The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory is a powerful story about one familys' ambitions. I enjoyed it so much that I am considering reading the sequals to the The Other Boleyn Girl. At first though, I was surprised at how long it took me get into the story. But once I was a few chapters into the book, I became absorbed into it and didn't want to put the book down.
What I enjoyed most about reading The Other Boleyn Girl was the way Philippa Gregory told the story. In one paragraph you would read from a first person narrative. Then in the next you would find yourself right in the middle of the action. It kept the story captivating, fun and believable. The plot was just packed with non-stop ambition, lust and greed and was realistic to the times. The relationship of the Boleyn' family was as dysfunctional as you can get and Mary was right in the middle of it all. Mary was forced to marry very young and finds herslef soon after her marriage as the prize to be conquered by the King. Setting aside her first marriage, Mary is forced to do the King's bidding. Despite Mary being forced into this situation with the King, she soon finds herself in love with him. As naive as she is about the King, the malice of her family is dispicable. Mostly by the malice of her Uncle and sister. I find myself becoming so absorbed into the story that I want to shake Mary and tell her to grow a spine and tell her family to go to hell. What helps to round out the story so well is the incorportation of the few wonderful moments of happiness for Mary. However she finds herself torn between obtaining happiness for herself or conceding to the demands of her family. It is a constant struggle for her and you find yourself wanting her to choose happiness so much. Getting pulled into a story like this is awesome.
As I'm sure most of you are aware the movie The Other Boleyn Girl was in theaters February 29th. The cast was exceptional. Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana starred in the movie. Scarlett Johansson plays the part of Mary, Natalie Portman plays the part of Anne, and Eric Bana plays the part of King Henry. Our book club got together on Sunday to watch the movie. As far as the movie is concermed I didn't like it very much. The movie did not do justice for the book at all. There was so much detail left out of the movie that was in the book. With so much detail left out of the movie, I felt like the movie was rushed and left too many questions unanswered. I would definitely recommend the book without a doubt but I would not recommend the movie right now. I would say to at least wait until the movie comes out on DVD and rent it.
I would love to hear what you think. If you have some time, write what your thoughts are about the book. Looking forward to reading them!
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is a book you can't put down! I became completely engrossed into it and was depressed when I finished it. I just couldn't get enough of it.
Pillars of the Earth may look a bit intimidating based solely on its size but not to worry; this book is, without a doubt, a fabulous read.
I have always noticed churches for their exquisite beauty, size, and finite detail. However, having to read about them was a different story. In fact, it made me a bit nervous.
Pillars of the Earth was recommended by a friend, and so collectively, we agreed to read this book for our book club. Personally, I would never even have looked at Pillars of the Earth as something I would have actually chosen to read. Opening the cover page I kept thinking that I am going to have to suffer through reading this. As I nervously turned to the Prologue and read the first sentence “The small boys came early to the hanging”, I was instantly hooked. This was not just going to be about cathedrals or churches or even religion.
Religion can be such a touchy subject for most people. Naively, I also thought that Religion would be forced on me in huge gigantic waves. Quite on the contrary, it slowly dripped an appreciation for it through the lives of each character as they unfolded before my eyes.
Ken Follett did a brilliant job introducing the characters. The characters in Pillars of the Earth ended up being heroic, strong, and intelligent. But what was most appealing as a reader was that the characters hardly started out that way. Each character started out as young and naïve. And as each character grew before my eyes they became so vivid to me that I actually felt like I could have actually been friends with them if I had had the chance.
The characters of Jack, Aliena, Tom, Ellen and William Hamleigh are intriguing and spellbinding and is owed to the great story telling ability of Ken Follett. The most notable character for me is Prior Philip. Prior Philip was in the middle of everything in the life of Kingsbridge while still remaining down to earth and practical. He had a sincere and genuine concern for each soul that he came upon. He did not abuse his power within the church and took frugality to a whole new level. Everyone he came across prospered because of him. Of course, with the exception of his arch enemies. And his enemies, being who they were, was quite a surprise. This twist in the story made the plot unpredictable, unique, and adventurous.
As powerful as all the characters were, the cathedral was at the center of their world. It drew them all to it. It became something like an entity in the book. Not a living breathing thing or anything like that. But it too became a strong presence in the story that you ultimately wished for success. The author did a remarkable job in giving a better appreciation as to why a cathedral or “the church” was such a life line for so many people during those times. I never conceptualized the “why” before. The church and cathedrals were the reason for the literal survival of so many.
Pillars of the Earth is definitely a book that I could not put down, nor did I want to. I was actually disappointed when I finished the book. The story was brilliantly told and the author's use of words gripped you and would not let go. I can only hope that you as a reader will enjoy this fabulous piece of literature as much as I did.
The Pillars of the Earth has been made into a TV mini series. The premier date has not been decided yet. Take a look at the behind the scenes trailer below:
The Pillars of the Earth character list
Through my research I found a fantastic website (www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv) that provides great descriptions for the The Pillars of the Earth characters. This Pillars of the Earth character list really gives you a good synopsis for each character as well as information about the person playing the part in the mini series.
You may not have a problem with navigation on the TV website but It took me some time to figure out the navigation so that I could see all of the characters. Below are links to each group of characters found on the TV website:
If you are in a book club and would like to have some discussion questions to follow, I have provided a list for you below. If you have any questions that you think should be added to this list please leave a comment below.
Why did you choose to read The Pillars of the Earth? Now that you have finished Pillars would you say that the book was definitely worth reading? Would you recommend this book to others?
What were some of the most memorable scenes of the story and why? Many people have said that some scenes, particularly the rape scenes were too graphic and felt that much of that type of information was unnecessary. Would you agree or disagree? Do you think the story used too much description or was it what made the book a great story?
There were a lot of characters in the story. Was there any one particular character that stood out the most for you? If so, could you identify with that character? What was it about that character that intrigued you the most?
The Kingsbridge cathedral was the lifeline for so many people. Especially for Tom, Prior Philip, Aliena and Jack. What has the Kingsbridge cathedral given to each of the characters? How have they used the cathedral to give them what they want? How does the cathedral affect the lives of some of the other characters in the story.
Which of the characters do you think are the strongest leaders? Which characters are the weakest?
In history, war has always crippled and decimated the economy, let alone devastate the country's morale. Aliena and Philip helped fight to bring about a change. Can you think of other people in history that have succeeded in the fight for change? Who comes to mind when you think of someone repairing the damage and destruction left by war?
How would you compare and contrast the Kingsbridge we knew in the beginning to the Kingsbridge we have come to know at the end?
Understanding who you are as an individual and your knowledge base, would you see yourself being able to survive at Kingsbridge? If you were to choose a character in Pillars that was most similar to your own character and personality, who would that character be?
Do you see any similarities between the world of Kingsbridge and the world of today? How are they similar? How are they different?
Book Jacket Summary/Synopsis - The Pillars of the Earth
The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known...of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect-a man divided in his soul...of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame...and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother.
A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.
About the author, Ken Follet
I have read both The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End and I loved them both. Although I still think Pillars is better. Anyway, I have been interested in finding out more about the author Ken Follett. I found a great interview with him that gives you more insight as to who he is and what his thoughts are about both of these epic books. I enjoyed watching this interview and I hope that you will as well.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is an extraordinary piece of literature. This book will definitely shake you up. It makes you think about the choices you make in life and how each of our choices impact not only yourself but those all around us as well. Each choice we make will come with a consequence, and it is up to us how we choose to deal with those consequences;. whether they are good or bad.
The main character of this book, Amir, is a young naïve child whom is desperately seeking his father's love and attention. Since most children react by emotion, young Amir is blinded by jealousy and selfishness and makes poor choices, one after another. It provokes you as a reader to shout, to scream at him, to make him stop. You want him to make other decisions. You want what is best for him and all those that his decisions will none the less have an impact on. Instead you feel helpless. You feel your heart ache with pity for this young child. Throughout our young characters journey into manhood we are given a reflective history of a once thriving and hospitable country.And as Amir is transforming, so is the very country he is living in. So much turmoil and devastation. Feelings of helplessness and sadness can become a bit over whelming as you read. However, the author does a brilliant job with an unexpected change of events at the end of the book that leaves you feeling like there is a chance for humanity after all.
The author delivers an amazing piece of literature that evokes an assortment of emotions colliding together all at once. This book will capture your heart and own that space for years to come.
