The Mirror and the Light - has anyone else read this in lockdown?

[Coronapip]

Finished this, the third book in Hilary Mantel's trilogy- finally! Thanks to lockdown, I've had the chance to resurrect my reading habit (which sadly got lost during a prolonged family health crisis a couple of years ago .. thankfully resolved now).

Has anyone else read this impressive (and hefty) tome and if so, what did you think? I don't have anyone to chat to about it but would love to swap reactions! It was a real experience. I now feel steeped in Tudor atmosphere...

Read it in lockdown and enjoyed it immensely
Can understand some of the criticism here but I loved it
Just about to re read WH

Yes. The trilogy will always remind me of lock down. I absolutely loved all three. But the third did take me longer to read as I was dreading what the end would bring (and possibly it did need a bit of editing.) But an immersive experience.

Yes these books will be forever associated with lockdown for me now. I agree that there's wasn't a long enough build up to Cromwell falling out of favor with the king. But they are amazing pieces of writing. Like you user I am thinking of rereading WH at Xmas. I read Tracey Bormans book on Cromwell after these and found it really good if anyone is interested in seeing how the facts line up with HM version. Very very close in her details.

I read the first 2 and loved them. I didn't want to pay for the hardback of the Mirror and the Light but was getting impatient. Then I discovered that my library had the audiobook. It's an unabridged reading by Ben Miles who played Thomas Cromwell in the RSC adaptions of the 1st 2 books. He's a brilliant reader and brought all the characters to life so well. I would have enjoyed reading the book but I think that I probably got more out of it by listening to him.

I loved it. The abrupt ending was a bit bewildering but i think it worked because everything was from Cromwell’s point of view and he didn’t see it coming. Him preparing for the end when it all went wrong with Anne of Cleves and then getting comfortable again when Henry made him an earl and he thought he wasn’t going to fall was really poignant when you know it’s coming! The bit where he feels the sharp joy to be back in Henry’s favour when you know he’s only got months ...