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3rd out of 124 books
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10 voters
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Being Elizabeth (Ravenscar #3)
The number-one bestselling author delivers her most provocative, sizzling novel yet—a story of money, power, love, and betrayal that only Barbara Taylor Bradford could write.
At age twenty-five, Elizabeth Deravenel finds herself in a position few women her age could image: the head of Deravenels, a business empire that spans the globe. It’s a company whose reach is wid
...moreHardcover, 432 pages
Published
August 19th 2008
by St. Martin's Press
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When twenty-five year old Elizabeth Deravenel Turner inherits the family business, it is the life for which she was groomed. Albeit one that has not come easily – her younger brother and older half-sister Mary had the honor first. They had to die before she could finally inherit.
We then see Elizabeth taking over the reins with her two close friends and advisors – the triumvirate, as one calls the trio – and then the author portrays the wealth and possessions through descriptions of...more
We then see Elizabeth taking over the reins with her two close friends and advisors – the triumvirate, as one calls the trio – and then the author portrays the wealth and possessions through descriptions of...more
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I am very disappointed in Ms. Bradford. This book was awful, yet i mangaged to get through it a chapter a night. The author kept making you think that something "BIG" was going to happen in just a few pages and then . . . . nothing. The antagonist never really appears in the story, she just roams around in the background making everyone nervous. The author tries to use "proper English" language in the diaglogue but it just sounds stupid and elitist. When I was done with...more
Being Elizabeth was incredibly boring and superficial. I actually didn't finish reading it, but did get at least 75% through it before I gave up. I only read that far because I didn't have another book to read yet. Elizabeth inherits the company after her sisters death and takes over operations with the help of her faithful friends. The book spends more time talking about the designer clothes, handbags and jewelry she owns then it does real issues. It is mentioned many times how worried she...more
What fun! Shakespeare's queen, Elizabeth, reimagined as the dashing, headstrong CEO of a respected English corporation. All of her advisors and her loves in modern business attire, jetting here and there and doing the young lady's bidding while she broods over her vast powers and responsibilities, totally in control yet deeply drawn to experience love and passion on her own terms.
The thing that makes this book sparkle is not so much the plot (very closely based on actual history, of...more
The thing that makes this book sparkle is not so much the plot (very closely based on actual history, of...more
Elizabeth Turner carries the red gold hair of her ancestors but that's not all she has inherited from Edward Deravenel. She is charismatic and ambitions, with the same ruthless streak. Aged just 25, she stands to inherit the family business, deravenels, a bastion of male cheuvinism. She also has to cope with her cousin Mary, who believes she is the rightful heir.
Cecil Williams acts as Elizabeth's mentor, but her greatest ally is her married childhood friend, robert dunley. He is her m...more
Cecil Williams acts as Elizabeth's mentor, but her greatest ally is her married childhood friend, robert dunley. He is her m...more
Even for an easy "read" in the car to and from school, this book just didn't measure up. First of all, it was pretty poorly written. I kept listening because I am fascinated by Elizabeth I, and I liked the idea of a modern re-telling of her story. In fact, that’s why the book gets 2 stars (as opposed to 1). It made me think about what it would like in today’s world to be so young (25) and inherit such responsibility along with such a mess. This book also made me realize just how a...more
I didn't realize it when I bougth this book...but it is a "re-telling" of the love story of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley. It was so well done and there are so many details that actually tie into the actual (as much as it is known)history. BUT, if you didn't know anything about QE and RD, you wouldn't even realize the connection - it would just be a nice read!
You occasionally need to read a romance novel, but this was disappointing. Bradford's novels are usually better than this. I felt cheated.
Missy
added it
Not as good as all other BTB books
There's no real action in this book. Everything happens somewhere away from the eyes of the reader and then the events are only related through the words of the characters. We only see them talk, occasionally make love and hug, but we never see them in action.
Certain scenes in this book are beyond ridiculous. The dialogues are sometimes painfully awkward and sound very unnatural. The characters are one-dimensional (if that), there's nothing about them that would attract the reader. The...more
Certain scenes in this book are beyond ridiculous. The dialogues are sometimes painfully awkward and sound very unnatural. The characters are one-dimensional (if that), there's nothing about them that would attract the reader. The...more
I am a huge fan of Elizabeth I and the entire period that she lived in. So when I read the summary of this book, I knew I simply had to read Being Elizabeth. Alas, it's with a heavy heart that I have mixed reviews about Bradford's latest bestseller. Essentially this book takes Elizabeth I's life and retells her rise to power, albeit in a contemporary setting. If you know something about English history or have watched the movie Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, then you will have no difficulty...more
It was not Ms. Bradford's best book, but I enjoyed it more than the previous books in The Ravenscar series. Perhaps that was due to the parallels between Elizabeth Turner's life and that of Elizabeth I (Tudor) but really I did not think that the reasoning behind the story or the plot was really fleshed out enough. I did enjoy the book though, and it was well enough written that it got me through several days on the exercise bicycle, which is really all I asked of it.
I wish I could give this book a negative rating. There is no kind of plot in the traditional sense. It's just one rich woman's successful life events after another. I kept waiting for her to have something to overcome, some change to take place and nothing. Do not ever read this book. Run away from it, it will only drive you crazy. I can't believe this woman has written over 24 books. I'm afraid to touch another one.
At the age of 25, Elizabeth finds herself the heir to a multibillion dollar family business. She is reunited with a childhood playmate, Robert Donnely, who she hires as her advisor. Soon their friendship turns to romance. Their liaison is considered scandalous because he is married. Although his marriage is on paper only, and soon to be dissolved. Elizabeth isn't concerned with Robert's status, because she has no interest in marriage, although she is deeply in love with Robert. When Amy hi...more
The third book about the Deveranels. This time about Elizabeth. Again a frothy book, quite enjoyable yet very predictable. It is very obvious from the first few pages that the character is based on Elizabeth the I, and those around her in that time, but based in modern times.
There are no suprises in Barbara's books but sometimes you want a uncomplicated read.
There are no suprises in Barbara's books but sometimes you want a uncomplicated read.
The book is a parable which puts Elisabeth the first of England, Devarells=Tudors (and Mary is Mary Stuart of course) put into a modern environment. It is full of historical facts and reading it and comparing with history books I learned a lot about English history. So it only looks like a soap opera - but it is much more and intellectually very challenging.
Thank you, Barbara
Thank you, Barbara
I guess this did an ok job of finishing up the whole family story. I have to say that I liked the characters in the first two books much better. Maybe it was because I didn't know how the other stories would go. This one, being so obviously based on the Tudors (mainly Elizabeth I, Edward and Mary), that I felt like I knew what was going to happen throughout the book in general.
This is a continuation of a series of books. However, this parallels the lives of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, Mary and so on. Very odd that.
I only ended up reading half of this book. It seemed so odd to read about these characters and their interaction. I kept thinking the entire time I was reading this that it was a novelized version of history set in modern day. Does that make sense? Just too silly and irksome for me to finish. First time that's ever happened with one of her books.
I only ended up reading half of this book. It seemed so odd to read about these characters and their interaction. I kept thinking the entire time I was reading this that it was a novelized version of history set in modern day. Does that make sense? Just too silly and irksome for me to finish. First time that's ever happened with one of her books.
No mention of the historical cribbing here; nothing like not being creative. The writing was fine, though the tremendous reporting of what she bought, how much sherry & champagne she drank and was delectable canapés she didn't feel like eating was painful. She's rich, we get it. Her pathological fear of getting married didn't jive with reality; Elizabeth I didn't marry b/c of politics and a reality-based fear of childbirth. The need of an heir seem trite and unrealistic. Not worth reading and ce...more
I listened to the audio book of this latest in the saga of the Deravenal family -- owners of a British conglomerate. I have enjoyed all the books in this series. They are not heavy reading, but the story line is always engaging and the characters interesting. I like the British readers as well.
Years ago I read "A Woman of Substance" by this same author which I did enjoy. "Being Elizabeth" is about a 25 year old who inherits a business empire. I stopped reading it half way through because I found it boring and predictable. Perhaps the latter half would have been better....
The ending of this story really let me down. She was so wanting to "Be Elizabeth" and yet I think that she completely gave up that perception of herself in the end. It was a very quick read as I skimmed over a lot of the "Fluff" that was really not needed. Too much verbosity.
This book is a fictional story that plays off the story of Queen Elizabeth I and the extended family of England.
It was an okay story but not a lot of excitement or action.
If the reader likes the story of Queen Elizabeth I they might like this book.
It was an okay story but not a lot of excitement or action.
If the reader likes the story of Queen Elizabeth I they might like this book.
This was an interesting book. I'm not crazy about this author; but I found this one of the better books I've read by her. A little confusing at times I liked following the life of the main character and those people she interacted with in the story.
Didn't really care for this. At first it was good, it is a modern day story of Queen Elizabeth. Then the similarities just became too exact and wasn't very exciting. I would recommend other books of Barbara Taylor Bradford before this one.
Myra Virgil
added it
I was very disappointed. On page 62 (1st paragraph), there is a reference to Elizabeth being, "free, white and...". I really didn't understand this reference to race, in this context, in a fairly current day book. Overall, an uninspiring read.
Elizabeth I was anything but boring, but this retelling of her story in a modern setting most definitely was. The idea is interesting, although not original, but the story itself was not well done. I was very disappointed.
Bradford's early books had interesting plots. This book is a rehash of the life of Elizabeth I.
The name changes show no imagination - and that describes the entire book.
Read a biography of Elizabeth I instead.
The name changes show no imagination - and that describes the entire book.
Read a biography of Elizabeth I instead.
A rather bland story of a wealthy woman running a worldwide business with the help of a couple of men. I have read previous books about this family asnd remember them being better than this one.
The premise, characters, everything was so unbelievable that I really couldn't continue after about chapter 5. Disappointing considering the reputation of the author.
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Barbara Taylor Bradford worked as a journalist and columnist before publihing her first novel, the bestseller A Woman of Substance (1979). She lives in New York.
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“Successful women don't sleep until noon.”
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“Elizabeth studied the blurry tabloid photo, which showed her cousin Mary Stuart leaving a Paris disco at dawn, drunkenly clinging to the arm of a French tennis pro. The message was very clear. Put passion first and you end up neither loved nor respected.”
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