The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
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Book Reviews of The Other Boleyn Girl
Book Review: Incredible Historical Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
The Other Boleyn Girl, is hands down the best piece of historical fiction I have ever read. Upon reading it, I have been searching for other books of its genre and subject matter to delve into.Gregory made these characters come alive for me, and made me understand how difficult it was to live as a woman in the early 1500s. Mary was especially well crafted. At 13 years old she went from her forced marriage to being thrown into the King's arms as his mistress. The inner struggles she fought between being true to herself and her heart, or true to her family were especially poignant.
Anne Boleyn, the most famous and tragically terminated sister, is portrayed in such a venomous way. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, and to rise in power and prestige. In the end it killed her. But her character, as portrayed by Ms. Gregory, was compelling and convincingly ugly, despite her beauty.
King Henry VIII also jumped off the pages. He came off as a spoiled brat, even as he grew older, who always got what he wanted. He and Anne were well matched for each other as no level of deceipt was too high.
Ms. Gregory was brilliant in choosing Mary as the narrator of this book. In doing so, the manipulative and scheming nature of Anne was able to come alive, as was the unorthodox lifestyle chosen by George Boleyn, the brother. The relationship amongst the Boleyn siblings, in and of itself, could fill a novel. The complexities of a family struggling to maintain individual identities, while working to bring the family up to the highest level of stature is intense.
This book is a page turner; it is incredibly compelling, deep and fascinating. I learned a great deal about the monarchy of Henry VII as well as life in the court during that time period. At the same time, I found myself incredibly entertained and saddened when I reached the last page. I cannot wait for more from Ms. Gregory.
Book Review: Order in the Court!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had some reservations about reading this novel, as I am not a history buff, and I could not see myself wading through over 600 pages of middle English dialogue and melodramatic prose. I am so glad I took the chance.Told in the first-person narrative of Mary Boleyn, Anne's younger sister, this is a fictional aacount of a family of courtiers in Tudor England. The novel begins a little over a year after Mary (aged 13) has been married to a British nobelman. All sorts of things are happening for her. Her family is gaining power within the monarchy, she is reasonably happily married, and her older sister Anne is returning from the French court. Mary has caught the eye of Henry VIII, much to the Queen Katherine's chagrin. Pressed by her family, and in particular her sister, Mary begins an illicit affair with the king. Two children later, Henry has moved on from Mary to her sister Anne. The story then shifts to Mary's first-hand account of her sister's reign and eventual execution.
Make no mistake; this is definitely Mary's story. While a great deal of the novel is spent on Mary's version of what happened to Anne, there is no loss of who Mary is as a person and of what happens to her life. I highly recommend this novel as it paints a rich characterization of one of the most fascinating and tumultous periods of English history, with a plausible plot and witty dialogue. Gregory has deftly captured the ruthlessness and greed of the noble class, and paints a particularly ambitious portrait of Anne Boleyn.
As we read how Mary matures, we suffer with her, especially during her adolescent phase. It's difficult to discern if Mary is a worthy heroine, or a complacent whiner. Good! Just like a teenager. We see her through her first love, the births of her children, and finding true love. There's not a false notion here. For fiction, this is unparalleled. Great fun!
Book Review: We've Come a Long Way Baby!
Summary: 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoy reading historical fiction; I find it both entertaining and educational. That said, this was one of the better books available in the genre. The Other Boleyn Girl revealed a side of the pawn-like roles assigned women in the past I'd never considered. Imagine, sleeping with a man (ok, so he WAS the king of England)at the express instruction of your family; being forced into adultery, dis-avowing an existing marriage merely to enhance the family's standing in the king's eyes. Such greedy, self-serving behavior at the expense of a young woman's virtue is considered shocking in the modern world. Imagine the outrage if it were discovered Monica Lewinsky's parents had instructed her to do what she did, for the sole purpose of financial gain for their family. Philippa Gregory sheds light on the rigors of court life as no other author has ever done. I felt weary myself simply reading about the time and effort both Mary and Ann Boleyn put into pleasing the king. The plotting and scheming done by the Howard family was diabolically amazing. Uncle Howard's lack of feeling for anyone but himself and the advancement of the family name gave me chills.
The romance between Mary and William Stafford was the only warm and fuzzy aspect in a novel filled with the darker facets of human nature. Gregory's decision to refer to the rumored incestual relationship between Anne and brother George further added to the image of the overall depravity of the Howard family. Anne's willingnes to sleep with her brother in an effort to produce an heir illustrated her desperation not to be put aside by Henry, and foreshadowed the evidence given for her ultimate demise.
This book has it all: greed, murder, sex, incest, homo-sexuality, love, treachery, war, religous and social upheaval.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.
Book Review: A fantastic read
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems every time I turn around I see a Philippa Gregory book in the bookstores, at the airport, on a train--and for good reason. Gregory's books for the most part focus on England from the 16th to 18th centuries, from the Tudors themselves to fictional hangers-on. She has a fast-paced style, a talent for dialogue, and throws in just enough history for historical fiction buffs like me. "The Other Boleyn Girl" starts off as the story of Mary Boleyn, the shadowy sister of the fiery Anne, briefly the lover of Henry VIII and the mother of one of his illegitimate sons. Mary is a simple girl, caught up in court intrigue, used as a pawn in the never-ending battles betwen the great families of England to get close to the King. This book is really about Anne, however, and the use of Mary as the narrator to tell Anne's story is a neat twist. One thing that a modern reader might find amazing is the ages of the principal movers at court--at times it's as if a gang of pretty teenagers wields the power to direct the course of the monarchy and the country. The Henry VIII here is a man easily distracted, fond of women and amusement, not willing to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his desire for an heir. We're all familiar with this story, but Gregory has a unique way of making it real--the exhaustion of the endless rounds of parties, the uncles of the great families endlessly scheming, the use of young girls to catch the King's eye. Mary, the most innocent, is the only one who escapes, however; she fades from the limelight as the King turns elsewhere, and saves herself and her children just in time. Little is known about Mary, but Gregory manages to turn it into a great story without doing too much damage to the facts. These books aren't too heavy but totally engrossing. A nice alternative to chick lit.Book Review: Amazing! I devoured this book (and skipped sleeping!)
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked this book up on a whim. I'd never heard of the author, and I normally stick to ones that I like.I am completely blown away. This is the first book in a very long time that I felt I simply MUST sit down and read and find out what happens. It's just amazing.
The story follows the lesser known of the Boleyn sisters, Mary. Her early years at court, her romance with the king, her marriage, and her tumultuous love/hate relationship with her sister Anne are all incredibly detailed. The author wants you to love and hate Anne at the same time, and Mary as well, and somehow you do. You get to watch first-hand as Anne battles her way past her sister's star at Henry's court only to supplant her, and later fall (as history tells). Only we see it all from Anne's sister's point of view -- a naive, innocent, well meaning girl that hates herself for betraying those that she loves for the betterment of her all-consuming family.
Characterization will make or break a book more often than not. I found that 'The Other Boleyn Girl' was wonderfully written, and the characters rich and complex. Mary is simple, but she has layers of duplicity about her, and you can't help but admire her when she discovers her backbone. Anne is her foil, and you hate her at the same time that you admire her tenacity and fire. You even understand the (frequently) caricatured figures of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, and Jane Seymour. On a perspective note, this book is written in first person -- Mary's story -- yet the telling is so rich and watchful that it doesn't hamper the tale one bit.
I really loved this book. I'm off to find out what other gems Philippa Gregory has written lately. If they are HALF as good as this book, I will be utterly pleased.