This time we discuss The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot
Ana: Who loved this wretched book? Who?
Ram: Not me.
Blod: Yes fine fine! No I did not love the book I chose. *swears*
Ram: In Swedish? Gimme examples. Teachers skipped that part.
Blod: Satans helvete också!
Ana: You know, let’s stick to Queen’s English...
Ram: Why? This is more interesting than the book.
Ana: Should I write something in a fine Polish slang? Don’t tempt me.
Blod. yes please
Ram: Yes!
Ana: The Sister Queens - jaka cholerna szmira!
Blod: Lol, yes we obviously do not want to talk about the book.
Ram: Ugh, no we don’t. And I haven’t DNFed it officially.
*Ana grits her teeth* It is supposed to be a historical fiction account told by two Middle Ages queens: Marguerite de Provence, the Queen of France and the wife of Louis IX (also known as Saint Louis, a devout Catholic who expanded the scope of the Inquisition in France ) and her sister Eleanor de Provence, the Queen of England. 13th century. And what I get? A first person narration of two very modern ladies. They use modern French. They think like a 21st century woman would. Let me also add: a very shallow woman.
;P
Ram: A first person narration from alternating points of views. Their voices were indistinguishable.
Ana: : Here I agree completely. Sometimes I had to check several times which of the two sisters’ narration I was reading.
Blod: I got tired of the book and went on wikipedia and checked some stats instead, that was more interesting than the book. The book was all, ohhh sex, happy, orgasm, oh no my hubby does not love me *yawn*
Ram: Yeah. I’d rather have read the dry historical facts than this fictional account, although it’s not the worst possible. I would imagine.
Blod: I agree, it was not BAD, it was just....I did not care.
Ram: The quintessential MEH.
Ana: I would compare this book to a Barbie doll dressed up as a medieval princess or to one of the productions of André Rieu who takes a popular classic tune, rapes it, makes it wear a whore’s clothes and pimps around, pretending it is still a classic, cheapening the whole experience.
Blod: applauds, well said
Ram: And not being offensive at all while doing it...
Blod *dead silence*
Ana: EVERYBODY agrees? Gasp!
Ram: ...Could not care less. And I’ll still end up finishing the book.
Blod: I read the end, still I did not care. I do want to read about these women, just not this book
Ram: It’s historical fiction. There are no such things as spoilers.
Blod: I had to see if it improved...it did not.
Ram: I was told, by the person whose review convinced me to put this on my tbr shelf, that the start is bad but that it gets better. It does get better, marginally.
Ana: I haven’t noticed. Really it gets better? I can’t believe it.
Your least favourite character?
Ram: Of the two sisters? Marguerite.
Blod. Whiny Marguerite
Ana: What about our dear saintly king Louis?
Blod: Boring mama’s boy. And yes stupid religious ass. He was more fun when he smexed Marg up all the time.
Ram: I’m predisposed to hate all things religious, well, not quite. But he didn’t have a voice in the book.
Ana: I so hoped that Blanche de Castille would be a more pronounced character. NO such luck. She was one kick ass lady.
Ram: Marguerite was on her way getting there, to becoming the second dragon, but then she had the affair. And that’s as far as I’ve read.
Ana: LOL but but...it was a DNF? Don’t tell me I was the only one who got to the end.
Blod: I Dnf:ed, since it was my book I felt I could ;) I did not want the torture to continue. It was not true his fic. It was more lalala pretty princesses in lala land.
Ram: I’ve not DNFed. Officially. I’ll still read the end but I was... distracted while reading this. A lot. Pretty clouds outside. Should I send you pictures?
Ana: Yes please *cries*. I am horrible at not finishing a book.
Ana: Who would you recommend the book? ;p
Blod: For those who like the fluffier kind of historical fiction
Ana: I would say a Middle Grade history geek, nothing more serious. Ram?
Ram: I would recommend an actual history books to people interested in the period and these people.
Ana: So nobody?
Ram: Maybe to someone who has to read every single book there exists about Eleanor.
Ana: And wants to laugh. A lot.
THE END
Oh this was fantastic..uh the review, not the book. This sounds dreadful but the review was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I am glad you enjoyed it
DeleteThis sounds good with the pov with distinct voices
ReplyDeleteIt could have been good yes
DeleteI always love these reviews! thanks girls!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm taking you all wholeheartedly recommend the book? *hides*
ReplyDeleteWell, at least the review rocks! :D
YES! Haha, ok not this time
DeleteHey do not blame me ;) The last discussion was Ana's book and then one before that...hm..Ram's?
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!! (The review, not the book). You know it's bad when the wikipedia entry is more entertaining than the story! And that Barbie doll comparison made me giggle. Fabulous review ladies!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren!
DeleteHaha, wiki rocked and wiki should not be better than a nice light historical but it sure was for me
My Google translator just got a workout. ;-) I have this book in my TBR pile. What to do, what to do...
ReplyDeleteHaha, I hope it had a fun workout ;)
DeleteLove this post!
ReplyDelete:)
Deleteoh no!! i'm sorry :( It is very frustrating when you can't tell whose pov you are reading.
ReplyDeleteYeah :/
Deleteugh thats why when I see a book with two POV and they keep jumping back and forth I cringe so hard. Sorry this was a let down, I was kind of interested in this one. Lol.. tastefully done xD
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to like it cos it was fascinating, I do love history, but just no
DeleteGreat review ladies! And gasp! you know André Rieu! My parents love his music ... and no, they don't listen to classic music ...
ReplyDeleteWhile I have no idea who that is
DeleteWell, I'll make sure to avoid this book like the plague! :) Fun review, ladies!
ReplyDeleteHihi thank you
DeleteHa! lol about the Polish slang. Too bad the book was just meh. Great discussion!
ReplyDeleteMeh is the story of my life
DeleteBahaha love it, thanks for the laugh and I think I'll pass on this one :)
ReplyDelete