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My history with this story is somewhat convoluted.
I’d seen the first episode of the Starz dramatization years before I ever contemplated reading the book. It was offered as a free preview in order to tempt me to subscribe.
I have to say, I found some of the plot points problematic and I was not compelled to seek out the rest of the series even when a friend offered to share her subscription login. And while I’d heard many fans of the series rave about it, I was apprised of a few more plot points I’d argue were unsavory at best and disturbing at worst.
A few years later I borrowed the book from said friend but again it sat untouched gathering dust for months if not an entire year.
The series is so beloved though. And there it is on Netflix, a streaming service I do subscribe to. It came up in conversation recently and I found myself compelled to give it a second look. So, during my week-long Thanksgiving break I binged the first two seasons.
Then I dusted off the cover of that wickedly small (though wickedly thick) with equally small typeface, mass market paperback and indulged myself.
What can I say? I fell victim to all the bodice-ripper-charm of the mass market paperbacks I cut my teeth on in my youth circa 1980-something.
It’s not fine literature but it was definitely an interesting romp of historical fiction equally dispersed with romance, sex and high adventure. A small part of its appeal was challenging myself to finish an 850-page tome although I must confess I downloaded my library’s ebook edition soon after beginning my foray as mass market paperbacks are just too cumbersome for my liking these days.
I don’t typically read book series’ so I doubt I’ll continue reading the remaining installments but I’ll be treating myself to subsequent seasons of the adaptation now that I’ve earned continued cheap thrills by completing this read.
I’d seen the first episode of the Starz dramatization years before I ever contemplated reading the book. It was offered as a free preview in order to tempt me to subscribe.
I have to say, I found some of the plot points problematic and I was not compelled to seek out the rest of the series even when a friend offered to share her subscription login. And while I’d heard many fans of the series rave about it, I was apprised of a few more plot points I’d argue were unsavory at best and disturbing at worst.
A few years later I borrowed the book from said friend but again it sat untouched gathering dust for months if not an entire year.
The series is so beloved though. And there it is on Netflix, a streaming service I do subscribe to. It came up in conversation recently and I found myself compelled to give it a second look. So, during my week-long Thanksgiving break I binged the first two seasons.
Then I dusted off the cover of that wickedly small (though wickedly thick) with equally small typeface, mass market paperback and indulged myself.
What can I say? I fell victim to all the bodice-ripper-charm of the mass market paperbacks I cut my teeth on in my youth circa 1980-something.
It’s not fine literature but it was definitely an interesting romp of historical fiction equally dispersed with romance, sex and high adventure. A small part of its appeal was challenging myself to finish an 850-page tome although I must confess I downloaded my library’s ebook edition soon after beginning my foray as mass market paperbacks are just too cumbersome for my liking these days.
I don’t typically read book series’ so I doubt I’ll continue reading the remaining installments but I’ll be treating myself to subsequent seasons of the adaptation now that I’ve earned continued cheap thrills by completing this read.