Wallace reviewed The White Queen (Cousins' War, Bk 1) (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 12 more book reviews
Type: {Beach Read: fluffy, mindless, or easy to read.}
Rating: {Im Lovin It: Very entertaining!}
Why Youre Reading It:
You are a fan of Philippa Gregory
You prefer fast paced historical fiction
Youre looking for something to keep you occupied in the car (audio version)
What I Thought:
The White Queen was a perfect pick as an audio book. It kept my attention in the car and I was eager to get back to it each time I had somewhere to drive. Philippa Gregory does a good job of merging the entertainment factor with historical details. The narrator, Elizabeth Woodville, was the wife of Edward IV and the mother of the two heirs (young boys) who went missing in the Tower of London in the 15th century. (If you ever go to the Tower, you can actually visit the room where they spent their last night). This book takes place during, and fictionalizes, the infamous War of the Roses in England and is full of lust, war, deceit, magic, and ambition. (Side note: Elizabeth Woodville was also the grandmother of Henry VIII, who is not featured in this book, but his mother, and Elizabeths daugher- Elizabeth of York plays a role).
I recommend this as an audiobook with the mention that the narrator uses somewhat of a formal voice, which tends to make the characters sound quite old even though they are actually young throughout most of the story. Thats easily overlooked by the fact that the plot is engaging and fluid.
Books like this (and TV shows like the Tudors) both intrigue me and make me incredibly grateful that our world doesnt function in the same way it used to. So much killing on a whim, and extraordinary power in very few hands with no repercussions. Terrifying! It was almost as if no one was safe. (I think I can honestly say I would have rather been a commoner, because they seemed ten times safer than nobility with all their jealousy and scheming).
Rating: {Im Lovin It: Very entertaining!}
Why Youre Reading It:
You are a fan of Philippa Gregory
You prefer fast paced historical fiction
Youre looking for something to keep you occupied in the car (audio version)
What I Thought:
The White Queen was a perfect pick as an audio book. It kept my attention in the car and I was eager to get back to it each time I had somewhere to drive. Philippa Gregory does a good job of merging the entertainment factor with historical details. The narrator, Elizabeth Woodville, was the wife of Edward IV and the mother of the two heirs (young boys) who went missing in the Tower of London in the 15th century. (If you ever go to the Tower, you can actually visit the room where they spent their last night). This book takes place during, and fictionalizes, the infamous War of the Roses in England and is full of lust, war, deceit, magic, and ambition. (Side note: Elizabeth Woodville was also the grandmother of Henry VIII, who is not featured in this book, but his mother, and Elizabeths daugher- Elizabeth of York plays a role).
I recommend this as an audiobook with the mention that the narrator uses somewhat of a formal voice, which tends to make the characters sound quite old even though they are actually young throughout most of the story. Thats easily overlooked by the fact that the plot is engaging and fluid.
Books like this (and TV shows like the Tudors) both intrigue me and make me incredibly grateful that our world doesnt function in the same way it used to. So much killing on a whim, and extraordinary power in very few hands with no repercussions. Terrifying! It was almost as if no one was safe. (I think I can honestly say I would have rather been a commoner, because they seemed ten times safer than nobility with all their jealousy and scheming).
Meredith B. reviewed The White Queen (Cousins' War, Bk 1) (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 10 more book reviews
Interesting - but not in the condensed audio version
