Here be Dragons

Rating:
Summary: Here Be Love-at-First-Paragraph!
Review: This is my all time favorite book. No lie. "Dragons" is a beautiful, heartbreaking love story expertly woven into the tapestry of death, war, and betryal in 13th century England and Wales. Witness King John, of evil fame, marry his beloved daughter to the powerful and charismatic Prince of Wales in what was meant to be a brilliant political ploy. When the two men inevitably clash, who will Joanna stand behind? I have read all of Ms. Penmans books and can say without hesitation that this is her most enjoyable work! I recommened this book to all my friends wih the stipulation that they best not start it when they have ANYTHING alse to do for several days!

Rating:
Summary: would never have thought it would become a favorite...
Review: I read this book under my sister's endless urging...and finally forced myself to read the 1st few chapters after she offered me a bribe that I just couldn't resist. This isn't my first Penman book and that's why I have a few misgivings of starting another of her historical novels--not in a bad way, of course. She has that melancholic tone which depresses me so much. Yes, I have a hard time picking up one of her books, but once I finally started, however painful it maybe, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop. She likes to write about fallen kings and leaders of ancient England and the broken French. She seeks explanation for each of their sin and provide us reasons within understanding.
In "Here be Dragons," she told us the story of King John, a lesser King among the shadows of Richard Lionheart or Edward of York. She showed us not a child-slayer or a wastrel but a King who suffered bad luck, and who was betrayed a thousand times in his lifetime. Sometimes I felt so sorry for his misfortune which often ends up to incredulous laughter.
Also, in this book, Penman took a stab at a deeper romance which went beyond the tragic love between Richard and Anne of "Sunne in Splendour." I don't deny that I am a sucker for romance, and the bond between Llewelyn and Joanna really put me in different turmoil of emotions. I think what set this apart from another judith-mcnaught-romance-novel is not the history but the realism on their actions, betrayals, misunderstandings and their "undying" love for each other. I'd never read about Joanna or Llewelyn in historical books and I am afraid to do so now. I know how Penman had romanticize Joanna's character(or most of the events in the novel), on how she was really believe to be the foreign-slut-wife of Llewelyn. Still, I want to believe so much that it is not so. Penman is one of the authors that made me doubt the pragmatism and relevance of the historical accounts written by (possibly) biased historians.
Anyway, as whole, the book was well-written. I like how she tells the story without any haste at all. On how she begun to tell the story of LLewelyn and Joanna when they weren't even on their teens yet. It makes it more personal...that I, as a reader, can look back or forward and gives me the feeling that I really know them as I would know I real individual.

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Books Ever Written
Review: I have read thousands of books in my life and Here Be Dragons was- and is- a book you will never forget. It's the story of Joanna, daughter of King John, ignored and then used as a pawn by being married off to Llewelyn the Great of Wales. The writing is beautiful, so full of imagery you almost feel you are there, experiencing everything first hand.

Sharon Kay Penman has the ability to create such marvelous characterizations you cannot help but love Llewelyn and Joanna. This story is so romantic, and yet so incredibly tragic in it's truth; that the hero doen't always win, and good does not always triumph. Penman has written a magical novel, well researched in historical fact. The twists and turns will keep you turning pages and remaining awake to read long after your bedtime. And, best of all, you can continue the saga
with the next book. Just beware, again, that eventually you're going to cry and the only recourse will be to... read this book over again.



Rating:
Summary: Who needs sleep?
Review: Fact certainly is more entertaining than fiction when it comes to Here Be Dragons. It isn't often you find romance, intrigue and betrayal all from the pages of a history book. This is an extraordinary glimpse of the war between Llewellyn the Fawr Prince of Whales and the cruel and ruthless King John of England for the sovereignty of Whales. King Johns illegitimate daughter, Joanna, becomes an unwitting pawn in this game of thrones when King John arranges for her to marry Llewellyn the Fawr. The historic cast of characters from both King Johns and Llewellyns courts lead such remarkable lives that little fiction was needed to bring their saga to life.

Have the second book in the series, Falls the Shadow, close at hand to find out what happens to some of the characters in Here Be Dragons but be ready to start a completely new adventure with another group of characters as extraordinary as the ones in Here Be Dragons.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I had hoped
Review: I picked up this book at the recommendation of several people and I truly wanted to like this book more but I couldn't.

The reason that I couldn't like the book more was the major female character of Joanna. She has a real conflict between loyalty to her husband Llewelyn and her father King John of England. This conflict I can understand and it added depth to her character, but there was another conflict for Joanna and that was trying to reconcile her memory of her father as kind and loving with the truth of the King who was often ruthless and cruel. I can understand that conflict also, but the combination of the two made Joanna act in irresponsible and often just downright stupid ways. I suppose Ms. Penman was trying to express the confusion, hurt, and pressure that these two conflicts caused in Joanna, but the end result was a stupid, naïve character that I just thought of as a spoiled brat.

Ms. Penman leans toward romance and much of the book was about the love between Llewelyn and Joanna. Because of Joanna's inability to make an intelligent decision, this love was tested often. By the time that Joanna pulled yet another stupid decision and had an affair with a man that she herself admitted she didn't love and Llewelyn sent her away, I was truly hoping the Lllwelyn would stick by his guns and live the rest of his life as a tragic figure.

Ms. Penman is capable of producing strong and interesting female characters as evidenced by the inclusion of Eleanor of Acquitane (John's mother). I see that Ms. Penman's book Time and Chance deals with Eleanor and it may coax me to read another of Ms. Penman's books. So I haven't written her off yet.

My star ratings:

One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five start - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.


Rating:
Summary: History Leaps Off The Pages
Review: Having been recommended this book, I finally broke down and bought it. If my high school history classes were half as entertaining, I might have become a historian! Penman's historical accuracy is phenomenal. She brings to life real people in a manner that allows us to think of these long dead characters as living, breathing beings, rather than names in history books. She paints vivid, accurate potraits of the everyday events these real characters experienced: marriages, child birth, death beds, battle fields, court discussions, imprisonments. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys GOOD historical fiction with detailed accuracy.
The love between Llewlyn and Joanna drives the story along beautifully.