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zumbador's review
5.0
I'm still thinking about this one.
I enjoy Hillary Mantel's writing immensely. She has a knack for evoking character and scene. Poetry, actually.
I found this less compelling than Wolf Hall, maybe because it did not have such a strong antagonist. Although Mantel's depiction of Thomas More, and the mix of enmity and respect he evoked in Cromwell still resonates in this book.
Anne Boleyn makes a much smaller impact, but I loved the way she depicted the relationship between Anna and Catherine, which Mantel describes as being like two small girls on a teeter totter.
Thomas Cromwell's descent into more and more dubious actions is very well done. You almost want to find excuses for him.
And I keep thinking of the last beheading scene. Absolutely horrific, without being explicit. And there's a third one coming too. Odd how you can know the story already, and still hope the tragedy wont happen.
I enjoy Hillary Mantel's writing immensely. She has a knack for evoking character and scene. Poetry, actually.
I found this less compelling than Wolf Hall, maybe because it did not have such a strong antagonist. Although Mantel's depiction of Thomas More, and the mix of enmity and respect he evoked in Cromwell still resonates in this book.
Anne Boleyn makes a much smaller impact, but I loved the way she depicted the relationship between Anna and Catherine, which Mantel describes as being like two small girls on a teeter totter.
Thomas Cromwell's descent into more and more dubious actions is very well done. You almost want to find excuses for him.
And I keep thinking of the last beheading scene. Absolutely horrific, without being explicit. And there's a third one coming too. Odd how you can know the story already, and still hope the tragedy wont happen.
malachykillfoile's review
5.0
Mantel’s story of Thomas Cromwell is magnificent. Bring Up the Bodies begins exactly where Wolf Hall ends, and the transition was seamless, I immediately fell back into her world. I can’t say enough good things about this book, other than that everyone should read it
eily_may's review
5.0
Great book. Loved the development of the characters, the betrayals, the gossip and Tomas Cromwell's revenge. Wonderfully written, an enthralling and captivating read. I now know why it won the Man Booker Prize.
uncommongrace25's review
3.0
Yet another take on Anne Boleyn/Henry VIII. Interesting perspective through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, Henry's right-hand man. Not as good as Mantel's A Place of Greater Safety although they may have to do with how many times I have read a book about good ol' Anne
tex2flo's review
4.0
No matter how many different perspectives I read of this period, the intrigue and the politics awe me. This, from the angle of Thomas Cromwell, is brand new to me.
sallyamackenzie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nancyflanagan's review
5.0
Did the world need another re-telling of the Tudors, or Henry IIIV's notorious second wife? Evidently, because this was one ripping good book. Beautifully written. The most amazing thing is how Mantel fleshes out Thomas Cromwell, gets inside his head and makes him as rational as anyone else in one of the Western world's most-studied historical tales.
It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to the ongoing internal monologue--and the mid-section of the book weaves all the psychological gamesmanship and who-said-what backstory together--but the last quarter of the book is a roller coaster, punctuated with sarcastic jibes as well as treachery and gore. Splendid book.
It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to the ongoing internal monologue--and the mid-section of the book weaves all the psychological gamesmanship and who-said-what backstory together--but the last quarter of the book is a roller coaster, punctuated with sarcastic jibes as well as treachery and gore. Splendid book.
mcoussens's review
4.0
This was a difficult book to get through-- not because it wasn't good, but because of the English language usage from the time period (and the book's length). But, it was worth it. By the end, I wanted to know even more about several of the real-life characters.