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Wolf Hall
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years, and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe oppose him. The quest for the king s freedom destroys his adviser, the brilliant Cardinal Wolsey, and leaves a power vacuum and a deadlock. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell. The son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a bully and a charmer, Cromwell has broken all the rules of a rigid society in his rise to power, and is preparing to break some more. Rising from personal disaster the loss of his young family and of Wolsey, his beloved patron he picks his way deftly through a court where -man is wolf to man. Pitting himself against parliament, the political establishment and the papacy, he is prepared to reshape England to his own and Henry s desires. In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel presents a picture of a half-made society on the cusp of change, where individuals fight or embrace their fate with passion and courage. With a vast array of characters, overflowing with incident, Wolf Hall re-creates an era when the personal and political are separated by a hairbreadth, where success brings unlimited power but a single failure means death."
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Therewillbebooks
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Debating whether to do fiction or non fiction this month

Ruthiella Nonfiction November! 4mo
Tamra I‘m partial to fiction - too partial. 😏 4mo
49 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Finished 3 books this week. Slow going with Wolf Hall, just a chapter read.Up to ch8/59 in Riviera Gold, ch. 25/71 in Broken Ground.

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kspenmoll
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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On our way to NYC to see an exhibit at the MOMA of Georgia O‘Keefe‘s NY paintings, etc. 👏🏻😀🖼️

AmyG Nice…enjoy! 8mo
IndoorDame Oooh, I love her! Have a fabulous day!!! 8mo
TiredLibrarian Loved this and the 2nd one! 8mo
kspenmoll @AmyG @IndoorDame Such a beautiful exhibit- her early works 1915-29, then a few from 30‘s- 50s.I was totally unfamiliar with her early work. 8mo
kspenmoll @TiredLibrarian Her detail & characterization is wonderful! 8mo
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Freespirit
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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🪴My most healthy habit is having a good work-life balance and spending lots of time reading, gardening and sewing💚
🍰My most unhealthy habit is a love of cake and bread!
📚I love historical or literary fiction the best
Thanks for the tag @Eggs
#WondrousWednesday
Happy reading everyone

Eggs You do have a lovely balance there! 11mo
27 likes1 comment
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Crystal83
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
Mehso-so

I just finished listening to the audiobook of this book. It was okay, I have tried to read the book before as a ebook and I couldn't get into it. It did understand it better when listening to the book. I rated this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

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wen4blu
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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“So now get up.” #firstlinefridays

Decided to finally give this one a try, only to discover two different copies in my tbr pile!

39 likes1 stack add
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Brooke_H
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

After I got used to the quirks of Mantel's writing along with the fact that every other person in the book is either named Thomas or Mary, I was way more into this book than I ever thought I'd be. Especially considering that it's history, and I already knew what was going to happen. "Omg, will Anne Boleyn become queen?? What is going to happen to Thomas More??" I'm excited to read the second one in the trilogy.

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TheEllieMo
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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kspenmoll
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Right now, these are two series I want to read & finish for #serieslove2023
I am starting with book #1 of the Wolf Hall Trilogy, and book #10 of Maisie Dobbs Novels. I think there are 8 left for me to read.

Andrew65 This could have been my post! Need to read the third Wolf Hall book and finished up to and including the book in your picture in the wonderful Maisie Dobbs series. 1y
TheSpineView Those are great series! 1y
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Andrew65
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A veritable bargain for those in the U.K. today. All 3 books in the Wolf Hall Trilogy available for £1.99 from Audible, that‘s a lot of listening.

I loved these as audiobooks.

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i.z.booknook
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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A really beautiful episode on BBC2 tonight from a series a few years ago to remember Hilary Mantel. Such a lovely woman with a fascinating life and mind. It was wonderful to hear her talk about her life, processes and influences as well as hear others talk about the affect of her work too. It will be on BBC iPlayer for catch up. RIP Dame Hilary Mantel ❤️

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The_Literary_Jedi
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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31 likes3 comments
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SW-T
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Leftcoastzen 😢 1y
35 likes1 comment
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Caterina
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Hilary Mantel died - I loved this series by her, and never realized that she also lived with chronic illness and pain. I need to read more of her work. 💛
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/books/hilary-mantel-dead.html

Leftcoastzen 😢 1y
CarolynM 😢 1y
36 likes2 comments
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Mel
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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DavidDiamond
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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RIP Hilary Mantel 😢

vivastory Terrible. Marias, Godard and now this?! Just unreal 1y
batsy 😞 1y
Leftcoastzen 😢 1y
CarolynM 😢 1y
33 likes4 comments
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Tove_Reads
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Sad news 😭 Rest In Peace 📚

TheBookHippie I saw this when I woke up, so incredibly sad. 1y
CarolynM 😢 1y
39 likes2 comments
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rwmg
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
Ruthiella An amazing author. 😢 1y
DrexEdit she was a *monster* writer. I will miss not being able to anticipate her new books anymore. 😢 1y
22 likes2 comments
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Sophronisba
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Terrible news to begin the day. But the Wolf Hall trilogy is quite a legacy.

merelybookish Such a shock. 😔 1y
CarolynM So sad 😢 (edited) 1y
Sophronisba @merelybookish @CarolynM I am genuinely crushed. I would love to have read more from her, such an engaging and thoughtful voice. 1y
BarbaraBB This is a shock. Very tragic. 1y
readingjedi Oh no. 1y
24 likes5 comments
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Andrew65
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Wow! This is a shock and a big loss 😢 RIP Hilary and thanks for the great books you have left us with.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63007307

julesG Sad news. 🖤 1y
batsy I just saw 😟 RIP. I've only read Wolf Hall so far but it was pretty brilliant and left such an impression. 1y
Andrew65 @batsy I‘ve read the first two and thought the second was even better than the first. 1y
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batsy @Andrew65 I've heard that a lot from those who have read it. Bumping up the rest of the trilogy and also A Place of Greater Safety further up the TBR 1y
CarolynM So sad 😢 1y
Dragon So sorry to hear this. RIP 💔 1y
AmyG I just saw this on IG and was shocked. RIP 😥 1y
Scochrane26 Very sad. I still haven‘t read the last in the Wolf Hall trilogy but enjoyed the first 2. 1y
BarbaraBB So tragic. 1y
Andrew65 @Scochrane26 I still need to read that one too. 1y
gossamerchild This is so sad. Her books are just stunning. 😥 1y
Bluebird So sad to hear this! I‘ve enjoyed her books so much… 1y
84 likes12 comments
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vivastory
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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I recently posted The Guardian's 50 novels for the Queen's Jubilee. The Times has a different take on it (a bit more interesting I think)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f0c6c664-db58-11ec-8de3-573a6521e09e?shareTok...

LeahBergen That IS a much more interesting list! 2y
vivastory @LeahBergen Agreed! So many favorites on it & several others that are high on my TBR 2y
RaeLovesToRead I've read 10 of them. One Day is one of my two favourite ever books. Wolf Hall is great too. I'll check out the other list you posted... 2y
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RaeLovesToRead I googled the other list. Only read 8 of those. Quite a few on my TBR though. Interesting that there were quite a lot on both lists that hadn't really been on my radar before... 2y
vivastory @RaeLovesToRead That's funny because I've also read 10 off of this list & adored every single one of them...& I read 9 from the other list (edited) 2y
RaeLovesToRead I liked the ones I'd read except for Normal People which I didn't like at all 2y
vivastory @RaeLovesToRead The only Rooney I have read (& I really liked it) was Conversations with Friends 2y
RaeLovesToRead I wouldn't rule out trying another one by her but I'm not in any rush 😊 2y
BarbaraBB I don‘t think the queen and I have much in common but I read A LOT of these books! 2y
CarolynM Oh, that is MUCH more interesting! Thanks for sharing. 2y
Branwen This is really fantastic! 😄 2y
67 likes11 comments
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Klunkers
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

Amazing book. Having never been all that interested in the Tudor period, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Going to take a small break to read something lighter and then jump into Bring Up the Bodies.

BookwormM Loved this series 2y
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Klunkers
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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About halfway through and starting to think this Henry fellow might be up to something. 🤔

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Klunkers
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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“So now get up!”

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sprainedbrain
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Mehso-so

I love historical fiction and I‘ve gone through a couple different Tudor-obsessed eras in my life (might have a third coming on now), so I was expecting to love this book. At first, I struggled with the writing style/narration, but when I got used to that, I just sort of slogged through. I appreciate the novelty of this story through Cromwell‘s eyes, but there was so much to this and it moved SO slowly. Not sure I will continue the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

MrsMalaprop I read this years ago & struggled to get through it. I appreciated it in the end but have no intention of reading any others. 2y
AmyG I bailed for the reason that it was insufferably slow. 2y
TrishB The trilogy is so good. Honestly 😁 2y
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Verity I‘ve read the first two but never the third - I know how it ends and I couldn‘t bring myself to slog through it to get to that. The TV version with Mark Rylance is very good though. 2y
sprainedbrain @Verity I think that‘s why I won‘t continue… I already know how it‘s going to go. 😂 2y
Ruthiella The second book is (a) shorter, (b) moves faster and (c) the best of the trilogy. I suggest you read Bring Up the Bodies and call it a dualogy. 2y
vivastory As someone who has been planning on reading this & now reading the above thread, it is clear that none of you are to be trusted 😂🤣 2y
vivastory Seriously though I have only read one Mantel book which I think you'd love (Beyond Black) but I've heard so many conflicting opinions on this I think I'll just have to try it for myself 2y
sprainedbrain @vivastory I will check that one out. And clearly I need to continue at least to Bring Up the Bodies, as @Ruthiella says. 😃 2y
vivastory I have also heard great things about her novel on the French Revolution: A Place of Greater Safety, but I haven't read it. I'm not really making many reading resolutions this year but I am hoping to finally read Bring Up the Bodies. I'll be curious to see what you make of book 2 & if you become a convert! 2y
vivastory *Wolf Hall (not Bring Up) 2y
Ruthiella @vivastory Beyond Black is brilliant. 👍 2y
vivastory @Ruthiella You speak the truth my friend... 2y
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quietlycuriouskate
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

This certainly kept me occupied ?. What a fascinating character Thomas Cromwell is! I had moments of confusion (does "he" refer to TC or the person he's talking to? I wonder if HM is deliberately wrong-footing me here.) and felt that something about the writing style was holding me at arm's length throughout (my default position for *people* but I like my books closer!) but it was thoroughly absorbing and I enjoyed it very much.

CarolynM The "he" thing got me too. Quite a few times I had to go back and reread whole pages because I thought she was talking about someone other than Cromwell? Great book, though, and I love Cromwell, so much so that I still can't bring myself to read the 3rd one?? 2y
quietlycuriouskate @CarolynM I know! I'm largely ignorant about this period of history but I do know how it ends for TC and I'm in no hurry to get there! 2y
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Graywacke
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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#12Booksof2021
#January

I read some other good books in January, including a biography, Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer by Christopher S. Celenza, and a terrific novel, Real Life by Brandon Taylor. But also I reread Wolf Hall.

thanks @Andrew65 for kicking this off.

Andrew65 A great book. 2y
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shannasbookshelf
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick
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Ast_Arslan
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 113th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Trying to finish this book this week - I've been reading it on and off since January! This is my favourite mug because the cat looks a bit like my ginger Jaffa! #steamygiveaway @BennettBookworm

Ast_Arslan It's in my TBR too 😱 is it so heavy and boring? 3y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I just finished this a week ago or so. It was a slow burn for me. Took awhile to get used to the writing style and get into the story. 3y
jenniferw88 @Ast_Arslan it's not boring, but slow-going. However it has sent me to sleep a few times! 3y
Leftcoastzen Cute mug ! 😻I liked the book struggles with the pronouns & many people named Thomas! 3y
BennettBookworm Aww that‘s so sweet! Thanks for entering! 3y
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

This read started very haltingly for me, but once I got used to the over usage of “he” and the large cast list, I was hooked. I am not much of an Anglophile, but when I dive in I always end up enchanted. Mantel is a brilliant writer; the detail and historical research that went into this is astounding. Cromwell is a fascinating historical character, and Mantel brought humanity to this enigmatic man. Looking forward to finishing the trilogy! 4⭐️

BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @TheAromaofBooks This was my #doublespin for June! (edited) 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
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KadeLexical
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel

It is all very well planning what you will do in six months, what you will do in a year, but it‘s no good at all if you don‘t have a plan for tomorrow.

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Valhalla
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Day 2: From what I've read of the book, Thomas Cromwell could #motivate because he bounces back and just tries even harder after the setbacks.

#maycharacters @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚💪🏻 3y
Eggs Excellent 📚👌🏼🙏🏻 3y
51 likes2 comments
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Kaag
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Panpan

If you can get past the writing style, where the use (overuse?) of “he” is the narrator referring to himself, then you come upon another stumbling block, the characters. Aside from Wolsey and Mary they felt like names on a piece of paper. I felt compelled to like our narrator but the narrative style didn‘t work for me. Wolf Hall has all the makings of a devious cobweb of delectable misery but for me it failed to connect.

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kspenmoll
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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#bookcupidswap

Happy Valentine‘s Day!
Thank you so so much @BookNAround for this book & all the yummy chocolate! I cannot wait to start this series. ❤️💜💚🧡💙

A special thank you to Brooke @candority for organizing this swap.

Crazeedi Kitty looks nonchalant 3y
BookishMarginalia Gorgeous kitty! #CatsofLitsy 3y
candority Adorable kitty! Happy Valentine‘s Day 💘💖 3y
kspenmoll @Crazeedi Yes, she has put her stamp on that table so all is well. 😸 3y
kspenmoll @BookishMarginalia @candority Thank you! We love her! 3y
79 likes5 comments
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GinaKButler
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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This series has been on my TBR for quite some time and I made it a 2021 goal to finally read it. I‘m also using this one for West Europe in the Reading Around The World Challenge. #bookspinbingo

Cuilin Enjoy! One of my favorite series. 3y
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GinaKButler
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Reposting my February #bookspin list. Looks like I‘ll finish an extra book in January and I have a few holds finally coming in from the library I‘d like to include. As always, thank you for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks

15 likes1 comment
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Graywacke
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

This is a reread for me from ten years ago. This time I‘ll continue through the whole trilogy. It was special to revisit. The amount of factual detail is simply wonderful and lets the book drive itself. But also it has that atmosphere of partial remove, touch and distance at the same time. And, the prose is rather stunning when Mantel gets going. A 5-star reread.

Suet624 I keep thinking I‘m going to get to this but it just keeps getting buried in the pile. 3y
Graywacke @Suet624 that‘s the story with most of my books. 🙂 I got to this one only because I sketched it into my 2021 plan as part of my 2020 Booker longlist reading. Hopefully the plan will get me through the trilogy. (edited) 3y
Suet624 Good luck with that. 3y
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batsy I keep telling myself I'll get to the second, then the third, but first I think I need to reread the first one 🥴 I loved it and definitely don't mind revisiting. But... the other books are looking at me. 3y
Graywacke @Suet624 right. I do think it will work. 3y
Graywacke @batsy our life challenges. 😆 3y
46 likes6 comments
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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
Continue Wolf Hall
Finish The Italian

Cinfhen Woohoo 🙌🏻 3y
61 likes1 comment
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Canadian.Reads
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
Pickpick

"The route out of the city was running thaw water, and in copses shielded from the sun the standing pools were still iced. A weak sun blinked at them as they crossed into Hertfordshire, and here and there a ragged blackthorn blossomed, waving at him a petition against the length of winter."

For passages like this it is worth reading Wolf Hall all over again, although I am told the next one is better. Loved. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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For once my #bookreport matches my #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen! Week 23/1/21

Completed The Nickel Boys, The Garden of Evening Mists and The Plot to Betray America.

Working my way through The Italian and Wolf Hall.

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Canadian.Reads
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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More than halfway through! I am having to read this with a dictionary at hand because there are many words I am unfamiliar with, and some that apparently don't even exist. 'Waffeting', I am looking at you.

What incredible writing. I heard Mantel interviewed on CBC The Next Chapter and she is brilliant.

It did take me a while to get started and figure out what the heck was going on. Now I am all in! May the #conqueringcromwell continue...

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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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#joyousjanuary @Andrew65

My goals:
Make a large dent in the tagged book
Finish reading The Nickel Boys
Finish listening to The Garden of Evening Mists

Possible addition if I complete these:
Read Piranesi!

Canadian.Reads I am also trying to get through a good chunk of Wolf Hall today. It isn't easy reading! Im on page 123 after 3 days 🤔 3y
Andrew65 Good luck, great to have you with us. 😊 Great goals. 3y
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jenniferw88
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
Finish 1st read of You Were Born For This (it's a good book but will need multiple reads to get the most of it)
Finish The Nickel Boys and The Book Thief

Continue The Italian

Start Wolf Hall.

Cinfhen Ohhhhh, good luck with #ConqueringCromwell 🥳🥳😘 3y
cajunsyd The Nickel Boys was one of my favorite reads of 2020. Enjoy!! 3y
66 likes2 comments
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Traci1
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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Pickpick

I finished my 7 of ♥️ pick for #tbrdeckofcards last night. (Prompt was Moira vs. Town Council - politics)

I went into this one having little knowledge of Thomas Cromwell. Had I known more it would have been easier to follow, but I still enjoyed the glimpse into this episode in history. Mantel is a good storyteller, though her overuse of "he," with few context clues, didn't help with my occasional confusion. Overall a pick.

@Clwojick

Clwojick Whoop whoop! ♥️ 3y
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Traci1
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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The seven of ♥️ prompt for #tbrdeckofcards was season 2 episode 6 of Schitt's Creek, Moira vs. The Town Council, which I am interpreting as politics. Lots of political shenanigans going on in Wolf Hall, which I started listening to yesterday.

Side Note: Henry (5) asked what I was listening to, and now when he sees me with the earbuds in, he howls at me. 🐺 awoooooo!

@Clwojick

Clwojick Cute! 🐺 3y
monkeygirlsmama 1. Cool card!
2. Henry sounds adorable.
3y
candority Love that prompt! 3y
91 likes3 comments
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crazyspine
Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel
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I'm very excited for my first #bookspinbingo board. I have already read the tagged book; finished a little before midnight last night during my 24-hour readathon with #VSBC on GoodReads. The Color Purple and One Time the official #bookspin and #doublebookspin picks for the month.