The Other Boleyn Girl

[Sweet T]

Greetings all!

I messed up and read the book before seeing the movie. Analysis: Don't see the movie.

That said, I will definately read more from this author, Phillpa Gregory. Her style is intelligent and entertaining and I was drawn into her story very quickly. Highly recommended.

Regards,
Sweet T
www.yesteadyhands.com

[Baroness Doune]

You didn't mess up.
Reading the book was the only way to understand what was supposed to be going on in the movie.  Too much was crammed into the movie - characters were  very superficial and then there were the things that make you go "Huh?"

I will still buy the movie when it comes out on June 10, 2008.  For Henry VIII's costumes.  Yum!

[CountessofPhoenix]

I read the book after seeing the movie and the movie did leave out so much. I've read several other of Phillippa's books. "The Constant Princess" about Katherine of Aragon, "The Virgin's Lover" about Elizabeth and Dudley, and "The Boleyn Inheritance" about Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and the Duchess of Rochford. All were excellent reads as was Allison Weir's Innocent Traitor about Lady Jane Grey. All of these fiction novels posed the most interesting questions about what really happened.

[Lady Ann of Draycott]

I have not read the book nor seen the movie but I've been wanting to rent the movie when it comes out on DVD. 

My question is, should I read the book first and then rent the movie? 

It seems from a couple of your comments that might be a good idea in order to understand the movie, but I don't want to ruin watching the movie either.  I love to do both but so many times the books are better than the movies.

[damsel58]

IMO, the book /is/ better than the movie. The only reason I would recommend even watching the movie is the costumes are pretty. It really failed in conveying the flavor of the book, or even making the events interesting.

[CountessofPhoenix]

You probably know enough history of the story to watch the movie first if you so choose. The book is wonderful and I speculate that it is probably more factual than fictional. You really see Anne's character as the manipulator she had to have been to keep Henry's attention for so long. Meanwhile Mary was such an opposite to her. Either way you'll learn a lot!

[DuCoeur]

Read the book and haven't seen the movie yet.  For a different take on the story Read Mademoiselle Boelyn by Robin Maxwell.

This Deals about the early days of the Boelyn sisters.  Mary was not the innocent as portrayed in the Other Boelyn Girl...Remember she was Mistress to Francois I of FRance before Henry VIII saw her.

A different perspective from the Other Boelyn Girl.

[Amyj]

I've read the book and seen the movie...I read the book first (and I'm pretty sure all Gregory's others too...)  My suggestion is:  If you normally prefer to have read a book before seeing the movie - do so with this one...If you normally prefer vice-versa, do the same here.

I found myself getting just a teensy bit frustrated at the differences between the two...(Henry meeting Anne at the Boleyn estate rather than at court, softselling the back-and-forth of Henry between Mary and Anne...)  But, it's in my opinion, a fun romp through a period of history.  I love the fact that we know the events happened, but we don't really know the conversations. I for one would like to see Gregory's other books adapted for film too.

[Lavender]

Read the book and haven't seen the movie yet.  For a different take on the story Read Mademoiselle Boelyn by Robin Maxwell.

This Deals about the early days of the Boelyn sisters.  Mary was not the innocent as portrayed in the Other Boelyn Girl...Remember she was Mistress to Francois I of FRance before Henry VIII saw her.

A different perspective from the Other Boelyn Girl.

*I see a trip to Borders in the near future*

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

I found that Maxwell's Mademoiselle Boelyn was very ficticious and she embelished so much. Mary was younger than Anne and in Maxwell's book sshe is about 5 years older. While it is a fun read, it must be read as a Renaissance romance novel. I found it more entertaining than The Other Boleyn Girl, but The Other Boleyn Girl a wee bit (Not much) accurate. Both are still fun read's and I would suggest anyone interested in the Renaissance to read them. I take them to be light reading. If you REALLY want to know about Anne Boleyn, read Allison Weirs The Six Wives of Henry the VII or even David Starky's book of the same name. Also watch the BBS play "The Six Wives of Henry the VII. While a bit wordy, the person playing each role is a perfect fit.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Check out Half Price Books - they usually have a selection of Gregory's books. I'm now reading I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles.

[DuCoeur]

There is no real historical proof that Mary is the younger or older sister.

And while both books a overly embellished,  I have found other sources that put Mary in Bed with Francois when they were both at the french court.

And Allison Weir is THE source for Tudor history...I will look for the Starkey book.

But keep in mind, that Weir's book is not a novelization, but a history.  Thus to compare Weir with Maxwell or Gregory is apples to oranges.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

My question is, should I read the book first and then rent the movie? 

It seems from a couple of your comments that might be a good idea in order to understand the movie, but I don't want to ruin watching the movie either. 

Since you probably already know that Henry had 6 wives, and Anne Boleyn was one of the ones that was beheaded, you will know the outcome of the movie without reading the book!  I read the book first last year and then watched the movie a few weeks ago. 

The movie is eye candy for me -- looking at the castle scenes, the garb, the court, etc.  I don't think either the book (a novel) or the movie really tells it like it is, but if you take it in that perspective, it was enjoyable.

[Lady_Glorianna]

Gregory is a historical fiction writer and this is a historical fiction novel so accuracy is limited. When you watch the special features on the DVD, Gregory and everyone else admit that the movie is an interpretation of her book.

[Athena]

I loved the book! Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and I will definitely rent the DVD. I know that there will be changes from the novel, but I'll still see it. If nothing else, those gorgeous costumes make it worth while!