I really want to read this book- I wonder if the movie will be good?

In regards to question 5, yes the women have the least amoount of control, but the ultimate control lies with those that have the most power, King Henry and the Bishop.

Even George is subject to a marriage that is planned out for him.

i honestly don't think that the sexuality is that much different now. yes, women are "equal" and such, but there's still this culture of using our bodies/sexuality to get what we want. i am not saying (at all!) that all women practice that or that we're even forced to do that anymore...but i don't think the concept is all that foreign.

i think that mary is an idealist... she believes in love - not only for her husband but for her family. it's beyond her realm of understanding to imagine that anne would do anything awful to her because they're sister. anne's brain doesn't really work like that. she's interested in social advancement - not social ties.

-I love love love this book! I have actually read the whole thing so I am going to try not to give anything away! I think my favorite character so far just b/c he is so whatever-laid back and just seems to go with the flow...
I am not a fan of Anne-she just seems too cold and selfish
-I think Mary might be a little more honest with herself and maybe that is why she is the narrator of this story, rather than Anne.
-I def. think so far, for Mary, love is more important, I feel like she is doing what her family is making her do...For Anne, I think she is all about the advancement/status
-I can't believe the way women were treated back then! I think it is depressing! They basically have no say about who they love/ sex with and their family talks about them like they are objects!

I think that although the women have the power, I don't think they/the men really know that , maybe...? I mean the women at this point are really viewed more as objects or tools used to advance families. These poor children are forced to sleep with people just to "breed".

But I have read the entire book and it keeps getting better!

Already read it, just want to say enjoy! Such a great book : )

I read way ahead, but at this time, my favorite character was Mary, she was so artless and youthful. I also liked the Queen, who was so regal even when Mary's apartments changed because they took her away from her husband to make her more available to the king.

Least fav, was probably Anne, because the author leads us to this point of view early on when she describes Anne as her rival, and "challenging". Btw, how come nothing ever came of Anne being brought home to marry Oromonde?

I think Mary is the narrator to give a different perspective to the story, and it's an interesting one. She is the more naive, fairer, younger, but also she values things that the court does not. She is a point for all the "nice" girls. Sometimes she reminds me of Anne Elliot of Persuasion, she must obey the whims of her older sister, and the decisions her family, but she values things like respect, honesty, caring for people that the other courtiers do not. She feels bad for cuckolding her husband and hurting the Queen.

Mary is so naive still, she values love. She has other intrinsic values that Anne does not. Anne is self-assured and willing to do whatever it takes to advance the family, and to gain her more power.
"Anne Boleyn. Have you come to help your sister onward and upward?"
"Of course, As we all should do. None of us will suffer if Mary is favored."

Having a son for the throne was so central to the society there, that sex was just part of the package as a means to an end. Henry did try having a son with Katherine, but the boy died. Henry, from the beginning of the story wants a son. Mary's family takes his need and tries to fill it. In the context of the times, it was empowering to be considered the favorite of the king, today, thank heavens, a woman has much more to offer!

The men's roles are unique in that they have power IF they have land, a title, or a high church position. Mary feels powerless against the heads of her family, and she realizes early on money can buy freedom. At this stage, she would like to live a life free of intrigue and deceit, but she knows the men in her family would never allow her to do it. She is too valuable an asset. She has the power to advance her family, but the most she will get out of it is favoritism, her own apartments, etc. Nothing very lasting by way of her own.

Great choice, Buzz.

The father of the Boleyns is my least favorite-what a jerk! Followed by Anne.

I think at this point Mary doesn't know what love is as she has never been allowed to experience it-but she is curious about it, such as when she sees that tender moment between the king and queen-she doesn't have the courage to "think outside to box" in that she still is just doing what her family wants/needs her to do.

1) favorite character? Mary of Course being the narrator. Least favorite character so far is Thomas Boleyn her father because he only cares about his own self interests.

2)Mary is the narrator because there have been countless stories told from annes perspectives, you learn about Anne in school, but mary is a sidenote and her story is way more interesting as a fly on the wall, or the lucky one as I say.

3)Love is more important for mary, and its her love for her family that she is willing to help them all advance in society. Anne just sees things as a job, no feelings behind it, no love.

4)Sex as advancement is as old as lighting a fire for warmth. back then women were pawns, and walking wombs for the heirs to the mens wealth and name. The only power they had was if there was a girl child. Its depressing but when you didnt know any different i am sure it wasnt how we see it.

5)The men, like george, have to learn how to play the "game" as well. with one foot in the mens game and the other in the womens in order to position the girls into the right places. Its like being a pimp in some ways, you have to talk up your sisters attributes to make the men want them.

I am loving the book so far!

Mary as everyone has said seems to be the better of the two sisters, and cares about her emotions and love. She often battles with her family, wanting to do "the right thing", but usually doing what her family insists. Anne is very different from Mary,she, like the rest of the Boleyn family, is a master manipulator.

Obviously the way the women are treated in the book is horrible, but that is how it was back then. The women have power but only to a certain degree, they can't make any important decisions or choices, that is up to the men. Then again not all men have a lot of power either, Mary's husband had no choice but to let Mary pack her things to live in the castle and become Henry's lover.

I am loving the book so far and can't put it down! i'm about half way through!

I also think that Mary is a better narrator than Anne for 2 reasons:
1.) she can tell about the fall out and aftermath of Anne's death
2.) Mary is naturally more introspective and analytical. Anne is more cunning and selfish.

Mary is also driven by two things that is easily relatable: duty and love. She (and George and sometimes Anne) loves her family but understands her duty to the family. And it is a constant battle which to follow love or duty. I think this also makes her a better narrator.

A lot of Phillipa Gregory books are about the power of women vs. power of men. I think it is interesting that many modern woman still utilize that power of sex, seduction, and sublte manipulation because it seems one of the natural tools at a woman's disposal. It is not PC, but it is there throughout history.

***I also found it funny that in the beginning of the book, I kept thinking "oh is Mary going to attract the King, but wait Anne is the one that is beheaded, right? Oh I don't want Mary to get beheaded...so I shouldn't root for the Mary to get the king." so conflicted.

Is everybody "picturing" Scarlett as Mary and Eric as Henry and natalie as Anne?

I don't really think that there is an empowering aspect to the way the Boleyn girls use their sexuality for advancement because they do it only because the male elders in their lives basically force them to. They don't really hold any power, they're just a pawn in the game. I find it quite depressing and appalling that a father would ask his married young teenage daughter to sleep with a married man. But it has been a great insight into the way things were back then and an excellently written book so far.

-I really like the Queen often feel bad for her. The least favorite is George I find him a bit creepy both in advancing his family and just in general. lol
-I think Mary is the narrator just because we have heard already Anne's pretty much thru history. So Mary is perfect because she is often the sister that is put to the side till now.
-Mary it is clearly love of some kind our of the situation, Anne is totally for the advancement socially. Anne seems as if she will do anything to get what she wants. Kinda of scary.
-Like mention in a comment above, back then it wasn't something unheard of. I think it would depressing that I was only viewed as a object for my family to get ahead. But then again back then it wasn't unheard of.
-The men roles seem to be all the focus on the family and secure the faimly. It's kinda of funny how all this in riding on a women who romances the king and the men are just plotting it, seems very unmanly. I think i said that right lol

I got this book for Christmas. I don't know how I missed the book club thing. I'll have to start reading it tonight & catch up.

good point Liza, George absolutely has a strange relationship with the girls, is he gay? there are some rumors mentioned in the book...and i wanted to clarify this

Am I late to the game or what? Sorry, I don't meant to interrupt the flow of everyone's post but I didn't know that Buzz had a monthly book club...I've never gotten around to reading this book. Now I think I will.

PeachyKeen — You're not too late! I just started this up a week ago, and we'll be reading The Other Boleyn Girl all month. Then the movie comes out, conveniently, on the last day of the month, which is also the last Friday we'll be discussing the novel! It's all very neat and tidy.

I, too, am loving the book. Philippa Gregory's ability to almost seamlessly blend fact and fiction provides insight not only into the history and the politics of the Tudor era but also into the social and economic climate of the time. As I'm reading, I have a real sense that she has captured the past and I'm believing her as a writer.

Thus, far, Mary is my favorite; Anne and their father are my least favorites, though I'm not a big fan of their mother either. When she asks Mary, "How could you?" and turned away from Mary "as if she could hardly bear to look at [her]," she became an unsympathetic character for me.

Mary is the perfect narrator because she is fresh, naive, young at the start; she has much room to develop and grow whereas other characters do not. Right now, she's on the fringes and is able to take a wider view; I suspect that we'll see changes in her as we move through time. Right now, love is more important to her; even though she knows she is expected to play the game, she seems to be growing to dislike her role. Anne, on the other hand, is a manipulator. She uses her sexuality for advancement; it's hard to love her and yet she is masterful.

The men do have power, but what about George? His life seems planned out for him as well. He's not one of my favorites, either, yet I'm anxious to learn more about him.

Buzz, thank you for choosing this as the first book club book. I've been wanting to read this for awhile and now I have the real motivation to do so.

I think Mary is the narrator because so little is actually known about her, historically, that she is easy to fictionalize and turn into whatever type of character Philippa Gregory wanted her to be. She's close to the drama, Anne, but she's able to step back and give us a different perspective than we're used to reading.

So far, I think the character I'm most intrigued with is the queen. She remains so stoic and outwardly strong, even though she's constantly humiliated by the fact that she hasn't had a son and even though her husband is flagrantly bedding other women. Even though she was the most powerful woman in the world, there was nothing she could really do or say to defend herself or her interest.... nevertheless, it seemed like she never let it defeat her nor break her.

The characters I like the least are Mary's parents. The way they pimp their own children out so that they might someday ride their children's coattails is disgusting. Much like Hollywood parents, no?

I think Mary is narrator because her story is almost never told. History seems to write her off as being like some ambitious little wh*re and that's it. I think Philippa must've thought to herself that there's got to be more to the story than that. Mary was right in the mix of things and there must have been something special about her to capture the attention of the king, even though she was newly married to one of his favored men of the court. I think it'll be interesting to see the story play out from her point of view.

*Make that "most powerful woman in the country" not "world".

1) I probably have to say my favorite character, at this point, is Anne. She's much more resourceful, creative, and witty, and won't allow others to make decisions for her (except for the very last occurence, obviously). She's much more interesting to read about than the others, IMO.

3) Mary's obviously in it for love, while Anne's main priority is social advancement. She may love Percy, but that wasn't her main goal in marrying him.

I've re-read this book so many times...love it.

I've read this book a billion times. Its one of my favorites. In fact, its the book that got me interested in reading historical fiction about women. Now I have a whole shelf on my bookcase dedicated to books like this.

my favorite character is mary. knowing that the movie is coming out, i keep picturing natalie portman as anne, and i think she will be perfect! Would love to learn a bit more about the queen.

I think mary is the narrator because she tells the story much more truthfully than anne would. However, it would be interesting to hear it from anne's perspective.

Best Book ever!

So far, this book is pretty good. I am a week behind, but I trudge along...hoping to catch up soon. I am definitely enjoying learning about this time period and the differences with modern times. One thing I find so particularly interesting (which has also been mentioned many times so far) is how the Boleyn family is in on Mary as being Henry's mistress for the gain of the family. This just blows my mind. I don't find it hard to believe; it's just very different. I can't imagine having a discussion about my sex life, that frankly, with my entire family, let alone my father and uncle who have a very primitive way of thinking. Even the mother is in on it too. I enjoyed the point that Mary made about how with the ascension of her status, she has reaped many benefits, but she has also gained new enemies. I thought this was a very interesting point.

Another thing I cannot believe is how openly the court discusses the matter of the queen being with child so openly. Barren at 40? WOW. How sorry I feel for her. What strength she has and I find myself admiring her just like Mary does. What a terrible position Katharine is in.

We shall see what happens next! Thanks buzz!

May I just say Buzz, I think you chose a great book! I read this book about 7 years ago or so, and since have read every book written by Phillipa Gregory that has to do with King Henry the 8th. There are 4 or 5. One starts begins the story of Queen Katherine, then the other boleyn girl, then is a sotry about Kitty howard and the second Queen Katherine, etc. Each one is exquisite and I hope everyone gets as much enjoyment from them as I did! I certainly began my love affair with that period in history, period!

May I just say Buzz, I think you chose a great book! I read this book about 7 years ago or so, and since have read every book written by Phillipa Gregory that has to do with King Henry the 8th. There are 4 or 5. One starts begins the story of Queen Katherine, then the other boleyn girl, then is a sotry about Kitty howard and the second Queen Katherine, etc. Each one is exquisite and I hope everyone gets as much enjoyment from them as I did! I certainly began my love affair with that period in history, period!

I loved this book. I read it last year and of course most people know what happens in the end but I wanted to know about all the juicy stuff in between

I am loving this book so far!!
I have to say that my favorite character is Mary. She is so innocent and pure hearted. She is full of love and compassion.

My least favorite character is the uncle! He is so cruel!!

Lemonice: continue reading the series and let me know if you character assessment changes!