recount a story to me. I also appreciate how the more unseemly aspects of the story are not ignored, but are not focused on either. For example, it was made clear that Edward IV was a womanizer and slept with hundreds of women outside of his marriage. This is given the weight it is due, but there are no graphic sex scenes or anything like that. Tasteful, but honest.
This was my second Philippa Gregory novel, and I am eager for more!
I recommend this to everyone!
I loved this book. I could not put it down. I really liked The Lady of the Rivers (the third of the Cousins' War series, but first chronologically), but The White Queen was even better! There was a lot of action and intrigue, keeping me completely engaged the whole time. I was most intrigued by the novel knowing that it involved the mystery of the Princes in the Tower and Richard III. It didn't disappoint. It did surprise, but did not disappoint. When I started reading it, I was a little distracted by the narration being in the present tense--that usually bothers me. However, as the story went along, I found I actually liked it. It made me feel as if I was a part of the action, rather than having someone recount a story to me. I also appreciate how the more unseemly aspects of the story are not ignored, but are not focused on either. For example, it was made clear that Edward IV was a womanizer and slept with hundreds of women outside of his marriage. This is given the weight it is due, but there are no graphic sex scenes or anything like that. Tasteful, but honest.
This was my second Philippa Gregory novel, and I am eager for more!
I recommend this to everyone!
I’ve been planning to read this book for a long time. I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction from based on the royal dynasties of England. I actually added this book to my TBR almost 4 years ago! So I don’t really know why I haven’t read it before now. But I happened to be in the library and saw it laying there and figured ‘it’s time!’
I really enjoyed this one. It is a long read full of detail, but well worth it. I really didn’t know much at all about the history before Henry VIII until earlier this year when I read ‘The Stolen Crown’ by Susan Higgenbotham, which I loved! The White Queen is actually the same story, but told from Elizabeth Woodville’s point of view. (The Stolen Crown was told from her sister, Katherine’s point of view.) As some reviewers have mentioned, there were an awful lot of Richards and Edwards and Henrys and Elizabeths running around England in those days, and reading both books helped me nail down how they were all related.....kind of anyway.
One thing I liked was how both authors started at the same place, with a set of facts and histories, and then used their imagination to fill in the blanks. This led to a lot of very similar stories in the book; for example, how Elizabeth and Edward were married in secret and how the marriage was revealed. But there were also some major points of difference; who was responsible for the disappearance of the ‘little princes’. At the end of this book, in the author notes, the author did clue us in a bit on what was fact and what was filled in with her imagination. This is always something I appreciate from an author when I read historical fiction!
Coincidentally, shortly after I finished this book, I learned that there is a STARZ mini-series based on the book. The first episode was free, and though not as good as the book (when are adaptations EVER as good?) it was pretty good. So you might want to look for it if you enjoy this period of history.
Now I can’t wait to get to [b:The Red Queen|7148256|The Red Queen (The Cousins' War, #2)|Philippa Gregory|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1281335912s/7148256.jpg|7413156]!
I really enjoyed this one. It is a long read full of detail, but well worth it. I really didn’t know much at all about the history before Henry VIII until earlier this year when I read ‘The Stolen Crown’ by Susan Higgenbotham, which I loved! The White Queen is actually the same story, but told from Elizabeth Woodville’s point of view. (The Stolen Crown was told from her sister, Katherine’s point of view.) As some reviewers have mentioned, there were an awful lot of Richards and Edwards and Henrys and Elizabeths running around England in those days, and reading both books helped me nail down how they were all related.....kind of anyway.
One thing I liked was how both authors started at the same place, with a set of facts and histories, and then used their imagination to fill in the blanks. This led to a lot of very similar stories in the book; for example, how Elizabeth and Edward were married in secret and how the marriage was revealed. But there were also some major points of difference; who was responsible for the disappearance of the ‘little princes’. At the end of this book, in the author notes, the author did clue us in a bit on what was fact and what was filled in with her imagination. This is always something I appreciate from an author when I read historical fiction!
Coincidentally, shortly after I finished this book, I learned that there is a STARZ mini-series based on the book. The first episode was free, and though not as good as the book (when are adaptations EVER as good?) it was pretty good. So you might want to look for it if you enjoy this period of history.
Now I can’t wait to get to [b:The Red Queen|7148256|The Red Queen (The Cousins' War, #2)|Philippa Gregory|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1281335912s/7148256.jpg|7413156]!
Although this kind of story is not for everyone, it is definitely one for fans of Historical Fiction. Oddly enough, although I consider myself a HF fan, I have never read one of Philippa Gregory's books until now. I have to say, I am very impressed. Her novels are impeccably researched and extremely readable. I'm dying to find out what happens to the younger characters in the Tudor and Plantagenet lines, and although I could look it up, I'd rather find out through Ms. Gregory's beautifully written prose.
My reading of the book coincided with me watching the documentary on the discovery of Richard the third's body in the car park in Leicester so it was actually a bit hard to tell fiction from reality for a while. I liked this book and even though some bits were far fetched by today's standards (all the mythology stuff) they believed all kinds of things so it's not beyond the realm of possibility. I always like Philippa's characterisations, especially of her female characters, and this book was no exception to that. I don't think this book is one of her very best but it's pretty darn good.
Another steady historical fiction work from Philippa Gregory. Actually quite thrilled to read the end notes where Philippa defines what was accurate about her book and what was conjecture. She goes to great lengths to accurately portray the atmosphere of the times which may be MORE manipulative than the Tudor period. Cliffhanger ending leading up to next in this series.
emotional
This time is my guilty pleasure. I know most of this is fiction but the fact that even some of this stuff is based on truth is so crazy to me. So much drama and plotting. Definitely glad I didn’t live during this time.
Usually have liked books from this series but not so much this one. Did not like protagonist at all so makes it hard to like book