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booksbecreads's review against another edition
4.0
I was plesently surprised by this book. I know little about this time of French history and now want to figure out which was fact and which was fiction (as often is the case with historical fiction!).
It's told in a diary form by Marie from when she is a child in Austria to when she is beheaded as Queen of France.
I don't know if the aim was to give Marie Antinette a more human/sympathetic character or if this is how she actually was, becuase the book did this very well.
A side note is though it gives you a look at the rich by inheritance vs. the poor, which although was the reason for many of these revolutions, it is still prevelant today.
It's told in a diary form by Marie from when she is a child in Austria to when she is beheaded as Queen of France.
I don't know if the aim was to give Marie Antinette a more human/sympathetic character or if this is how she actually was, becuase the book did this very well.
A side note is though it gives you a look at the rich by inheritance vs. the poor, which although was the reason for many of these revolutions, it is still prevelant today.
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
If you love a good historical fiction, I don't think you'll go wrong with this one...
appledumpkin's review against another edition
4.0
Overall it was a really good book. It kept me interested, and I liked that a lot of it was mainly true. It's cool thinking about famous historical figures in a different light. Of course I know what was going to happen in the end, but I was hoping for some type of Sound of Music, last minute rescue. The author had me believing it too. It was a nice story, nevermind the disgusting cruel people. I've only heard about the riots and whatnot from history books, but here it showed me how gory and gross these people actually were. I could've lived without some of the grimy details, but it was very interesting and I will read more books by Carolly Erickson.
Oh, and I will say that make sure your house is fully stocked with bread and cheese because hearing what they eat will make you starving for french baguettes and delicious cheeses and meats.
Oh, and I will say that make sure your house is fully stocked with bread and cheese because hearing what they eat will make you starving for french baguettes and delicious cheeses and meats.
tankneck's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
2.0
I understand that the style of this book is going to be difficult to pen, as the entirety of the book is a diary. But I was also excited by this challenge and looked forward to seeing how the author brought this idea to life. Unfortunately, this form of writing left nothing of a setting. I know nothing of the French monarchy or this period of time. I was hoping for some more information on this very well-known name. However, I found that I was left more confused. Many characters have similar names and no personality (because they are simply mentions in a diary page). So that became messy for me as a reader -- especially when one of the characters has the same name as the daughter she lost. In one entry she's attending balls and naming colors goofy names. The next the citizens are storming the palace walls trying to kill her. So I was not sure what was going on around her throughout the story, which was disappointing. She seemed to run things for her husband, and I wanted more of this.
As this story does not go beyond the diary, you never get interactions with the other figures of this time period. In addition, it's difficult to keep up with what year it is and even harder to relate to Marie, who is not particularly likable mostly because she is not consistent. While this book spans most of her life, I never saw growth from the character.
Erickson had many diary entries about how Marie was hoping for her family to be saved. As a reader, you know the outcome, so the amount of diary entries on her hopes and wishes of being saved from the parisians fell flat. You know nothing is going to come of this, and unfortunately, it gives the book less credibility. As an author, Erickson had the liberty of skipping chapters like this and really explaining the situation around Marie. In the beginning, sure, she's wrapped up in the dresses and balls. But as she begins to take on her husband's responsibilities, I was hoping for more indulgences into her dealings within the Paris court.
I thought the first few chapters really started out well. However, after she got to France, the book began to drag. I enjoyed the pieces of history like how she was sent dolls elaborately fashioned for her to pick what types of dresses she would wear when she became a "French woman." Things like that interest me. But there was very little about the details of life in this book. I also never understood how Marie Antoinette got the name "Marie." She's really never called this in the book until the end.
This book lacked setting, character depth, and relatability. The idea of this was great. However, there was not much to relate to with the setting or characters. There was no background. And, lets be honest, there is also no hope for a happy ending. I was wishing that perhaps Erickson would pull out something meaningful from Marie Antoinette's death. Perhaps her daughter survived and married for love or her son remembered her fondly and followed her example when leading others (I still need to look up what happened to them). Instead, in the end, we're left with what we heard in the beginning -- the guillotine.
As this story does not go beyond the diary, you never get interactions with the other figures of this time period. In addition, it's difficult to keep up with what year it is and even harder to relate to Marie, who is not particularly likable mostly because she is not consistent. While this book spans most of her life, I never saw growth from the character.
Erickson had many diary entries about how Marie was hoping for her family to be saved. As a reader, you know the outcome, so the amount of diary entries on her hopes and wishes of being saved from the parisians fell flat. You know nothing is going to come of this, and unfortunately, it gives the book less credibility. As an author, Erickson had the liberty of skipping chapters like this and really explaining the situation around Marie. In the beginning, sure, she's wrapped up in the dresses and balls. But as she begins to take on her husband's responsibilities, I was hoping for more indulgences into her dealings within the Paris court.
I thought the first few chapters really started out well. However, after she got to France, the book began to drag. I enjoyed the pieces of history like how she was sent dolls elaborately fashioned for her to pick what types of dresses she would wear when she became a "French woman." Things like that interest me. But there was very little about the details of life in this book. I also never understood how Marie Antoinette got the name "Marie." She's really never called this in the book until the end.
This book lacked setting, character depth, and relatability. The idea of this was great. However, there was not much to relate to with the setting or characters. There was no background. And, lets be honest, there is also no hope for a happy ending. I was wishing that perhaps Erickson would pull out something meaningful from Marie Antoinette's death. Perhaps her daughter survived and married for love or her son remembered her fondly and followed her example when leading others (I still need to look up what happened to them). Instead, in the end, we're left with what we heard in the beginning -- the guillotine.
vanities's review against another edition
1.0
Carolly Erickson is one of the worse authors I've ever read. She clearly thinks all women are whiny and needy for the attention of men, besides their husband & neglectful mothers. This book totally skipped the 'Affair of the Necklace' that was very important in Marie Antoinette's time and there's huge time gaps where she just writes "....my diary was discovered so I've stopped writing until I find a new hiding place...". Seriously? The only thing that could make me hate this book more is if I'd paid for it. HORRID.
spiralbear's review against another edition
1.0
God awful, wretched, horrible book. Don't read it if you want to know anything about the real Marie Antoniette
jillhubbs's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit I knew nothing about her before, I liked the book, I am not sure how accurate it is but it was entertaining.
peachydip's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Please note……This is historical fiction, and the idiot I am was thinking “oh shit they found her diary”