The Other Queen

The Other View

This is a story told in segments, with each chapter telling one's story, and then rotating to each other. It makes for frustrating reading as the pacing is horrible. I am well familiar with the story and looked forward to a dramatic telling, but this is a very disappointing book.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Such a disappointment

I usually LOVE Philippa Gregory's books and I was so excited for this one to come out, but I only got half way through the book because it was incredibly slow, repetitive and BORING. There was hardly any dialogue in the book! Even if a book is slow, I usually try to force myself to finish, but I just couldn't with this one. Poorly written and just no story. Hopefully, Gregory will reprove herself with her next one because I love all of her other books!!!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

If you want to learn history, this is the way.

Another Philippa book that I couldn't put down. I understood Bess' frustration. Her husband, George was a fool. Now I'm onto
" The Constant Princess."

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Mary Queen of Scots attempts to regain the throne of Scotland

As in Philippa Gregory's other novels in this series, knowledge of the history of the Tudors is helpful. The author's style takes some getting used to; the title of the chapter tells to whose perspective the story has now shifted. The Other Queen tells of the struggle of Mary Queen of Scots' attempts to reclaim her throne and the political rivalries with her cousin Elizabeth I and her court. This is a well researched fictional account of that struggle, well written and a quick read.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

So disappointed after waiting so long!

Let me say first that I am a huge Philippa Gregory fan and generally love her work. This book however, was long and boring. The subject itself was a good choice the storyline in my opinion was dull and lifeless. The Queen being moved from one place to another, plotting her escape.....yawn. I wish she would have chose to write about the queen during her time upon the throne. The Queen of Scots had a fascinating life during her reign, full of scandal and turmoil. It would have made a sensational historical novel.
I usually read one of Philippa's books in a day and reread them several times. I had to force myself to finish this one and I will not reread it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Finally the other story!

I have always wanted to know the story of Queen Mary. The Tudor lineage runs in her, yet she is denied the throne of England. At least she should of waited her turn, and kept her followers down and quiet instead of creating a huge storm that would end in a tear of the family. This book speaks what went on, the truth, and all the back ways to the truth.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Other Queen

Philippa Gregory is an author that just seems to get better with each book that she writes and The Other Queen is no acceptation. The Other Queen recounts the first three years of Mary Queen of Scots imprisonment in England by her cousin Elizabeth I. Queen Mary is placed in the guardianship of newlywed George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Bess of Hardwick. The Scots Queen quickly becomes an unwelcome guest as she plots for her freedom and the overthrown of her royal cousin and drives a wedge between Talbot and his self made wife. The novel is full of intrigue and scandal and I found to be a fun read. One of Gregory's best!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Gave me a new perspective

No longer do I see Mary Queen of Scots only as a pawn in political games. This novel opens up several other potential possibilities as she is shown to be strong, highly intelligent and somewhat cunning. She has a different view of morals than many of my peers and this is shown in a light that makes appropriate sense given her circumstances. I always enjoy the works of Phillipa Gregory, however, this one holds a special place in my mind as she has given me much food for thought. I love reading about this particular era of English history (both fiction and non fiction) and I love how she's cast a new light on some familiar historical figures.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

powerfully written, but not well written

This book is written with vehemence but is not well written. I really disdain the way that Mary Queen of Scots is painted.She takes the angle that Bothwell raped Mary and the truth of the romance is eclipsed.Bothwell is an amazing figure, and he isn't even part of this book other than the letters she writes. I also dislike the format, going back and forth between three perspectives because it really doesn't connect the way it should. The vocabulary is simple and there's no imagery. You can't escape with this book. I literally had to force myself to pick it up and finish it, whereas Margaret George's books I couldn't put down. Philippa Gregory may be a big name, but just because her books are popular doesn't mean they are quality.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Too many point of views

I love historical fiction and I am a big fan of Philippa Gregory, but I was a little disappointed by her latest offering. Perhaps my biggest frustration was her use of three different characters to tell the story. The story is told in the first person through the eyes of Bess of Hardwick, her husband George, and of Queen Mary. Each chapter ends one viewpoint and begins another. For me, it was too difficult to get into the story or to get involved with any of the characters. Just as I would begin to get interested, the chapter would end and I was abruptly seeing the story though another set of eyes. If you want Philippa Gregory at her best read The Other Boleyn Girl. If you want a really good book on Queen Mary then I recommend Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not her best work

This story is not nearly as compelling as her previous books have been. I had a hard time staying interested in the plot.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

This was more than disappointing. The other books in this series are oustanding and I pre-ordered this book b/c I was so excited to read it. Snooze!! I couldn't even finish it. It was WAY too long and way too repetitive, which is a bad combo. Not worth the time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Such a disappointment from a wonderful author

I have read all of Philippa Gregory's novels, and I have to say that this novel is the first disappointment I've come across. There was no real story or plot, the three narrators were extremely repetitive and it was plain boring. It was painful for me to even finish the novel. I waited eagerly for this novel to come out and was so excited once I got my hands on it. But within the first 50 pages, I was debating whether or not to even finish the novel. Please, do not waste your money, or at least wait until it comes out in paperback or is on sale, definitely not worth it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

an alright read

this book was overall medeocre. it was pretty slow to start out with and then the whole book it seemed like they were saying the same things over and over again . about half way through i was asking myself 'Why are you reading this book' it was pretty boring and i think that it is really not worth your time. if you want something to put you to sleep then be my guest and buy this book you will fall asleep in no time at all.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An interesting read!

I love reading Philippa Gregory's books on the Tudors! She puts so much fact into it and it really takes you back 500 years. It was a very interesting read into that time in England. Pretty easy to follow considering the story is told by 3 different people. A Tudor must read!

not her best

Of all the Phillipa Gregory books I have read this was my least favorite. The story was slow in developing and I kept waiting for something to happen but it pretty much ended as it began. The writing was not bad and the characters were interesting I was just not crazy about the story.

Didnt finish it.

I have read many novels by this author, but this was the first I didnt finish. It was slow and failed to keep my interest. I wanted to love it, but decided I had better things to do. Watch paint dry, boil some water......

Not for me

This book is not as good as the other books i have read by this auther. I did not like the first person diary style of the tale.

Fair

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hard to follow for a non-historian

I would have loved to like it but i was confused very early in the intire seriers!