Rating: 
Summary: The worst historical fiction I've ever read
Review: I am astonished that this was published...it's truly awful, historically inaccurate. It reads like the author read a couple of books about the period, took notes and then forgot all the facts on record. Anne was the younger sister, for example. There is no record that she ever committed incest with her brother George. The early years at the French court are omitted, which provide an insite as to why the Boleyns began their rise to power.
Rating: 
Summary: The best book I have read in a few years
Review: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL is by far one of the best books that I have read in several years. Although it is over 600 pages long, I read it much quicker than many others that are only 200 pages. I just couldn't put it down. I would look forward to getting on the subway so I could continue the saga, and was very disappointed when the book ended. Six hundred pages was just not enough! The story was so interesting, and the style of writing was completely engrossing. I knew a little bit about Anne Boleyn prior to this book (just the basics) but like most others had never even heard of Mary Boleyn. But after reading this book I became obsessed with this time period/these characters and wanted to read everything else on the subject. I have read a few other books about Anne Boleyn since, but none captured my attenion like this one. Not only is this a great read, it is an important piece if historical fiction and I am personally recommending it to every person I know.
Rating: 
Summary: The Forgotten Boleyn
Review: This book was great. 600 pages and I read it in a week. It kept me spellbound and tells us the story of Anne Boleyn's sister, Mary. She is the mistress of King Henry VIII but it is Anne who marries him. I really enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: A diverting journey into Tudor times
Review: As both a student and teacher of history, I approached this novel with more than a little trepidation. Historical fiction is frequently a genre that takes such liberties with the history that all that is left is the fiction. The film "Elizabeth" is a case in point, where Mary Queen of Scots finds her death being depicted not as a trial and eventual execution in February 1587, but rather as a bedroom dalliance with Australian actor Geoffrey Rush. Dramatic licence is one thing, but to so distort the historical events to such a degree is too distressing, especially when many of my students having seen the film accepted this version of events as real.
Philippa Gregory has done a fine job with this novel, however, by steering clear of any sensational tracks, but rather maintaining a steady and reasonable course throughout.
Based around the unfortunately sketchy character of Anne Boleyn's sister Mary, the titular "other Boleyn girl", this is a novel that captures well the flavour of the intrigues and personal ambitions of those at the court of Henry VIII. Mary, the pawn in her family's quest for rank and privilege, is promoted ruthlessly to capture Henry's eye and in time becomes his mistress. Mary bore Henry two children, a boy and a girl, before his interest waned and the Howard family instead promoted Mary's sister Anne into Henry's bed. A demoted Mary is then coerced into aiding her sister's cause at Court, all the while becoming more and more disillusioned with palace life and wanting instead to forge her own future with her children in the country.
The story keeps fairly well to the major historical events between 1521 and 1536, and the portrayal of Henry is done well, reflecting the physical and intellectual vigour of his youth, and his decline into the bloated monster he became.
A quibble is the portrayal of Anne as a calculating harpy throughout the book. One senses that Gregory wants us to suddenly feel a measure of sympathy for her as she meets her fate in the Tower. This is impossible, and as a reader one can only feel what Henry did at the time of her execution, and say "good riddance".
Over-all this is a very fine piece of historical fiction that expands on an interesting footnote in English history.
Incidentally, in a recent customer survey by New Zealand's largest bookshop chain (where I worked for five years), this novel was voted 38th favourite book of the last year.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!
Review: I have never read any of Philippa Gregory's previous books but now I find myself looking to read all of them!! I loved the way there are so many plots happening, as well as the historical references. I read this book in two days!!! I would recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting and fun read with alot of plots. Looking forward to more of her books in the future.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Book!
Review: Not much has been written about Mary Boleyn. She was very young and married when Henry cast his eyes on her. She was then sent to court to be a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. She was very fond of the Queen but had no choice when Henry wanted her to be his mistress.She had 2 children by him - first a girl and then a boy. While she was recovering from childbirth, Henry turned from her to her sister, Anne. In one of the unforgettable scenes in the book, the Boleyn family calmly discusses which sister should be the one for Henry. And when it is decided it should be Anne, Mary asks, "What shall I be?" and the answer from Anne: "You'll be my lady in waiting. You'll be the other Boleyn girl." Mary always did as she was told but her real longing was to live a peaceful life in the country - far away from court - with her children. But once Anne became Henry's favorite, she controlled Mary and her children like pieces on a chessboard. Anne became very cruel. The Boleyn family was ruled by blind ambition and anything and everything they did was done to gain access to the throne. Mary was kept from her children and from the man she then fell in love with to serve Anne. One of the amazing things about Mary is she was the only one of her family who just wanted to be common. She managed to stay friends with Queen Katherine even when she had Henry's children. And when Anne and her family had completely lost favor with the King, Mary survived. An absolutely riveting book. Don't miss it.
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Summary: Excellent tale of the Court of Henry VIII
Review: This is the story of the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn as seen through the eyes of her less-well-known sister, Mary. It is a tale of passion and intrigue. In the beginning of the book, Mary is an obedient daughter of the Howard/Boleyn family. She marries William Carey at the age of 12. A few years later, when ordered to do so by her family, she leaves his bed to become the mistress of the king. In its quest for power, the family considers its daughters to be disposable fodder - used to attract and hold the king. It is only later, as Anne succeeds her as the king's favorite, that Mary decides to follow her own path. This contrasts with the fates of Anne and her borther George - who sacrificed all in their quest for power. The book also brings to fresh life the familiar Tudor personages - Henry VIII and his first three wives Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour. Highly recommended for those who enjoed historical fiction.
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Summary: The sidelines of History?
Review: It's hard to understand why Mary Boleyn was relegated to the sidelines of History. The sister of the beheaded Ann Boleyn, the aunt of Queen Elizabeth, and the mother of two of Henry VIII's illegtimate children, including a much coveted son, should rate more interest. But such was the strictness legitimacy laws at the time, that no child who was definitely illegitimate could inherit the throne. Gregory tells the story of Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn, the formation of the Church of England and intrigue
at the Tudor court from the point of view of this salient but much neglected Historical character. Her Mary is really just a child at the beginning of the novel, and she never outgrows valuing love over power. Her value for love and genuine caring for the effect of her behavior on others contrasts sharply with the hypocritical selfishness and merciless intriguing within the all too glittering Tudor court, and more ironically with her family, the grasping and ruthless Boleyns/Howards who pimp out their daughters to the whims of their excruciatingly spoiled and divinely selected monarch. Ironically Mary finds that she must use her abilities as a courtier to defend and hide her own values, not to mention her children, from the court as well as her family. Meanwhile her sister Anne marches inexorably towards historical immortality and personal destruction. Mary is a sympathetic and interesting character, and Gregory
does a good job of painting the vivid attractions and tragic flaws of
the Tudor court, including the manipulation of religious law for
personal gain. At times Mary's ability to outgrow the pettiness of her training and environment seems underexplained, at others one would like to hear more detail about court personalities and customs. Nonetheless The Other Boleyn Girl is well written and an enjoyable reading experience; highly recommended for those who enjoy dabbling in Tudor England.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Truthfully, I can't say anything that hasn't been said before. Initially I got this book from the library because I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it has turned out to be the best historical novel I have ever read (and that's saying something). Gregory is a master at writing; take her character of Anne Boleyn for example: sometimes she was so horrible that I looked forward to her death, but at other times you can't help but feel sorry for her. I think that telling the story from the view of Mary, the "other Boleyn girl" and Anne's rival, was an excellent choice, as it offered great insight into a woman's life at court during the reign of Henry VIII. Yes, this story does have a lot of romance in it, but I really feel that it's tastefully done and certainly doesn't subtract from the quality. All in all, an excellent book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterful Epic!!
Review: I bought this book out of interest in the Tudor times. I've read quite a few disappointing historicals in my time. What with the pages and pages of tedious description to tread through in some of the stories. This is most certainly not the case in The Other Boleyn Girl! It captures the essence of the period in the most effective way. I felt literally as if I was there in this time and space. The author pays attention to details, such as food, apparrel, and community. Anne Boleyn was drawn as a villain, which shatters the empathy a lot of folks felt for her. I too felt sorry for her at one time, but that's done with, though no one really knows if she is deserving of symapthy or resentment. The long and short of it is that I couldn't put this book down. It is most highly recommended.
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