Just be glad you weren't a Boleyn.

I'm going to stop apologizing for being so behind in posting and just catch up. This is my goal for the next couple weeks. So, since I've book group on Wednesday, and since I've not posted the last... two book groups (sigh), I thought I'd start with June's The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

Yeah, so to say that this went over famously would be... quite accurate. I gave them an extra week because of its length (672 pages, what was I thinking?) but the doorstop qualities didn't seem to deter them at all. By and large they were fascinated. And really, that's what I was going for.

Sibling Rivalry. Cutthroat in normal times, but when you are part of the scheming court of Henry VIII, and your family is willing to sacrifice one person in the hopes of incurring the King's favor... well, do try not to want anything for yourself.

Anne Boleyn wasn't the first girl to catch King Henry VIII's extra-marital eye. Her sister was there far before her. But how is it that Mary Boleyn hasn't gone down in history like her sister, and how does one girl feel when her sister takes her place in every possible way?

I was, um, rather surprised that at least two group members didn't know that Anne gets the ax in the end, but perhaps that's just me. I likes me some history. And Henry VIII's court is scandalous and disturbing even now. About 100 pages from the end, I got curious about the time frame. I thought I could quick look up her date of death, no problem, it's not like I don't already know the ending. Of course, then I find out the fate of an entirely different character, one for whom I had great affection. Talk about spoilers. Totally bummed me out.

Can I say that I totally want a William Stafford? (not the poet)

Oh, yes, and did you know that the movie comes out in December? Some girls named Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are in it. Oh, and Eric Bana.

Now I must go actually READ the book I'll lead on Wednesday. Not that I'm fast and loose or anything...