laurenjpegler's review against another edition
5.0
Realistically, this should be given four-point-five stars. But, man, I really love this show/novel, and the characterisation of some of my favourite people push it up to five.
Essentially, this is a novelisation of the first four episodes of ITV's Victoria. It follows Victoria's ascension to the throne, her coping with becoming the Queen at eighteen, her relationship with numerous people (specifically her mother and Lord Melbourne), and the challenge that comes with finding a husband.
As I already mentioned, the characterisation in this is brilliant. Daisy Goodwin does such a good job at bringing Victoria, Albert and Lord Melbourne to life. As I have watched the show a few times, I could easily imagine everything that was happening in this novel. For example, I pictured Jenna Coleman, Rufus Sewell and Tom Hughes as the three main characters (who, by the way, play them brilliantly). Victoria is the star of the show. She's passionate, fickle, inexperienced, and everything else you'd imagine an eighteen year old to be. Despite this, you cannot help but love her. Goodwin tries to paint Victoria as someone universal - someone everyone can like.
I love the in-depth plot. Realistically, Goodwin could have condensed the whole show (eight episodes) into this, but instead she focused solely on the first four episodes. I think she did this to bring to life Victoria's ascension to the throne. She was an eighteen year old girl, who couldn't rely on her mother and who instead looked torwards an older man, struggling to deal with the pressure of being a Queen. This drawn out narrative helped to capture the kind of hectic life she may have lived, which, in turn, created sympathy from me. It made me love her. If Goodwin skipped over these bits, I might not have liked Victoria as much.
The one disappointing thing that comes with this is the lack of Prince Albert (my personal favourite). Out of 460 pages, he is roughly in one hundred of them. To me, that is not enough. The show does a fantastic job at capturing their relationship - the passion they have for each other, and the struggle Albert has having to answer to his wife. This was lacking from the narrative, and I really wish Goodwin would carry on writing these. Honestly, I would have read (and loved) this if it was 900 pages. I couldn't get enough. Just needed more Albert.
Would definitely recommend!
Essentially, this is a novelisation of the first four episodes of ITV's Victoria. It follows Victoria's ascension to the throne, her coping with becoming the Queen at eighteen, her relationship with numerous people (specifically her mother and Lord Melbourne), and the challenge that comes with finding a husband.
As I already mentioned, the characterisation in this is brilliant. Daisy Goodwin does such a good job at bringing Victoria, Albert and Lord Melbourne to life. As I have watched the show a few times, I could easily imagine everything that was happening in this novel. For example, I pictured Jenna Coleman, Rufus Sewell and Tom Hughes as the three main characters (who, by the way, play them brilliantly). Victoria is the star of the show. She's passionate, fickle, inexperienced, and everything else you'd imagine an eighteen year old to be. Despite this, you cannot help but love her. Goodwin tries to paint Victoria as someone universal - someone everyone can like.
I love the in-depth plot. Realistically, Goodwin could have condensed the whole show (eight episodes) into this, but instead she focused solely on the first four episodes. I think she did this to bring to life Victoria's ascension to the throne. She was an eighteen year old girl, who couldn't rely on her mother and who instead looked torwards an older man, struggling to deal with the pressure of being a Queen. This drawn out narrative helped to capture the kind of hectic life she may have lived, which, in turn, created sympathy from me. It made me love her. If Goodwin skipped over these bits, I might not have liked Victoria as much.
The one disappointing thing that comes with this is the lack of Prince Albert (my personal favourite). Out of 460 pages, he is roughly in one hundred of them. To me, that is not enough. The show does a fantastic job at capturing their relationship - the passion they have for each other, and the struggle Albert has having to answer to his wife. This was lacking from the narrative, and I really wish Goodwin would carry on writing these. Honestly, I would have read (and loved) this if it was 900 pages. I couldn't get enough. Just needed more Albert.
Would definitely recommend!
ailurophile_bibliophile89's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I was not as impressed with it as I had hoped to be, but it was still well-written and interesting to listen to. My only issue is that Victoria was portrayed more naively than I've always considered her to be - my opinion of her is that yes, she was young and untried, but she had a strength and a conviction in her that gave her courage to do what she thought right. Goodwin portrays her as more of a young teenager with a childish temper. As a result, the Hastings Affair and the crisis with the women in the bedchamber seemed more like a little girl stamping her foot and less like a young woman sticking to her beliefs.
In any case, I was disappointed with Victoria's portrayal and Lord Melbourne's as well. The writing was fairly decent - indeed, it was good enough for me to keep listening to, but I think this is more fiction than history.
But, as well with all historical fiction novels, the authors are allowed to make liberties with people, events, and settings.
I was not as impressed with it as I had hoped to be, but it was still well-written and interesting to listen to. My only issue is that Victoria was portrayed more naively than I've always considered her to be - my opinion of her is that yes, she was young and untried, but she had a strength and a conviction in her that gave her courage to do what she thought right. Goodwin portrays her as more of a young teenager with a childish temper. As a result, the Hastings Affair and the crisis with the women in the bedchamber seemed more like a little girl stamping her foot and less like a young woman sticking to her beliefs.
In any case, I was disappointed with Victoria's portrayal and Lord Melbourne's as well. The writing was fairly decent - indeed, it was good enough for me to keep listening to, but I think this is more fiction than history.
But, as well with all historical fiction novels, the authors are allowed to make liberties with people, events, and settings.
victoriaalexandra_'s review against another edition
5.0
Pleasantly surprised! This is not a genre I normally navigate towards. But I was instantly hooked & loved the ending. I’m always sad to finish a good book lol.
becca99's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jadziadax's review against another edition
3.0
I LOVED the TV series. Goodwin and co masterfully bring to life the spirit of the Victorian age and Jenna Coleman (who I adore) is amazing as the queen.
The book...it was fine. But it was mostly dialogue and scenes right from the show. And...the extra scenes. Well, some I could've done without. Victoria's crush on Melbourne and his kindness toward her was charming and a little heartrending in the TV show, but in the book it came off...kinda creepy. Age wise (slight trigger here and in the book for creepy guys liking young (young!) women)
The book...it was fine. But it was mostly dialogue and scenes right from the show. And...the extra scenes. Well, some I could've done without. Victoria's crush on Melbourne and his kindness toward her was charming and a little heartrending in the TV show, but in the book it came off...kinda creepy. Age wise (slight trigger here and in the book for creepy guys liking young (young!) women)
Spoiler
I'm thinking of the scene where he goes to a brothel and picks out the prostitute that is near the age of Victoria (18-20). He doesn't go through with it, but it makes it as though Melbourne likes her cause of her age...in the series, it's more 'she likes him romantically and he like her a lot as person but not romantically' or even stretched to...he does have a romantic draw to her, but it's almost a soulmate thing and he knows he is too old for her. In the book I felt weird and unsettled that he seemed attracted to her age? ughmadbutterfly12's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
melahknee's review against another edition
5.0
Daisy Goodwin is an excellent author who really brings life to her historical characters. Everyone, even the ancillary characters are vivid and unique. It’s a historical fiction book with a plot and ending that is true to history but with an unique and, for me, unexpected love story that I found very interesting. It’s a great book to read casually, it’s light and positive. I enjoy her writing style and would certainly recommend her books to anyone wanting a nice, positive quarantine relief book
brii_brii's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lascala's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0