davidr Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 I agree. I started this with some trepidation about the style (present tense, confusing use of he) but so far about 100 pages in I'm really enjoying it. I had been interested in this book since it was first published, but had been put off by the comments about the writing style. Only bought it as it was on offer at Waterstones before Christmas. Now finished the book and really enjoyed it. I found I became used to her style very quickly and would highly recommend the book as a very different take on the Henry/Anne Boleyn story. Quote
plasticrosaries Posted September 8, 2011 Posted September 8, 2011 Hello, I'm a new member so I hope you don't mind me starting a thread. I've just started reading Wolf Hall as part of one of my reading groups and well, I'm really not getting it. I've heard great things and of course it won the Man Book Prize in 2009 but it's really not working for me? I'm only a couple of chapters in, does it get better?! Quote
plasticrosaries Posted September 8, 2011 Posted September 8, 2011 Sorry, I didn't realise there was already a thread - I'll have a read of all the posts here - thanks! Quote
Abcinthia Posted October 2, 2011 Posted October 2, 2011 I read it earlier in the year because a friend recommended it to me and I love the subject area but something just didn't work for me. I found the writing to be a bit confusing at times and other parts just plain boring. There were a few parts that gripped me but it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the book in my opinion. Quote
Adam_23 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 This is one of my all time favourites. Mantel is a brilliant writer. Quote
Poolmonkey Posted October 27, 2012 Posted October 27, 2012 I`ve downloaded the sequel - Bring Up The Bodies. Has anyone read it ? Is it as good ? Quote
Angel Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 Bring Up the Bodies is an excellent read and I would thoroughly recommend it! I couldn't put it down - enjoy! Quote
Poolmonkey Posted November 9, 2012 Posted November 9, 2012 Great to hear it`s a good read. I`m gonna keep it for one of those `I need a fabulous read` times. I can`t decide if I should re-read Wolf Hall first ( read it about a year ago) Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies to be adapted for the stage by the RSC Quote
gardengirl Posted September 13, 2013 Posted September 13, 2013 I don't think that I can add much to this thread, as most of it has already been said but....... I loved it. Loved everything about it, the best historical fiction ever [for me.]I didn't find it confusing, or heavy [well, the actual BOOK was heavy as I was given the gift in hardback!]It just made me want to keep on reading until I got to the end, and didn't skip anything as the actual writing was so good. I want to re-read it now, but will buy it for my Kindle I think, as I don't like hardbacks anymore.It is in paperback of course, now. I will read Bring Up The Bodies in due course. Quote
Tiger Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 I have this book, I've had it for about a year. I must read it at some point, it does sound good. It's interesting to see everyone's opinions on this book! Quote
cuppycakes Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 After seeing so many good reviews about Wolf Hall I'd like to read it too. I wonder if Vimes has read this book? Since so many of us want to read Wolf Hall maybe there can be a reading circle on this section of the forum? Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 There already is: http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/11444-wolf-hall-by-hilary-mantel/ Quote
cuppycakes Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 Thank you Karsa Orlong Is anyone else going to read/re-read Wolf Hall? Quote
gardengirl Posted September 25, 2013 Posted September 25, 2013 As it's such a long book, and I have so many others to read on my Kindle I won't be re-reading it for quite a while, but it really is excellent. Cuppycakes, do you like American History as much as British?As you are from USA you will know more about it than most but there is a lot of history there, starting with The Pilgrim Fathers. Quote
cuppycakes Posted September 25, 2013 Posted September 25, 2013 (edited) Cuppycakes, do you like American History as much as British?As you are from USA you will know more about it than most. I do like reading about American history as well; but I particularly enjoy reading about English history. Perhaps it's because many of my ancestors come from England. but there is a lot of history there, starting with The Pilgrim Fathers. I particularly like Native American history i.e. Pocahontas...I asked in another thread but was wondering if anyone knew of any definitive biographies about Pocahontas? Edited September 25, 2013 by cuppycakes Quote
gardengirl Posted October 7, 2013 Posted October 7, 2013 , I haven't read anything much about Pocahontas, but I thought that she was buried here in England? Quote
James Short Posted November 6, 2013 Posted November 6, 2013 I liked Wolf Hall pretty well, but not nearly as much as the sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. On the other hand, having also seen the Showtime series The Tudors, I enjoyed that more than either of the books Quote
vodkafan Posted November 6, 2013 Posted November 6, 2013 , I haven't read anything much about Pocahontas, but I thought that she was buried here in England? She is buried at Gravesend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocahontas Quote
nicola8989 Posted November 21, 2013 Posted November 21, 2013 I loved Wolf Hall so much. I have read a lot of books about the Tudors but this is one of my favourites. I agree about the "he" jarring at first but you do get used to it - I tried to think of it as using "he" instead of "I" so it was a bit like first-person - and "he" is generally Cromwell. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Wolf Hall is 99p in today's Kindle Daily Deal on Amazon Quote
J. A. Haag Posted September 25, 2016 Posted September 25, 2016 I own this book but I'm really nervous to read it because of the mixed reviews I keep seeing of it. It's like if I choose not to try it out, I can still imagine that it will be great. Plus, I have the big soft cover so it looks really intimidating. Quote
RebeccaM Posted April 18, 2018 Posted April 18, 2018 On 26/09/2016 at 12:58 AM, J. A. Haag said: I own this book but I'm really nervous to read it because of the mixed reviews I keep seeing of it. It's like if I choose not to try it out, I can still imagine that it will be great. Plus, I have the big soft cover so it looks really intimidating. As a newcomer I'm late to this thread but did you read it? I love this book so much. It rekindled my interest in history and the BBC adaptation made me fall a little bit in love with Cromwell the way Mark Rylance played him! Yet I know he was not a terribly nice chap...I have the Tracy Borman biography, it's excellent. Bring up the Bodies was also superb and I'm looking forward to the third, though not to Cromwell's demise. (Note to self: Mark Rylance is just an actor...) Quote
Madeleine Posted April 19, 2018 Posted April 19, 2018 I still have both books unread, but loved the TV series. Quote
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