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oldenglishrose's review
2.0
I have my doubts as to whether whoever wrote the review quoted on the cover calling this book "a racy, pacy story with a cast of rogues and villains" has in fact read it. It was neither racy, nor pacy, and the characters weren't fleshed out enough to be rogues and villains. In fact, it didn't really have characters at all, just figures who appeared as the narrative required. However, while I wasn't the slightest bit interested in the characters, least of all the insipid narrator, I was quite intrigued by the events she described. Chantal Thomas does an excellent job of portraying the downfall of Versailles, she just doesn't make you care about it.
martydah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nglofile's review against another edition
1.0
This was painful to slog through. Fragmented and continually disengaged, the story just had no traction.
dhilderbrand's review against another edition
2.0
Not at all want I had hoped. The writing was just to flowery for me
sonia921's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting view of this time period, but the book itself had a very odd style and prose. I think maybe it isn't a very good translation.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
Farewell My Queen has some great writing, some great scenes, some great impressions, but much of it is dull and uneven.
It recounts, almost hour-by-hour, Versailles on July 14th-16th 1789. The first day is a normal one as courtiers and servants do what courtiers and servants do. The second day begins with the residents learning that the King was awoken in the middle of the night to be told about the Bastille. By the third day everyone is making plans to flee and the monarchy appears to be over.
The story is told in flashbacks from the perspective of then-young woman who was a backup reader to Marie Antoinette. Her flashbacks are largely a series of people she interacted with and scenes she witnessed, like the animal keeper lamenting the death of his animals, the official court historian who is on volume 7 of his history, the man in charge of the household who is being ignored as everyone flees, and several other characters. The depiction of Marie Antoinette wandering around alone, knocking on doors and attempting--without success--to enter them is particularly moving, as Chantal Thomas explains that these are the first times she has even touched a door. It is interesting to understand that there is something infantile about the kings and queens who were helpless without people doing even the basic things for them.
It starts out telling all of these events in a witty and amusing manner. But then the method of telling does not sustain interest for the entire book, although it picks up again at the end when everyone is fleeing Versailles.
It recounts, almost hour-by-hour, Versailles on July 14th-16th 1789. The first day is a normal one as courtiers and servants do what courtiers and servants do. The second day begins with the residents learning that the King was awoken in the middle of the night to be told about the Bastille. By the third day everyone is making plans to flee and the monarchy appears to be over.
The story is told in flashbacks from the perspective of then-young woman who was a backup reader to Marie Antoinette. Her flashbacks are largely a series of people she interacted with and scenes she witnessed, like the animal keeper lamenting the death of his animals, the official court historian who is on volume 7 of his history, the man in charge of the household who is being ignored as everyone flees, and several other characters. The depiction of Marie Antoinette wandering around alone, knocking on doors and attempting--without success--to enter them is particularly moving, as Chantal Thomas explains that these are the first times she has even touched a door. It is interesting to understand that there is something infantile about the kings and queens who were helpless without people doing even the basic things for them.
It starts out telling all of these events in a witty and amusing manner. But then the method of telling does not sustain interest for the entire book, although it picks up again at the end when everyone is fleeing Versailles.
abitahooey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
kyotomylove's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Unusual book of the downfall of versaille through the eyes of one of marie antoinettes servants. This young, naive woman desribes the events of the last few days of the imperial reign of france and takes the reader through a journey the becomes faster and faster. Although naive the narrator has a clear insight of the human hart and sort of grows up through the events. The language the author uses makes the reader feel very close to the epoch and may be a little challenging at first. A unique read. Pardon for my review- i m not a native speaker.
fudgeelizabeth9's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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