Outstanding historical fiction (which is not a genre I tend to favor); the start of Thomas Cromwell's rise is seen alongside the dissolution of Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon. It's brutal, long (lots of characters to keep in mind, all of the important ones real people), and intriguing,...
Somewhat difficult to get into, but hard to stop once that threshold is breached.Longer review here: http://fadedhat.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-review-wolf-hall-2009.html
This is one book that suffers in the audio format. There are too many characters (all named Thomas or Ann, it seems) to keep everything straight without the ability to flip back and forth.
I have to say that I LOVED the first half (or so) of this book. It's written in an unusual voice - third person, present tense - which seems to turn off some readers, but other than the occasional confusion of which "he" is being referred to, it wasn't off-putting to me. My dissatisfaction came as...
Hilary Mantel is the most creative manufacturer of swearing that I've read in a good long time. I mean that as positive praise. Actually, I could praise her creativity across the board and feel pretty good about doing so. Great characterization, loads of folks with distinct and well-rounded personas...
Am joining the club of haters of the imprecise 'he' insertions. Never got a clue who is speaking or thinking what. This book is not superior in craft and not superior in story line. Not sure why this got any prices.And changing time lines has to add value, to do it for the sake of it, is annoying to...
There were brief moments in this book where I was genuinely transported, feeling like I was actually standing next to Cromwell on the water steps watching the sun glitter on the Thames, or sitting in the chill of his study listening to the bustle of a busy household on a winter afternoon. Those mom...
I don't know why but I couldn't get into this book. I think it was the dialogue between cromwell and the arch-bishop about how they were going to find a wife for the king, or something like that, when I decided to give up. Too tedious.
Well, I got through two thirds of it, by virtue of listening to the audiobook while I do other, more worthwhile, things. Like ironing. Eventually, I lost the will to live and stopped listening. I’ve been putting off writing anything about this in case I get a sudden urge to pick it up again and carr...
The marriages of Henry VIII is a common historical episode used in novels - and for good reason. Henry's desire to divorce his first wife and marry the seductive Anne Boleyn led to the separation of England from the Catholic church. As far as political intrigue and shady deals negotiated in castle...
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