Journal Entry 1 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Monday, August 06, 2007

reserved for jennymidget 

Journal Entry 2 by gypsyrose02 from Byford, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, October 18, 2007

i dont think this was one of her better novels. it was good but i hsd to push myself to finish the last little bit. i was so close to the end that i forced myself to read on.
anyway its n its way to jennymidget. 

Journal Entry 3 by jennymidget from Bellbowrie, Queensland Australia on Monday, October 29, 2007

Thanks gypsyrose - I usually really like Philippa Gregory's stuff, and I'm always keen on Spain - but you reckon it's not as good as it could be? I'll give it a read and see! 

Journal Entry 4 by jennymidget from Bellbowrie, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Haha, I really liked this one - I thought it was probably a bit less "sexy" than some of Gregory's other stuff, maybe that's why other people didn't like it?? (Just teasing!)
Okay, so perhaps it did drag a bit, but that maybe even heightened Catalina's sense of desperation and the sort of "suspended animation" she was forced to live in for so long between her marriages.
I always find Gregory's novels a joy to read, they're a little private look into the worlds of people we know so much (yet so little) about in our history books, and she always makes them come alive beautifully!

Sending this one to Lauraloo in Canada - hope you like it!! 

Journal Entry 5 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Thursday, January 03, 2008

Oh wow! I forgot about this book. Thank you ever so much! :) 

Journal Entry 6 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, October 05, 2009

I'm planning on sending this out as a bookray.

Rules: Not many. Please journal the book's arrival and departure. And please keep it moving by keeping it no longer than 4 weeks. The last person is free to release the book as they wish.


1. rockyhorror1978 - Canada (NA/Intl)
2. nancynova - US (Intl)
3. ravencat - US (Intl)
4. Froggie66 - Canada (Intl)
5. frangipani08 - Australia (Aus/NZ)
6. Dancesports - Australia (Intl)
7. WormyOne (UK) - would like to be last

Starting the journey on November 21st. Happy travels! 

Journal Entry 7 by rockyhorror1978 from St. Catharines, Ontario Canada on Monday, November 30, 2009

Received today. I just have to finish my current book and then I will start this one. Thank you to Lauraloo29 for sharing this book with me! :) 

Journal Entry 8 by rockyhorror1978 from St. Catharines, Ontario Canada on Saturday, December 19, 2009

This book took me a while to finish, not because of lack of interest, but lack of time! I really enjoy Phillipa Gregory's portrayal of the women in Tudor court. Instead of weak and frail, she portrays them as strong-willed and smart. I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and therefore can't help from comparing this book to it. It is equally good and enjoyable to read. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

I have the next reader's address and will send it out ASAP. 

Journal Entry 9 by rockyhorror1978 at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, December 19, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/21/2009 UTC) at Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Being sent to nancynova, the next reader in the bookray. ENJOY! 

Journal Entry 10 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, January 04, 2010

Yikes - a tome! Good thing that a Florida house vacation time is coming up - hope she likes the beach! PM'g the next person, so the mailer will be ready. 

Journal Entry 11 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, January 24, 2010

Starting it today. Will be slow going at first, since it's doubled up with a book club book for reading, but once the club book is done in a few days, this one gets all the attention! 

Journal Entry 12 by NancyNova from Lansdale, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Finished it up. I liked the story, although as with many historical fiction novels, I did hit Wikipedia part way through the novel to get a better understanding of who's who (I NEVER would have understood the ending otherwise). She did a good job of remaining true to the history as she fictionalized the dialog.

Off to the next reader today! 

Journal Entry 13 by NancyNova at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA on Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/2/2010 UTC) at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 14 by ravencat from Lancaster, New York USA on Monday, February 08, 2010

Book arrived and will get to it ASAP. Been on vacation so I have some catching up to do. Thank-you nancynova for the "goodies".

update: 2/16/10 I finished this book in two days!! I could not put it down. What a story of Katherine of Aragon and I will be looking for more books by Philippa Gregory on the Tudors. 

Journal Entry 15 by ravencat at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA on Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/16/2010 UTC) at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent off to Froggie66 via US Postal Service International mail. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 16 by Froggie66 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, March 03, 2010

I received the book ok. Thank you. It is next on my tbr as I am on another book at the moment. Hopefully I can respect the 4 weeks but if it is a good read it should definitely be shorter. I will pm Frangipani08 in Australia to get addie now. :) 

Journal Entry 17 by Froggie66 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 20, 2010

Just sent off PM for frangipani08 address in Australia. Hopefully it will be on its way with a few other surprises and maybe some of its fellow BC books. :) 

Journal Entry 18 by Froggie66 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 20, 2010

Well not sure how I liked this book. It was very different than her other books. It does connect to the other books in history and fills in some of my gaps. It is well written once again but with the Queen Katherine's thoughts there in italic writing it gives a different perspective but still the double crossing connivingness of court is readily apparent. As well it gives a good picture of how the shennanigans of court happen and what is done to joust for power within the families.

I don't think this book was the best one but, I slogged through it and now it is finished.

I am going to e-mail for the next person in the list's addie. 

Journal Entry 19 by Froggie66 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 27, 2010

Read through this over a week. It was ok but I found the italic commentary by the princess a bit boring. I can say this is not one of my favourite Gregory books.

It will be leaving later this week to go to frangipani08 in Australia with some other books in a small box and some bc surprises.

Enjoy. 

Journal Entry 20 by Froggie66 at Eatons Hill, Queensland Australia on Monday, April 19, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/19/2010 UTC) at Eatons Hill, Queensland Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to frangipani in Australia. Will take 6-8 weeks as going surface mail. Sorry for the delay in mailing it but it has been rather busy the last few weeks at work. Unfortunately, there is no tracking number for this package. 

Journal Entry 21 by frangipani08 at Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Sunday, July 18, 2010

Arrived safely, thanks! Will be on its way again very soon. 

Journal Entry 22 by frangipani08 at Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Monday, September 20, 2010

An enjoyable read as Gregory always is. Catalina was so strong and patient and all along we know what the future holds. My only criticism is that the end is very sudden and has skipped ahead. Pming Dancesports for an address. 

Journal Entry 23 by frangipani08 at Petcheys Bay, Tasmania Australia on Saturday, October 02, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/2/2010 UTC) at Petcheys Bay, Tasmania Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to Dancesports with a bookmark and some other books. 

Journal Entry 24 by Dancesports at Petcheys Bay, Tasmania Australia on Friday, October 08, 2010

Bookray has arrived safely, with some extra surprises - thank you frangipani08 

Journal Entry 25 by Dancesports at Petcheys Bay, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Thank you - I enjoyed this one and it I'll send on to the next person as soon as the address arrives. 

Journal Entry 26 by Dancesports at sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (1/10/2011 UTC) at sent by post, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On it's way to the next reader in the UK 

Journal Entry 27 by WormyOne at Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Saturday, January 15, 2011

Many thanks for sending this on.

The blurb reads:

"Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, to parents who are both kings and crusaders. At the age of three, she is betrothed to Prince Arthur, the son and heir of Henry VII of England, and is raised to be Princess of Wales. She knows that it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land.

Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival in her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife grows ever more bearable. Unexpectedly in this arranged marriage, a tender and passionate love begins.

But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet Katherin is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is indomitable. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even it it means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it". 

Journal Entry 28 by WormyOne at Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, February 21, 2011

I liked this fictional account of the life of Katherine of Aragon. Philippa Gregory comes down firmly on the side of those who believe her marriage to Arthur, Henry's older brother, was consummated and portrays Katherine as an intelligent, cunning and determined woman. She shows how the children of royal families, and particularly the women, were treated as nothing more than bargaining chips. I particularly enjoyed her speculations as to how moving permanently to England would have been for a young princess raised in the Al Hambra palace in Southern Spain. 

Journal Entry 29 by WormyOne at Train station in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (4/6/2011 UTC) at Train station in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On the seats nearest the ticket barriers, on the concourse, at about 10:40.