The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Boleyn)
by Philippa Gregory
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Book Reviews of The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Boleyn)
Book Review: Off to a galloping start!
Summary: 5 Stars
I should say at the outset that I have only just started this book. And of course, I have never reviewed a book this early. I mean, what's the point, who knows how it will go? But after three highly acclaimed books in a row that were just torturous to get through until a third or halfway into them, I was really ready for a good, old fashioned, can't put it down from the first page read! And this book delivers in spades!! I promise to update this if the book gets worse, but in the meantime, if you want something that pulls you in and is engrossing from page one, read this book!
UPDATE: finished the book and loved it throughout! No disappointments here. The main character, Hannah the fool, is charming and engaging and the way Gregory writes her she comes to life and we really care about what happens to her. Gregory also does a good job of revealing the history that was happening all around Hannah. My only complaint, a minor one, is that Gregory is very biased towards Queen Mary in this book, and clearly doesn't much care for the young Elizabeth. That's her opinion and she is entitled to it. However, she doesn't support her leanings in any way whatsoever from history, rather portarays their personalities in black and white. Not quite good and evil, but almost. It is known that Mary was loved by many of her contemporaries, but so was Elizabeth, so a little more even handed approach would have been better. Or maybe it was that I had just finished Alison Weir's "The Lady Elizabeth" which takes just the opposite view.
Book Review: After her last book....a disappointment
Summary: 3 Stars
Philippa Gregory's THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL is one of my favorite books. When I accidentally discovered this book at a bookstore, I bought it immediately and expected to love it just as much! I can't say that I did! I never felt any kind of a bond with the main character, Hannah, and the story never seemed to pick up any steam. Although I think that the author tried to portray Hannah as young woman discovering her independence and asserting her individuality and strength, I found her to be wishy-washy, timid, indecisive and just plain disloyal. One moment she was the faithful servant of a member of the royal family and the next moment she was spying on them. She should have been tried for treason a hundred times over! The premise of the story (the unlikely relationship of a young Jewish girl escaping the Spanish Inquisition only to become an intimate member of the English royal court) was very interesting and carried so much potential, but the story never went anywhere and the details were superficial. The fact that Hannah was not a real person only added to my frustration in trying to determine to what extent the storyline details actually took place.
On a positive note, I did enjoy learning alittle more about 'Bloody Mary.' I have read so much lately pertaining to the Tudors, but have only limited background on this Queen.
All in all, I can say that I will definitely read any forthcoming book from Philippa Gregory, but can't say that this one compares on any level to some of her previous works.
Book Review: Why the bad reviews?
Summary: 5 Stars
Philippa Gregory is great...and this book is no exception. Dismayed by the bad reviews, I read the next book-Virgin's Lover. These two books are very different, and you'll probably like one more than the other. Queen's Fool is more character-based on Hannah's life. There are about 100 pages solely devoted to Hannah without any court intrigue (which many people enjoyed in Other Boleyn's Girl/why they think its boring). There is also a lot about the battle of Calais, which may be boring to some (I liked it). The book consists of little snapshot incidents, like the Spanish king insulting the English, etc.
The Virgin's Lover, on the other hand, has a lot more court/romance than this book. It centers more around Elizabeth and her affair with Robert Dudley. To me, I got tired of hearing about them sneaking around-we got it the first 20 times, Philippa! That part was very similar to OBG. The Virgin's Lover also has more foreign policy/what to do in this war/secret plotting. The Queen's Fool is not all about the secret dealing-Hannah's only privy to what part she and her lord play in the deal, and what the public knows.
To the other reviewer who commented about Elizabeth at 14-I agree with you to some extent, but readers shouldn't be dismayed by it. The incident is only about the first three to five pages (really!). It's not a major point in a book of about 500 pages.
In short, do not pass over this book!! Even if only to read them in order, you'll enjoy this book!
Book Review: As Elizabeth plots for the throne and Queen Mary holds fast to her faith; can Hannah find a life and love of her own? BCM
Summary: 4 Stars
The Queen's Fool is very compelling because of the main character, Hannah Green. When someone has gone through so much and lost loved ones in such a violent manner, it would scar you and should teach someone like Hannah, to `duck and cover'. This wonderfully-crafted character overcomes many fears and does what she has to do to survive, regardless of her own, internal struggles. Hannah's goodness and her big heart endears her first to the young King Edward and then to Queen Mary. As the story unfolds and Hannah finds herself in Queen Mary's service, thanks to the cunning Robert Dudley, she does the best that she can with her limited courtly talents and skills. Her integrity helps her to navigate her way through the perfidious court life and the dangerous schemes which she becomes embroiled in.
The story is skilfully written to give us time with Hannah Green while still supplying us with a very generous helping of the royals; including Robert Dudley, Elizabeth and Queen Mary. There are some interesting plot twists and the characters are vividly drawn to sweep us back to the times when your choice of faith and your loyalties could mean your unimaginable success or your plunging ruin and a traitor's death.
I highly recommend this book!
(8 out of 10 Diamonds) - Thoroughly enjoyed it
© 2008-2009 Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (Book Reviews By Bobbie).
All rights reserved.
Book Review: Another Excellent Historical Novel by Gregory!
Summary: 5 Stars
I finished The Other Boleyn Girl last week and went right on to The Queen's Fool, and again, couldn't put the book down, finishing it in less than 48 hours. Like The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool tells the story of great events in Tudor history--in this case, the great succession battles between the death of Henry's only son, Edward, through the final ascension of Elizabeth. The most surprising part of the book to me was the great sympathy I came to feel for Queen "Bloody" Mary, who came to the throne wanting to rule wisely and mercifully and who became a despised tyrant, burning Protestant heretics and executing anyone suspected of plotting against her. Gregory shows how Mary's circumstances lead her almost inevitably to the horrific outcomes, yet you feel sorry for her and repelled at the same time. And like Gregory's previous book, the great events are viewed through someone watching from the sidelines and caught up against their will--in this case, Hannah Green, a converso fleeing the Inquisition in Spain, whose gift of foretelling the future makes her Robert Dudley's servant and spy in two great royal households, while trying to make sense of her own life and hidden faith. I loved this book as much as The Other Boleyn Girl and recommend both highly, and can't wait to tackle more of Philippa Gregory's backlist.