I sometimes refer to movies that are light, mildly entertaining, and thoughtless as "popcorn movies": You don't watch them to learn a deeper meaning or to experience a new world; it's just to keep you amused for a few hours. That's how I think of this book. It's well-written, and keeps your attention, but that's about it. I can't say that I learned something, or my thought processes were challenged, but it was a good story. The characters were complete stereotypes and never acted out of their stifling pigeon-hole the author had placed them in. I've never read any of her other books, but another person in the book club had explained her formats for her previous books, and this seemed to be right on course. If you like that sort of predictability and thoughtlessness, then this is a great book, but I personally get more enjoyment out of books where I am encouraged to think critically and learn something new.

This is a long one (about 1100 pages!) but a page-turner. Before you know it, you're 1/4th of the way through and completely into it. I have never read a book that took place in medieval times, and I really appreciate the fact that the central character was a very common person with a common experience. This made it a very enjoyable read for me. I learned a lot about that period.
There are a few cons. One; the book is very long, but well worth is. Two, some people might prefer books where the main character is a king, a princess, or some-sort of elite. It is the tale of everyday life, but because there are so few of those, it makes it unique.

I liked this book because it challenged me a bit. The writing was great and the account was easy to follow, even though I felt a strong disliking for the author (a really over-bearing, over-privileged woman), I enjoyed the book, and that is a big thing for me!