Last weekend when we went out to The Gardens, I just had to drop by MPH for some books. Everyone bought a book because of my superb influence. LOL.. I love to read and I think it is just wonderful if I am able to make my brothers and B-bunz to love reading as well. The only thing is, I don't have to try hard because they've all just love reading since forever. B-bunz and I even tried our hands in writing. Funny, we both do very well in genres that we love. I'm good at Romance and he's good at Fantasy.
I bought this book - The People's Queen by Vanora Bennett.
Well, I must say, the material in this book is a little different than what I'm used to imagining Alice Ferrers is like. I've always envisioned her as this no-pretty nobody of peasant bloodline who managed to be a powerful woman at one point because she managed to crawl into the King's bed. Well, truth is, she was a scheming little slut who should've stopped when she's on top, it's just that I never think of her as a brilliant businesswoman collecting estates actually. Though now come to think of it, recalling the timeline and the things she made for herself, on her own, I have to admit she's pretty brilliant. I also always saw Katherine de Roet as this sweet girl who was out of a Convent at a young age, then got married and became John of Gaunt's paramour because of love. But then, who am I kidding right? I'm just a soppy little hopeless romantic at heart.
It's the 15th century and everybody but everybody is trying to make the most money for themselves. It was, after all right after the Black Death. Everybody is trying to make ends meet. If they can't con each other then they try to con the King by being their consort. Seriously, why would Alice become a paramour if it wasn't for the money and power? He was, at the time, already in his 60's while she was just 25! And John, although I've always envisioned him as this handsome prince who is just so perfect amongst all his brothers, he most certainly is not. He's got flaws, many flaws indeed. Plus, having lots of bastards by other women does not mean Katherine de Roet is any different than any of his other paramours. She's probably just lucky that after 20 years and her bastards (with John) have grown up and his wife had died, he chose to marry her instead of marrying his other women.
So, is that love? Maybe. Or it could also be an action born out of fear. Fear of dying alone.
Oh, but is it wrong for me to imagine that it might also be love?
When I read Anya Seton's book Katherine, it wasn't hard to imagine that it was all about love. Of course, it was a Historical Fiction book and just like Vanora Bennett, hers too was just a Fiction, although my dreams are dashed by Miss Bennett's portrayal of John of Gaunt as a promiscuous moron along with another 90% of the people in Court at that time. Yeah well, I can't deny the truth. There were many royal bastards then. Maybe they're afraid another wave of Black Death might return so they went and sleep around with as many different women they could find.
Well, maybe it's true. It's a dog eats dog world out there. The 15th century is no different than the 21st century. It's all about the money. Only money talks.
But a hopeless romantic girl like me can still fantasize, right?
