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By: AUCK 107
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2024-12-16 13:06:47 |
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We all found this book fascinating as it describes a life totally foreign to us. Sometimes the writing was a bit pedestrian, and the author is quite self-absorbed, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. |
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By: ROTO 010
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2024-09-25 20:07:21 |
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We found this book intriguing, but some in the group did not have an interest in the author's connection to Royal business. However we appreciated a very personal tale of what matters to Glenconner, which included accepting a mentally challenged relationship with her husband, sons with tragic circumstance and especially overcoming the coma state of one son. She paid an honourable tribute to the Queen and especially her friendship with Princess Margaret. We spoke about how tragedy does not avoid anyone. |
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By: ASHB 016
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2024-08-27 22:34:40 |
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We all found this book interesting and easy to read. None of us could live her lifestyle - so different to living in NZ. Interesting that it was so normal to her but so foreign to us. We would not have put up with her husband. A number of us had Googled her and watched videos to see what she was like - she is an amazing lady regardless of her background. It put a few ladies off royalty after being royalists for years! It was a good book which generated lots of discussion. |
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By: PICT 007
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2024-07-11 11:45:32 |
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We were all shocked by the debauchery and lack of any morals by most of the "upper classes" in this book, and Glenconner's husband was horrific, the whole group agreed on that. Interesting but gross and shocking. |
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By: CHCH 575
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2024-06-05 13:51:09 |
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We all enjoyed the book and it sparked great conversation about the lifestyles of the aristocracy. It inspired further research into her life. We all felt there was a lot left unsaid. |
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By: DARF 004
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2024-05-27 21:39:14 |
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Mostly enjoyed. A lot of members felt it was more of a brag session about how amazing her life had been, with a bit of insight into the reality of being a royal lady in waiting. |
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By: AUCK 412
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2024-05-11 20:43:01 |
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Mostly enjoyed by our group, although some felt that she painted some of the characters, herself included, in too good a light. Overall a good light read. |
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By: HAMIL 034
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2023-07-26 12:14:32 |
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A good description of life in the upper class, and of Princess Margaret. Good discussion. |
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By: PALMN 031
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2023-07-24 10:06:38 |
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An enjoyable read - not a book most of us would normally have chosen. |
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By: HAMIL 010
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2023-05-25 11:48:33 |
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Fairly interesting discussion with two of our members having grown up in England - but with differing attitudes to the Royals. The rest of us were astounded by the temper tantrums and entitlements exhibited. One of our members felt that Royalty and its hangers-on - had no other way of dealing with their frustrations and the media were much to blame... |
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By: NELS 080
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2023-05-17 13:07:10 |
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The book was so timely as we read the book then watched the Coronation of King Charles. |
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By: FEILD 005
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2023-04-19 15:28:00 |
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Easy to read. It was interesting finding out about the life of the aristocracy in UK. Nobody fancied having an eccentric husband like Anne had, even if he had money. Lots of discussion took place. |
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By: CAMB 002
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2022-07-18 12:05:35 |
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We all enjoyed reading this book. Great discussion and insight into the lives of other people. |
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By: CHCH 001
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2022-06-30 11:41:57 |
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Members described the book as a 'rollicking good read!'. There were two halves - with the second half telling of the tragedies of the family. It was an insight into a world of wealth and extravagance, along with the enduring friendship of the author and Princess Margaret. |
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By: NAP 005
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2022-06-19 18:44:29 |
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Our group had a rather negative reaction on seeing this was our new book, but most enjoyed reading it, fascinated by the lives of the English royals and aristocracy. We agreed that the answer by Glenconner in an interview with Kim Hill summed up Colin so well: If youre an eccentric you have to be rich. If youre poor, then its madness. Also, despite the familys wealth, they were not immune to tragedy. The book was a topical read with the celebrations of the Queens Platinum Jubilee taking place as we read the book. |
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By: AUCK 009
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2022-06-16 11:31:22 |
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I think we were all torn between admiration for Glenconner and the way she coped with her ghastly husband, the deaths of her two sons and the tantrums of Princess Margaret - and revulsion for the lifestyle they led, with seemingly no thought for the Mustique Islanders, or anyone less affluent than themselves. We loved her sense of humour, her dedication to the recovery of her youngest son, Christopher, and her loyalty to Princess Margaret ( even if she was rather forgiving of her bad behaviour). Maybe you forgive a lot when you've known someone since age 7... |
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By: WELL 206
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2022-05-10 12:03:50 |
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Anne's book was enjoyed by all. Her tragedies and difficulties made for good discussion. An interesting account of the "upper classes" day to day. |
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By: ROTO 002
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2022-04-29 12:16:31 |
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We loved Anne Glenconner's resilience, but questioned her parenting and the value of the partying lifestyle she lived. Lots to discuss about the aristocratic lifestyle, marriage and parenting. For those of us who remember reading about Princess Margaret, there was enjoyment at reading about the detail of the royals. One of our group has a 1994 'Hello' magazine with articles about the Glenconners. Thought-provoking. |
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By: FERN 001
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2022-04-29 12:12:30 |
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We all loved this insight into the lives of the rich and famous. We admired the strength of the woman born into a world full of expectations that we found difficult to comprehend. |
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By: PALMN 006
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2022-03-07 10:36:20 |
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Everybody just loved this book. 10 stars!! |
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By: INVER 001
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2021-11-17 12:32:38 |
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All of us really enjoyed this book - most of us had seen Lady Anne interviewed on The Graham Norton Show, so the book just added to her remarkable story. |
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By: MATAM 004
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2021-11-17 12:21:12 |
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Everyone really enjoyed this book. Very interesting. An amazing woman living in a different life. |
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By: PALMN 013
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2021-09-22 12:23:33 |
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A book that held our attention. Vulgar in places but a window on how the other half lived/live. An extraordinary life, sad in some respects but told by Anne well. |
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By: WESTP 001
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2021-09-10 14:43:37 |
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An entertaining light read. An interesting insight into the British aristocracy and, briefly, the Royal family. Everyone was delighted to meet on our first Delta Level 2 day. A very happy evening and good exchange of lockdown reading. |
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By: PALMN 004
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2021-08-25 14:06:58 |
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The book was thoroughly enjoyed by our group, and facilitated a lot of great discussion. |
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By: CHCH 194
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2021-04-13 15:51:22 |
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A detailed account of life lived in the upper-class English aristocracy. It did not show them in a favourable light with excesses indulged. Perhaps an excess of honesty was not necessary after so much time. |
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