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trudy1963's review against another edition
1.0
I tried to like it but just couldn't. There were two parts to the story, one historical (the Korean Queen) and one modern day. Both parts had one primary female character and I never felt the connection between the two character. I didn't feel the author made the connection between the two character believable.
anne_marie_samp's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lnbrittain's review against another edition
3.0
I have an odd way of rating this book. It was more intriguing than many books. It starts with a terrific set of characters—both modern and ancient. The plot set up was very interesting. The writing was sometimes very careful and beautiful. But because there wasn’t momentum in the book, partly because of the rich, diverting details and introspection of characters, it was hard to stay involved.
These are problems but also reasons why the book was good. So in a way, I give a low score—3 stars. But in a broader way, there are many excellent reasons to read this book. I’m glad I did.
Her style and cadence are enough of a reason to read a Margaret Drabble. Very unique.
These are problems but also reasons why the book was good. So in a way, I give a low score—3 stars. But in a broader way, there are many excellent reasons to read this book. I’m glad I did.
Her style and cadence are enough of a reason to read a Margaret Drabble. Very unique.
ameserole's review against another edition
1.0
I think this is my first book ever from Margaret Drabble.. and it might by my last. I have no idea if that will be true or not but at this point.. well, The Red Queen was such a disappointment for me.
Okay, so The Red Queen is about a Korean crown princess being forced to marry a mad man who is line to become the next king.. or the king. Either way, I didn't really care. Now her tale is somewhat entertaining and a smidge interesting.. but you'll get bored rather quickly. Just like I did. Or not if you're into the whole mindset of marriage back in the days. I'd rather sit through a lecture on all of the sciences wrapped together than reread this book ever again. AND I HATE SCIENCE SO GOD DAMN MUCH!
Now around the half way point of this book.. you'll really start to hate yourself because you somehow convinced yourself to keep on reading. What if it gets better? It wont. What if I drink some wine and I'll start to like it? Drink 3 bottles and you'll end up hating it even more.
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit harsh.. but I just hated everything from Barbara's POV. I wanted to stab the book repeatedly, burn it, or gift it to someone I really hate. Again, it could just be me.. but I wish I would've stayed away from this book.
Okay, so The Red Queen is about a Korean crown princess being forced to marry a mad man who is line to become the next king.. or the king. Either way, I didn't really care. Now her tale is somewhat entertaining and a smidge interesting.. but you'll get bored rather quickly. Just like I did. Or not if you're into the whole mindset of marriage back in the days. I'd rather sit through a lecture on all of the sciences wrapped together than reread this book ever again. AND I HATE SCIENCE SO GOD DAMN MUCH!
Now around the half way point of this book.. you'll really start to hate yourself because you somehow convinced yourself to keep on reading. What if it gets better? It wont. What if I drink some wine and I'll start to like it? Drink 3 bottles and you'll end up hating it even more.
Okay, maybe I'm being a bit harsh.. but I just hated everything from Barbara's POV. I wanted to stab the book repeatedly, burn it, or gift it to someone I really hate. Again, it could just be me.. but I wish I would've stayed away from this book.
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/day-962-the-red-queen/
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/day-962-the-red-queen/
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
3.0
I really appreciate what Drabble was trying to do with this novel - to bring to life a tragic ghost of the past - but I really feel that she missed her mark here.
The novel is split into two parts: the first, recounting the life of the Crown Princess of 18th Century Korea, is skimmed over too rapidly, and her omnipresent narration seems to knowledgeable about modern culture to be relatable as a historical figure. The second follows a present day academic in Seoul for a conference who reads about the princess, embarks upon an affair with a married man and then adopts a Chinese baby (who apparently represents the Crown Princess). I couldn't join the dots and found the two parts too disjointed. Drabble is, however, a writer of some skill - she is extremely eloquent and writes well, I just didn't like the handling of the two stories. I was confused more than intrigued.
The novel is split into two parts: the first, recounting the life of the Crown Princess of 18th Century Korea, is skimmed over too rapidly, and her omnipresent narration seems to knowledgeable about modern culture to be relatable as a historical figure. The second follows a present day academic in Seoul for a conference who reads about the princess, embarks upon an affair with a married man and then adopts a Chinese baby (who apparently represents the Crown Princess). I couldn't join the dots and found the two parts too disjointed. Drabble is, however, a writer of some skill - she is extremely eloquent and writes well, I just didn't like the handling of the two stories. I was confused more than intrigued.
bookishblond's review against another edition
3.0
The other reviewers are right: this is a very strange book! The first half was the fictional account (based on real memoirs) of a Korean princess, as told by her ghost. The second half was a a third-person account of a modern woman (Margaret Drabble fictionalized) who reads the memoirs on a plane (the same words we read?) and becomes obsessed with or haunted by the dead princess. Certainly an interesting idea, but I'm not sure Drabble succeeded in writing her "transcultural tragicomedy."
jessby's review against another edition
3.0
Two parallel stories - one told by the Korean Red Queen detailing her palace life in the 18th Century and the other by Dr Babs Halliwell in the present day. Babs reads the memoirs of the Red Queen while on a flight to Korea, becoming consumed by the story and the relevance of it to her own life.
The Korean story was very fascinating. It was set in a time and place in which I admit to being very ignorant and I was intrigued and shocked, particularly by the story of the insane Prince Sado. However Babs was boring and the narration very annoying. The constant and inane questions that are continually put to the reader nearly drove me crazy - eg on p 178 "Is Dr Halliwell wishing she had been bold enough to insist on an upgrade? Should she have stood on ceremony and status? What is her status? Should she have risked putting it to the test? Is she a rising star and a mini-celebrity, as she sometimes believes herself to be? Or has she peaked already, at the age of forty-two? Will she get a promotion this year, next year? And if so, promotion to what? It has been a long climb to the midway place where she now finds herself: must she go on climbing for the rest of her life?"
So 4 stars for the Queen's first half and 2 stars Bab's second half - I averaged this out to give 3 stars.
The Korean story was very fascinating. It was set in a time and place in which I admit to being very ignorant and I was intrigued and shocked, particularly by the story of the insane Prince Sado. However Babs was boring and the narration very annoying. The constant and inane questions that are continually put to the reader nearly drove me crazy - eg on p 178 "Is Dr Halliwell wishing she had been bold enough to insist on an upgrade? Should she have stood on ceremony and status? What is her status? Should she have risked putting it to the test? Is she a rising star and a mini-celebrity, as she sometimes believes herself to be? Or has she peaked already, at the age of forty-two? Will she get a promotion this year, next year? And if so, promotion to what? It has been a long climb to the midway place where she now finds herself: must she go on climbing for the rest of her life?"
So 4 stars for the Queen's first half and 2 stars Bab's second half - I averaged this out to give 3 stars.
badazz_knitter's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books! I'm not sure who the bigger victim is in this novel, the Red Queen, or Sado. I guess that is part of the thrill of the story. And everything is very vivid in detail. I would love to see this book in film, I believe it would be similar to the Curse of the Golden Flower.