A Good Read Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel
This is a book that I took some time ‘getting round to’, not being sure that historical fi ction was what I felt like reading. However, from the moment I did get round to it, I was hooked. Mantel deserves the praise and awards heaped on this volume and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies: it is truly a remarkable book.
The central character, introduced in Wolf Hall, is Thomas Cromwell – clerk to Cardinal Wolsey at the time of Henry VIII’s attempts to divorce
his fi rst wife. The fact that Cromwell stands out against the fi gures of Wolsey, Thomas More and Henry himself is testament to Mantel’s storytelling power. He is a compelling character – complex, brutal at times and yet always sympathetic: a far cry from other fi ctionalised accounts, and yet somehow defi nitive.
The novel traces the rise of Cromwell, as fi rst Wolsey and then More fall, seeing him become Henry’s chief adviser at the same time as the Boleyn family come to dominate the court. Anne and her sister Mary are probably the central female characters, each deeply involved in the life of the king and both fascinating in their own right. The historical and political intrigues surrounding these events are well known to many, and Mantel uses them to structure the novel as she concentrates on her characters and the ways in which their lives are aff ected. Cromwell’s own family tragedies and triumphs are off set against events at court, developing the human side which makes this depiction so diff erent.
This isn’t an easy book, and at over 600 pages it is a substantial read. But the minute I put it down, I picked up the sequel – and that fact speaks volumes.
There’s a Dinosaur in my Bathtub Catalina Echeverri
Pierre is a dinosaur. He comes from France (you can tell by his name, and the moustache is a bit of a giveaway, too). And he lives in Amelia’s house – sometimes in the bathtub, but he can hide behind the shower curtains too. You see, no-one else knows he is there.
Amelia and Pierre have wonderful adventures together – often involving marshmallows, ice cream and, of course, stinky cheese (remember, Pierre is French!). Each adventure is beautifully illustrated, with lots of little details and a smattering of French phrases just for fun. Sadly, by the end, Pierre has to go away when the autumn leaves start to fall – but surely, he will be back?
This is a charming picture book which does what all the best picture books do, telling one story with words and another with images. Destined to become a bedtime favourite – oui?
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