A Bizarre "Reader's Digest" Version of History...

This book is written in a very distinctive style that limits the content and the enjoyment.

Falconer's writing style is rushed and goes from one event to another without any content in-between. We have all seen this before, and in many texts it helps move the story along. However, Falconer abuses this method and skips years with no pause to develop the players in the story. This makes the courtship with the characters stunted and you end up not caring what happens to them. Isabella had many children, but other than a line or two we know nothing other than their names and order of birth. Who writes about a queen without discussing their children?! This is extremely careless writing! I kept thinking at some point Falconer would stop racing through the years and give these people life but he never did. Instead, Falconer relies on the seedy nature of the king to carry the story. We get it, he was gay, woohoo. That alone, with no additional substance, is NOT enough to carry an entire novel...

If you are a huge history buff (as I am) then maybe you will want to read this book simply because there are few historical fictions from this period. But be warned--don't expect too much.

Happy Readings!

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

A different take on the tale

So many times Isabella is portrayed as grasping and manipulative. The author finds a way to show that she only did what she had to do. The truth will never be known, but this does give the reader something to think about.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Nice historical fiction

What was one of the most memorable moments of Isabella: Braveheart of France?

I liked the part towards the end where Isabella makes the decision to accept the role of emissary to France and then takes advantage of it to take charge of her own life by going against the king.

Have you listened to any of Anne Johnstonbrown’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I hadn't heard anything by Anne Johnstonbrown before but I liked her performance. She had a pleasant voice and put just the right amount of emotional emphasis into it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Unless it's an exceptionally engaging story, I find it hard to listen for that long, haha. But it was a decent story and I probably could have done it if I didn't have other things I had to do.

Any additional comments?

I didn't care for the way that it was written all in the present tense, but that's more of a personal preference. I might have bought a different book if I had known this, though.

I don't know anything about the real Isabella of France that the book was based on, so I can't judge how true to life this story may or may not have been, but it was a believable story.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Slow with hurried ending

Whereas we can only guess at the true nature of historical figures, it was a shame that Isabella was portrayed as a whiney, lovesick girl but perhaps for our time she was but not for her time. This was a struggle to get through and I was easily distracted while listening. Glad it was short.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Incredibly poor choice for a narrator!!

I am going to read the rest of the story on my kindle because this narrator is horrible!! Who is responsible for picking an American speaker for a story about a French Queen and and English King! Come on- the author deserves better and we deserve better.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Terrible narrator

The French accents were almost a mockery, and the men’s voices sound-
Ed very strange, sometimes croaky.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Good story, strange writing.

The story is in present tense. This makes it seem like it is happening as you read, which sounds like a good idea, but instead make it awkward to listen to.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

isabella

good story; too much innuendo and suggestiveness. helpful connecting plantegenet history and people. dislike word minimum requirement

Boring

The narrators voice grated on me. She was terrible at accents and had a high pitched American voice that screeched at times. I Kept falling asleep. Scanty historical references and two de mentions characters.

Neither novel nor narrative

The flow of the story Is in between a historical narrative— and a novel.... but assumes the role of neither— making for a dull novel — (or a more interesting and rather embellished narrative.)