joyshak's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
This one wasn't for me. I found the book very chaotic in its organization and timeline. It kept distracting me way too much. I'ver read other works by author and loved her, but this one was a miss for me.
This one wasn't for me. I found the book very chaotic in its organization and timeline. It kept distracting me way too much. I'ver read other works by author and loved her, but this one was a miss for me.
colorcrystals's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I enjoyed reading Sex With Kings. However, I cannot classify it as a great read. The information was interesting, but only focused on a few women in history. Certain parts became repetitive. I had hoped to learn about several mistresses, not just a handful. The organization seemed to be all over the place. The disorganization lends itself to the annoying repetitiveness. I often found myself confused over who I was reading about. The writing was ok. There was the occasional funny commentary tossed around.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the lives of historical kings and their love lives. I would have to warn the reader not to raise there expectations too high though.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the lives of historical kings and their love lives. I would have to warn the reader not to raise there expectations too high though.
useless_aesthete's review against another edition
3.0
I am probably getting too far along as a history student for this. The tone was grating, and anecdotes, descriptions and quotes were frequently cited for shock value disregarding the trustworthiness of the source, in spite of obvious agendas.
My biggest problem however is that somehow, in a book all about mistresses, some sort of Madonna/ Whore complex has found a way in, of course not quite in this form for lack of Madonnas, but rather in a ditchonomy between the good mistress, who is all self-sacrifice, and the bad mistress, who dares to be ambitious, though these standards can occasionally be entirely disregarded for what can only be assumed to be the author's personal preference.
(On a simpler note, the german translation I read also had a confusing lack of standards for what names were translated and which not)
My biggest problem however is that somehow, in a book all about mistresses, some sort of Madonna/ Whore complex has found a way in, of course not quite in this form for lack of Madonnas, but rather in a ditchonomy between the good mistress, who is all self-sacrifice, and the bad mistress, who dares to be ambitious, though these standards can occasionally be entirely disregarded for what can only be assumed to be the author's personal preference.
(On a simpler note, the german translation I read also had a confusing lack of standards for what names were translated and which not)
cher_n_books's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars - It was good.
Mistress Virginie di Castiglione once stated "The more I see of men, the more I love dogs." Reading about the history of men making befuddled fools of themselves in the name of lust makes it incredibly easy to agree with that statement.
This made for an entertaining, though also disheartening read about vacuous men and jealous wives throwing tantrums over their unworthy partners. It's amazing how 1000 years later, the more things change the more they stay the same.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: One grows accustomed to beauty, but not to stupid-ity.
First Sentence: If prostitution is the world's oldest profession, then the finer art of being a mistress must be the second oldest.
Mistress Virginie di Castiglione once stated "The more I see of men, the more I love dogs." Reading about the history of men making befuddled fools of themselves in the name of lust makes it incredibly easy to agree with that statement.
This made for an entertaining, though also disheartening read about vacuous men and jealous wives throwing tantrums over their unworthy partners. It's amazing how 1000 years later, the more things change the more they stay the same.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: One grows accustomed to beauty, but not to stupid-ity.
First Sentence: If prostitution is the world's oldest profession, then the finer art of being a mistress must be the second oldest.
enid08's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, but it went on a little long. I wish it had been organized a little different as opposed to jumping between so many kings and mistresses every time the author had another point to make. Definitely gripping, and juicy, though.