I know a lot of people really didn’t like Sophia Ford Coppola’s film based on part of the life of Marie Antoinette but I quite liked it. I’m quite a sucker for style sometimes and this film had oodles of it and I loved the historical inaccuracies of the costumes and design. However this isn’t a film review, once I had seen the film however I wanted to find out if there were any historical inaccuracies in the actual story the film portrayed. So I decided to buy the book that the film was based on by Antonia Fraser.
I was quite happily reading the book and was surprised to find out that some of the more far fetched parts of the film were in fact true but then suddenly life got in the way. I got pregnant and for over a year I was only interested in reading either baby related books or books that required no thinking whatsoever (the Twilight books got me through many a night feed) and then we moved house. So you see my Marie Antoinette book got completely forgotten about until a few months ago when I found it in the bottom of a box which was due to go into the attic.
My bookmark is still in the pages and I was just over halfway through when I stopped reading it. Of course now I have the dilemma of either reading from where I left off or do I go back to the beginning and read the first 200 pages again? Before I decide which option to take I first need enthusiasm to pick it up again the first place I am finding it difficult to find enthusiasm for a thick non-fiction book I have already started. Ah maybe I need to watch the film again………..
I actually loved the movie as well, mostly because of all the style. The whole movie was eye candy for me. :) I haven't read the book, though.
ReplyDeleteActually, I liked the film a lot! Surprisingly, so did my husband. I only say 'surprisingly' because so often Hollywood disappoints, let alone films as compared to novels.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget her with the shoes. It made me smile, and wonder if perhaps that wasn't my mother instead of Marie?
Zara - I think I just spend the whole film eyeing up the clothes and food LOL The book is typical non-fiction type stuff and is very different to the film.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I remember the film at the time got completely paned by critics so I remember sitting down to watch expecting it to be terrible. Its years since Ive seen it.
I don't remember much about the film either except liking it. so much of what people believe as common knowledge about Marie or other historical figures can be completely wrong. As I recall, the 'let them eat cake' is wrong or was taken out of context and wasn't intended as we think it sounds.
ReplyDeleteI've had that dilemna before-- usually I scan a bit then pick up where I left off-- but that is fiction-- nonfiction I might blow off.
Always a difficult decision whether to re-read the part you already read or not. What I usually do is go back one chapter and re-read it, if I can remember it, then I will keep going, if it sounds new, I will start again at page 1.
ReplyDeleteLesa - I think it turned out that a spanish princess has may have said the 'let them eat cake', I didnt even know Marie was Austrian and not French so everything in the book was new to me really (aside from the beheading)
ReplyDeleteAmy - I think your right, Ill have to go back one chapter but I really cant see myself re-reading the whole thing again.
Lesa - I think it turned out that a spanish princess has may have said the 'let them eat cake', I didnt even know Marie was Austrian and not French so everything in the book was new to me really (aside from the beheading)
ReplyDeleteAmy - I think your right, Ill have to go back one chapter but I really cant see myself re-reading the whole thing again.
This sounds like a book I need to and want to read. Love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteI loved both the film and the book. I can see why some don't like the movie (it is quite unique!), but it was so visually stunning, I was able to forgive any flaws ;) As always, the film lead me to the book (which I probably would have never even thought to read). Interestingly enough, check out the August issue of Vogue for an article about the author, Lady Antonia Fraser. Your blog post caught my eye on my dashboard since I had just read the article!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I too have many books half completed, interrupted by motherhood. I am still finding them, and my son is almost 6 years old!
Bibliophile - I think if you are interested in her life right from her childhood to her death I dont think your find a better book.
ReplyDeleteWingchair Travellor - welcome!! and thanks for stopping by. My sister subcribes to vogue so I might read her copy.
Its interesting that the film also encouraged you to read the book. Normally I dont like book covers to have the film photo on the front of the books but I made an exception for this one!
I started this book too.. and only read about 100 pages. It wasn't from lack of interest but something else caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteI hate that dilemma. I usually start again as I hate not reading a book as a whole. But this is a problem if I did stop reading as it wasn't 'gripping' me.
I shall have to finish is one day.
I was so tempted to read this after seeing the movie. I may have to pick it up again.
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