Have you read Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall?
I've had it on the list for a while, but I got distracted with other things. Then, on the weekend, I thought I'd give it a try. It was a sunny morning. The birds were atwitter and I had coffee, so the book-starting signs were all good.
I don't know what happened, but two pages in I was crying. Sobbing, really. Maybe it was three pages. I had to close the thing before I got to the page number. But it was no more than three.
Everyone's talking Toy Story Three tear counts at the moment. No one who's read Wolf Hall has mentioned anything to me about the start, about page 2, about the crying. I avoid reviews, but I haven't heard anyone mention that, you know, The Age's review of it was muddied with bitter tears or anything. God alone knows how the Man Booker people got to the end of it with enough presence of mind to give it the award.
Anyway. When I get the guts to try it again, I'll let you know if I get beyond page 3. In the meantime, if you've read it, and can warn me of any further bawling-sessions-in-waiting, that would be appreciated.
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