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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
It was the concept that made me pick this up in the library, that and the fact that I loved Brick Lane, the author's debut work.
Diana didn't die in Paris - she faked her own death back in 1997. Though the name 'Diana' isn't used in the book at all, we know that Lydia is the former Princess, in hiding and having started a new life in America.
Quite an intriguing prospect. My first thought, as a parent was: just how could she do that to her children? And this is something the novel explores, though not in the depth I expected or hoped for. You know she is mourning their loss, desperate to see them, but it glosses over this a little.
Her current life is quite a tantalising story in itself - just what WOULD Diana have done differently with her life, if she hadn't fallen for a Prince? Her pseudonym and new identity is compromised when, by chance, an old paparazzi reporter who knew her well comes across her new town by chance and sees her. And recognises someone familiar...
I was quite drawn in, it is inevitable that she is recognised (even after the elaborate death set-up and plastic surgery). But just how will she react?
Ali's writing of Lydia intersects with the voices of both Grabber (the Pap on her tail) and a former aide of Diana's who helped her escape her hellish existence. Together they build up both a picture of her old life and her new. I read the audiobook version, and the voices portraying these characters are excellent, especially that portraying Diana/Lydia - the right upper class tones.
Found this fascinating really. I empathised with Lydia, despite loathing what she'd done to her children. Liked the ending too, I thought Ali handled the concept well and managed both the domestic scenes and those with tension very eloquently.
This could make a rather 'different' title for book groups, quite unusual but rather a lot of discussion to be had.
Diana didn't die in Paris - she faked her own death back in 1997. Though the name 'Diana' isn't used in the book at all, we know that Lydia is the former Princess, in hiding and having started a new life in America.
Quite an intriguing prospect. My first thought, as a parent was: just how could she do that to her children? And this is something the novel explores, though not in the depth I expected or hoped for. You know she is mourning their loss, desperate to see them, but it glosses over this a little.
Her current life is quite a tantalising story in itself - just what WOULD Diana have done differently with her life, if she hadn't fallen for a Prince? Her pseudonym and new identity is compromised when, by chance, an old paparazzi reporter who knew her well comes across her new town by chance and sees her. And recognises someone familiar...
I was quite drawn in, it is inevitable that she is recognised (even after the elaborate death set-up and plastic surgery). But just how will she react?
Ali's writing of Lydia intersects with the voices of both Grabber (the Pap on her tail) and a former aide of Diana's who helped her escape her hellish existence. Together they build up both a picture of her old life and her new. I read the audiobook version, and the voices portraying these characters are excellent, especially that portraying Diana/Lydia - the right upper class tones.
Found this fascinating really. I empathised with Lydia, despite loathing what she'd done to her children. Liked the ending too, I thought Ali handled the concept well and managed both the domestic scenes and those with tension very eloquently.
This could make a rather 'different' title for book groups, quite unusual but rather a lot of discussion to be had.
yvonne_s's review against another edition
3.0
A light and enjoyable read. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll enjoy it.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
The characters all seemed very real and modern-they all had their faults and annoying parts, but were all fairly well constructed. Lydia, or rather, the Princess of Wales, was very well portrayed. It's difficult to grasp how a person would feel if they faked their own death, but I feel that Monica Ali did a very good job of creating those reactions.
There were many parts to this story, which at first was a bit confusing to me, but overall, I got the hang of them. However, those different parts all tied together wonderfully to make a story that was well crafted.
This story brings up a part of society that is often talked about but never really understood. It brings up how the celebrity (or in this case, princess) feels about their famous lives: the harassment, the paparazzi, the suffocation of never being able to leave their homes without being pestered. While some crave the attention, some would rather be invisible. Or, in some cases, it's a mixed bag.
Overall, I think Monica Ali has done a wonderful job portraying many attitudes, personalities, opinions and plotlines in this book.
There were many parts to this story, which at first was a bit confusing to me, but overall, I got the hang of them. However, those different parts all tied together wonderfully to make a story that was well crafted.
This story brings up a part of society that is often talked about but never really understood. It brings up how the celebrity (or in this case, princess) feels about their famous lives: the harassment, the paparazzi, the suffocation of never being able to leave their homes without being pestered. While some crave the attention, some would rather be invisible. Or, in some cases, it's a mixed bag.
Overall, I think Monica Ali has done a wonderful job portraying many attitudes, personalities, opinions and plotlines in this book.
literarylover37's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to like this book but I just didn't. It was a struggle to finish, possibly because you could see the ending from a mile away. I think outside of the wooden characters the thing that put me off about it was the same thing that initially attracted me, the premise. It seemed to be a really creative story and in the vein of something I would enjoy but it began to weird me out. Perhaps it is because Princess Diana is such a recent historical figure? I just felt creepy about a third of the way in wondering what her sons would think of this book. Hmm.
melodyharmon's review against another edition
1.0
I must admit that I couldn't get past the first 40 pages. I just didn't found the writing style up to my standards and the story wasn't griping enough to holds my attention.
lisawreading's review against another edition
1.0
Pretty much the only good thing I have to say about this book is that it was relatively short. What a waste of time.
alison_marie's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book because I thought the premise was really interesting, but I only made it about halfway through before giving up.
smudpu's review against another edition
5.0
Rarely do I hey so engrossed in a story, but I devotes this one in two sittings. It's a fascinating "what if".
totesmarisa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
stevienlcf's review against another edition
3.0
Monica Ali's latest novel imagines that Princess Diana did not die in a car crash in a Paris tunnel but, rather, after plastic surgery in Brazil and the addition of brown contact lenses, has been living a quiet life as "Lydia" in an American suburb (Kensington, natch) and working at a dog kennel. Although Ali's Diana "dies" by drowning in shark infested waters, all the other players in the Princess's life make cameos (but not by proper name): her "husband's mistress," "that biography" and the son of the "Egyptian industrialist."
The novel is at its best when it chronicles, through correspondence between Diana and her loyal private secretary, Lawrence Standing, how they put into motion "our little plan," and how Lydia wrestles with her choice of leaving her life and her boys. The book falters when a British journalist arrives in Kensington and threatens to unmask Lydia. Although not a literary masterpiece, "Untold Story" is a romp for those of us who remember the Princess's bulemia, her ill-fated affairs with unsuitable men, and the press's field day when they documented the cellulite peaking out of the Princess's bike shorts.
The novel is at its best when it chronicles, through correspondence between Diana and her loyal private secretary, Lawrence Standing, how they put into motion "our little plan," and how Lydia wrestles with her choice of leaving her life and her boys. The book falters when a British journalist arrives in Kensington and threatens to unmask Lydia. Although not a literary masterpiece, "Untold Story" is a romp for those of us who remember the Princess's bulemia, her ill-fated affairs with unsuitable men, and the press's field day when they documented the cellulite peaking out of the Princess's bike shorts.