Journal Entry 1 by kelwood from Toledo, Ohio USA on Sunday, April 25, 2004

My mother left it with me when she visited at Thanksgiving. At first I wasn't really interested, but as I hear/read more about it, it does sound intriguing.

5/31/04
An absolutely wonderful read - don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading it. But I'm glad I did. A fun piece of historical fiction set in the court of King Henry VIII.

Now being offered as Bookray to start in mid-June. PM with shipping preference if you're interested.

Here's the current shipping order for the bookray. Remember to journal, PM the next person on the list, read, and journal again when you mail.

dragonfly4 (Canada) - finished
humberts-doll (US) - finished
Ladybug01 (US)- finished
awakeagain (US) finished
rhythmbiscuit (US) finished
yourotherleft (US)finished
watergirl (US) finished
rubyjules (US) finished
reader1107 (US) finished
vicki9170 (US) rec'd 1/06
gerenggat (UK)
Jaysgirl (UK)
Virgulina (Portugal)
jubby (AUSTRALIA)
jessibud (Canada)
dospescados (US)
deadsteen (US)
MommyMace (US)
tattsky26 (US)

Thanks to all and enjoy! 

Journal Entry 2 by kelwood from Toledo, Ohio USA on Thursday, June 10, 2004

Mailed off today - 6-10-04 - to dragonfly4 in Canada. Hope everyone enjoys the book. Happy Reading! 

Journal Entry 3 by dragonfly4 on Sunday, June 20, 2004

I just received this on Friday and will start ready it right away. 

Journal Entry 4 by dragonfly4 on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

I'll be mailing this one out tomorrow.

A very enjoyable book. Mary was definitely the most likeable character in the book. Anne was made out to be extremely calculating and ambitious, which perhaps she must have been to get to where she did. I guess I always had a more romantic view of her. Lots of historical details about not just the people, but the whole era as well. Thanks kelwood! 

Journal Entry 5 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, July 26, 2004

I received this book today and it sounds good! I'd better get started right away, it's a big one! Glad I'm on vacation now and have the time to just sit and read! 

Journal Entry 6 by humberts-doll from Springfield, Missouri USA on Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Arrived safely. Am having a few internet problems, which might slow down my journaling, but I'll try my best. Be patient with me. :) 

Journal Entry 7 by humberts-doll from Springfield, Missouri USA on Saturday, September 11, 2004

I was initially intimidated by the length of this book, but I got caught up in the story and found it hard to put down. It deals with the failure of Henry VIII's first marriage to Katharine of Aragon, the decline and fall of his second to Anne Boleyn, and touches on his third to Jane Seymour. It is narrated by Mary Boleyn, Anne's younger sister and fellow lady in waiting to Queen Katharine. At one time, she and Anne are rivals for the kings affection. The Boleyn family went to great lengths to be in the king's favor and rise to power through the Boleyn girls. It was interesting to watch the characters change as they became obsessed with power. It also gave me a better idea of what Tudor England was probably like. A great read. Thanks for sharing. 

Journal Entry 8 by humberts-doll from Springfield, Missouri USA on Friday, September 17, 2004

It's now on its way to ladybug01. Sent off 9/17/04. 

Journal Entry 9 by Ladybug01 on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Thank you for sending this on to me. I LOVE medieval historical fiction--looking forward to reading it. (have one other ring book to read this weekend first though)
>(:::)

9/30 Sent Pm to awakeagain to get her addy, she has no ring/ray books at this time, so I'm sending this for her to read first and then send back to me when I'll have more time to read it in week or two! Hope you enjoy it, awakeagain! 

Journal Entry 10 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Monday, October 04, 2004

Rec'd this book from ladybug01. This is a bookray but ladybug already had one inhouse so I offered to read it and return it to her.

 

Journal Entry 11 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Friday, October 08, 2004

I've always been interested in the period of Henry VIII and especially Anne Boleyn. I hadn't thought a lot about it until I got this book, but it's true that Mary has always been treated as a background figure and a bit of a nonentity. This books brings her forward as she narrates events from her point of view and gives her her own voice.

Although the author admits that the feelings and emotions she attributes are her own, she says she used historical documents to tell the story. There were details here I hadn't read before and I do admit to wondering how much might actually be fact and how much fiction. Since Mary's been so overlooked before, there's no good way of knowing.

Although this book is more than 600 pages long, I read it in just a few days. Even knowing how it would end didn't lessen my interest. And the narration through Mary's eyes is so well done, that it's almost a surprise when the sword falls since Mary is convinced until the very last moment that Anne's life will be spared.

This is also one of the best written stories of the strain it was on Anne to keep the king enchanted yet at arms length not for months but for years. Most other books I've read made it sound more effortless. I suspect this version may be a lot closer to what actually happened.

Will be mailing back to ladybird01 in a day or two. 

Journal Entry 12 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Monday, October 11, 2004

On it's way back to Ladybug01. 

Journal Entry 13 by Ladybug01 on Sunday, October 17, 2004

Came in the mail yesterday -- and am halfway through reading it! Sending PM to get address of next reader.
>(:::)

 

Journal Entry 14 by Ladybug01 on Friday, October 22, 2004

I really enjoyed this historical novel. The story is told by the "other Boleyn girl", Mary, who was a mistress to King Henry VIII. She has to step aside as a rival, her own sister Anne, moves in to woo the King and navigates her way all the way to the throne. Very compelling descriptions of life in the royal court and the ruthless plotting of all those climbing their way into positions of favor and power with the King. Could not put this book down!
Sending on to rhythmbiscuit now.
>(:::) 

Journal Entry 15 by rhythmbiscuit from Thornton, Colorado USA on Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Thank you! I have been waiting a long time to read this book. I have started it, but it will take me awhile to read since it is so thick.

 

Journal Entry 16 by rhythmbiscuit from Thornton, Colorado USA on Friday, November 26, 2004

I have been making good progress on this book, especially over the Thanksgiving break. I like Mary Boleyn, and like her, I am sympathetic to Queen Katherine.

I like George, too, but what is the deal with his passionate kisses with Anne and his sexual comments about her?! I enjoy reading history about the time period of Henry VIII, but I guess this sort of incestuous play is something I missed in my history books!

Anne is a horrible witch! I suppose that, like an earlier journaler, I had a more romantic image of her in my mind. I could imagine how stressful it would be to keep the king's interest for years while he tried to rid himself of Katherine, but for Anne to turn on her own family...in a small way, I'm looking forward to her demise! 

Journal Entry 17 by rhythmbiscuit from Thornton, Colorado USA on Friday, December 03, 2004

I finally finished this book! I will mail it to yourotherleft soon. 

Journal Entry 18 by rhythmbiscuit at on Saturday, December 04, 2004

Released on Monday, December 06, 2004 at about 1:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

I will mail this book to yourotherleft. 

Journal Entry 19 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, December 16, 2004

This came in the mail yesterday. I've got a couple ring books in front of it, but I'll read it as soon as I can and pass it on. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 20 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Just a little update to let everybody know that I am diligently reading this rather large book, but due to its length, it's taking me quite awhile. I'm over halfway through and am really enjoying it immensely. I hope to be able to move it on in the not too distant future. Thanks for your patience! 

Journal Entry 21 by yourotherleft from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, May 17, 2005

After a long, long time, I've finally finished reading this book. I thought it was excellent. I was really sucked into the story. I can't say that I really know how factual it is, but it certainly makes me want to read some of the real history. I really enjoyed that the story was narrated by Mary Boleyn. It had the interesting effect of allowing me to look on Anne and George from her perspective as brother and sister which casts an interesting light on the story seeing as you see all the horrible things that they do but because Mary loves them, it almost forces you to still have some sympathy for them even through the awful things that they have done. It was also fun for me to be reading this right now because I visited London in March and went and did the tourist thing at the Tower of London which gets a lot of play in this book, for obvious reasons. So it was really interesting to be reading the last scenes of the book knowing that I had seen the place where the end of the book takes place.

Thanks for sharing, kelwood (and for your patience!). I'll be mailing this out to watergirl within the next day or so. 

Journal Entry 22 by watergirl from Walla Walla, Washington USA on Monday, May 23, 2005

Received this in the mail today. I'm really glad to be reading this. Yahoo! 

Journal Entry 23 by watergirl from Walla Walla, Washington USA on Tuesday, May 31, 2005

What a fascinating story. Even though we know the outcome for Anne and the others the author keeps you entranced throughout the whole story. I didn't realize that Mary was entangled as well. I think it was an awful time to be a woman in England, poor or wealthy. Here's a great site I found with some additonal information for those who might be interested.
http://englishhistory.net/tudor/contents.html I mailed the book onward today to rubyjules. 

Journal Entry 24 by rubyjules from Clifton Park, New York USA on Monday, June 13, 2005

This came in while I was out on vacation! I can't wait to read it. It looks so good. I'm almost done the book I'm reading, and this will be next. 

Journal Entry 25 by rubyjules at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 27, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (6/27/2005 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to reader1107. This was just such a great book.

I'll have to look for my copy, because I'm sure I'd read it again and again and again...

If this was anything near a true representation of how Anne Boleyn really was, then I think she deserved what she got. It is amazing the lenghts the Boleyns/Howards went to to advance their family. How can anyone treat their children that way? They were horrible people. But the book was exceptional! Thank you so much, kelwood, for sharing! 

Journal Entry 26 by reader1107 from Tucson, Arizona USA on Wednesday, July 27, 2005

My humble apologies!!!!!!! I just realized that I never made a journal entry stating that I received the book. I'm sorry if I caused you any stress or worry! 

Journal Entry 27 by reader1107 at Enjoy! in Controlled Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (10/4/2005 UTC) at Enjoy! in Controlled Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

OMG, I am SO sorry! The book wasn't in my post office pile, so I thought it was mailed out already. There's no excuse for my still having this book, and I humbly apologize!

This really was an awesome book, and I do appreciate having the chance to read it! 

Journal Entry 28 by vicki9170 from Saint Petersburg, Florida USA on Thursday, January 19, 2006

Realized I forgot to journal that I received this, sorry!!