delilahreads's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the first part of this book, when Catherine was still young and lived in Paris. She was described as an adventurous girl with a strong character, which I loved. Also I found the uncommon setting -France during the hundred Years war- really interesting. While reading this first part I thought I was reading a well written historic novel and I’m a fan of those.
My problem with this book was, that it got worse and worse. Catherine grows to be the prettiest girl you could ever imagine. OF COURSE. That was so disappointing, I was really excited when I read, that as a child she wasn’t particularly good looking. I just hoped, that she wouldn’t be the typical beauty, loved by everyone. I hoped, she would grow a strong, independent woman, who gets known for what she does and not for how she looks. (Of course I didn’t know at that time, that the French title of one of these books was “Belle Catherine” otherwise I would’ve guessed that part..)
Sadly, this is only a melodramatic romance. In the end it was definitely an OK book, it was just a bit lengthy and ultra-cheesy in the middle.
BUT If you already read this, and weren’t toooo disappointed, I can only suggest reading the second book, I promise, it gets (a tad) better!
My problem with this book was, that it got worse and worse. Catherine grows to be the prettiest girl you could ever imagine. OF COURSE. That was so disappointing, I was really excited when I read, that as a child she wasn’t particularly good looking. I just hoped, that she wouldn’t be the typical beauty, loved by everyone. I hoped, she would grow a strong, independent woman, who gets known for what she does and not for how she looks. (Of course I didn’t know at that time, that the French title of one of these books was “Belle Catherine” otherwise I would’ve guessed that part..)
Sadly, this is only a melodramatic romance. In the end it was definitely an OK book, it was just a bit lengthy and ultra-cheesy in the middle.
BUT If you already read this, and weren’t toooo disappointed, I can only suggest reading the second book, I promise, it gets (a tad) better!
jenblei's review
4.0
I read it in English.
I think that this was one of the very first historical fiction series that I read, in the mid-70s. They've been out of print in English, hard to find, or not in ebook form for quite a while, but I stumbled across this yesterday. Now I'm very much hoping that the others become available at some point as well.
I've got quibbles with it- it's definitely pre-feminist. And while I do like a good romance, I'm still not so convinced that the "I take one look at you and am willing to sacrifice everything in my life just to be with you" is love...I think that perhaps that might be infatuation :-)
But she does a wonderful job of conveying the historical setting, I liked how even though Catherine was "desperately in love" with someone she "could never have" she still had a healthy sexual appetite, and while the "diverse" characters are fairly stereotypical, it's still one of the first "grown up books" that I read that had diverse characters.
Loads of fun to revisit- I hope that I can get my hands on the others at some point.
I think that this was one of the very first historical fiction series that I read, in the mid-70s. They've been out of print in English, hard to find, or not in ebook form for quite a while, but I stumbled across this yesterday. Now I'm very much hoping that the others become available at some point as well.
I've got quibbles with it- it's definitely pre-feminist. And while I do like a good romance, I'm still not so convinced that the "I take one look at you and am willing to sacrifice everything in my life just to be with you" is love...I think that perhaps that might be infatuation :-)
But she does a wonderful job of conveying the historical setting, I liked how even though Catherine was "desperately in love" with someone she "could never have" she still had a healthy sexual appetite, and while the "diverse" characters are fairly stereotypical, it's still one of the first "grown up books" that I read that had diverse characters.
Loads of fun to revisit- I hope that I can get my hands on the others at some point.
lnatal's review
3.0
I just found a couple of books of this series by only 1,5 Euros at www.bobliopolis.be
This is first book in the Catherine series and this series is the beginning of the "roman historiques" written by this author, in 1964.
This is the story of Catherine Legoix who fails in love the nobleman Arnaud de Montsalvy but she is obliged to become the wife of the great financier of the Duke - Philippe le Bon, Duke of Bourgogne.
Even if in the beginning the main character has a more juvenile than a grown woman, the story flows quite easily.
The historical background is the Hundred Years War.
This is first book in the Catherine series and this series is the beginning of the "roman historiques" written by this author, in 1964.
This is the story of Catherine Legoix who fails in love the nobleman Arnaud de Montsalvy but she is obliged to become the wife of the great financier of the Duke - Philippe le Bon, Duke of Bourgogne.
Even if in the beginning the main character has a more juvenile than a grown woman, the story flows quite easily.
The historical background is the Hundred Years War.
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