Play Book Tag discussion

Book two of the trilogy definitely was more up my alley than Wolf Hall. Wolf Hall really set the stage for the development of Cromwell as a character, but in this book, he shows a much darker side. We liked you, Cromwell, and now . . .uh, not so much. He is still a very complex character, and I actually now understand why these books are so lauded.

Bring Up the Bodies definitely has a more dramatic plot line and for me, that made it more fun to read. In addition, it definitely used the pronoun "he" in a way that was actually clear . . .because really, does the reader need to think so hard every time there are two males in a scene as to which one "he" is referring to? That was one of my biggest gripes about Wolf Hall, and it's solved here.

This book has a more tight, linear plot, while retaining the beautiful turns of phrase used in Wolf Hall. Mantel really knows how to craft a sentence. The last chapter of Bring Up the Bodies is gorgeously written. Brief and breathtaking.

My only quibble is the beginning section does really have a bit of a recap feel to it, and having JUST finished Wolf Hall, that made the start feel slow. But most readers wouldn't have been reading the books back to back, so I do understand the necessity.

Looking forward to The Mirror & the Light which I will read this year, but after a little break