Synopsis:
Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: The love of a king
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take fate into her own hands.
A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart.
My review: This has to be my favorite book of all time. I have read it about 8 times and I still continue to feel a different way each time I read it. From the very beginning of the book(told from Mary's prospective) Mary is a young girl who is knows her duty is to serve her family. She has always known that she is just a pawn on a much larger board. As she rises so does her family. This has brought the question to my head when reading this book: what does the love of ones family cost?
She is content at court being in the Queens service until... enter the other Boleyn girl: Anne. She is beautiful, witty, raised at french court, and has a fiery temper that could best the king himself. Anne and Mary love each other but there is a line in the book that best summarizes their relationship: “I was born to be your rival,' she [Anne] said simply. 'And you mine. We're sisters, aren't we?
As the book progresses you see the cause and effect of their family moving the girls around for their political gain, The kings fickle love, How the worst betrayal can come from the one you share gowns, a room, and blood with, and how the love of a mother can know no bounds.
You truly watch Mary grow up from a mere girl of 14 to a true woman, and what Anne will endure to get to and hold the throne of England and the king who will rule beside her in the most treacherous court in Europe.
This book truly makes you wonder: How far will you go to get what you want (Anne)? And at what point in your life do you make the choice of You or Me (Mary)?
Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: The love of a king
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take fate into her own hands.
A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart.
My review: This has to be my favorite book of all time. I have read it about 8 times and I still continue to feel a different way each time I read it. From the very beginning of the book(told from Mary's prospective) Mary is a young girl who is knows her duty is to serve her family. She has always known that she is just a pawn on a much larger board. As she rises so does her family. This has brought the question to my head when reading this book: what does the love of ones family cost?
She is content at court being in the Queens service until... enter the other Boleyn girl: Anne. She is beautiful, witty, raised at french court, and has a fiery temper that could best the king himself. Anne and Mary love each other but there is a line in the book that best summarizes their relationship: “I was born to be your rival,' she [Anne] said simply. 'And you mine. We're sisters, aren't we?
As the book progresses you see the cause and effect of their family moving the girls around for their political gain, The kings fickle love, How the worst betrayal can come from the one you share gowns, a room, and blood with, and how the love of a mother can know no bounds.
You truly watch Mary grow up from a mere girl of 14 to a true woman, and what Anne will endure to get to and hold the throne of England and the king who will rule beside her in the most treacherous court in Europe.
This book truly makes you wonder: How far will you go to get what you want (Anne)? And at what point in your life do you make the choice of You or Me (Mary)?