Book review

[sstormwatch]

I actually finished a novel last night! I haven't read for simple pleasure in ages. Of course, the book is an historical novel about the early years of Queen Elizabeth I, The Lady Elizabeth written by Alison Weir. I had picked it up at Costco a few months ago, and it took a bit to get into. But once I got into the book it was too enjoyable to put

Comments

[laurensa]

In fact, she needs to learn Henrician fashions better, as she described young Bessie in one scene wearing her smock, petticoat and corset! (sigh).

In another of her books (sorry, I don't remember which one but it may have been Eleanor of Acquitaine), she referred to the myth about spicing meat to cover it's being rotten. I lost a lot of my respect for her research skills right about there..

But still, YAY for reading for pleasure!

[sstormwatch]

Yay! I don't think I ever finished that book of hers. I should go back and figure out why not.

[ravenessdotcom]

I did not like Innocent Traitor.
It did stick to facts, but the style of writing was infuriating. Each chapter started out in the style of a journal, but it really wasn't, written in the first person, but kept changing characters... I think it would have been a great book if it wasn't for the writing style. Is Elizabeth written the same way?
It irritated me even more because I love her Non-Fiction, like Eleanor of Aquitaine, her Tudor books, and even Wars of the Roses.
If you want, message me privately with your address and I'll send you my copy of Innocent Traitor.

[sstormwatch]

I've read that the first person writing style was not a good one for the Traitor book, but that many people enjoyed the story according to their reviews. Lady Elizabeth is written in third person, and the reviews seem to show that it is a better style than Traitor, and better written overall. I did enjoy it.

I will send you a pm soon about the book. Thank you.

[isabelladangelo]

I honestly hated the book. Yeah, the beginning was good and the end was fine but the whole midwife nonsense? It was way too OOC for my tastes. When I looked up Alison Wiers explanation for her detachment from the historical record, she simply stated she knew it didn't occur but she wanted to have a bit of fun as an author. To me, that just isn't a good justification for messing with actual historical figures and putting them into situations that are out of step with what is known about them. Well, not unless there is time-travel or some other sci-fi stuff involved. :-)

[sstormwatch]

The whole midwife section comes from claims made from the time, and it does make sense in its way, and to me added an interesting level to the book, and fit into Elizabeth's outlook on remaining a "virgin" her whole life. So overall, I looked at that part as an interesting "what if" portion of the story.

And I can see why you hated the book. I tended to look at it as entertainment, since it was a fictitious novel, and not a full biography on Elizabeth like her other books mostly are.