Reviews

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

arthurbdd's review

4.0

Sprawling and has some interesting writing quirks which can take a bit of getting used to, but replete with historical flavour. Full review of this and second book: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/bring-up-the-bodies-bring-down-the-boleyns/

categal's review against another edition

2.0

I know that people are all meow meow meow over this book, but I had trouble following it and figuring out that "he" referred to Thomas Cromwell 24/7/365. I would recommend the miniseries over the book for clarity's sake. NOTE: I never have and will never again write that sentence about a book.

calamity_mary's review against another edition

4.0

I don't think I can add anything more to to wonderfull reviews you can find in GR about this book.
Let us just say I loved it and it's no wonder it won the Booker Prize.
If you love historical fiction and don't mind reading a book with a different and very refreshing writting then this is the book you need to read next.

mizele20's review against another edition

3.0

For the most part, I enjoyed reading this book. I like historical fiction and this time period.
However, the author's persistent use of third person pronouns without clear antecedents is distracting.
Identifying the male character in question made passages hard to follow at times.

bfrance99's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I really didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book. I usually enjoy books on Tudor history, but this one draaaaaggggged. The plot felt laborious, even though it should have been interesting. Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power is fascinating, but I was expecting to see his fall from grace in this book as well. It was a disappointing read, and I definitely won’t be reading the sequel.

melaniearchercat's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

yeagleyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jonnys's review against another edition

It feels a shame because the prose is good and this is such an achievement in storytelling but I feel the narrative was all over the place. It would have worked for me as a 400 page story of Cromwell.

laticsexile's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Beautifully written, fascinating and thought provoking.
I think if you came to it with little or no background knowledge of the history you’d be totally lost. Even I got a little bit confused about some of the characters. The other thing is that while the author has researched the facts in minute detail, the specific content of the dialogue and the character portrayal is by necessity subjective. 

awallbookwork's review against another edition

1.0

A DNF. Incredibly boring to me, even for historical fiction. Writing style confusing and irritating.