NUMBER: 2TITLE: The Other Boleyn Girl
AUTHOR: Philippa Gregory
STARTED: January 2, 2006
FINISHED: January 8, 2006
PAGES: 664
GENRE: Fiction
FIRST SENTENCE: I could hear a roll of muffled drums.
SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] 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 family's ambitious plots as the king's 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.
REASON FOR READING: I've read Gregory before and like her. Plus, a number of her books are on my TBR pile.
THOUGHTS: Once again, I was overwhelmed with the quality of Gregory's writing. Her characters and plots are HIGHLY addictive. I could not put this book down. The emotions that ran rampant through this book dragged me into the story and refused to let go. Mary's character was well written and complete. It would have been impossible not to like her. Her sister, Anne, though less likable as a person, was just as enjoyable. The dynamic these two had in the story is what made the book great. The were sisters who loved one another and, yet, they were still rivals. Gregory did a fabulous job of writing the love through the tension.
The rest of the cast (i.e., Henry and the other love interests) only made the book more enjoyable. I hurt when they were hurt and laughed when they were happy. Gregory is a wizard with words. Her writing was flawless. The descriptive language and imagery made this book a gem.
MISCELLANEOUS: Katherine of Aragon is in much of this book. Gregory's new book, The Constant Princess, is also about that princess. (That book is already on my TBR pile.) I have to wonder how the two stories are going to overlap.
KEEP/SHARE/CRINGE(?): Keep until I can find it in hardcover.
RATING: 8/10 [Terrific]
CR: Princess by Gaelen Foley
RN: Compassion Fatigue by Susan D. Moeller
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