Relief Reads 9 - The princess diaries 10 out of 10

The Princess Diaries Ten out of Ten by Meg Cabot

Charity Shop: I've forgotten :'( I'm going to go with Red Cross, Newcastle

Charity: Red Cross are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.

Price: £1

Book Blurb: (It came in a sleeve so there are two) 1. Mia is about to turn eighteen and has decided to put down her princess pen for good. This is your one and only chance to find out how it all ends - including the answers to hotter than hot questions like: / Is the practically perfect JP the real love of Mia's life? / Has Michael Moscovitz fallen for a brainbox Japanese beauty? / And is Mia REALLY the last unicorn at Albert Einstein High? / There's only one way to find out... 2. (this is decorated with little pictures) First I was an ordinary New York teen. Then I discovered that I was, by some freak of fate, the heiress to a minor European principality / A princess! / There have been a whole lot of ups and downs along the way. Mainly involving Michael Moscovitz (sigh) and his sister, my ex-best friend, Lilly. / Now I'm totally in Love with the practically perfect J.P. And I never ever think about Michael Moscovitz. Ever. Oh, and thanks to Grandmere's princess lessons, I can get out of a limo without showing my underwear. / So this is my last EVER Princess Diary. I could tell you the ending, but my bodyguard  would have to shoot you.

Expectation: I'd read some of the earlier books, and I quite enjoyed them particularly the style of writing as it's happening. The blurb made it sound incredibly cringey, and as I'm considerably older than the intended audience, I wasn't expecting it to be my best read ever. Overall I was expecting easily readable trashiness.

Reality: It was predictably outrageous and unbelievable; teenage angst with the added complexity of being rich and famous. The style has extended from diary and IM to include magazine interviews and text messages. It's a feminist's worst nightmare, and I really hope teenagers don't actually think like that. The whole story is about Mia's love life, and despite the fact she achieved a lot in her life on the political scene, the worst thing possible that can happen to her is not finding the right guy. The more I think about it, the more this book annoys me. For example in the two lead couples, the girls are rich and famous due to their family connections, the boys are rich and famous due to their scientific and musical success respectively. In addition every single character is partnered (except for Grandmere) because obviously girls are incapable of self-made success and need a man to provide their self-worth. It's worrying that some girls are going to read this and think this is what they're supposed to be thinking. I just hope it's ridiculous enough that they can see the futility of that way of life.

Overall Rating

It was a struggle           2        3        4        5        6        7        8       9      Gripping page  

to make it                                                                                                        turner

Even though I disagree with the world-view that this book is spreading, it was readable and, when I wasn't feeling annoyed, was an enjoyable read.

Twist Scale:

Knew the beginning,                                                                                 As twisty as the 

middle and end         2       3        4         5       6        7        8        9      bendy wendy road

from the first line 

Whilst the ending was obvious how it was going to be reached was not obvious until near the end. I think had I read the preceeding few books it probably wouldn't have been a twist at all.

Tear-jerker Scale:

 As dry as a house       2        3       4         5         6         7       8        9     Cried an ocean

 throughout

Unless saddened for the state of society counts...

Moral of the Story: The whole purpose of life to to pursue a man (Oh look, it's the same as the last book)

***

Coming up: *watch this space* I didn't make it to a charity shop last week because...

Last weekend I went to a 'Staycation' with the 20s and 30s from Jesmond Parish Church. It was instead of a weekend away so even if people couldn't come to all, they could still come to some. It worked for me as I had my first taste of Newcastle town centre on Friday night for a work social. But I still got to go to the Saturday of the Staycation, which was far more my scene. There were talks on the theme Eternally Secure in the morning, a beach trip in the afternoon (loving the city-by-the-beach thing!) and, in true Northern and Christian style, a ceilidh in the evening!

In other news life goes on, I am still surviving being an adult, yay! Since moving up here I have intended to cycle to work. On Monday I finally had all the required components; a bike, inflated tyres and a lock, but then it got cold and started raining! So the bike remains in the coal shed, one day it will get a proper outing...