Top 100 books challenge: 99. The Princess Diaries

The film of this book stars two of my favourite actresses, Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, so I enjoyed watching it. However I had never read the book. I usually like to read the books before I see the film version, because they came first, and so much usually gets changed in the journey from print to screen.

The Princess Diaries is aimed at teenagers, mainly girls who still have the secret dream of becoming a princess. What young girl doesn’t? Growing up I was convinced I would marry Prince William (had to go for the elder brother so I could be Queen one day!) Now that his marriage has put an end to that I am focusing on the younger Royal....well I have never made my love of ginger hair on men a secret!

The story follows teenager Mia, who finds out she is actually a princess, and heir to the throne of Genovia. Understandable this news shocks her, as does the plan for her to begin princess lessons with her grandmother, the Queen of Genovia.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read, which after a long day at work is perfect for the train home!There are a few differences from the film, but not big enough to spoil it for me.

It got me thinking about if I found out I was a princess. You never know, Mr T could be a secret prince in a faraway land! (I do have a very overactive imagination!) If I was Queen here are the five rules I would introduce:

1 Tuesday’s would be cancelled - worst day of the week

2 Jelly tots would be free on the NHS, they cheer people up

3 Peter Andre, Phillip Schofield and Ron Weasley would be given Knighthoods for services to entertainment

4 Instead of a corgi the royal pet would be an elephant called Percy - who would wear a little purple hat.

5 Every month there would be a bank holiday weekend - and it will be illegal for anyone to work on it.

Seriously imagine Queen Laura - I think it would be fabulous darling!

Rating: 8/10

Top 100 books challenge: 27. Middlemarch

Life is too short to read books that you are not enjoying.

This statement applies to this book, and I have to admit that I only got half way through before giving up. I just could not bring myself to read anymore of it. I am the sort of person who always tries to finish books, and hate the thought of leaving one half read. However on this occasion I was bored and confused, and could read no more of it.

The main problem I found was the amount of characters that flit in and out of the story at various intervals. The characters first names are used once, then they are referred to as Mr so and so, and Miss so and so. This made me blur them into one, creating confusion as to who was who, and who was related to who.

The prose is quite long and winding. I have nothing against that usually, indeed some of my favourite novels are written in this way. But I found the writing in this book long winded. I found my attention drifting off while reading it.

Now for my confession....I never knew George Elliot was a woman! I had heard of the author, and had said I needed to read one of the books, but always assumed it was a man. It was only while googling the name for this review that I realised the author was a woman!

So there you go, I may not have finished the book, but I learnt something I never knew about the author!

Rating: 2/10 (based on only reading the first half)