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Old 04-15-2019, 11:08 PM   #30
Catlady
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl View Post
I agree. I think the audiobook would have been more difficult to follow if I had not previously "read" the book rather than just listened to it.
I thought the audiobook was just fine; I like Derek Jacobi. The problem I had was with so many names and relationships and sources, which I suppose couldn't be helped.

Quote:
I am very glad that I chose to read Weir's book. You are correct that it makes a very strong case that Richard did it. It also will help me to remember more of the history in the future. For example, I think that I could now read Shakespeare's Richard III and have a greater chance of understanding it.

I too find it very difficult to follow this period of history, especially as an American. I don't think we get as much instruction in English history as others, and we don't get to go on fun school trips to castles and English museums. Although, I thought it was funny that Grant made fun of English school boys wanting to skip past this confusing era of Yorks and Lancasters so they can get to the Tudors.
I did decide to read Weir, even though I actually have to READ and not listen!

I think so much of what I know of English history came from movies--Becket, Lion in Winter, Anne of the Thousand Days, etc. I never got into Shakespeare's historical plays much, though I did see Richard III on Broadway with Al Pacino; he overpowered the play with a scenery-chewing performance. But I digress.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw View Post
I like that you point out the inconsistencies; I think they go some way to explaining my reaction (to both books I've read by Tey). It was never the sexism and dismissiveness on its own - I've read enough older fiction to get along well enough - it's the total picture of the character. And now I realise that part of the problem is that the picture is inconsistent. I dropped the first book because almost every interaction with Grant jarred heavily, I thought the awkwardness might have just been first book jitters, but hit it again in this book. But at least with this book the topic kept my interest despite my distaste for the character.
Grant seemed like my stereotypical idea of a rather snooty, entitled Britisher who looked down on underlings because they're underlings. But I didn't find it especially offensive. It did annoy me that the American did all the legwork but Grant gets the credit.
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