Bring up the Bodies-Hilary Mantel

rebecca · Post by **rebecca** » Tue May 8th, 2012, 4:21 am

I am in a quandary over whether to buy this book. I found Wolfhall difficult to understand, but I have read where Hilary has tried to make it easier for the reader as to who is speaking when.

Who has read it and is it better than Wolfhall?Or should I say easier to read and understand than Wolfhall?

Bec

J.D. Oswald · Post by **J.D. Oswald** » Mon May 14th, 2012, 12:16 pm

Hello - I haven't read it myself yet but there was an extract published in last weekend's Daily Telegraph available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay- ... t-two.html that might be of interest.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Mon May 14th, 2012, 6:47 pm

[quote=""rebecca""]I am in a quandary over whether to buy this book. I found Wolfhall difficult to understand, but I have read where Hilary has tried to make it easier for the reader as to who is speaking when.

Who has read it and is it better than Wolfhall?Or should I say easier to read and understand than Wolfhall?

Bec

[/quote]

You are not alone. I am having a difficult time with Wolfhall myself and I am pretty familiar with the characters (thank you The Tudors). I am a little reluctant to buy it-I think it will go on my library list!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon May 14th, 2012, 7:06 pm

Wolf Hall took me forever to get through, but in the end I did like it. They offered copies of the new one on Amazon Vine, but I shuddered at having to try to read another under the get-it-read-and-reviewed pressure. I've been hearing good things, and that it is also more reader friendly. I'll get it from the library eventually. They have plenty of copies and a nice long wait list.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon May 14th, 2012, 11:00 pm

I got it for my Kindle, but I think I will wait until school is over to read it (22 more school days!). There are less things for me to think about during the summer and I feel I would concentrate better on Bring Up the Bodies then.

rebecca · Post by **rebecca** » Tue May 15th, 2012, 2:01 am

Thank you everyone for your input and J.D for the link.

I bought the book on the weekend mainly because it was cheap, only $18...but I haven't read it yet. I will read it once I have finished a Bio on the Queen Mother.

From the extract it does seem simpler, but I still can't tell what 'style' it is? It is not first person, nor third person......I hope it doesn't catch on because it is a 'style' I dont much like.

For any Aussies out there BIG W has it on sale at the above price, if it had been over $20 I wouldn't have bought it.

Bec

PS; When I start it I will let you all know if the reading of it is better than Wolfhall.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Tue May 15th, 2012, 5:32 am

I really loved Wolf Hall and am eager to get started on Bring Up the Bodies. For me, the key to not getting confused in Wolf Hall was simply to realize that anytime it's not crystal clear who "he" refers to, it's Thomas Cromwell. I figured that out about halfway through the novel, and had no problems from there on. If Mantel has remedied the confusing pronouns issue in BUTB, I applaud her. In all other ways, I found her writing top notch. These are, however, political novels about complex political schemes, with a large cast of characters, so not exactly "beach" reading.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Tue May 15th, 2012, 12:59 pm

I finished Wolf Hall last night. By the end, the King is already over Anne-how can this possibly go on for another two books? They will be library reads for me I think.

Manda Scott · Post by **Manda Scott** » Tue May 15th, 2012, 3:28 pm

I adored Wolf Hall and really, really hope she hasn't sacrificed the style for apparent clarity....
What was most interesting for me is that HM is absolutely no good at all at creating plots - her genius - and I think it's close - lies in her use of language and her ability to create characters who live in all dimensions. The amazing tension in Wolf Hall was created by the fact that every single person reading it knows what happens - and so the threat is always there, but never need be spoken.

I am utterly intrigued to see how she manages the evolving politics of the time.

m

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Tue May 15th, 2012, 11:09 pm

Hmm interesting.

I was never interested in the story so I didnt read it. But.....

Why is everyone finding it difficult to read? Is it one of those books without quotation marks?