Tag Archive: Reader Reviews
Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen
Review by Melissa Klug
I happily stumbled upon Philippa Gregory over two years ago, after running out of books while on vacation in Mexico–THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL was available on the hotel’s open bookshelf. I was immediately taken, particularly by Gregory’s ability to take a familiar story and provide life in details that only academic historians would know–in TOBG, it was the intriguing story of Mary Boleyn, sister of the infamous Anne. Gregory does it again with the story of the “Princes in the Tower,” one of the true great unsolved mysteries of history.
In this case, the story of the Princes comes very late in the book THE WHITE QUEEN; rather, Gregory concentrates on building the extensive history of the Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses via the first person narration by their mother, Elizabeth Woodville, who rises from widowed commoner to Queen of the York King Edward. The story spans the years 1464-1485, in which England saw vicious battles between cousins, brothers, fathers & sons for power in an evolving monarchy.
THE WHITE QUEEN provides the reader a view into an era of English history less well-known than that of the Tudors; a sympathetic view of an ambitious queen to whom history was not kind; and a compelling theory on the fate of the York Princes Edward and Richard, imprisoned in the Tower of London for being threats to the claim of their uncle to the throne. Unfortunately, for me, the book had some flaws difficult to overcome, including the overuse of supernatural elements that often stretched the story’s believability; and a lack of tension to make key parts of the story become real to the reader. I also was disappointed by the lack of historical details that I felt were so rich in some of her other books; details that could have made the stories come to life.
This is the first in a planned trilogy by Gregory on the Plantagenets; future books will look at the stories of two women introduced in THE WHITE QUEEN, including Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter, the mother of Henry VIII.
Melissa Klug is an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction, particularly Tudor era England. She works for Glatfelter and directs an initiative called Permanence Matters which educates the literary community on the declining usage of high-quality paper by the publishing industry (www.permanencematters.com).
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Review by Marisa Antonaya
Philippa Gregory begins her new series on the Plantagenets and the Cousins’ War (War of the Roses) with The White Queen, which explores the life of Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of Edward IV.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is its narration: it’s told entirely in the present tense, as a first-person account from Elizabeth’s point of view. I was wary for the first few pages, wondering whether I could read an entire novel written in the present tense, but I have to say that it really works. The present tense gives the narrative a sense of relentless drive, as events unfold before our very eyes. It’s also reminiscent of how history books are written, which helps ground the reader in the factual elements of the novel.
It’s also interesting to be so intimately involved in Elizabeth’s life, from her perspective, as she faces an uncertain future. The only time this technique fails is during the two or three episodes where the point of view inexplicably shifts to a battlefield, away from Elizabeth; the events are still in the present tense, but the story here feels disembodied without a clear narrator.
The other element I wanted to mention, and one which might frustrate readers expecting a completely factual account, is the strong insistence on myth and magic as decisive factors in Elizabeth’s triumphs and sorrows. Elizabeth constantly alludes to her family’s ancestor, the water goddess Melusina, and she and her mother cast spells and curses that seem to influence decisive moments in the actual events of her reign. I was fine with this, because the book is after all a novel, and not a biography. But readers anticipating a reliable historical account should know that Gregory brings into play many unproven theories concerning the motives and fates of some of the characters (especially the fate of the two princes). For me, the uncertainty and speculation made for a fascinating and dramatic read, even as I kept the distinction between fact and hypothesis in the back of my mind.
Marisa Antonaya is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish Literature at McGill University. She also does some freelance writing (mainly book reviews, but also articles on e-reading and content management software), at Suite 101 – http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/bookdoctor.
Reader Reviews of Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
The reviews are in! Kris Waldherr and Marie Burton give thumbs up to to Michelle Moran’s new release, Cleopatra’s Daughter
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“As an exiled princess of Egypt trapped in Octavian’s court, Selene is warned that she can do little except hope for the emperor’s good will.” – Kris Waldherr. Read Kris’ full review here
“This is a wonderful story that gives a voice to an otherwise unknown Cleopatra’s daughter, who was once the sun and moon of Egypt, and it is masterfully told.” – Marie Burton. Read Marie’s full review here
Many thanks to both for their thoughtful comments. If YOU would like a chance to review new releases in history or historical fiction, let us know. We’ll keep you updated on available titles.
Finally, be sure to have a look at Michelle’s guest posts on Wonders & Marvels:
Postcards from Ancient Rome
Cleopatra’s Makeup
Sneak Peek: Tell us what you think!
Our new Sneak Peek program gives Wonders & Marvels readers a look at selected titles before they hit the bookstores.
Here’s how it works: Take a look at our bi-weekly selection of available titles . Send us an email and let us know which titles you’d love to read. We have two copies of each title to send out. For now, we’ll use a first-come-first-served system to assign the titles.
You’ll receive a copy of the book in the mail in about a week. You’ll have two weeks to read the book and to write a 150-200 word review (about ½ to ¾ page, double spaced). Once we get your review, we’ll post it on the website!
Your reviews need to be thoughtful, constructive, and ABOVE ALL, honest. We’re not looking for glowing comments just because you got a free book. Let us know what you think! What did you like about the book? What did you not like? Is it a book you’d recommend to other Wonders & Marvels readers?
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Discussion about the fascinating stories of our scientific and medical past
