Teresa’s review of Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, #1) > Likes and Comments
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Thanks for quoting that Teresa. I still haven't started it :(. Have you read her Back to Black? It was good but not great. I was a bit leery of reading more of her after that.
Cynthia wrote: "Thanks for quoting that Teresa. I still haven't started it :(. Have you read her Back to Black? It was good but not great. I was a bit leery of reading more of her after that."
This is my first Mantel. I had heard so many mixed reviews of her previous work that I was wary of this one too. (Plus I felt I was burned out on 'Tudor' books, which I've read a lot of.) But after seeing Lisa's review on this, I knew I had to see for myself.
I totally agree with Teresa. I'm on page 520/650 or so and I'm loving every bit of it. I've enjoyed every Mantel I've read.
Merilee wrote: "I totally agree with Teresa. I'm on page 520/650 or so and I'm loving every bit of it. I've enjoyed every Mantel I've read."
She's writing a sequel to "Wolf Hall" and I'll want to read it as soon as it comes out.
Me, too, but I imagine it will take her some time.
What a great review -- I can't wait to read it; may bump it up.
On page 620/652. Don't want it to end, although I have so much else I want to read!
After seeing the series The Devil's Whore, set in the English Civil War period, I'm intrigued by the sound of this one and by your great review, Teresa, but as I've got a long way to go with 'Les Miserables' I must resist starting any other long novels for the time being!
Finished it! Well worth it, but I do want to begin something else now. Will look for The Devil's Whore, Judy. Have you watched The Tudors?
Glad you loved it too Merilee. Goody, goody. Rubbing my hands together in anticipation - hope I don't rub the skin off before I get to it.
If you rub your hands together through all 6oo pgs you may lose some skin:-)
Ya'll are like the rocket scientists of the book world!
They are, those little rocket scientists. I, on the other hand, sometimes don't even make my bed. Also we order take-out more and more lately. The food sucks, but we're lazy, and lazy is the best indulgence!
Hi Maria,
Why the #*!(%& would people make their beds unless their mommies are coming over??????
Do people really cook??????
hopeless c
I sometimes make the bed but then my dog unmakes it...I think I still hear my dear departed mommy's voice when I don't...Do love to cook!
Teresa, before folks get too far from the book, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed your review! I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this novel, but you have conviced me! I know exactly that feeling of being immersed in a wonderful book and not wanting it to end!
Merilee wrote: "I sometimes make the bed but then my dog unmakes it...I think I still hear my dear departed mommy's voice when I don't...Do love to cook!"
Merilee keep in mind if you're gonna blame something on the dog you have to actually *have a dog.
Judy wrote: "After seeing the series The Devil's Whore, set in the English Civil War period, I'm intrigued by the sound of this one and by your great review, Teresa, but as I've got a long way to go with 'Les M..."
I'm reading this too, isn't it wonderful?!
Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??
http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#
Lisa wrote: "Great review, Teresa!"
Thank you, all!
Merilee wrote: "Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??
http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#"
Gorgeous!
Merilee wrote: "Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??
http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#"
You DO have some critters! But they look so innocent there's no way you can convince me me they'd mess anything up.
Merilee wrote: "looks can be deceiving;-)"
Currie even looks like she has a halo!
Why did this suddenly appear 2+ years later??
I did get the sequel last week, and look forward to reading it1
Merilee wrote: "Why did this suddenly appear 2+ years later??
I did get the sequel last week, and look forward to reading it1"
I think it's because I've gotten quite a few 'likes' on it recently. People must be reading the first (and its reviews) in anticipation of reading the sequel. I'm going to be reading it as soon as the library says I can. ;)
Merilee and Teresa please report back after you read 'bring up the bodies'. BTW T I finally found Wolf Hall. Yeah. Right now I'm reading 'the secret keeper' by Sandra Byrd centered around Kateryn Parrs life at court. Of course it's no where near the quality of Mantel though.
Great point about the use of "he.". It drove me nuts at the start, so your heads-up to readers is spot-on.
Kate wrote: "Great point about the use of "he.". It drove me nuts at the start, so your heads-up to readers is spot-on."
Thanks, Kate. GR didn't let me know I had this message, so I'm just seeing it now.
I agree with Kate. I'm reading this right now and found your advice most useful. I'm loving it BTW.
AND I just underlined that quote you mention in message #1 - I thought that was a wonderful image.
Glad to be of some use, Karen!
That line about pirates makes the passage special.
Lauren wrote: "Yes! Especially useful tip when listening to the audiobook."
Glad you found it useful too, Lauren! I can imagine it would be even more useful with audio, as with the text I could easily go back and reread a sentence if I got confused.
Wolf Hall is like an illuminated text, candles flare brightly and are snuffed or sputter out. Characters are complex as in real life and Mantel's great skill allows the reader to connect empathically with both gods and monsters equally
Lynda wrote: "Wolf Hall is like an illuminated text, candles flare brightly and are snuffed or sputter out. Characters are complex as in real life and Mantel's great skill allows the reader to connect empathica..."
So true, Lynda!
Yes, what you say about the pronoun "he" . . . the way she does it violates rules & standard practice & can throw you off until you get what she's doing. And once you get it, I think it's innovative & effective.
Mike wrote: "And once you get it, I think it's innovativ & effective."
Very effective. I can't think of any other book where we are in the character's head so exclusively.
My daughter just recommended this novel and your wonderful review just convinced me!
Carol wrote: "My daughter just recommended this novel and your wonderful review just convinced me!"
Thanks, Carol. I look forward to your review.
You're welcome, Jane. I hope you get into its flow this time. Thanks for reading my review and leaving a comment.
I love your comment about this book, I couldn't have said it better myself. I left this book with a genuine affection for Cromwell, I'd love to read a whole series of books about this character. Humorous, witty, tough, brilliant, ruthless and still a wonderful and loyal husband, father, (and father figure) and friend. I read the sequel, Bring up the Bodies, and I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series. I'd like to add that I recently read The Light in the Labyrinth, about the last 6 months or so of Anne Boleyn's life, written from the perspective of Kate, Anne's niece, her sister Mary's daughter. Not a very good book, and downright terrible when you compare it to the Wolf Hall series. You read something like that and you realize what a treasure the Wolf Hall series really is.
Thanks so much, Kari. I appreciate your taking the time to let me know. I too am looking forward to the 3rd book. Great writing does spoil us and that's a good thing!
Almost nobody refers to themselves as "he" so while "You are in Cromwell's head; you see everything from his perspective" using "he" all the time is just confusing and sloppy.
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Thanks for quoting that Teresa. I still haven't started it :(. Have you read her Back to Black? It was good but not great. I was a bit leery of reading more of her after that.
Cynthia wrote: "Thanks for quoting that Teresa. I still haven't started it :(. Have you read her Back to Black? It was good but not great. I was a bit leery of reading more of her after that."This is my first Mantel. I had heard so many mixed reviews of her previous work that I was wary of this one too. (Plus I felt I was burned out on 'Tudor' books, which I've read a lot of.) But after seeing Lisa's review on this, I knew I had to see for myself.
I totally agree with Teresa. I'm on page 520/650 or so and I'm loving every bit of it. I've enjoyed every Mantel I've read.
Merilee wrote: "I totally agree with Teresa. I'm on page 520/650 or so and I'm loving every bit of it. I've enjoyed every Mantel I've read."She's writing a sequel to "Wolf Hall" and I'll want to read it as soon as it comes out.
Me, too, but I imagine it will take her some time.
What a great review -- I can't wait to read it; may bump it up.
On page 620/652. Don't want it to end, although I have so much else I want to read!
After seeing the series The Devil's Whore, set in the English Civil War period, I'm intrigued by the sound of this one and by your great review, Teresa, but as I've got a long way to go with 'Les Miserables' I must resist starting any other long novels for the time being!
Finished it! Well worth it, but I do want to begin something else now. Will look for The Devil's Whore, Judy. Have you watched The Tudors?
Glad you loved it too Merilee. Goody, goody. Rubbing my hands together in anticipation - hope I don't rub the skin off before I get to it.
If you rub your hands together through all 6oo pgs you may lose some skin:-)
Ya'll are like the rocket scientists of the book world!
They are, those little rocket scientists. I, on the other hand, sometimes don't even make my bed. Also we order take-out more and more lately. The food sucks, but we're lazy, and lazy is the best indulgence!
Hi Maria,Why the #*!(%& would people make their beds unless their mommies are coming over??????
Do people really cook??????
hopeless c
I sometimes make the bed but then my dog unmakes it...I think I still hear my dear departed mommy's voice when I don't...Do love to cook!
Teresa, before folks get too far from the book, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed your review! I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this novel, but you have conviced me! I know exactly that feeling of being immersed in a wonderful book and not wanting it to end!
Merilee wrote: "I sometimes make the bed but then my dog unmakes it...I think I still hear my dear departed mommy's voice when I don't...Do love to cook!"Merilee keep in mind if you're gonna blame something on the dog you have to actually *have a dog.
Judy wrote: "After seeing the series The Devil's Whore, set in the English Civil War period, I'm intrigued by the sound of this one and by your great review, Teresa, but as I've got a long way to go with 'Les M..."I'm reading this too, isn't it wonderful?!
Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#
Lisa wrote: "Great review, Teresa!"Thank you, all!
Merilee wrote: "Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#"
Gorgeous!
Merilee wrote: "Hey, Cynthia, here are dog AND cat on my bed...notice any books in the background??http://picasaweb.google.com/merilee.o...#"
You DO have some critters! But they look so innocent there's no way you can convince me me they'd mess anything up.
Merilee wrote: "looks can be deceiving;-)"Currie even looks like she has a halo!
Why did this suddenly appear 2+ years later??I did get the sequel last week, and look forward to reading it1
Merilee wrote: "Why did this suddenly appear 2+ years later??I did get the sequel last week, and look forward to reading it1"
I think it's because I've gotten quite a few 'likes' on it recently. People must be reading the first (and its reviews) in anticipation of reading the sequel. I'm going to be reading it as soon as the library says I can. ;)
Merilee and Teresa please report back after you read 'bring up the bodies'. BTW T I finally found Wolf Hall. Yeah. Right now I'm reading 'the secret keeper' by Sandra Byrd centered around Kateryn Parrs life at court. Of course it's no where near the quality of Mantel though.
Great point about the use of "he.". It drove me nuts at the start, so your heads-up to readers is spot-on.
Kate wrote: "Great point about the use of "he.". It drove me nuts at the start, so your heads-up to readers is spot-on."Thanks, Kate. GR didn't let me know I had this message, so I'm just seeing it now.
I agree with Kate. I'm reading this right now and found your advice most useful. I'm loving it BTW.
AND I just underlined that quote you mention in message #1 - I thought that was a wonderful image.
Glad to be of some use, Karen! That line about pirates makes the passage special.
Lauren wrote: "Yes! Especially useful tip when listening to the audiobook."Glad you found it useful too, Lauren! I can imagine it would be even more useful with audio, as with the text I could easily go back and reread a sentence if I got confused.
Wolf Hall is like an illuminated text, candles flare brightly and are snuffed or sputter out. Characters are complex as in real life and Mantel's great skill allows the reader to connect empathically with both gods and monsters equally
Lynda wrote: "Wolf Hall is like an illuminated text, candles flare brightly and are snuffed or sputter out. Characters are complex as in real life and Mantel's great skill allows the reader to connect empathica..."So true, Lynda!
Yes, what you say about the pronoun "he" . . . the way she does it violates rules & standard practice & can throw you off until you get what she's doing. And once you get it, I think it's innovative & effective.
Mike wrote: "And once you get it, I think it's innovativ & effective."Very effective. I can't think of any other book where we are in the character's head so exclusively.
My daughter just recommended this novel and your wonderful review just convinced me!
Carol wrote: "My daughter just recommended this novel and your wonderful review just convinced me!"Thanks, Carol. I look forward to your review.
You're welcome, Jane. I hope you get into its flow this time. Thanks for reading my review and leaving a comment.
I love your comment about this book, I couldn't have said it better myself. I left this book with a genuine affection for Cromwell, I'd love to read a whole series of books about this character. Humorous, witty, tough, brilliant, ruthless and still a wonderful and loyal husband, father, (and father figure) and friend. I read the sequel, Bring up the Bodies, and I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series. I'd like to add that I recently read The Light in the Labyrinth, about the last 6 months or so of Anne Boleyn's life, written from the perspective of Kate, Anne's niece, her sister Mary's daughter. Not a very good book, and downright terrible when you compare it to the Wolf Hall series. You read something like that and you realize what a treasure the Wolf Hall series really is.
Thanks so much, Kari. I appreciate your taking the time to let me know. I too am looking forward to the 3rd book. Great writing does spoil us and that's a good thing!
Almost nobody refers to themselves as "he" so while "You are in Cromwell's head; you see everything from his perspective" using "he" all the time is just confusing and sloppy.
page 97: "There cannot be new things in England. There can be old things freshly presented, or new things that pretend to be old. To be trusted, new men must forge themselves an ancient pedigree ... or enter into the service of ancient families. Don't try to go it alone, or they'll think you're pirates."