I tried, a few years back (almost exactly), to read this one by Philippa Gregory, to no avail; I had read a couple other fiction books on Anne Boleyn and the Tudors (albeit YA fiction), and I was Tudored out. I went on and enjoyed two others by her, but this one was always lurking in the background; I figured I’d get around to it someday. The release of the movie prompted me to pick it up again. But, 230 pages into it, I realized something: I really don’t like these characters. In fact, I loathe them. I don’t mind naked ambition so much, but combine naked ambition with wantonly using people and loose morals, and you’ve got a bunch of people I’d rather not be reading about.
So, I bailed. Sometime after Mary Boleyn was pushed aside as King Henry VIII’s lover and Anne was squirming her way in, I decided that I’ve had enough of the Boleyn and Howard family. I mean, really: it’s one thing to be an object of the king’s desire, and to have him literally lust after you in front of his wife, the Queen. It’s entirely another to be practically pushed on him by your family (father and uncle specifically) and told to go have sex with Henry because it’s good for the family, while your poor husband (which your family arranged for you to marry in the first place) is shunted to the sidelines. Ugh. And so, since I know how the book ends anyway (everyone knows how the book ends; that’ s not the point), why bother spending time with such disagreeable people?
It’s not Philippa Gregory; as I said, I enjoyed both The Queen’s Fool and The Virgin’s Lover (though I remember liking the former better). Rather, it’s the Tudors, Howards and Boleyns. They were just despicable people (well, in historical fiction, anyway, they’re made out to be despicable people). And I think I’d rather not read about them. (Though I do have to admit, I’m intrigued enough by the time period that I’m rather curious about HBO’s The Tudors. I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to getting the DVDs, though… maybe after I forget how annoying and amoral these people were…)
This does mean, however, that I’m not going to count this one for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I think I’ll substitute American Gods by Neil Gaiman, instead. I’ve been meaning to read another Gaiman. It’s got to be better than the Tudors, anyway.
The Book Nut 
I couldn’t finish it either. I gave it to a friend who loved it! She and I just don’t read the same sort of stuff. 🙂
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Thanks for your comments on the book. I went to see the film over spring break (rather reluctantly- my dad really wanted to see it) and must say that I liked it more than I thought I would. The reviews were terrible and blasted it as bad soap opera, but knowing that going into it let me set my expectations properly. I guess that those were “soap opera” times. I think I’ll pass on the novel.
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I haven’t even tried it. I got Tudored out a long time ago and haven’t looked back.As for he HBO series, I never could stomach it either, but Jonathan Rhys Meyers (probably butchered the spelling, too lazy to look it up) is HOT HOT HOT. In that a-hole way, ya know.
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I really enjoyed the Carolyn Mayer (or is Meyer???) books about the Tudors. I haven’t tried this one. But I did pick up the sequel to this one. And I found it to be just okay. I really got irritated with it. But it takes a lot (perhaps too much) for me to give up on a book. I haven’t read much by her that I have liked. Have you read the Wideacre books? If you have and you liked them, I’ll try to not hold it against you. But I found them to have nothing remotely redeeming. Incestrous love (brother and sister) into s&m–so not my cup of tea. And the fact that the characters are so despicable, so deplorable, so cruel and manipulative and abusive and murderous. The sad thing is is that I read all three books hoping that they’d be a redeeming twist.
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I’ve read the Carolyn Meyer ones, too, Becky, and liked them. And I have to admit that I actually liked The Queen’s Fool, but that’s the only one by Gregory… I haven’t read the Wideacre books. They sound horrible. I’ll remember not to read them. 🙂
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Funny, I liked this one best of all of the Gregory Henry VIII books. Maybe because the characters were so despicable. I can’t find anyone to see the movie with me. Wah.I have really enjoyed the Young Royals series by Carolyn Meyer, but they do change some things in the book. I think in the book covering this event, the girls were older than they would have been.
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Well the movie was not bad. I’ve definitely seen worse, but it was predictable and not very exciting, considering I have not even read the book. It does not prompt me to pick the book up, and your comments solidify my non-intention to read it.Thanks.
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