I was going to buy 'Bring up the bodies' from the bookstore because
1. Cool name.
2. Cool quote from the book on the back
"My boy Thomas, give him a dirty look and he'll gouge your eye out. Trip him, and he'll cut off your leg. But if you don't cut across him, he's a very gentleman. And he'll stand anybody a drink"
I thought, hey, this is a character I'd like to read about.
Then I figured that it had a prequel. And that both books had won Booker prizes (That must be a record of some sort. I generally avoid Booker winners because every time I pick one up, I feel like I'm wading through a swamp.)
But the blurb was interesting and the subject seemed interesting as well, so I picked them both up.
First off, very worth it.
Historical fiction is best, I feel, when you don't know that period in history very well. Everything's a surprise.The books are about Thomas Cromwell, Chief Minister to Henry the Eighth. The guy's a total badass. 16th Century England is controlled by the landed gentry. And he's a blacksmith's son. But through sheer brains and will and a face that looks like a murderer's, he pushes his way up the ranks. And if Hilary Mantel is to be believed, he's mostly responsible for the way England is today.
A great character to root for. Great writing. Not overly complex and given to monologues on the human condition like most Booker novels are. It feels like any other good yarn.
And the best part is, you can act snooty about reading it afterward. Because, you know, Booker winner and everything.
1. Cool name.
2. Cool quote from the book on the back
"My boy Thomas, give him a dirty look and he'll gouge your eye out. Trip him, and he'll cut off your leg. But if you don't cut across him, he's a very gentleman. And he'll stand anybody a drink"
I thought, hey, this is a character I'd like to read about.
Then I figured that it had a prequel. And that both books had won Booker prizes (That must be a record of some sort. I generally avoid Booker winners because every time I pick one up, I feel like I'm wading through a swamp.)
But the blurb was interesting and the subject seemed interesting as well, so I picked them both up.
First off, very worth it.
Historical fiction is best, I feel, when you don't know that period in history very well. Everything's a surprise.The books are about Thomas Cromwell, Chief Minister to Henry the Eighth. The guy's a total badass. 16th Century England is controlled by the landed gentry. And he's a blacksmith's son. But through sheer brains and will and a face that looks like a murderer's, he pushes his way up the ranks. And if Hilary Mantel is to be believed, he's mostly responsible for the way England is today.
A great character to root for. Great writing. Not overly complex and given to monologues on the human condition like most Booker novels are. It feels like any other good yarn.
And the best part is, you can act snooty about reading it afterward. Because, you know, Booker winner and everything.
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