springdellgirl

Book Review #19



This book, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory was a really fun read. I LOVE historical fiction. It is my absolute favorite kind of fiction. Especially big fat historical fiction so I was very eager to get my hands on this book. I think it was a book club selection from years ago but one that I didn't read for some reason but not for lack of interest. When I first started reading this book I was slightly annoyed with the dialogue. It isn't the most well-written historical fiction I have ever read...and I have read lots!! But the storyline was so darn enjoyable I just couldn't put it down.

It takes place in the 1500's in the Royal Court of Henry VIII. It basically tells the story of the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn through the eyes of her sister, Mary Boleyn.

From ReadingGroupGuides.com:

Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king. When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family¹s ambitious plots as the king¹s interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.

This book is a great choice if you want to get lost in a book for a few days. I did. I just kept reading and reading. Even though I knew historically how the book ends I was intrigued and couldn't put it down. Long after I was done with the book the characters were still on my mind. I had to do more research on the people, time, fashion, and historical details. I wanted to know more. To me that is the sign of a good book. So while written simply (not nearly as bad as the Twilight series) and not brimming with historical facts...the author definitely gives us her unique spin on the story of Anne Boleyn. I really liked it.

I rate it as: VERY GOOD.