The Favoured Child

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Not quite so good as Wideacre - Rated
The second in the series after Wideacre which tells the story of Julia Lacey, the daughter of Beatrice and Harry Lacey. She does not know her true mother until the very end of the novel and her incestous birth.

This female character is much more likeable than her mother Beatrice, however she lacks a lot of her strength. She wants the poor to have a share of the Wideacre profits or to give them Wideacre. She is raped and pursued by her brother (they belive they are cousins) Richard to marry him. This means he will get Wideacre and she will be left with nothing also being denied her true love James Forteuss. Richard has the Lacey madness and is a killer, cheat and bully like their mother sadly.

Plain suffering - read if you like to see people suffer - Rated
I really like PG's books, but unfortunately this one was a big disappointment. If you like to read about people suffering through hundreds of pages, without deserving it, you will enjoy. If not, read her other books.

Brilliant! - Rated
I have just finished this book and must say it is great! I loved it from the moment I picked it up. As a sequel to 'Wideacre' I think this is the stronger of the two books (and less sorid to tell the truth!). After reading these two books I am definitely a Philippa Gregory fan. The plot is attention grabbing and although you may work out some of the twists it is not until you have finished the book and realise that 'that part' was a clue and 'that event' was aswell. Gergory's characters are so well crafted and every aspect of their personality has obviously been thought out carefully. I found myself urging Julia, the main character, to do the right thing when i saw her going the wrong way and actually began to care for her welfare! I was greatly surprised by how good this book is and, as I said on a review of 'Wideacre' this is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. A few events even got a physical reaction out of me, after a couple of shocked 'What?!' and some gasps I was asked to explain what was going on to my flatmate. This book is brilliant and i cannot recommend it enough!

please, let's return to reality - Rated
I read this having first finished "The other Boylne girl" and loving it, but I warn prospective buyers who also enjoyed Gregory's much better known book that her earlier work is just not up to standard.

"The favoured child" starts off promisingly, with the kind of deep emotional writing that Gregory does so well, but after the first half of the book (which, by the way, seems far too long for the relatively simple story that unfolds) it descends into the kind of melodramatic, mournfully escapist claptrap that gives historical novels such a bad name. Isn't a story that involves incest, insanity and betrayle exciting enough without resorting to vague hints at magic and prophecy? In fact I found it a little patronising, as if Gregory thought we couldn't handle the idea that this sort of thing could happen in the real world.

I was also irritated by the heroine's persistant refusal to grow a spine. Yes, I love my siblings too (not in the same way), but if they raped me, murdered my best friend and sabotaged my only chance at a loving relationship, I might not take their word as gospel.

It's this absolute refusal to create rationally behaving characters that lets this (and other works of Gregory) down; without the witchcraft her work would be gritty and emotionally challenging. With it, her books will be constantly labled as "chick lit", inferior versions of what Johanna Harris does so well.

WOW!! - Rated
I started this book with slight apprehension as I was so impressed with Wideacre I did not want The Favoured Child to spoil my impression. I often don't read the concluding books in a trilogy as I feel that they spoil my memories and imagination of what the ending and growing characters would be. I started reading the opening chapter of this book and I found it harder to 'get into' than other Philippa Gregory books.
You do not have to have read Wideacre first -- the plot unfolds for you.
I am an avid reader and I have never come across a book like this, I get so angry and hurt (like the character would) when something goes wrong, and so happy and warm when something is good, I can often relate to the characters and the situations they are in. I do not like the main character (Julia), I prefered Beatrice (the main character in Wideacre), however this does not spoil this book, it makes the emotions thrown around for both the characters and reader even more etched in ones mind, it makes you race one, you want to know what happens. This book, I found was much more tragic than Wideacre. I would love to tell you more about the plot and what 'happens' but for the magic that this book created for me could only be created for you if you read it!
ENJOY while I read the third book in this trilogy!!