Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jul 16, 2013 Nancy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, still-owned, historical-fiction

I loved this book. You just get drawn into the characters and the period - it is so realistic, you can almost smell it and taste it. And of course, Mantel's writing is simply stunning. I don't think I have read a better writer. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 30, 2018 Sue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-isles, audio-books, series, kindle-reads, 16th-century, man-booker-prize

This is a long book so I alternately listened and read it on my kindle. This novel is definitely not for everyone. It's long and detailed with a huge cast of characters. I personally loved it but I know many of my reading friends would hate it because it's too involved. The best thing about it is the character of Thomas Cromwell. The entire narrative is told from his point of view, although often the author steps out from Cromwell's head to describe events. Cromwell is intense, intelligent, obse ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 10, 2017 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This one was a struggle. I found it really hard to get going with it. My main problem is the writing style - not the content, because I love historical novels, especially when they relate to royal events. But the writing style had me so confused, half the time I wasn't entirely sure who was talking (or even who was in the room at times). It does have a flow, and before you know it, you've moved from one crisis to another.

Cromwell is an interesting figure, but Henry looms over proceedings. His wi ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2020 Tien rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: moving-mountains, historical-fiction, england, dymocks-booklovers-best

This book has been on my TBR for a very long time. I'm not keen on medieval era so that's one reason why I haven't read it sooner but I am curious and that's why it's on my TBR at all. Therefore, it is also pertinent to know that my knowledge of history was pretty much limited to Henry VIII having had many wives. Yep, pretty laughable... Therefore, my review is probably worthless.

So, it's just going to be short in saying that I mostly like the story though I struggle with the perspective. There ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2010 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, united-kingdom, series

I would give this book three-and-a-half stars if it were possible. Overall, I was disappointed. Sections of the book are very enjoyable, but they're more like vignettes within something greater that never added up to a whole for me. The biggest problem is that Mantel never really gives us a full picture of Thomas Cromwell. We know what he did - but not why he did it. At some point in the book it becomes clear he favors an English translation of the Bible and moving away from Rome, but we don't h ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2013 Meredith rated it it was ok

OK. So the things she added to flesh out Thomas Cromwell's private life were interesting. However, her writing style was horrible and difficult to follow at times and the book was SO long and didn't have enough to hook the reader in my opinion. I would have stopped reading it halfway through if I hadn't HAD to read it for school. ...more

Like · see review