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The Other Boelyn Girl is the story of Mary Boelyn, sister of Anne Boelyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England. The characters, especially Mary and Anne, have so much depth. The mixture of romance, ambition, and betrayal kept me interested from the very beginning. If you miss just one paragraph, you may miss a crucial part of the story.
She began to view him as he really was behind all the masks he loved to wear. I really felt like I knew the characters every emotion. At first, she thought of him as a beautiful God, perfect in every way. I have read other novels by Phillipa Gregory, and I can say, without a doubt, that this is her greatest novels. As she matured so did her perception of the powerful King. This novel describes Mary's journey from an obedient Howard Girl into an independent woman.I really loved this novel.
Although they are all not easy to like (not all are meant to be liked), Gregory made each character captivating, making the book near impossible to put down.Gregory's portrayal of King Henry VIII through Mary's eyes was magnificent. Although I found many of the others somewhat dry and boring at times, The Other Boelyn Girl is both captivating and intriguing with the ability to hold a readers attention from start to finish. The Other Boelyn Girl is a very quick paced book. This ensures that there is never a dull moment in this novel.
I really enjoyed learning more about this period of time in the life of Henry VIII. The book was very well written and kept my interest until it was completed.
It's a world where lies flourish, and publications such as "Publishers Weekly" with their fatuous critiques, become co-conspirators in this deception. In our time of computers, the internet and blogs, the dime novel has been given new life through heavy promotion and phony critiques. Anyone who treasures good historical fiction will, after reading--or trying to read--THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL--see at once that they stumbled upon what we once called a "dime novel"-that pejorative characterizing hack writing, which in our time is seen most often in historical romances-novel peopled with superficial modern characters costumed in period dress. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL is such a novel.
Although I realize there are some fictional liberties taken, I learned some things I never knew about the period and the history of the Bolyens. I have enjoyed some of Gregory's other books, and found this one good as well. Even though you know Anne is doomed from the start, it is hard to put down.
Uncle Howard (The Duke of Norfolk) is comparable to Rasputin in his manipulations. The clear, blind ambition of Anne, and the cowardice of George are in direct opposition to Mary's quiet nature. A great read, and leaves you with a yen for more. The point of view of Mary Boleyn is unique. The viperous political backstabbing within her own family, and the protituting of daughters by their own father is something the modern generation finds unthinkable.
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