Did anyone else have a hard time getting through this? And any thoughts on her other books?

[Annemarie]

This one is okay, the Lady of the Rivers is actually a really fast read.

[Priscilla]

This is also the first book I read of hers and I also flew through it. I found it well written and perhaps something to give though to.

[Penny]

you may need to read the lady of teh rivers so as to have a better understading of the red and white queen books. Suffice it to say the Wars of the Roses is quite a complex period of history and you need to have patience and bear with it to sort out the relationships

[Brenda]

Haven't read this one yet. Although her contemporary novel, The Little House, is great. Very fast read, I read it in one sitting. The ending has a real twist and really makes you feel better than you do while reading the rest of the book. I totally enjoyed reading this novel.

[London]

Valerie wrote: "The Other Boleyn Girl was excellent. I've read most of her other ones, and they were good, but The Wise Woman was downright disturbing."

Agreed! I found the Wideacre Trilogy very creepy and disturbing.

[London]

I've read many of her books. Loved the Other Boleyn Girl, and loved the Boleyn Inheritance even more! But the rest ... The Queen's Fool isn't bad, but I've found most of her latest "Queen" books quite boring. The Wideacre Trilogy is creepy and disturbing. A Respectable Trade bothered me too.

[Latonya]

I had the exact same problem. Got halfway through and decided to stop reading. Too Boring. But the Other Bolyen Girl and the Boleyn Inheritance - in one word - scandelous.

[Elisa Santos]

Her latest series isn´t as good as the Tudour court one´s - my 2 pence in the conversation.

My fave is The Virgins Lover and the one´a really could not stand was The Other Queen - all the winging of Bess, all the adoration from her husband George to a really immature Queen Mary really did it for me.

As for the latest series....well, redable but not up to her best: TWQ not bad, TRQ was better as Margaret Beufort really struck a chord on me; TLOTR....i could not pass pagr 80 as i did not felt any connection to any of the characters - i could not care less about them.

[Liz]

i havent had a chance yet to read white queen but her other books are wonderful. there easy to read and very interesting. i found when im finding a book hardto read if i read something else and try that bookagain later, sometimes im just not in the mood for one book.

[Elisa Santos]

Yeah,that´s why TLOTR was back in my TBR pile - so i can give it another chance, when i feel like it.

But this whole series hasn´t the same "touch" as the other one´s or maybe i am imagining things....doesn´t seem the usual PG type of books but i can´t put my finger on what strikes odd to me.

[Joana]

I love historical novels and I adore Philippa Gregory's writting, I think she is really captivating and I think it's great the way she always explores women's voices throughout the centuries, when women didn't use to have any power whatsoever. I'm about to start The Queen's Fool by her and I'm incredibly excited..So far, I've read The White Queen first and then The Lady of the Rivers and even though I liked the first one alot, the second one was simply outstanding, it was amazing.
This being said, I did find some of the war passages in The White Queen a bit dull, but it was worth it :)

[Francesca]

I found it really hard to get through as well. There were some points where it got interesting, but I think the perspective it was being narrated in was just too confusing (for me, personally). I found the Red Queen to be easier to get into and finish. I hate not being able to finish books, but I just couldn't with this one.

[Lizzie]

I think the reason people have found the White Queen and Red Queen a bit more hardgoing than previous Philippa Gregory books is because so much of the stories are, obviously, based on fact. Much more so than the artistic licence Philippa Gregory allowed herself when she was writing, for example, The Other Boleyn Girl. As a few previous people have mentioned above, I found the audio cd easier to follow as it came to life more.
My favourite has to be The Wise Woman. I know it is slightly disturbing but what a story and what a finish! Also love the Wideacre trilogy and The Boleyn Inheritance.
If you like historical fiction, then try Elizabeth Chadwick aswell, she is awesome though her books are set earlier than Gregory's. Stories just as good.

[Andrea]

Annemarie wrote: "I sped through this but only because I have studied this period of time very closely and passionately. I liked this one better than the Red Queen because I have always found Margaret to be very unl..."

Richard is not a likeable person. He was so horrible in fact there is a reason there was never a Richard the IV.

[ChrisGA]

I enjoyed WHITE QUEEN basically,but there was so much fighting and scheming that it dragged a bit for me--but that was the way things were evidently. The many family scenes with Elizabeth were the most engaging to me anyway.

[Erika]

Her other books are fantastic. I'm not sure what happened with The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Lady of the Rivers. I enjoyed them but her books about the Tudors were books I couldn't put down. I do recommend that you continue with Gregory because she truly is a wonderful webber of words.

[Betsy]

Read The White Queen and the Red Queen. All I can remember right now, is that I liked the Queen of the losing side.The other Queen was too pious and hypocritical for me to relate to as a person. Yeah, I know it was history... I want to read Lady of the River though. The magical/supersition angle has me enchanted.

[Joana]

Erika wrote: "Her other books are fantastic. I'm not sure what happened with The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Lady of the Rivers. I enjoyed them but her books about the Tudors were books I couldn't put ..."

The Lady of the Rivers was my favourite out of the books I've read by her and it's completly captivating, I read it super fast! And right now I'm 30 pages away of finishing The Queen's Fool (also by her) and it was incredible, I'm loving it! :)

[Linda]

I've read most of Philippa Gregory's books and this one was definitely difficult to get through. I've never encountered that with any of her other books. She's a fabulous author but this was surprisingly unimpressive. It may have been because I didn't like the main character. She's still worth reading and you'll enjoy her other books.

[Judy]

I really liked this book, but The Red Queen was much better. The Red Queen should be read first and then The White Queen. Has anyone read Wideacre???

[Judy]

Jacqueline wrote: "I love Phillipa Gregory. I have been hooked on her for a couple of years now; however, I did have trouble getting through both the Red and White Queen books. I still enjoyed them but there was some..."

I love her too!!! My favorite right now. What books have you read of hers?

[Annemarie]

Andrea wrote: "Annemarie wrote: "I sped through this but only because I have studied this period of time very closely and passionately. I liked this one better than the Red Queen because I have always found Marga..."

Richard was actually a very good person at the beginning of his life. I'm sorry if you hate him (neither of us have or will ever meet him) but I think it's understandable to assume tha the War of the Roses and the turmoil of the British country and body politic would have made deamons of most men. I don't believe that Richard was responsible for the deaths of the princes, which has never been proven. Most of the anti-Richard III sentiment is Shakespeare's responsibility as his Richard III is an inacccurate account of that time period. Most of the evil he has been credited with has been disproved... or do you mean the character in the book is evil. Yeah, not really Greorgy is good about showing the duality of the roles and according to her time line it was the lancasters who had the children murdered. (remember that scene from Red Queen?, it's subtle but pretty damninng)
Anyway, there could have been a Richard IV but that's not a Saxeburg-Gotha name.

[Noelle]

I agree; very hard to read...I quit halfway through. The prose is unusual and I thought the story was uninteresting (in my humble opinion)


Farrah wrote: "I want to read her other books...I really love historical fiction. BUT...This was just so difficult to get through. The point of view seemed odd. Thoughts?"

[Elisa Santos]

The Red Queen was better, in my opinion.

[Liz]

I had a hard time. I didn't even finish it. Just took it back to the library. I'm glad someone can relate. Sad though, I was really looking forward to this writer. Is there another book I should have started with?

[Joana]

Steph wrote: "I really enjoyed the series; however I wasn't paying attention so I read the Red Queen first so I was mad that I had messed up the timeline however the way they are all written it was almost like g..."

Probably The Lady of the Rivers, it was excelent :3

[crystal]

Meadfairy wrote: "This was the first Philippa Gregory novel I'd read and I have to say I flew through it. I found the Red Queen much more difficult, but I think that's because of the focus on religion and piety. It'..."

i must agree i read the white queen in like 4 days the book i think was great along with the red queen cant wait to read other books of hers

[Nancy]

It took a while to get through parts of the book but then I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read The Red Queen.

[Nancy]

Jennifer wrote: "just glad to hear I wasn't the only one who struggled with this book. I'm also a huge fan of Gregory's books. I actually found her notes at the end of the book helpful and wish I read them first be..."

[Nancy]

Nancy wrote: "I found the notes helpful as well."

[Sarah]

Have to agree - I love Philippa Gregory books and normally want to read them straight away but I did struggle with The White Queen. Has Lady of the Rivers on my shelf for ages but have not wanted to pick it up after reading that. Am sure I will at some point....it's a shame. I was looking forward to these books

[Evdoxiak.]

I just wasn't able to go through the whole book. I might try reading it again in the future.

[Casie]

I find her books are hit and miss. It usually takes me a few chapters before I can actually get into the books. I find that I don't sense a lot of historical research put into her books. Too much fiction not enough history.

[Shamma8]

Oh my dear ! If you found this hard then steer away from the red queen it was HORRIBLY BORING !!! I would've stopped reading it if it weren't for my brain that wouldn't allow me to leave a book unfinished even if it sucked big time.I'm a big fan of Philipa Gregory , the first book I read by her was the other boleyn girl and I can't tell you how much I LOVE that book it was beautiful I read it multiple times and it's just agh amazing ! So if you didn't read it go for it ! the white queen was alright but waaaay better than the red queen

[Jennifer Elizabeth]

I had a question, I am a P. Gregory newbie and I saw The Lady of the Rivers was book three on here but it was listed as book one on her site. Do you have to read them in the correct order? I was hoping to read that one and then move on to her other series. Thanks! :)

[Linda]

I've read everything Philippa Gregory has written and loved all. Can't wait to get the newest one.

[Tracy]

I was once a huge fan of Phillipa Gregory. I gobbled up The Virgin's Lover, The Other Bolyne Girl and The Constant Princess but I have found her recent releases, The Red Queen, The White Queen very hard to read. Her dialogue is just stupidly unnatural and it throws me off every time. When I found my previous enthusiasm for her work drifting because of problems with dialogue and description I stopped reading and I have been avoiding her books. It just feels too forced, like a history teacher trying to hard to educate you in a fun way and failing.

[Lisa]

I had a really hard time getting into this and stopped reading it twice and have not picked up the others in the series.

Thank being said...Once i got into it it wasnt bad. Not my favorite by her though.

The Queen's Fool was amazing! I also particularly enjoyed The Constant Princess.

Good Luck...if you like historical fiction though, also check out Lauren Willig. I am loving her pink carnation series.

[Lisa]

Annemarie wrote: "I sped through this but only because I have studied this period of time very closely and passionately. I liked this one better than the Red Queen because I have always found Margaret to be very unl..."

If you like sympathetic Richard III, check out the Daughter of Time. Excellent!

[Joana]

To the people out there who actually like the Cousins' War novels, I'd like to know what you think about:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Thank you :) !

[Kim]

I agree about the Wise Woman. I didn't even want it in my house; I was afraid those wax people were going to come get me too.

[Jessica]

I love Philippa Gregory's novels! Maybe it's not always historical and there's inacurrencies, but the way she writes I am completely immerged in the novel and story. The women she depicts are always good women from her point of view but of course we don't know a lot about them and how they truly were in the intimacy of their family. But why do we always se people as bad as they were seen at the time? People said it's not a good book because Elizabeth Woodeville is seen as a good woman whereas in history and by many authors she was depicted as a bad woman, a kind of witch. But I love the fact that Gregory depicts this woman as a true mother and wife who cares for her family and not for herself only.

[Lizzie]

Jenna Elizabeth wrote: "I had a question, I am a P. Gregory newbie and I saw The Lady of the Rivers was book three on here but it was listed as book one on her site. Do you have to read them in the correct order? I was ho..."

You don't have to read them in order, the reason Lady of the Rivers is listed as first is because it is about The White Queen's (Elizabeth Woodville) mother, so is placed earlier in time. But each one can be read stand alone. Enjoy!

[Stacy]

Read her other books. This was my least favorite of hers. It seems everyone else agrees.

[Linda]

You can not start with this book to enjoy her books. She weaves a wonderful picture of this era beginning with the Othr Boylen Girl.

[crystal]

i thought the book was great i read it in hard cover in like 4 days strait

[Catherine]

This is probably one of the weaker books. I loved The Queen's Fool and The Virgin's Lover.

[Allison]

I thought this one was alright but hated . Since I have to keep reading books in the same series (I know life's too short if you dont love them...) I continued on with and was glad I did. Looking forward to the new . I also own her Tudor Series but havent gotten to them yet :( the Plantagenets are my fave really.

[Lizzie]

The Red Queen was a good story but Margaret Beaufort was such a difficult character to like!

[Betsy]

Liz,is there a like button to push here? :D MB was something else.