About book Threads: The Reincarnation Of Anne Boleyn (2012)
In 1536 woman dies and the story begins...Starting a story with the death of the main character is not done successfully very often. Anne Boleyn has just been lawfully, if not fairly, executed on the orders of her husband, King Henry VIII. This novel takes an unusual look at the events that led up to this; not just in Anne’s just past lifetime, but in the many lifetimes she and Henry have shared for centuries.Anne’s task is to understand, to learn where she has failed, and to forgive what seems unforgivable, her murder by her once-beloved husband and soulmate.Then I will return to try again, to see if I can overcome my faults and repay my mistakes... I see also that I have woven my own tapestry thread by thread from the beginning of time, and have no one to blame but myself for the pattern and the outcome.If this is the very first book someone is reading about the story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, it would probably be very confusing. The story is told in first person, in some places with little dialogue, but to me it still flowed smoothly. The author makes some interesting choices - there are several “facts” about Anne Boleyn’s life, about which some historians say Point A is true, and others say that Point A is demonstrably false. Historians now are in agreement that Henry did not have syphilis, as is given here as reason for his growing derangement; however, he may well had other diseases or conditions which affected his brain.She also gives Anne a history of being raped, as a child in France. This experience returns to Anne after the birth of Elizabeth, in the form of nightmares. She shrinks away from Henry’s lovemaking, which he takes badly, as a personal rejection, and things continue to go downhill from there.I very much liked the threads of other lifetimes, and other stories, woven into this one. The time as troubadours/circus performers was especially delightful. The idea that many of the most important people in their lives were also present in past lives: Katherine, Emma, Hal Percy, Princess Mary, as their children, parents, spouses, siblings was very interesting. I also loved the vision of Henry as an ancient Egyptian homosexual prostitute, who tenderly helps care for Anne’s children.What I liked about this is suggestion that there are forces and influences under the surface of what people choose to say and do. Past lives? Or simply experiences and traumas from this one that no one knows about? Of all the books that I’ve read about the Tudor period, this is one that has stayed with me.
This could've been so good. It's such a good idea for a story. Unfortunately, I didn't find it good. I thought the past lives were ridiculous and far fetched. I thought the fact that the whole court was also involved in each past life was silly. In every life, Henry, Henry Percy, Katherine, Mary Boleyn, Princess Mary, Thomas Whyatt, her father and so on.One particular low point was the prostitution in ancient Egypt. Anne was trying to feed two small children and the only way to do so was to turn tricks. However, next thing we know, Henry turns up. As a man (obviously). He is also a prostitute. Dressed as a woman, with kohl around his eyes. I just stopped and thought, this is outrageous. Other previous lives included a Flanders traveller, a farmer's wife in 17th century China, a Victorian era American woman. As the book is focusing on Anne looking back at previous lives, there isn't much dialogue. I didn't like the way Katherine was portrayed as a spiteful woman and also a bit of a bully. That goes against anything I've ever read about Katherine. Anne was apparently raped by a priest in France at a young age. This is why she wears a close fitting necklace, to cover a scar from her attacker. She has flashbacks to these attacks which I feel the author uses to excuse some of Anne's behaviour as queen. The thing I did like about this book is that it deals with some quite deep emotions and harrowing situations, like the order to kill her newborn child in China, as its a female. Also, Anne looks back on her previous lives and sees where things go wrong, she learns from her mistakes and she understands why things happened. Had this book been written entirely as fantasy fiction, I think it would've worked much better. Instead of basing it on two very real figures in history, whom we know a lot about, I think fictional characters would have made for better reading. I found myself picking apart the chapters about Tudor England, thinking, that didn't happen like that or that didn't happen at all. If fantasy is your bag then give it a read. If history is your choice of genre, perhaps give it a miss.
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My only complaint about this book is that it wasn't longer. I would've been happy to keep reading forever and ever about all the lifetimes of Anne and Henry. The subject of reincarnation is one that fascinates me, and especially with this novel being about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, whom I've read historical fiction on and find very interesting. I know its impossible to know how the real Anne Boleyn felt and what she was thinking when these events happened, but this book really made me sympathize with her, and wonder what it might've been like if their souls really have met up in other incarnations. Fascinating idea for a novel, and very well-done!
—Jennifer
I got this because it was billed as Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII meet 400 years later (as different people) and have things to work out. I buy reincarnation, I dig Anne Boleyn, and I'm a Tudor nut, so why not give it a try, I figured. Okay, first off, it's mis-billed in the way it's marketed. The part that's AFTER Anne dies is rushed and in an epilogue that makes little sense and is not in any way moving . In fact, the whole book, with only a few exceptions, was not moving. It was all tell, no show. Anne going on and on about her life, with the occasional actual scene rather than recounting. There was no chemistry between Henry and her, despite Anne constantly telling us there was. I kept reading because I was expecting that part to be prologue and the more current era to be the story. Wrong. Also, the author changes key facts and makes up some pretty farfetched ones to support her story. Now, I watch The Tudors and I tried to read that godawful The Other Boleyn Girl, so I'm used to this. But I have issues with it when it's used to make this particular plot more interesting: it's Anne Boleyn--how much more interesting do you need to make it?? This book was disappointing as hell. If I hadn't been expecting a payoff, I'd have abandoned it after the first few chapters. Rated: D
—Gerri Leen
I never thought a story of reincarnation (I've never read one before) could be so multifaceted. I have never read anything about Anne Boyle before and looking at her supposed lives through the eyes of Anne and the subtle messages for the reader about the affect your life has on others is intriguing. It makes almost, but not quite question whether or not you've lived other lives. A fascinating first person account of numerous lives with the same characters interwoven in her life through the ages. Well written and entertaining
—Donna Gaumond
