Anyone read/reading Wolf Hall?

[holidaywonk]

It's brilliant isn't it

I'm looking forward to reading it. Its on my reservations list at the library, but I'm going to be waiting a while as I'm number 30 in the queue!

I've given up on the library. I always forget to return things, and the fine is rarely smaller than the price of a used paperback on Amazon

It will be worth the wait, promise!

dH just got it so I will read it after he does

I have to set reminders on my phone to return books to the library on time

I have it next on my list after I finish The Gargoyle, am really looking forward to it now!

Just started it as I got it for Christmas.....am enjoying it so far!

Is it? I'm just about to start it, I love Hilary Mantel, but was handed it by my mum who found it unreadable. I'm glad it is good after all

Got it for Christmas but need to finish my library books before I can start it.

I tried reading another of hers and thought it was dreadful (something to do with black) so probably won't bother with this. What's it about?

I got this for xmas haven't started it.

Janeite, it's about Anne Boleyn/Henry/Thomas Cromwell/Thomas More

One thing about Mantel history novels (which is all I've read of hers so far) is that they are very dense. I tried reading A Place of Greater Safety once (about the French Revolution/Terror), but was reading it in dribs and drabs and I didn't enjoy it at all, and gave up. I returned to it on holiday last summer when I was able to read great swathes of it - several hours at a time - and found that it was completely brilliant.

Thanks - sounds much more my sort of thing than overweight mediums, which is what I seem to remember the other one was about. Might see if it comes into the library.

Yes I've got Beyond Black in my to-read pile but I don't fancy it much. I don't find the mediums thing very interesting. I didn't much like Sarah Waters's medium book and usually I love her stuff.

Just started reading. Am enjoying it so far but having to use brain (more than is strictly appropriate for the time of year) to work out who is "speaking". Suspect I need to get into it a little more so that I know who the voice is.

Interesting to see how it reflects on modern politics and love all the detail about the court characters.

Thomas Cromwell so far coming across like Alistair Campbell?

Have you finished it PW?

Its really good - read it in about 3 days on holiday in November! Havent read any of her other stuff but found it addictive reading...

Not finished it yet - about 3/4 way through. DON'T TELL ME THE END

What I have found v interesting about it (mild spoiler alert) is viewing Tudor England from a modern perspective - the torture, illiberalism (to put it mildly), religious persectution, treatment of women - fascinating details about veiling of women, hods, restrictive clothing etc - and massively centralised, despotic power... basically, that if this were a modern-day country, people like me would be saying that the UN should invade And yet it was an incredible rich time in terms of the country's political, religious and intellectual development.

Also find it interesting (more spoilers) that HM obv. dislikes More quite a lot - her descriptions of how he sneers at his wife etc. More is usually so lionised - it's easy to forget how revolting most of his beliefs are by modern standards.

hoods not hods.

I'm really looking forward to it now, have moved up to number 28 in the queue!

I've been reading it over the Christmas holidays and had tried to finish it before school started again. One thing that has put me off the whole way through is the weight of it, quite difficult to read in bed.

But I'm loving the role reversal of Thomas Moore and Thomas Cromwell. Fabulous stuff, and certainly not the way the Tudor period went down in my mind. I think HM has a crush on our Mr Cromwell myself

Ooh, so glad so many people like it! I heard it was unreadable but my dad always gets mum and me the booker prize shortlist to share for Christmas so it's on my shelf. I was feeling a bit lukewarm about getting started so glad to know it sounds good!

Holidaywonk, I'm not Tillybookclub, sorry. But agree that HM would be good for a chat

(Btw, am number 26 now, I wonder if people are giving up on it?!)

The first book for years that I read to the end, turned straight back to the first page, and read again. Brilliant achievement - the flow of thought and conversation seems so natural.

It also inspired me to go on and read another three books about Henry VIII and one about Mary Tudor - which was also fascinating.

I'm finding the chopping and changing of timelines a bit irritating - does it settle down?

I didn't get on with it at all and am really baffled by all the fuss. HM's style got on my nerves. So showy! It really held me at arms' length

The way she wrote about Cromwell felt a bit like a Mills and Boon writer doing a hero. HM had a baaad crush, no?

Also it was a bit too short on colour/atmosphere for my liking