Wolf Hall - why can't I get into it?

I gave up around page 100. I only started on it because my sister was raving about Shardlake, and it's set a bit later it seems, so I thought I'd do it chronologically.

The style of writing owes more to a short story somehow. It just seemed kind of affected. Couldn't sympathise with anyone much and while she runs off a list of amazing talents Cromwell has, like he's some kind of Sherlock Holmes, we don't see him put much into action if I recall.

But there are plenty of others who say the same on Amazon reviews.

I'm going to attempt to read it in a week or so's time. I'm determined to persevere this time. I don't want it to be a chore though - life's too short :o

It's been sitting on my shelf staring at me for about two years now. I attempted it when I first bought it and gave up after about 10 pages. This post has not made me want to pick it up again!

I loved it but that was the second time of trying I would say its one of my top 10.

I liked the story in itself, but just hated her writing style.

I did persevere once I had started, but have no interest in following it up with The Bodies.

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who found this heavy going. I wanted to like it, but I thought it was turgid and didn't live up to the hype. Gave it to the charity shop. Life is absolutely too short to read books you don't enjoy.

I hated Wolf Hall. I'd really looked forward to reading it, and just thought it was rubbish. I won't waste any more time on Mantels books - except maybe to prop up table legs!

I struggled with the "he" thing too. I found it contrived and annoying.

I got to the end but was a bit underwhelmed, frankly.

I haven't read it, so can't comment, but The Oldie arrived today and it has a cartoon where a table leg (in a library, I think) is being propped up by a copy of Wolf Hall.

I couldn't get into it either, and I don't have the patience any more to persevere with a book I'm not enjoying!

I loved it, and am currently half way through BUTB, which I'm also gripped by. I avoided these books for ages as I don't normally like anything about the Tudors, or royal families, or royal marriages. And I haven't particularly liked previous Hilary Mantels. I still forget who is who among the minor characters but as a couple of people say, if you just concentrate on the main characters it makes more sense.

Wolf Hall left me cold TBH. I read it on honeymoon and with hindsight it perhaps wasn't the most appropriate choice.

After struggling with Wolf Hall, I don't know what made me decide to read BUTB but I'm so glad that I did. Not sure how or why but I found it so much more enjoyable - I completely devoured it.

Isn't it meant to be a trilogy? I can't wait for the next one if so!

I love historical novels/books but just couldn't get into wolf hall and gave up a quarter of the way in. It shouldn't be that difficult to get into a book, no matter how good it is later on.

I agree that the characterisation and history were enough to keep the reader interest but that the writing style got in the way of that. The use of the present tense was especially irritating to me.

I agree with PetiteR that the writing style made it a tedious read, when it could have been something really excellent.

It's not Hilary's fault that everyone was called Thomas

The 'He' thing is a bit strange, but once you've got to grips with it it rattles along quite quickly I found. I've just to had to explain to DH how it works.

The cast list is quite big and confusing, but compared with that of A Place of Greater Safety (which I also loved) it's an absolute doddle . I found that both these books really brought history alive for me.

It took me a while to get into it too, but I would now categorise it as one of my top 10 favourite books of all time.
I am waiting for BUTB in paperback and can't wait, might try to save it for my summer holidays.....

But hey, life is too short to waste on a book you don't like!

The 'he' thing is a hurdle. She wrote the next one more clearly for that reason, I believe.

It's a sensory feast, especially when he describes fabrics and textures, but also food. I know it's an author's job to describe these things but I loved the way Mantel wove everything together in the book, events and opinions and textures and smells...

I'm struggling too. My sis raved about it but I really don't like the style of writing. Maybe I'll give it another go.

I have tried a couple of times too. Can I just skip it and go straight to BUTBs as I like that part of the story better?

I loved the story, the descriptions, but hated the way it was written in the present tense and the use of he. It's a shame, I don't hink that choice of style added anything to it, and made what could have been an amazing read into something a bit tedious.