Book review: Queen Camilla

[foudebassan]

By Sue Townsend.

I loved her Adrian Mole books. Queen Camilla didn't make me laugh despite interesting premises: a Republican governement is elected, they put an end to the monarchy and exile the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family to an "exclusion zone", a sort of controlled area where ex-cons and other undesirable elements are contained.

I probably missed most of the comic elements because I'm not British so lots of tongue-in-cheek jokes must've escaped me. Having Royals speak and act like the working class probably falls into that category.

The dystopian elements are not that subtle and mostly failed to convince me. Compulsory ID cards as a sign of the impending Apocalypse comes to mind. The book could also have done with less in-text references to Orwell, but perhaps that's just me. I believe fiction shouldn't explicitely reference other books like others recite their Credo.

Besides, I'd have voted for the Cromwellians because I don't like dogs either.

And then again, it's the kind of book that you intend to put away for a while, but the characters keep chatting in a part of your brain and before you know it, it's the book you automatically pick up again at the first opportunity.

Comments

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

Haven't read this one. I loved the Adrian Mole books too, though, so might have to give this one a try.

[foudebassan.livejournal.com]

I believe it's the sequel to yet another book (The Queen and I).

[apisa-b.livejournal.com]

"The growing pains of Adrian Mole" was the first non-German bok I've read (at the age of 15, I think). I do remember it fondly.

[foudebassan.livejournal.com]

I loved that book too! But I only read the French translation of it.