The Red Queen discussion

I love the book I finish the book already I am sorry I did not post anything I read The White Queen and the Queen's Fools and Madame Tussaud and right now I am reading Before Versailles. I can only said I love to read all about history....

I liked The White Queen better, personally. Elizabeth Grey was a much more sympathetic character than bitchy little Margaret, LOL. I understood where Margaret was coming from, and I felt sorry for her, but she's so cold and cruel...

I agree with you, Margaret was a person, a woman that I really feel sorry for her, she really was a bitch, imagine to be all day of your life fighting for the crown, really boring, what a life....lol....

Agree with everyone she's cruel... but I’m with mixed feelings for her, I think it’s reasonable to be cruel after what she went through. A young girl just aged 12, to bear all pain of a marriage with no love, not even sympathised or loved by her own mother. She well deserves her victory at the end.

My favorite part of the book was probably when her second--or was it third?--husband told her she was deluding herself talking about "signs from God," because the only spiritual direction she ever had was her own ambitions. I WAS WAITING THE WHOLE BOOK FOR SOMEONE TO TELL THE BITCH THAT. Haha.

Both books were great but character wise than Margaret cannot compare to Elizabeth. She got really annoying, even from the beginning. Overall though, it was really good. Other characters were better like Henry, Margaret's second husband.

I liked the White Queen better. I just couldnt make myself like Margaret Beaufort.

I found it strange how God thought just like her and her grandson Henry VIII

Tammy wrote: "I found it strange how God thought just like her and her grandson Henry VIII"

Haha, this is why her last husband was my favorite character, because he points this interesting phenomenon out to her...

What a woman! She was sooooo annoying I desperately wanted something bad to happen to her!!

Hi Julie, I totally agreed with you, this woman was totally an annoying person, on one of the that she has to be like prisoner in her own house, that she was not allowed to get out I was so happy.....:)

I have to agree with you too, I felt that she was better of marrying Jasper and also I felt that her husband was much as annoying as her.

I agreed with all of you Margaret was a totally pain.....lol....:)

I thought she was a great character. Not very likeable, but well rounded and sympathetic despite the fact that she was so awful. I admire the author a lot more after reading this book.

Margret was such a strong character, she knew what she wanted and went after it ruthlessly, rather admirable in that i thought, (although most of her confidence came from her apparent connection with God, and His support in all that she does).
The one aspect i didnt like about this book was her "relationship" with Jasper, it just didnt seem likely. its not like he paid her any attention while edward was alive, and even in the end he was only there to protect Henry, not her.
Otherwise, i really liked the book, it was interesting to read about the war from her point of view, i could almost hate woodville for what she did until i remember her story as well. I guess what they say is true, each story always has two sides, and more often than not, they both have reasons to think they are right.

Laura wrote: "My favorite part of the book was probably when her second--or was it third?--husband told her she was deluding herself talking about "signs from God," because the only spiritual direction she ever ..."

lol!!!

LIKE LIKE LIKE

I agree!

I think the reason that I loved The Red Queen so much was because Margaret was a bit of an anti-heroine. I thought it made her interesting to read. The other women in the series seemed to have similar voices. Margaret's voice and ambition made the book memorable. I'll never forget The Red Queen.

I liked the scene where Princess Elizabeth told her, "Yes, but either way, shamed or not, I shall be Queen of England, and this is the last time you will sit in my presence." My first thought was You Go Girl!
Loved the book and had it nearly read by the time my plane landed

I borrowed this book from the library. My sister read it, and told me what a pain in the ass Margaret Beaufort was to read about. So I picked the book up,and flipped to a random page, which happened to have the scene where Margaret B was insulting Elizabeth of York. I thought, what a rude bitch! I loved the comeback line Elizabeth said to her.

Margaret Beaufort deserves so much better than this. She led a life the people here slagging her off five hundred years after her death could not possibly imagine. Then she is impaled by Philppa Gregory. Yes, I think she deserves a lot better than this.

I did enjoy the White queen a bit more but after reading Hannah's comment about Margaret B, I feel like I need to know more about her. Any recommendations for books that can enlighten me on her life?

I apologise, I didn't meant to come in here just to have a big old moan. But here's a link to the latest biography of Margaret Beaufort. I must admit, I haven't yet read it myself, but I have had excellent reports from it.

But really, can any of us today imagine being married off at eleven, pregnant at twelve; a mother and widowed at 13? Add to that, you're born on the wrong side of a dynastic feud and your own child's life is in danger just because of his lineage. The stresses she was subjected to shaped the indomitable woman she became, and demonising her for that is rather unfair.

Nor was she as triumphalist as Gregory made her out to be. She spent her son's Coronation weeping tears of pure fear, and her almoner (Bishop John Fisher) spent the time comforting her and reassuring her.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85...

I've read three of the series so far. The White Queen, The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter. Taken together, they paint a wonderful picture of the times. I almost think I enjoyed the last one the best. What a tie up of the previous two!

It makes you see both Elizabeth and Margaret in different lights. Richard and George, and Edward as well. Plus we learn the motivations of various characters so much more clearly. Fantastic!

I really enjoyed both books. I agree that Margaret was a bitch, but ... the real Margaret was a bitch! I was actually quite entertained that she was portrayed the way she was...I thought Gregory did a decent job of trying to envision where she would have been coming from. IMO, that's a pretty realistic view of how she probably thought. In those days, anyone with royal blood thought they had been chosen by God (and their subjects didn't tend to argue with them, because they, too, believed this.)

I really liked both books, and even though I think that Elizabeth's "company" (as a narrator) was more enjoyable than Margaret's - I especially liked the bits about Melusina - I have to say I loved looking at the same scenario, but in a very different angle.
This being said, Margaret was a bit annoying at times (I felt like slapping her) but I also found a lot of her qualities good, like her perseverance and her determination; she was also, in my opinion, very strong and resilient. I think the Cousins War Saga is just terrific!

I really enjoyed both The White Queen and The Red Queen from the persective of two completely different women.
Margaret was a cold and cruel woman who had only one goal to be revered and honoured as she saw herself fit to be, through her son Henry Tudor, she thought she would gain everything she felt she deserved! She had been badly treated as a girl as most women were, but her pious indignation, her ego and self rightousness made her nasty and vicious towards everyone she envied. However she had a determination and singlemindedness that has to be admired in a twisted sort of way!

Lisa wrote: "I liked the scene where Princess Elizabeth told her, "Yes, but either way, shamed or not, I shall be Queen of England, and this is the last time you will sit in my presence." My first thought was ..."

I loved that scene as well. If you want more about MB then go ahead and read The White Princess which is about the younger Elizabeth of York.

I loved this book! I admire her determination but hate the woman! I feel for Elizabeth of york for having a monster in law. Apparently Margaret treated Elizabeth like crap by acting like she was the queen instead of Elizabeth! She even acted like little miss know it all when it came to the birth of her grandchildren!

You know, you just used the correct name for that woman MONSTER IN LAW, she was the most horrible woman in that court, she was like a snake, going around every one in silence, listening to all the conversations of everyone and when you never spect ..... She Bites you.....lol.......:)

Laura wrote: "My favorite part of the book was probably when her second--or was it third?--husband told her she was deluding herself talking about "signs from God," because the only spiritual direction she ever ..."

I agree soo much! That is exactly what she did her entire life! I felt sorry for her up until the point that she kills the boys in the tower, and called it GODS WILL. What a crazy ass!!!

I Do understand that what happened to the princes is just a theory, not fact. It still makes me hate her. Great book though!

I told my 11-yo daughter about the book when I was a few chapters in. She asked if she could read it and I told her she could. I managed to read it off and on after she was in bed and finished it before her. She kinda stalled out and asked if it got better. I assured her it did not, the character became less likable. She gave up and I found her an Ann Rinaldi book about Jane Grey to make up for it.

My daughter was very intrigued to think someone her age could be married and have a baby. MB had a lousy life, and she never got past it.

One of the best books i have ever read i have the book AND audiobook !!!!!!!!

In a world dominated by men and religion Margaret had to be strong in order to survive. This book explored the dominant impact that religion had on people during this period of English history. Margaret was, in her words, 'following the will of god' in order to fulfill a glorified destiny through her many husbands and her sons lineage.

I liked the comparison between Margaret and Joan of Arc, it made her character stronger and more powerful, but is also relative to the 20th and 21st century struggle for gender equality.

I like how this novel gave a more comprehensive background to the story of the white queen. It makes me understand fully the reason why Margaret did certain things, like joining Elizabeth's ladies in waiting. All in all I think it contributed immensely to the Cousins' War series of novels, which I must admit has made me look at history in a completely different light.