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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Never have I ever read so many words about a famous person and I still haven’t learned anything substantive about them. I did learn an awful lot about a bunch of 20th century poet laureate’s though so there’s that.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
This was slow but steady book for me. A long and interesting book about Queen Elizabeth II that provided joy and comfort in a difficult month for reading and work. I loved every minute of reading this book. It is going to be in my top ten of the year. I love books about the royal family and this is among the best. It looks at the late queen from many different perspectives and not in the typical way of most biographies. The author uses a kaleidoscopic approach to the most famous—and most guarded— woman on earth, examining the Queen through a succession of interlocking prisms. It explores her childhood, and her relatives including her grandparents and parents, cousins and children with little known stories about them. It looks at the Queen from many different places. For example, it looks at her from the perspective of her corgis - how she became a Corgi fan—and from the changing exhibits at Madame Tussaud’s and what that says about the Queen and the Royal family. It explores issues related to her marriage to Prince Philip, her relationship to Commonwealth countries as they increasingly lean Republican, her relationships with her homes and family, and her communications with everyone from her children to her prime ministers. Craig Brown treats us to an inside view of her family and courtiers’ relationship to the Queen with anecdotes involving her family members, courtiers, and friends. This books is not a typical biography written in chronological order but its kaleidoscopic approach to examining the Queen through highlighting unique events, people, and elements of her life provide insights into the Queen’s life and provide a portrait unique and different and oh so much better than the typical biography. 5 stars for sure!!
fast-paced
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book was a great mix of light-hearted and serious. It could have been shorter though. I think at least 1% of the book was quotes from Spare and saying "in Spare". I would have preferred overall to have less references to other works.
I did like the addition of some of the sections from the author's journey, but other parts were unnecessary or just too lengthy. The book is supposed to be about the Queen, not a memoir.
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it had a nice quick pace for the most part.
Narrator Rating: 5.0 stars
The narrators' were excellent but especially Harriet Walter, her narration really added to the audio experience. The author was decent but Harriet really outshined him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Death, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, Terminal illness, Colonisation, War
There were talks of multiple dog attacks, both on people, including children who were injured. And of other dogs, one of which almost died! There's not really a tag for that, but I wanted to add that for anyone who doesn't want to read about that, as it bothered me.
I was born in 1973 and Queen Elizabeth was, without exaggeration, the most consistent thing in my life. Even as a N American, she was always there - on magazine covers, in the news, on the news. Her presence loomed larger than any other person and in many ways, I knew (and know) more about Queen Elizabeth than I knew about my own grandmother who was also born in 1926. Her life and presence were so iconic and consistent that I imagine so many people grieved her loss as I did - someone we never met but felt we partially knew nonetheless.
“No one in human history lived a more chronicled life than the Queen.” - the author.
To ponder that quote is horrifying - I can’t imagine living my life under such a microscope as the working royals have had. Her legacy will live on.
I was thrilled to receive early access to this book, and at 672 pages, what a book it is.
It’s a fascinating look at the most famous woman in the world. - 111 chapters, with numerous photos, history, trivia, quotes about and by. I enjoyed this one very much and it’s a book I’ll buy for my own bookshelf.
Q: A Voyage Around the Queen is an absolute must for fans, royalists, monarchists, and those interested in history.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ALC for this title as well and found that the narration by both the author and Harriet Walter was excellent. For my own taste, I’d want to be able to look through a physical copy as well for the photos.
**in the author’s note post chapter 9, the author gives an example of Meghan Markle and Harry complaining about living in Nottingham Cottage to Oprah Winfrey. I think it bears notice that the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, along with Prince George managed to live there without complaint.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the DRC and thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced