Meridon

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: All three books in the series were great but I felt the charecters in this one were incredible. It was like I felt what she felt, It really inspired me. The girl Meridon was ws just trying to find who she was, like so many of us are. It was fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: Although I did not read the first two books in the Lacey trilogy, I had high hopes for "Meridon", as I thought Gregory's storytelling in "The Queen's Fool" is excellent. But "Meridon" is a great disappointment. The story starts out with a very interesting premise - with Meridon as a traveling Rom, or gypsy. However, her dreams of "Wide" are not flushed out completely - they don't really have a coherent place. The book starts going downhill immediately after 'the accident,' (I don't want to give too much of the story away). But after that, it seems to me that Gregory makes events happen just just for the sake of them happening without really flushing out the reasons why. Meridon jumps from being Meridon to being Sarah in too short a time, Wideacre accepts Meridon as Sarah too quickly. The ending is even more indicative of this disjointed piecing together of events - I didn't get a sense of Meridon's growth as a character at all. I was extremely disappointed with this book, but because I did really enjoy "The Queen's Fool," I will give Gregory another chance and read "The Other Boleyn Girl."

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: Although I did not read the first two books in the Lacey trilogy, I had high hopes for "Meridon", as I thought Gregory's storytelling in "The Queen's Fool" is excellent. But "Meridon" is a great disappointment. The story starts out with a very interesting premise - with Meridon as a traveling Rom, or gypsy. However, her dreams of "Wide" are not flushed out completely - they don't really have a coherent place. The book starts going downhill immediately after 'the accident,' (I don't want to give too much of the story away). But after that, it seems to me that Gregory makes events happen just just for the sake of them happening without really flushing out the reasons why. Meridon jumps from being Meridon to being Sarah in too short a time, Wideacre accepts Meridon as Sarah too quickly. The ending is even more indicative of this disjointed piecing together of events - I didn't really get a sense of Meridon's growth as a character. I was extremely disappointed with this book, but because I did really enjoy "The Queen's Fool," I will give Gregory another chance and read "The Other Boleyn Girl."

Rating:
Summary: a rare treasure
Review: books writen like this one inspire me to read more often.

Rating:
Summary: A spellbinding trilogy of characters I didn't like
Review: Having read the first two novels in this trilogy, I was not quite sure what to expect from this one. While the first two novels emphasize the growth of Beatrice and Julia on Wideacre, Meridon spends the majority of this book away from her land, having grown up without any knowledge of her roots.
Yet, despite the fact that Wideacre as a place appears in this book relatively infrequently, Wideacre as a representative of the class struggle comes out much more strongly in this novel than the two previous ones. Meridon herself has lived on both sides of the track, and her unique experience gives her a completely different viewpoint from either of the two previous Laceys. Through the use of interesting side characters who each in their own way are struggling with money (the pursuit of it, why you need it, why you want it, and what to do with it once you have it), the at the time revolutionary ideas of spreading the wealth across the whole population are emphasized.
The only thing that I missed and wondered about was that there was no mention of Ralph in this book. Since he was so important in the first two books, I thought that he might make an appearance of some kind in this one... in any case, the character of Will Tyacke does well in illustrating that deep desire to help the poor.
All in all, I thought that this was an amazing finish to the trilogy, and a definite must-read.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful finish
Review: Having read the first two novels in this trilogy, I was not quite sure what to expect from this one. While the first two novels emphasize the growth of Beatrice and Julia on Wideacre, Meridon spends the majority of this book away from her land, having grown up without any knowledge of her roots.
Yet, despite the fact that Wideacre as a place appears in this book relatively infrequently, Wideacre as a representative of the class struggle comes out much more strongly in this novel than the two previous ones. Meridon herself has lived on both sides of the track, and her unique experience gives her a completely different viewpoint from either of the two previous Laceys. Through the use of interesting side characters who each in their own way are struggling with money (the pursuit of it, why you need it, why you want it, and what to do with it once you have it), the at the time revolutionary ideas of spreading the wealth across the whole population are emphasized.
The only thing that I missed and wondered about was that there was no mention of Ralph in this book. Since he was so important in the first two books, I thought that he might make an appearance of some kind in this one... in any case, the character of Will Tyacke does well in illustrating that deep desire to help the poor.
All in all, I thought that this was an amazing finish to the trilogy, and a definite must-read.

Rating:
Summary: A spellbinding trilogy of characters I didn't like
Review: I have mixed feelings about the entire trilogy of books, although I enjoyed "Meridon" the most. It is a wonderfully written book, full of vivid imagery and well fleshed-out characters, and the estate of Wideacre is a living, breathing place. My biggest complaint is that I just didn't LIKE many of the characters, especially the main protagonists. With the exception of James Fortescue and Will Tyacke, Philippa Gregory paints an ugly picture of people and all their foibles. I often found myself disgusted with everyone, and there were many times when I would have quit reading if the writing itself weren't so darned GOOD. Despite my feelings about the people, though, I would probably recommend "Meridon" and its predecessors, "Wideacre" and "The Favored Child," as good pieces of literature.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful finish !
Review: I have read all three books of the Wideacre and trilogy and just absolutly loved each one! In the first book , Wideacre, I was completely fascinated with the evil mind of Beatrice Lacey , in the Favored Child I felt pity for Julia Lacey and in Meridon I found a character to relate to , who is facing real struggles and is someone you want to suceed! This trilogy takes the reader from the intrigueing and intense mind of Beatrice to fulfilling ending. If you are thinking of reading this book you must read Wideacre and The Favored Child first!

Rating:
Summary: The Author Read Too Many Romance Novels
Review: I read the Wildacre trilogy and was very disturbed by the sexual content and discriptions. You NEVER see this in other books depicting this era - except in trashy romance novels. If you want to read classy historical novels try Taylor Caldwell.


Rating:
Summary: The Lacey trilogy ends on a high note
Review: This book, the last of the three books about the Laceys of Wideacre, manages to be both very different from its predecessors, and also just as good. Wild gypsy girl Meridon lives hard and keeps her heart well guarded. Her abusive father, indifferent mother, and completely selfish sister make Meridon cynical and very tough. Yet despite the hardness of her life travelling, Meridon has one delight... her dreams of a beautiful home far away called "Wide" - a place where she is rich and loved and warm... do Meridon's longings bring her back to her ancestral home, and lead her into a life of happiness and luxury? You never know with that Lacey family. I would reccommed reading the book to find out...