Part Six: Chapter 30-32 and Final Thoughts

[Marie]

Years 1387-1396.

Overall impression of the book? Is it your new favorite? Is it your old favorite new again? (Or are you wondering why it was ever your favorite?) What are your impressions of the characters? And if you are new reader of Seton, does this make make you clamor for more?

[C.P.]

I finished it a couple of hours ago. Yes, it's still a favorite, now newly refurbished. I see a lot in the story and characters I didn't understand before, having been too young and inexperienced then to appreciate much of Katherine's world, never mind her choices. I loved the ending and find myself now in a state of nostalgic deprivation, having no chapters left to read.

I need to process it a bit before I write any more.

Glad we did this, though!

[C.P.]

So to sum up, in the end I really enjoyed this book. There was a point around the beginning of part 5 when I wondered how the story could have 170 pages left in it, but then it took off in a completely different direction and hooked me once more.

(view spoiler)[Katherine's sudden repudiation of her prior life didn't convince me at first. It seemed grandiose for her to decide that her dalliance with John had "caused" the rebellion, or even the loss of her daughter. It wasn't as though she murdered Hugh herself, or even condoned it. But she did have a history of sudden emotional reversals, and the introduction of Lady Julian and K's return to Swynford Hall won me over again. I liked the ending very much. A little sad, that they had such a short time together as husband and wife, but still satisfying. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

I just finished. As mentioned, I was getting a little ticked at Katherine's lackadaisical attitude- but the rest of the book picked up its pace just when I needed it to. I saw a bit of a redeeming quality show in Katherine & I am even more intrigued about her now.

I loved the last events of the book. Anyone have any Richard II era books they could recommend, besides Barnes'?

[C.P.]

Jean Plaidy wrote Passage to Pontefract. I haven't read it, but she's usually pretty reliable.

Most of Connie Willis's Doomsday Book deals with rural England in 1348, but not the court specifically (it involves a group of time-traveling historians, so it flips back and forth between the past and the near-future).

I think some of Norah Lofts' novels (The Town House?) deal with that period, but it's so long since I read them that I can no longer be certain.

I'm sure there are more.

[Marie]

Thanks!

[Misfit]

Marie wrote: "I just finished. As mentioned, I was getting a little ticked at Katherine's lackadaisical attitude- but the rest of the book picked up its pace just when I needed it to. I saw a bit of a redeeming ..."

I believe Brian Wainwright's Within the Fetterlock covers this period, but it's been a few years. Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote one on R2: Within the Hollow Crown: A Valiant King's Struggle to Save His Country, His Dynasty, and His Love

[MaryKatherine]

This novel is such a favorite of mine! I can see myself rereading this again and again, and I rarely do that with many books. Katherine's turnaround as a character brought me to really love her at the end and even John of Gaunt's subtle changes made him a more tangible character for me.

Also, thanks for the great recommendations for further reading, everyone! I'll be looking at some of those :)

[Kathleen]

Finished the book. Again. Despite my complaints, I loved it. Again. The ending is really what brings it home. Katherine's maturity, John's humility, and that incredible ending to their true-life love story. All combined with Anya Seton's ability to set a scene like no other. I'm still struck by a verbal image she created during her description of Blanche's funeral when light shining from the chapel through a stained glass window colored the path outside. Lovely.

This was fun. I'm so glad to have been a part of this group read.

[MaryKatherine]

Kathleen wrote: "Finished the book. Again. Despite my complaints, I loved it. Again. The ending is really what brings it home. Katherine's maturity, John's humility, and that incredible ending to their true-life lo..."

Yes! Seton's descriptions were just beautiful. I could see the settings, people and events she described in my head very clearly while I was reading. Overall, a very rich experience!

[Blythe]

I'm sorry that I was out of pocket because of RWA and missed participating in the read as much as I wanted. I've written a couple of books in centered on the fourteenth century English royal court and have been SO tempted to drop Katherine in as a cameo, but it would not have worked with the story. One of these days, though...! I did include John's birth in one of my books. (My answer to the doubters about his legitimacy!) Glad so many of you love KATHERINE as much as I do.

[Misfit]

I love Seton and wish I'd had the time to reread this with the rest of you. It's been fun watching the discussions though.

I think I've mentioned this before somewhere on this forum, but just in case some of you missed it -

Susan Howatch wrote three books that parallel the Plantagenets. While they are a trilogy because of the Plantagenet timeline, each book stands on its own and there is no character or story overlap outside of the Plantagenet connection. In the last book, one of the sections focuses on Howatch's take on John and Katherine.

Penmarric
Cashelmara
The Wheel of Fortune (J&K are in this one)

I love Howatch and how she works the first person narrative. Awesome. She also does Ceasar and company in The Rich Are Different and Sins of the Fathers.

Sorry to go OT...

[Diane Lynn]

I finished yesterday. This was my first time reading it and I loved it. Seton did a great job describing the late Middle Ages. The minor characters she brought in, Geoffrey Chaucer, Lady Julian and others, brought the time period to life for me. Once I finished, I spent some time googling the characters and Seton seems to have done her research very well. I like accuracy in this type of book.

As to John and Katherine, how tragic to be of low birth when you fall in love with a Duke! I suppose they did have their time together and were happy in the end. But, I found it kind of sad that they had so little time together once they found their way back to each other. Through Seton's writing, I certainly felt the chemistry between John and Katherine. And what a line of royals they started.

There were many exciting parts as well. Seton did a wonderful job on the peasant revolt. Of course this set up the whole Blanchette issue. I am so glad that one was resolved in a believable way. After looking into it a bit I found that it really isn't known what actually happened and she may have really died in the fire. But I like the way Seton wrote it and it could have happened that way.

I have read 2 other Seton books, Dragonwyck and The Turquoise, both of which I enjoyed. I will read more of her.

I enjoyed the group read and reading all the other comments. My overall impression of the book is: adding to my favorite shelf!