The Other Boleyn Girl

[christineann]

I agree that the book is much better than the movie. A mini series is a great idea.

 

[KristaTX]

I didn't even know it was a book, but I hated the movie. Any movie with a rape scene just really gets to me, though, and that's really the only reason I hated the movie. I have never been raped, but I just can't stand to see it depicted on screen (and this was even a very "tame" rape scene!). It might not bother other people as much, but it does me.

And not that I was ever an admirer, but seeing this movie made me really hate Henry VIII. I can't hear even hear the song "I'm Henry the 8th I am. . ." anymore without thinking about how horrible of a person he must have been (even though the song isn't about Henry VIII).
And because his character in this movie was so heinous, I didn't think I'd like Eric Bana in "The Time Traveller's Wife". But I did.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I read the book before I saw the movie so I was a bit disappointed in the movie version. I LOVED the book! I also loved The Boelyn Inheritence just as much. Right now I am reading The Queen's Fool. It's good, but not as much the page turner as the other 2.

 

[rie'smom]

Phillipa Gregory has a new book out - Elizabeth Woodville, the mother of the princes who died in the Tower. She is a great author!

I'm reading it right now. It's as good as her other books!!!

 

[PaddingtonBear]

I didn't even know it was a book, but I hated the movie. Any movie with a rape scene just really gets to me, though, and that's really the only reason I hated the movie. I have never been raped, but I just can't stand to see it depicted on screen (and this was even a very "tame" rape scene!). It might not bother other people as much, but it does me.

And not that I was ever an admirer, but seeing this movie made me really hate Henry VIII. I can't hear even hear the song "I'm Henry the 8th I am. . ." anymore without thinking about how horrible of a person he must have been (even though the song isn't about Henry VIII).
And because his character in this movie was so heinous, I didn't think I'd like Eric Bana in "The Time Traveller's Wife". But I did.

Don't blame H8 for that, there's no evidence that I know of indicating that he actually raped Anne Boleyn. That's "creative dramatization", if you will.

Know whats funny about H8? We saw his armor in the Tower. There ie a huge protrusion in the groin area. DH and I were in stitches (like the uncouth Americans we are ) about how he must have had a complex of some sort.

Before you go on thinking he's such a 'horrible' guy - put some things in persepctive. This is a person who was obsessed with dynasty. That wasn't crazy, and he had every reason to be deeply concerned. His father had brought Britian out of a terrible lengthy civial war . Leaving England without a direct, clear male heir was not emasculating to Henry, it was horrifying to his subjects and it would have brought on another full on civil war that would have once again wreaked havoc and misery upon the people. I'm just trying to offer some perspective on why he was able to rationalize his actions the way he did. Gregory was dead on, I think, too that H8 never would have considered divorcing a wife- maybe he would have simply hoped Catherine of Aragon would predecease him leaving him time to re-marry- until Anne convinced him that such a thing was possible and moral, so how surprised could she be when the tables were turned? Not at all. She made the bed for Catherine and then she got to lie in it. It was a risk she knew she was taking.

I think Henry VIII was weak and easily lead by his own arrogance and ambition, but no worse a person than many of our modern politicans. The stakes were far higher for him.

There is a series btw, called The Tudors, that airs on Showtime. DH and I are watching it on DVD right now.

 

[rie'smom]

Don't blame H8 for that, there's no evidence that I know of indicating that he actually raped Anne Boleyn. That's "creative dramatization", if you will.

Know whats funny about H8? We saw his armor in the Tower. There ie a huge protrusion in the groin area. DH and I were in stitches (like the uncouth Americans we are ) about how he must have had a complex of some sort.

Before you go on thinking he's such a 'horrible' guy - put some things in persepctive. This is a person who was obsessed with dynasty. That wasn't crazy, and he had every reason to be deeply concerned. His father had brought Britian out of a terrible lengthy civial war . Leaving England without a direct, clear male heir was not emasculating to Henry, it was horrifying to his subjects and it would have brought on another full on civil war that would have once again wreaked havoc and misery upon the people. I'm just trying to offer some perspective on why he was able to rationalize his actions the way he did. Gregory was dead on, I think, too that H8 never would have considered divorcing a wife- maybe he would have simply hoped Catherine of Aragon would predecease him leaving him time to re-marry- until Anne convinced him that such a thing was possible and moral, so how surprised could she be when the tables were turned? Not at all. She made the bed for Catherine and then she got to lie in it. It was a risk she knew she was taking.
ambition, but no worse a person than many of our modern politicans. The stakes were far higher for him.

There is a series btw, called The Tudors, that airs on Showtime. DH and I are watching it on DVD right now.

H8 was something that I cannot say on the DIS. He had 2 bothersome wives killed and was contemplating having his 6th wife killed as well. Lucky for her, he died. Anne was killed because she had not produced an heir and Henry had tired of her. The reason Anne of Cleves was so eager to step aside was because there were rumblings she could have met the first Anne's fate.

In The Tudors, they show H8 as still nice looking when he marries Katherine Howard when in fact he was obese, repulsive, and had a revolting, smelly sore on his leg caused, historians think, by syphilis. The do mention the sore in the program.

I hope he's been roasting on a spit since the second that he died.

 

[Just Jan]

I am only on page 325, William has died of the sweat and Anne says she is going to adopt (take) little Henry. Oh, I don't like Anne at all.

I just hate it when I have to put the book down.

The Boelyn Inheritence will definately be on my list.

 

[Ember]

Phillipa Gregory is a very good writer when it comes to the Tudor period. Just don't take any of it for historical fact. There are so many errors in there that I'm sure historians are weeping! I love The Tudors, too, and that's not much better historically speaking. I'm not sure why everyone always feel the need to change it, it's such a fascinating time all on its own.

 

[Mouseteacher]

The book is definitely better than the movie. I read the book before seeing the movie and was disappointed in the movie.

I just finished The Boleyn Inheritance. Anne of Cleves was a smart woman to step aside. She was treated poorly by her brother and mother; married to H8 seeing this as an escape from them and then treated poorly by H8; and came to live on her own contendedly.

Henry is potrayed quite grotesquely in The Boleyn Inheritance. Philippa Gregory actually writes him quite mad and cruel.

 

[Rora]

Loved the book, still haven't seen the movie!!

Her books are fantastic!

 

[PirateChef3300]

my favorite quote comes from that ...

"we get what we want not by stomping our feet, but by making our men believe they are in charge. That is the art of being a woman."

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Phillipa Gregory is a very good writer when it comes to the Tudor period. Just don't take any of it for historical fact. There are so many errors in there that I'm sure historians are weeping! I love The Tudors, too, and that's not much better historically speaking. I'm not sure why everyone always feel the need to change it, it's such a fascinating time all on its own.

Agree, while Gregory is one of my favorite authors & I really like the Tudors when you read actual Tudor history you realize how much liberty the author/authors take.
When we did a tour of Hampton Court with a historian I kept thinking how very little I actually know about the Tudor Court.
I have to say the same about the Tower tour with a Beefeater......really interesting!

 

[PaulaSB12]

Don't blame H8 for that, there's no evidence that I know of indicating that he actually raped Anne Boleyn. That's "creative dramatization", if you will.

Know whats funny about H8? We saw his armor in the Tower. There ie a huge protrusion in the groin area. DH and I were in stitches (like the uncouth Americans we are ) about how he must have had a complex of some sort.

Before you go on thinking he's such a 'horrible' guy - put some things in persepctive. This is a person who was obsessed with dynasty. That wasn't crazy, and he had every reason to be deeply concerned. His father had brought Britian out of a terrible lengthy civial war . Leaving England without a direct, clear male heir was not emasculating to Henry, it was horrifying to his subjects and it would have brought on another full on civil war that would have once again wreaked havoc and misery upon the people. I'm just trying to offer some perspective on why he was able to rationalize his actions the way he did. Gregory was dead on, I think, too that H8 never would have considered divorcing a wife- maybe he would have simply hoped Catherine of Aragon would predecease him leaving him time to re-marry- until Anne convinced him that such a thing was possible and moral, so how surprised could she be when the tables were turned? Not at all. She made the bed for Catherine and then she got to lie in it. It was a risk she knew she was taking.

I think Henry VIII was weak and easily lead by his own arrogance and ambition, but no worse a person than many of our modern politicans. The stakes were far higher for him.

There is a series btw, called The Tudors, that airs on Showtime. DH and I are watching it on DVD right now.

The reason Henry didn't get a divorce from the church had more to do with the politics of the day, that and over 100,000 spanish troops threatening the vatican (the spanish king wasn't having the divorce) it was common for a barren queen or one who didn't produce a male heir to be divorced. I really tried to read the book but she wrote from a modern percepective, if the king or pope of the day wanted to sleep with your daughter you dressed them as pretty as possible and hoped they got pregnant as it brought the family power and money. As for Mary trying to save her sister after her second marriage she was disowned by her family and never saw them again, if she had tried to save her sister it would have led to her death as well. Anne was killed purely for the fact that the only son she had was still born.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Loved the book. The movie was pretty good in terms of costuming and set design.

I adore the Tudor period of England. Can't wait to learn more about it in Western Civ. this year!

OT, but passing by WaldenBooks the other day, The White Queen was on display

 

[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I have not read the book... may have to check out. Thanks.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Loved the book. The movie was pretty good in terms of costuming and set design.

I adore the Tudor period of England. Can't wait to learn more about it in Western Civ. this year!

OT, but passing by WaldenBooks the other day, The White Queen was on display

The White Queen arrived at my house Saturday...can
to start it.