I just finished reading 'The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. Although there are some harsh criticsms concerning the accuracy and the historical facts presented in the book, it is an entertaining read. A best seller, but lashed by critics. Does "Da Vinci Code" and "Harry Potter" ring a bell?
The widely popular "Da Vinci Code" was said to be blasphemous and anti-Catholicsm. The "Harry Potter" series were criticized as promoting withcraft and JK Rowling is a practicing witch. Despite all these vicious attacks, these books still manage to draw huge readerships, and have been so popular they are adapted into movies.
"The Other Boleyn Girl" mainly revolves the court of HenryVIII and the rise and fall of the Boleyn and Howard clan. Mary and Anne Boleyn were thrust to the arms of King Henry by their family to secure their power and wealth in the court. Mary was the docile one, whereas Anne was the ambitious and reckless one who wanted it all.
Anne Boleyn was finally crowned the Queen of England after successfully eliminating King Henry's wife, Queen Katherine. However, she only reigned for 3 years before she was beheaded for treason, for going too far to get what she wanted. In the end, she had no friends, ignored by her family and jilted by King Henry.
The book is entertaining because it describes human behavior, you could ascribe the different characters to people around you. I guess we haven't evolved as much as we like to believe behavior wise, coz the Anne Boleyn, King Henry and the courtiers of the 1500's, still lives on today. Read the book if you have time, you would certainly find someone you know.
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2 comments:
You are very well read, and yes..I think I know what you mean when you say we could overlay real characters in our lives to those in the books :p
(or the other way around)
Sometimes, the accuracy will surprise you!! :p
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