The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.51 You Save: $14.49 (91%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Other Boleyn Girl
Book Review: an enjoyable historical fiction...
Summary: 5 Stars
this novel tells of the tumultuous period before elizabethan england from the point of view of one of its courtiers. rife with intrigue, sex, and betrayals, 'the other boleyn girl' presents the dark, fascinating world behind the glitter and grandeur of henry VIII's court as the infamous king flits from one paramour to another, seeking a male heir, as well as for affection and love where love is forced to be pretentious and often ambitious, ultimately for the sake of claiming the throne and ruling a kingdom almost on its knees. ms gregory is a master storyteller, bringing to vivid life characters and historical events that became the impetus of the tudor dynasty.
the story highlights, among others, the insidious and overwhelming power that the women in henry's court wield as they resort to trickery (even witchcraft) and depravity. amidst the raging political conflict lying just beneath the veneer of the most powerful people in that time, readers will continue to experience the emotional battles that the 'other' boleyn girl has to go through as she is first swallowed up in the world of henry's court but later determinedly struggles to carve a life for herself and her family, as far away removed as it can be especially when her sister anne howard became obsessively bent on a destructive path to put her own stake to the throne.
a wonderful read for anyone who wishes to experience historical england in the guise of superb storytelling. never loses its momentum, and is sure to deliver until the last page...
Book Review: ride the rollercoaster of emotion
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW...what a book! I don't know why I feel like the last one on earth to read about Henry VIII or Anne Boleyn--I don't even think I knew who they were before reading this (sad, but true)...and now-after days and nights of nonstop reading- I feel like I could teach a class on these two (a short class...for toddlers) I was totally drawn in by the powerful wills, rivalries and love described by Gregory--it seemed both real and impossible. Is it possible that Anne Boleyn was truely the enormous BIT#*!H that was given to us in this novel? Is that possible? If so, then I regret ever assigning that word to any living being because no one-and I mean NO ONE - holds a candle to Annie B. and amazingly, as she walked the block, somehow I began to manifest sympathy for her-despite hundreds of pages of hating her. The story also satisfied the great romantic in me-no better love has been described than that of Mary and William Stafford. How Gregory is able to breathe those first passionate feelings of love into the pages is amazing. You put the book down but somehow find that everything around you looks a little different. Feelings become charged. Little sparks of passion emerge. You can't read about this kind of love and not find yourself in love again. (unfortunately, reading about Henry and his infidelities kind of kills these feelings and I was torn between loving men like Stafford and feeling disgusted by men like Henry, not that I've ever known a king...but I know plenty of men who think they come close) I loved this book.Book Review: Tudor England at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Though many may view this as yet another sympathetic retelling of Anne Boleyn's rise and fall, one could not be more mistaken. Gregory (Virgin Earth), a noted historical novelist, tells the story instead through the eyes of Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister. Mary comes to court and captures the wandering eye of King Henry VIII, putting her marriage aside to become his mistress. All of this is prompted by her ambitious family, the Howards, led by her powerful uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Anne and their brother George play key roles in Mary's seduction of the king, each tutoring her in a different way.
Eventually, Mary is put aside in favor of her sister, who will be content with nothing but the wife of Henry. As we watch Anne's tiring and sometimes frantic attempts to keep hold of fickle Henry for six years, we feel Mary's exasperation. Of course, we all know what happens now...Henry divorces Queen Katherine for Anne, Queen Anne gives birth to a daughter (the future Elizabeth I), and it all goes downhill from there. When Anne is put aside and executed, and Jane Seymour takes her place, Mary keeps her own head by denying her family and following her heart.
Though the book has many inaccuracies, such as Mary was actually OLDER than Anne, whereas in this novel she is younger. Also, Mary's affair with King Francois of France is never actually mentioned. Aside from this, The Other Boleyn Girl is a wonderful retelling of the rise and fall of the Boleyn faction through the eyes of an unexpected heroine.
Book Review: A Masterpiece!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
First I have to say that in school and college, I either skipped or slept through most of my history classes. It was my least favourite subject. That being said...
Several people recommended this book, and when I finally picked it up, I was imediately roped in. I read it in two days, and went out to buy the rest of this series!
Not only was the book fascinating,and steamy, but it's also real history folks! I learned so much from "The Other Boleyn Girl" and what life was like in that era.
Life in the King's court was truly scandelous, and a queen's life was under constant scrutiny. Nothing was kept private for these women, and their sole purpose in life was to get pregnant and bear sons. When Anne finds herself unable to become pregnant again by Henry (the ol' guy seemed to have an issue with impotence), she becomes desperate and resorts to incest, trying to save her neck and give him a son.
The Tudor family lived to make the King and Queen happy, despite their own feelings. But their sole purpose in the royal court was to climb their way to the top, and win the King's favour. They used any means necessary, including sacrificing their young daughters. Catherine, the young innocent, was merely a pawn, catching the eye of the king and tearing him away from his queen and holding his lust at bay, while Anne waits cunningly in the wings for her moment strike.
Read this book, it has everything: sex, scandal, execution, treason and lots of scheming.
Book Review: An Amazing Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Not much has been written about Mary Boleyn. She was very young and married when Henry cast his eyes on her. She was then sent to court to be a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. She was very fond of the Queen but had no choice when Henry wanted her to be his mistress.She had 2 children by him - first a girl and then a boy. While she was recovering from childbirth, Henry turned from her to her sister, Anne.
In one of the unforgettable scenes in the book, the Boleyn family calmly discusses which sister should be the one for Henry. And when it is decided it should be Anne, Mary asks, "What shall I be?" and the answer from Anne: "You'll be my lady in waiting. You'll be the other Boleyn girl."
Mary always did as she was told but her real longing was to live a peaceful life in the country - far away from court - with her children. But once Anne became Henry's favorite, she controlled Mary and her children like pieces on a chessboard.
Anne became very cruel. The Boleyn family was ruled by blind ambition and anything and everything they did was done to gain access to the throne. Mary was kept from her children and from the man she then fell in love with to serve Anne.
One of the amazing things about Mary is she was the only one of her family who just wanted to be common. She managed to stay friends with Queen Katherine even when she had Henry's children. And when Anne and her family had completely lost favor with the King, Mary survived.
An absolutely riveting book. Don't miss it.