Group Read: Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (main thread)

This week marks the release of Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, the long awaited sequel to her Booker Prize winning novel Wolf Hall. It will be released in the US tomorrow, May 8, in the UK on May 10, and in Canada on May 11. At least one person, Suzanne (Chatterbox), has already read it; others have won it through the LT Early Reviewers program; still others are planning to read it soon. I pre-ordered the UK edition (middle cover, flanked by the US and Canadian covers) from Amazon UK, and I should receive it by the middle of the month.

I wanted to start this thread in advance of the US publication date, and since some of us probably won't start the book until later this month or early next month, I have two ideas for this group read: (a) allow participants to join in at any time; (b) have a fixed starting date of June 1. Please let me know what you think.

I think it's probably best to have a fixed starting date, and June 1 sounds fine.

I know that this book has been so anticipated that those who have it in hand (or will in a few days) will be eager to read it and start posting. That means those who have to wait will either avoid the thread to avoid spoilers and thus have a ton of catching up to do when they get here; or if they stop in earlier, there are bound to be spoilers.

June 1 sounds good to me. I hope that the people who won Early Reviewer copies will have received it by then.

Here's a spoiler thread for discussion of the book:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/136786

I'd go with the June 1st start date too. I'm one of the lucky ones who will get it through the ER program, but who knows when my copy will arrive. You can't really eliminate the issues Deborah raises because people will still start at different times and read at different rates. But June 1st gives us all some breathing room. And the eager beavers can save their thoughts and comments in a word document or notebook or on the backs of envelopes in the meantime, ready for posting when the time comes.

4> I'm also waiting for my ER copy. Most have been arriving in two weeks (although you never know).

I'm hoping my copy from Book Depository will turn up in the next fortnight, but I probably won't have much reading time before June - so 1 June works well for me too.

I'll just peer over your shoulders, enjoy vicariously, and refrain from posting any spoilers (although most folks who will be interested know what happens to Anne B.)

ETA, I like the Canadian cover best. And no, not for the obvious reason!

June 1st is good for me. I hope my ER copy is here by then. I've never had to wait very long but I know some people have.

I listened to Wolf Hall on unabrdged CDs since I find it hard to find the time to read anything but classics. So I will probably do the same with this continuance of Wolf Hall. This is British history related by a comptent writer. I don't know how you could have spoilers in a factual book such as this. This is not fiction so no matter what you write in a thread, there can be no spoilers. The tv series, The Tudors, has already exposed all about this ruling family, even to the most uninitiated.

9> Not everyone watched The Tudors, which was hardly accurate history, in any case. Trust me, I'm an expert in Tudor and early Stuart England. And for many readers, Wolf Hall may have been a first venture into the intrigues of the court. And although I'm sure that Mantel's research is spotless, these books ARE fiction--historical fiction, but NOT history. Look at how the publisher classifies the book.

There's more to a book than its plot, and when readers write on LT about the presentation of specific scenes or characters, or about a book's style, or additions to the anticipated plotline, that can be a spoiler for me: I want to enjoy the revelation of a book for myself before getting someone else's detailed review.

There's more to a book than its plot, and when readers write on LT about the presentation of specific scenes or characters, or about a book's style, or additions to the anticipated plotline, that can be a spoiler for me I agree. Even though I'm not an expert, I have been reading about the Tudors almost as long as I've been reading, so I wouldn't be reading another book about them if I didn't expect it to be a fresh new experience in some way. There are lots of ways to "spoil" a book for a reader.

I learnt so much from Wolf Hall - and it was totally gripping reading with spoilers galore for this country bumpkin. I am sure there'll be tons of history that I don't already know in Bring up the Bodies. Of course I know what happened to Anne Boleyn, and a fair bit more besides from reading about the period, but that doesn't mean I already know how the new plot and characters will develop.

In happy news, Book Depository has just emailed me to say the book is on its way to New Zealand. (That gives me just enough time to rip through the new David Downing thriller on my Kindle before it turns up...)

I'm with Deborah, Linda and Cushla on this one. I haven't watched The Tudors, knew essentially nothing about Tudor England before I read Wolf Hall, haven't studied the classics, and strongly agree that a spoiler thread is necessary.

I received an e-mail message from Amazon UK which informed me that my copy has been dispatched, and I should have it by Wednesday.

It's the perspective on the events that could prove spoiler-ish, even to those who know the events. Such as: did she or didn't she?? (Cariola will know whereof I speak!) Every author finds those spaces in between what we can know -- what the historical evidence is -- and their interpretation of those facts. One thing I really like about Mantel's novels is her choice of de facto narrator -- Cromwell is so often seen as a dour or sinister figure lurking around the arras, so I really like Mantel's ability to show us his world through his eyes. You can bet that Henry VIII's view of George Boleyn or Suffolk bore no similarities to that of Cromwell, and it's Mantel's ability to depict what those views might have been that is delightful.

And the Tudors is the antithesis of history. *shudder*

I just read an extract in one of the Sunday newspaper literary supplements and I'm hooked already. The extract started with a visit by Cromwell to the the old and sickly Catherine of Arragon. Can't wait for end of next week when I hope to find a copy among my birthday presents ( i dropped enough hints about it)

I have my ER ARC, and I love it! Love it! Love it! That wasn't my reaction to Wolf Hall, so I may have to reread that one.

I found a copy at my favourite bookstore last week- so am ready to read. I have read many books on the Tudor period- my favourite historian-David Starkey His books on the six wives of Henry VIII and on Elizabeth were terrific. I am on the lookout for his book on Henry and another one on Elizabeth.

I'm going by my favorite bookstore later today and I'm hoping to buy it -- if they're not sold out already. Probably won't read it with the group read, but you never know.

I started the book last night and am posting a non-spoiler comment. A lot of people have complained about the title, but so far, I'm finding it very appropriate.

One more non-spoiler: I was surprised to see the book open with a Cast of Characters. It's helpful to have a who's who reminder--but some of the notes might have told a little too much about personalities.

My copy's arrived - a hardback from Book Depository for all of NZ$13. Still not sure how that happened, but am very pleased - the paperback is NZ$40 in bookshops here. (NZ$13 is about US$9 at the moment.)

I've started it and am loving it - only 40 pages in so far. I have piles of uni reading to do this week so don't know how much headway I'll make before June 1.

I have my copy but am not planning to crack it open until June 1.

I was supposed to have received my copy from Amazon UK on May 16, but it still hasn't come yet. I contacted Amazon, and a replacement copy has been sent, which I should receive by May 31. So, I won't probably reading it until next Saturday, June 2.

My library system is so funny. I was able to get the audiobook right away, but the librarian told me there is a back up of 700 requests for Shades of Grey. Thank heavens she didn't put in graphic sex or I might never have got it.

I cannot imagine listening to erotica on audio. I once listened to a book read by David Birney that had several rather graphic sex scenes, and it was really creepy.

My (replacement) copy of Bring Up the Bodies finally came today. I probably won't be able to get to it tomorrow, as I'll have a long day at work, but I will be able to read it in earnest starting on Saturday.

I'm glad your (second) copy has arrived in time, Darryl.