The Favored Child : A Novel
by Philippa Gregory
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Book Summary Information
Author: Philippa GregoryEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-07-02
ISBN: 0743249305
Number of pages: 624
Publisher: Touchstone
Book Reviews of The Favored Child : A Novel
Book Review: The Wideacre Series- A Labor of Love?
Summary: 4 Stars
The Wideacre series is unlike anything Philippa Gregory has ever written, and not all people will find this a good thing. Personally, after initially finishing WIDEACRE, I had mixed feelings. Beatrice Lacey is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read, and the story was riveting, but undoubtedly a downer. I was so depressed afterwards that I did not even attempt to read the second novel for quite a while. But I was dying to know what happened in Wideacre after Beatrice, and so I purchased THE FAVORED CHILD even though school was about to start again and I wasn't even sure I would have time to read it.
I'm glad I did. It has turned me into a Wideacre fan. Beatrice's presence weighs heavily in THE FAVORED CHILD, though the character herself met a timely end at the close of the previous installment. And she is possibly more fascinating. References to events from WIDEACRE were often mentioned, and I felt a chill running down my spine every time one of the characters referred to Miss Beatrice's Corner. Beatrice haunts not only the readers of THE FAVORED CHILD, but also its protagonist: the likable, intelligent, and irritatingly weak Julia Lacey. For she was all three of these things at once. I am not a fan of weak women in novels, but I truly liked the character of Julia Lacey. Yes, she was annoyingly spineless, especially when it came to standing up to her "cousin" Richard. But she also had rare moments of true strength, and a hidden inner courage that was there nevertheless. Strong, cruel Beatrice might still be my favorite Lacey, but I found good-hearted Julia to be a very sympathetic character.
It should be mentioned that the writing in the novel was absolutely breathtaking. Possibly the best Philippa has ever done. When it was happy, you felt your heart warm for the characters' fleeting happiness. When it was sad, it was heartbreaking... and I really mean heartbreaking. As I said before, the Wideacre series may be the most depressing thing out there, but in some ways, that's the beauty of it. It isn't escapism. The characters suffer, especially the innocent ones, but their suffering bonds you to them. I found I could no more set THE FAVORED CHILD down than I could walk away from a friend in need when she was telling me of her troubles. If there was ever a series that hurt to read, Wideacre is it. Those looking for a little read to take their minds off reality for a second should look elsewhere. But if you can get past the lump the Wideacre series will put in your throat, you will appreciate the masterful way it was written. You cannot appreciate Gregory as a writer until you have finished one of the Wideacre books. THE FAVORED CHILD will stay with you long after you have read the last page.
The characters and the world of Wideacre are, I think, some of its main attractions and also the main reason why some people just can't stand this series. I understand where those people are coming from. The Wideacre series was meant, and I only say this half-jokingly, for a certain type of reader-- the kind of reader who will willingly sacrifice their peace of mind for a good novel. So if that's not you, then nothing I say in this review will convince you to even read past the first few lines. But if it is, then you will become caught up in the Lacey magic and the Lacey madness, and you won't be able to free yourself from the mix of light and dark that is THE FAVORED CHILD.
Ralph, Beatrice's lover and murderer from WIDEACRE, is back and he is the undoubted survivor-hero. Having disliked him in the first book, I was surprised when he became one of my favorites in this book. And you really cannot help but liking him. Nor can you help liking James Fortescue, a new character, who is the true love of Julia. I warn you, it's not a happy tale for them, but he is such a wonderful character and I hope to read more of him in MERIDON. If there was one point in the story where I was really angry at Julia, it was when she did nothing, even though she knew she was being separated from him. She realizes her mistake too late. In fact, the most tragic part of THE FAVORED CHILD is that Julia becomes everything she always should have been, but it's just too late.
THE FAVORED CHILD ends on an ambiguous note, neither happy nor completely sad. It promises the reemergence of my favorite characters in the next book, MERIDON, which I will read as soon as I get the chance for I've heard the ending is absolutely wonderful. This is good news. Once you start the Wideacre series in earnest, you are in for the whole ride, and nothing but the most perfect of closures will put my mind at rest now. If this sounds like a laborious process, it might be that Wideacre is a labor of literary love.
Summary of The Favored Child : A Novel
The Wideacre estate is bankrupt. The villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin. But, in the Dower House, two children are being raised in protected innocence.Equal claimants to the estate, rivals for the love of the village, they are tied by a secret childhood betrothal but forbidden to marry. Only one can be the favored child. Only one can inherit the magical understanding between the land and the Lacey family that can make the Sussex village grow green again. Only one can be Beatrice Lacey's true heir.
Sensual, gripping, sometimes mystical, The Favored Child sweeps the reader irresistibly into the eighteenth century, a revolutionary period in English history. This rich and dramatic novel continues the saga of the Lacey family started in Philippa Gregory's bestselling and enduringly popular Wideacre.
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