I don't usually list reading as one of my hobbies but lately I have to say I have really taken a liking to it. Perhaps it's a phase. One of my favorite recent autors is Philippa Gregory. She writes historical fiction during the time of King Henry the VIII. It started with watching the movie The Other Boleyn Girl. We rented the movie back in September. Often I had looked at the book in Barnes & Noble but decided I would probably never get around to reading it. We picked up the movie and we really liked it. So we decided to go ahead and get the book. I must say the book was soooo much better than the movie because it went into great detail on how the Boleyn sisters made it to court and how Anne Boleyn became the queen of England. After reading this book I am now a huge fan of Philippa Gregory.
Next I picked up The Queen's Fool which tells the story from the perspective of Hanna Green, a girl that has been blessed with the gift of Sight. Because of this gift she finds herself at court and caught betwen the half sisters Mary (daughter of Queen Catherine) and Elizabeth (daughter of Queen Anne Boleyn). I am almost half way through the book and enjoying it immensely.
I have also picked up another book of her's called Wideacre. I don't know much about it but the back of the book sounds interesting.
I took a break from Philippa however recently to read Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella. This was a very light read. It centers around the life of Lexi Smart who was in a car accident which caused her to lose her memory of the last 3 years. When she wakes she finds out she is married to a very rich and handsome man, and appears to have the perfect life. During her recovery she finds out her life isn't so perfect. This is an enjoyable funny book.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Posted by Beth at 10:51 PM
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2 comments:
Go ahead, please enjoy "The Other Boleyn", but remember Philippa Gregory is absolutely incorrect regarding 98% on the historical accuracy. Mary Boleyn was much older when she engaged in affairs with François I of France and his courtiers (she was born c. 1499/1500), and was in her late teens while in France. Her affair with Henry VIII began when she was in her early twenties. The Boleyn and Howard families NEVER encouraged either sister to occupy any King's bed. Mary did not bear Henry VIII any children. Anne Boleyn (who did not marry Henry Percy) was completely different from the nasty creature defined in the book, to the point of slander. Gregory is no historian, despite instance to the contrary. As a historian specializing in the area, I was horrified by the book: so many grammatical errors, the modern actions/reactions, the flat characterizations, the change of point of view from first to third person omniscient, and not having the faintest grasp of sixteenth century mores and court protocol.
Thanks for your insight! I never take any work of fiction as truth. I have read many reviews on Gregory's books and found that many people share your opinion. However it would make no differece to me if they were purely fictional characters, I enjoy her books for the story and not necessarily the historical accuracy.
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