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 ****

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha was the very first book I read that completely took my breath away in a way that was totally filling and satisfying. Before this novel, I had only been indulging in young adult books, the Sweet Valley series to be precise (Haha!).

I believe Memoirs was my first adult book, and, suffice it to say, I was blown away by its intricacy, the beauty of the language, the pacing of the book, and the character descriptions and development. I was transported into a completely foreign world; yet, somehow, it also felt like home.  I was so engrossed in Sayuri's rise from a village girl to one of the most successful and beautiful geishas of her time. The jealousy and rivalry between her and the villainess, Hatsumomo also heightened the overall mood of the book. Her presence in the story really raised the stakes.

There is also the love story between Sayuri and the Chairman - her driving force to become and succeed as a geisha. This is quite heartbreaking because of the juxtaposition of her pure and innocent love for him and the nature of her job.

Most of all, I loved how the book sparked my interest in a completely foreign time and culture. It opened up my eyes to the wonderful world of geishas - their beauty, their practices, their beliefs, their goals, their hearts, their dreams.   Memoirs of a Geisha is one of those books that truly makes you feel as if you've traveled to another place - you really were there and you really knew these people. It is a wonderful page turner and overall reading experience.

5 stars *****

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel

This book took me completely by surprise. Upon reading the description on the back cover, I knew it wouldn't be something I'd be interested in. It's a story set in the stone age, and that in itself was enough to turn me off from the book completely. However, I had read many great reviews on it; numerous people have talked about how beautifully written and how much of a page turner it is. I think I was at a point where I had been reading too many light books, that I was ready for something good and substantial. I decided to give this a try.

I was completely absorbed.

This book really lived up to all the raves I read. It was more than I imagined. I never thought that I would be so engrossed in a prehistoric setting, but there I was not being able to sleep because I just had to know what would happen next. The descriptions were so lush and vivid. The characters popped out of the pages, and I simply could not put the book down.

It's a story about a little girl named Ayla who loses her parents and is found and raised by a group of Neanderthals. Her mental, emotional and physical development and the relationships she forms with her newfound family were just so captivating. She represents the superior Cro-Magnons, and reading about her rise in the clan from an outcast to someone quite indispensable and, subsequently, her fall brought about by a jealous member, makes for such an engrossing read.

I will be reading the next book in the series, and I hope it will be just as good as the first.

5 stars *****