Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...
 Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating. October 19, 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.
 Disappointing September 16, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.
Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam July 29, 2008
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad
 A brilliant read - highly recommend July 14, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.
The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.
Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.
The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.
As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.
A tale of corruption and manipulation July 12, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.
Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.
What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.
The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.
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