Persuasion by Jane Austen

Another great Jane Austen favorite of mine, Persuasion took me completely by surprise; I did not expect to be so touched and affected after reading it. This was the last Austen book I read, and I found it particularly special because of its deeply poignant and mature love story. Although all of Austen's other novels are love stories at the core, the relationships aren't as developed as the one shared between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. Austen's other books use the love stories as a focal point while the meat of the material is dedicated more to people's social practices, habits, and follies. They also tend to have a fairytale like feel to them, but Persuasion felt much more real and down to earth. It really struck true to the much more deep and complicated emotions people experience.

In Persuasion, Anne Elliot, the protagonist, is much older than Austen's other heroines. She is a very kind, sensible, principled and dependable woman. However, she has one regret that has haunted her for a long time: the fact that as a young woman, she rejected the man she loved because her family did not approve of him, and she was simply too compliant and obedient to object. Now she is at the stage in her life where marriage is no longer a priority or an option because of her age (28!). Her life revolves around keeping her father company and taking care of him. Unfortunately, her family's circumstances have also deteriorated.

When Captain Wentworth comes back a successful man at sea, all the emotions she had felt for him from the past come rushing back to the surface. Wentworth, on the other hand, has turned distant and aloof. The sadness and deep regret Anne feels upon his return is truly heartbreaking. The fact that she has already lost her youth and beauty, and her family is no longer in the same privileged position makes it even more saddening.

This was the first Austen novel that made me cry. I felt so much sympathy for Anne, and I was dying for the moment their relationship would be rekindled.

When it finally did, I felt like I was flying.

5 stars *****

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I just started watching the TV series, The Tudors, recently. It's about the life and reign of King Henry VIII, as well as his relationships with his six wives. It's quite juicy and addictive, and since I've been having that whole era on the mind lately, I thought I'd write a review of The Other Boleyn Girl, which is a novel I read back in college.

The story focuses on Mary Boleyn, who is the lesser known sister of Anne Boleyn, King Henry's second wife, who ended up getting beheaded. This book went at such a fast pace. It was juicy, intriguing, captivating, and highly addictive. I personally thought the writing could have been a lot better. There was something missing in it. I don't remember what specifically since it's been years since I read it, but I do remember the language being too simple, a bit Young Adult-ish in my opinion. I wished the descriptions could have been more intricate, especially since it is a work of historical fiction.

Nonetheless, this book definitely did the job of hooking me in. As soon as I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading. I didn't really care that the writing wasn't the best; I was more focused on the unfolding events of the story, the relationships, the love, the seduction, the betrayal, the power struggles, and the terrifying consequences of the characters' actions. It was a complete soap opera, and I was engulfed in it for a few days.

As for its historical accuracy, I can't comment on that since I don't know much about the period; however, despite this, there were times when I felt that Gregory had perhaps exaggerated the negative aspects of Anne Boleyn's character. The contrast between her and Mary were just too black and white, too good and evil, and I found that hard to believe. Very little sympathy or empathy was given to Anne's character and, since she is a historical figure, I doubted the honesty of her portrayal.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to lovers of romance and historical fiction. It's a great, fun read.

4 stars ****