Comments on: Review: The Women of the Cousins’ War, Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin, and Michael Jones

By: Jessicabookworm

Jessicabookworm — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:41:47 +0000

I do love a richly detailed and well referenced essay…nothing worse than not knowing where to look up more information from the original source. This is maybe not the book for me. However you have reminded me I’ve still not read any Gregory!

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:23:10 +0000

The lack of proper referencing would drive me nuts too. I’m glad at least one of the authors found a way around that!

By: Beth F

Beth F — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:19:44 +0000

I’m with you. I have an academic background and I want my nonfiction to be supported. I want to know where the author is making suppositions, where he is relying on primary sources, and where he is relying on others’ opinions. I think I’ll pass.

By: Nishita

Nishita — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:06:49 +0000

I read only one of Gregory’s books – The Other Boleyn Girl and found it too hysterical and melodramatic. I understand some fictionalization of history, but I found it to be too much pulp fiction in style.

I don’t know how the rest of her books are, but after this experience I would not really expect too much history or source crediting in anything she involves herself in.

Sounds harsh I know, but I was really expecting great stuff when I read Boleyn Girl and was terribly disappointed.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:52:23 +0000

I think I’ll avoid this one–it is very difficult to trust historical essays without at least some mention of source material, if not actual footnotes.

By: zibilee

zibilee — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:39:56 +0000

I think I liked this one a bit more than you did, but that was perhaps because I knew very little about this time in history before reading the book. I do admit that there were a lot of players to keep straight, and by the end, my head was spinning with names, relationships and titles! I also found Gregory’s introduction to be very interesting as well, and gained a lot of new insight into her writing after having read it. This was a great review, and I really enjoyed getting to hear your thoughts on the book, as I kind of consider you an expert on this time period.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:50:05 +0000

I’ve only read one of Gregory’s book and didn’t particularly enjoy it. I keep meaning to try another but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’m not sure this one would work for me either though after reading your review. She just might not be the author for me. Appreciate the honesty.

By: bermudaonion (Kathy)

bermudaonion (Kathy) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:47:11 +0000

I need to tell one of my friends about this – she’ll love it!