PRINCESS DAISY by JUDITH KRANTZ

PRINCESS DAISY

BY JUDITH KRANTZ

THE BLURB:-

She was born Princess Marguerite Alexandrovna Valensky. She was a blonde beauty living in a world of aristocrats and countless wealth. Her father was a prince, a Russian nobleman. Her mother was an American movie goddess. Men desired her. Women envied her. Daisy's life was a fairytale filled with parties and balls, priceless jewels, money and love. Then suddenly, the fairytale ended. And Princess Daisy had to start again, with nothing. Except the secret she guarded from the day she was born.

THE REALITY:-

It a long time since I read a blockbuster! I saw “A Woman of Substance” on TV in the early eighties, found it incredibly moving, and subsequently bought the novel. Ditto “The Thorn Birds” and “Lace”, but somehow Princess Daisy- a contemporary- kind of passed me by. I remember adverts for the mini-series as it starred Rupert Everett, who became a favourite of mine, but that's about it.

This book certainly delivered! It has it all; beautiful people, glamorous locations, passion, sex, obsession and jealousy, and also a classic riches-to-rags-then-back-to-riches storyline.

The apparent secret of Daisy having a mentally handicapped, institutionalized identical twin was not particularly hidden, but I found the concept original and touching. The characters were all well-rounded, human and believable, and the research into detail was exquisite.

I did, however, find that the novel got less interesting as it went on, the historical sections at the beginning being more of a fulfilling read. The exposure of Daisy's secret was predictable, and the demise of Ram Valensky was simply a cop out.

This book reeked of the late seventies/ early eighties, and seem a typical write from that time. I would, however, highly recommend it. The character of Daisy is human and very likeable and it sold many copies for a reason. This certainly had me rushing to turn the pages. 

I don't think I'm going to be reading or reviewing so many books for a while.  I need to press on with my next novel, and spend my spare time writing.

MANDARA SPA AMBER HEAVEN

I bought this delightful little set of smellies to put in my washbag, as they are a handy size for travelling.

The smell reminded me of the classic perfume Shalimar, by Guerlain.  

Absolutely gorgeous!

HAIR CORSAGES AND WILLY HOOP-LA

I like to pin a bow or a corsage in my hair, I'm a very decorative creature!

These little pretties were found at Martyn's Walk Around Store in Great Yarmouth.  It's an interesting place- it sells a cornucopia of goods, from wallets, costume jewellery and ornaments to quite well-made stuffed animals and novelty, jokey gifts.

They had a game which was called Willy Hoop-la, consisting of a set of rings you have to throw over a (quite wide...ouch!) fake penis.  I find a set of my bangles and the real thing much more fun...  

BAGS OF FUN!

I'm not as obsessed with bags as I am about shoes, but I just had to share this lovely ombre effect, glistening changeant delight with you.  Bought on a recent trip to Great Yarmouth, for only £12, this is a real find and will soon become my next day bag.

This is my current day bag- animal print, purple (my favourite colour) and with a bit of bling, this ticks all the right boxes.  And it only cost me £15, off ebay.

I have a friend who always tries to persuade me to buy an expensive bag, one which lasts.  She then sticks her £80 brown leather number, that she's had for nearly ten years, under my nose.

Well, I don't want a bag that lasts!  I like a bit of variety with my fashion, and the time my bag starts to fall to pieces (tends to be around six months) coincides with the time I'm getting bored with it anyway.  Plus brown is not a very exciting colour, and a sensible leather bag is just...BORING! 

A girl I worked with showed me her equally boring brown Prada bag.  Okay, so it was Prada, but it cost 300 or 400 quid plus, I can't remember which.  My comment?  "They saw you coming!!!!"

A MODEL LIFE by MURIEL RODRIGUEZ

A MODEL LIFE

BY MURIEL RODRIGUEZ

THE BLURB:-

Whilst recovering from a canoeing accident in the South of France, and with a promising professional swimming career in tatters, 17 year-old Marion sees an advert that will change her life: Icon models are holding a contest.

She enters, gets whipped into shape by militant stylists, cross-dressing walking experts and chain-smoking make-up artists, and manages to win a modelling contract. But when she arrives in Paris to begin modelling, her glamorous ideas are quickly dispelled. She becomes indebted to the agency and struggles to get her first break.

Based on true events, A Model Life follows Marion's career as she climbs up the modelling food-chain, from dealing with pervy photographers in Paris to trudging through snow to casting in New York, from Armani to Playboy, Marion has seen it all.

This book is a must for anyone who wants to know what modelling is really like...

THE REALITY:-

Either badly written, badly edited, badly translated or a combination of all three, this book frequently lacked proper punctuation, had misspellings, malapropisms and words that ran into one another.

I bought this purely for research purposes- in my next novel (which has the working title of “Lydia Darling”) I intend to make two main characters models.

The novel did what it said on the tin- it gave me an interesting insight into the world of modelling, with some fun characters that made me laugh, purely because of their ridiculousness! The storyline was nothing special, and I was glad that, at 287 pages long, this was a short read. Avoid if reading for pleasure!

A SONG ONCE HEARD by ANNE GORING

A SONG ONCE HEARD

BY ANNE GORING

THE BLURB:-

When rich, handsome Daniel Penhale proposes to Sophy Beardmore, she is swift to accept. The marriage seems to offer the security and respectability she has always dreamed of in a life overshadowed by her mother's feckless, radical way of living.

But Daniel's wealth has not made Kildower, his Cornish house, a happy place. It is haunted by old memories, not least those of his first wife. Meraud. No one seems to know the true facts about her death, though rumours and suspicions abound, fostered by the tragic legends that cling to Kildower.

Daniel's young daughter, Kensa, is resentful and sullen, her nurse, Jess Southcote, is sly and manipulative, the local people hostile. Then there is Meraud's brother Conan, who seems determined to strike up a friendship with Sophy, but out of what dubious motives?

Only when Sophy has unravelled the truth about the past and faced up to her true feelings for both Conan and Daniel himself can she find the happiness she seeks.

THE REALITY:-

I picked this up in a charity shop and then had to question why- a saga set in 1830s Cornwall would surely contain moral characters, set in moral times and be quite...boring? Wouldn't it? A bit like one of those light, bright and trite “heart-warming” women's magazine serials?

Thankfully, no. This wasn't the case at all. The leading lady, Sophy, comes from a dissipate background with a hedonistic mother, and it is this life she is trying to move away from, and claim her own identity. This book contained many little stories within it, and you find yourself rooting for our heroine, as you just know that she's a fundamentally good person (as opposed to some of the forces she is up against).

I was so grateful that the blurb did not contain comparisons to “Rebecca”, as so many West Country novels, set in big rambling houses where the husband has issues with his former wife do, as this book is nothing like it.

I enjoyed the real, gritty element of all the people I met in this book (especially Captain Penhale), the supernatural and rustic element of suspected ghosts and shrines to the gods and I certainly picked up on the latent passion between Sophy and both Daniel and Con.

With an unusual ending, this novel was a real eye-opener, and I would definitely read books by this author again.   

THE OBSERVATIONS by JANE HARRIS

THE OBSERVATIONS

BY JANE HARRIS

THE BLURB:-

Scotland, 1863. In an attempt to escape her past, Bessy Buckley takes a job working as a maid in a big country house. But when Arabella, her beautiful mistress, asks her to undertake a series of bizarre tasks, Bessy begins to realise that she hasn't quite landed on her feet. In one of the most acclaimed debuts of recent years, Jane Harris has created a heroine who will make you laugh and cry as she narrates this unforgettable story about secrets and suspicions and the redemptive power of love and friendship.

THE REALITY:-

Not many books have me laughing out loud only a few pages in, and then throughout the novel, but this is one of them!

Written in the first person, through the slang-afflicted and razor-sharp tongue of Bessy Buckley, it is unique in its use of the English language. A true lesson in bawd, this novel would suit anyone with a lavatorial sense of humour; such delights as the contents of chamber pots, sniffing the devil's bum, catching farts and keeping someone's motions as a personal keepsake are all mentioned!

The ghostly setting of the farm house, and the village, are brought magically to life and the plot has enough interest and twists and turns to hold your interest. It is the characters and their foibles and shortcomings which make this novel a thoroughly good read, though.

If you are easily offended and of a delicate disposition (and more fool you for being so), and don't like talk of bums, willies, fannies and turds, then perhaps this book isn't for you. But if you like a good romp that will keep you awake at night (like the double entendre?!) then read on!

This was a brilliant debut novel, and has the honour of being a stayer in my book cabinet.