Today I’m sharing two books that kind of deal with history. The first one is definitely called historical fiction, and the second one has characters that time travel, so it is both contemporary and historical.
First is The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I ended up reading this one because of the movie that was going to be coming out soon at the time. This was back when I had time and tried to read the book before I saw the movie. These days I’m running out of time, or learning that it is often more disappointing to read the book first in case they do a bad job on the movie. But this book, and the movie, got me more intrigued by the actual history of Henry VIII. And that was right in time for the HBO series The Tudors as well. I guess this book might be a 2nd in a series, but I don’t know that I’ll read any others. Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king.
A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart.
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family’s ambitious plots as the king’s interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take her fate into her own hands.
The second book is one by a pretty popular author, it is Out of Time (Time Travelers #2) by Caroline B. Cooney, and again I’m just picking the 2nd one because of the letter, and I plan to talk about the whole series. It does have the dreaded love triangle that everyone moans and complains about, but that I firmly insist is nothing new, but an old, old, old part of stories, and I can name some if you want! It starts with a girl who kind of has always felt that she was born too late. Until one day she is transported back in time where she falls in love, even though she does have someone back in her own time period. The series follows her and some other characters to time periods such as around the late 1800s, medieval times, and even ancient Egypt. Here is the blurb from Goodreads for this second book:
Annie Lockwood exists; everyone admits it. Everyone has seen her. But only Strat insists that Miss Lockwood traveled one hundred years back in time to be with them in 1895. Now Strat is paying an enormous price: His father has declared him insane and had him locked away in an asylum. When Time calls Annie back to save Strat, she does not hesitate, even though her family is falling apart and desperately needs her. Can Annie save the boy she loves, or will her choice keep her a trespasser out of time?
So what historical time periods fascinate you? Have you read either of these books, or maybe a different book by one of these authors?
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I had trouble with some of the historical inaccuracies, but I thought it was an entertaining take on the Boleyn family.
Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
At the time I read this one, I hadn't really thought much or studied about this time in history, so the inaccuracies didn't get me at the time. Thanks for stopping by!
I really liked "The other Boleyn Girl" and was really disappointed with the movie! It seemed like they just said "Okay we have two famous actresses we don't need to make a good movie with a good script!"
There was stuff left out of the movie, but then that always happens with books to movies. 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
I loved the book 'The Other Boleyn Girl' and I suggest you read 'The Boleyn Inheritance' where the scheming Jane Rochford is back to serve Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. I love it even more than the first one! Lots of backstabbing and intrigue!
I think that is one on my TBR list, we'll see when I might have time to get to it! Thanks for the recommendation and for stopping by my blog!
I loved all of Philippa Gregory's books on the wives of Henry VIII. I fell in love with the HBO series THE TUDORS and read all of her books. Take the time to read her Tudor books and especially the ones about the royal gardeners. I promise they were a delight and definitely well worth the time.
I loved the series as well. Even if not everything was completely historically accurate, it definitely interested me enough to want to learn more. One of these days I do need to go on with her books, since I did enjoy that one so much. Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed the Other Boleyn Girl. It was a good fictional account I think x
That's what I thought. Some good facts mixed in with a good fictional story. Thanks for visiting!
I am really interesting in the old English times, and love historical fictions set around King Henry the tyrant. So I think I will love the Boleyn Girl and also the movie that is out about it. I will have to try that one out!
If that stuff is interesting to you, you'll definitely enjoy it! Give it a try!