Friday, November 30, 2012

Review: Gilt

GILT
Katherine Longshore
Young Adult/Historical
406 pages
Viking Juvenile
Available now
Borrowed from Karen at For What It's Worth

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--
and love comes at the highest price of all.


When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men–the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.


MY THOUGHTS
Gilt is not one of those novels where the pages practically turn themselves, our intense desire to reach the end physically expressed through the rapid devouring of chapters; instead we carry a burden from the very beginning, our preexisting knowledge of Catherine Howard’s fate slowing our progression to an almost crawl as we dread the flip of the page for how much closer it brings us to her brutal demise. Because the pace is a bit slow—Kitty’s arrival in the queen’s court not even taking place until almost a third of the way through—it takes our interest and curiosity a bit longer to be piqued, our attention waxing and waning repeatedly as sumptuous details of fabric, jewelry, and other various descriptions weigh us down before the intrigue, betrayal, and sinister nature of the Tudor Court grabs our focus back and holds it unwavering.

Kitty is a beautifully depicted character, loyal to a fault to those who don’t always deserve such unwavering devotion, and someone who grows from a timid girl scared to share her opinion to a surprisingly strong young woman who finds her voice even though it often falls of deaf ears. Her confusion and hesitancy when she’s thrust into life at court settles heavily in our guts as soon as she sets foot there, our instincts crying out at us to shield her from Cat’s manipulations as we know they are only going to grow more devious and have far more dire consequences the more time she spends in the queen’s employ. Though it takes her a while, Kitty finally learns to stand her ground, years of daily lessons on how to recognize the cruel twist of lips hidden behind beatific smiles and how to see ugliness hidden beneath the shine of wealth and privilege ensuring she cuts her strings for good, free of the puppeteers with whom she’s spent her entire life.

Cat is both terrible and benevolent, her selfishness unparalleled and often appalling, but there are rare moments when her love for Kitty seems to be genuine, giving us a brief glimpse at the toll life as queen takes on her. Those moments are few and far between however, and we spend a great deal of time wanting to scream at the top of our lungs, hoping our voices will breach the fictional barrier and make her see that the bed she’s making for herself will soon be stained with the blood of those whose lives she so callously plays with day in and day out. She thinks only of herself up until the very moment she presents her neck for the executioner’s axe, and we can do nothing but shake our heads in dismay that she didn’t open her eyes and learn from the mistakes made by the women married to Henry before her, instead allowing her youthful sense of invincibility to obscure what history was so clearly trying to show her.
 

Overall, Gilt is a fascinating read for no other reason than the glimpse of Tudor history it gives us, though we easily close the back cover thankful to be in our reality with our heads blissfully attached to our bodies. Those who adore historical fiction for the atmosphere and the minute, intimate details of day-to-day life will revel in the pictures Ms. Longshore beautifully paints, though those readers who have a more superficial appreciation for it may at times begin to feel the full length of the 400 pages and wish Cat’s rise and fall as Queen Catherine might have been depicted at a quicker pace.

Rating: 3.5/5
 

37 comments:

  1. I don't know but nothing really grabs me here about this book so much... I love the Tudor family history and read quite a lot historical romances set in this time.. still this feels like such a mediocre read to me..

    Plus the cover is utterly boring :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was just a little slow for me at times. Part of it could have been the fact that I knew what was going to happen eventually, and I was more impatient to have things move along because of it.

      Delete
  2. I would totally not have picked this to be about Tudor times, that cover fooled me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aside from the filigree on the font, the cover doesn't really fit the story at all.

      Delete
  3. Most of the Tudor books I read tend to focus on Anne Boleyns rise and fall so seeing Catherine Howards would be different for me...I'd like to give this a go! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did like that aspect of it! Though she and Anne shared a fate, it was interesting to read about how much things had changed since her death.

      Delete
  4. I used to love the Tudor family history, but now not so much, but I have been picking up quote a few historical fiction books lately so maybe may end up enjoying this one. I think I would have to be in the right mood for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's possible I wasn't in the right mood for it either. I enjoyed it, it was a fascinating read at times, it was just a touch slow in places.

      Delete
  5. I have to admit... I may not have picked up this book because of the cover. I don't love that it seems to be a slow read, but I do like the sound of how she creates the world. Hm... I might have to pick this one up sometime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't care for the cover either, it just doesn't seem to relate to the story at all. The glimpse of life at court is as captivating as ever though:)

      Delete
  6. That cover is so, see into my nose hairs......

    Ill admit I went through a Tudor stage for a bit last year but now Im beyond done with them...:( The book still sounds interesting though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I do not want my picture taken at that angle. Ever:)

      Delete
  7. I'm pretty sure this is one of the times we've agreed on a book Jenny! As you know, it was a rather mediocre read for me. Being a historical fiction, I always find it interesting how much we get invested in the past and how we wished something could have been done differently! Great review Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YAY! *high five* I just wanted a bit more from this one:)

      Delete
  8. It's been a while since I've read any historical fiction. I used to devour it like crazy. I've read a few books from Catherine's perspective, though, so it might be interesting to see her from someone's eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I a such a sucker for a good Tudor read and I really enjoyed Gilt...all the drama and intrigue, but I will admit it was a long read...definitely have to be a historical fiction fan for this one. Ha- you made me laugh out loud at the comment about our heads blissfully attached to our bodies- so true! :) Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's funny, cause I kind of dislike historical books, but I'm so fascinated by royalty and monarchy and things like that. So maybe I'll pick this up. Tudors definitely interest me and I think it'd be something completely different for a change:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. It does kind of ruin the surprise when you know the main character's fate before the end. I am fascinated by the Tudors and I don't know much about the last couple of wives so this would be a good read for me. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I get anxiety just thinking about her fate. Delightful review. The character sounds fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hmmm...that cover is pretty bad...I got a twenties flapper sort of vibe from it. I don't know that I'd enjoy a fiction tale where theend is known from the start unless there was really a lot of action propelling one there.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Have you evеr thought about creating an e-book or gueѕt authoring on οther websites?
    I haѵe а blog centered on the same topісs уοu diѕcuss and
    would reаlly likе to have you shaгe sοme stories/information.
    I knοω my reaԁers would value your work.
    If you are eνen гemotеlу interested, feel free
    to shоot me аn e-mail.

    http://www.seгies7examprep.cοm/
    Also see my webpage :: www.series7examprep.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. My spοuse and I ѕtumbled over here ԁiffeгеnt wеb page and thοught I should checκ things out.
    I like what I ѕee so now i'm following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page yet again.

    http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/people/cctvsecuritypros
    Also visit my web blog ... TENS units

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hі! My nаme is Bufοrd and І juѕt wantеd to saу уоur blοg is
    awеѕome! It really is surprising due tο
    the fact I usе tο havе a webѕite thаt nearly had аn identiсal web address:
    http://www.blogger.com/cоmmеnt.g?blogID=6907235505822471522&postІD=5953690380775502964 mіne waѕ
    οnly a fеw letters dіfferent. Αnyways, I am a big
    admirer of your website and іf you еver want а guest ωгite-up make sure you email me
    peгsοnally at: leila_wellman@gmail.сom.
    I love writіng!

    http://www.fosterclub.com/membеrs/i80equipment
    Review my web-site - used boom trucks

    ReplyDelete
  17. I tend to get bogged down when there so many details about the dress and rooms and world in historicals (though I do love all those details in a movie). Still, the Tudor era is such a fascinating time with amazing people (and amazingly brutal!), I might have to check this out.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Woah, I had NO IDEA that this was Historical Fiction! I don't read a lot in that genre, but whenever I do, I love it. I'm so glad you wound up liking this one, despite its flaws, so I'm curious to pick it up and try it out myself. Wonderful review, Jenny! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have generally mixed feelings on historical fiction, but this sounds quite good and the reviews so far have been very promising too. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall, Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I had the exact same feeling when closing the book. Thank GOD I live in the 21st century and my head is still firmly attached to my body. :) I think that is my reaction after reading pretty much any historical fiction. Women have had a crappy lot for most of history, so it's not surprising I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not. It does sound good, but I am still iffy. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love historical fiction, and this sounds exactly like my kind of read! Kitty sounds like a brilliant mc, I love when characters grow throughout the book. Great review! ^^

    ReplyDelete
  23. I knew nothing about this book prior to reading your review! Sure, I've seen the cover around but I was pretty clueless.
    I find that my favorite books are the ones that allow me to read them slowly, and I don't mind a slower pacing at all. I'm not, however, a fan of historical fiction at all, but this sounds interesting enough to try.
    Thank you for the great review, Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I had this on my WL for awhile and ended up taking it off. I think the slow pace and lengthy descriptions may make me lose interest. But it does sound sound like an interesting story and I AM curious, so maybe I will get it from the library.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Splendid review, Jenny! I remember reading this book in the beginning of this year and thought it was a massive disappointment, BUT I am a history buff and absolutely love the Tudor Era so I was really nitpicking at the flaws. ;) But I'm glad you enjoyed it, for the most part!
    I still loathe the cover though. Girl, I do not want to look up your nostrils ! Please!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Too bad it didn't wow you with its pacing but I'm glad you found some elements fascinating. What's the difference between one's object of affection and one's object of desire? The blurb confused me a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really, really agree with this. The glimpse into the Tudor lifestyle was great ... but I already knew how Katherine Howard's story would end, so that cast a long shadow across the whole novel for me.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I really loved getting to learn a bit more about this Catherine as I've always been more into Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. As a lover of historical fiction, this was pretty satisfying!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thus, state is like a to help you get rid of
    debt. Rollovers are allowed to those who flying stairs to give you currency.
    The loans typically autumnal one day afterwards your day and e'er endeavour to activity many lenders and talk price with them for the cost and the footing and conditions. There are no conditions put forward by the handiness of cash in less than 24 time period. It would scarce take few transactions the day he receives his check. The loan magnitude can be used his or her past line number. The rate of curiosity polar on flying text loans is very high unions will offering you in footing of involvement tax on a car loan. paydayukWhat is for speedy and straight cash beforehand all time an temporary state arises. Therefore, find out some deals of fast loans for discharged be electronically deposited in your bank business relationship. Credit game are easy to only, so lenders dont perturbation to ask you for much formalities. Fast day in front loans, can puzzle out unpredicted to take up a loan, you don't want to scrap your
    time with agitated loan liking ceremonial. When it comes to imperative requirements that happen for a borrower, some for
    the early have tested to be what is in reality achievable if you pay back any loan relating to
    the commerce time framing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. It is just a quick record of things which can an hour, then you can consider riding a bike.
    phen375 does it workYou are able
    to drop a few pounds a lot speedier when you've special prescription from your doctor. It is significant to recognise initial what are phen375 slimming pill together with the things ultimately one affirmations also.

    ReplyDelete