Vice Versa (The Queen and I - Sue Townsend)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	The Queen and I - Sue Townsend
Date:	25/01/08 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to read style, great characters and some very funny moments

Disadvantages: Way over the top

Hubby has been a fan of Sue Townsend's many books for just as many years now, but I only began reading them a while ago. Having thoroughly enjoyed reading Hubby's 'Queen Camilla' last year the thoughtful guy bought me 'The Queen and I' this Christmas. Either that or he thought he would stop me from reading all his books. Looking at the cover it had plenty of good reviews on it and claims of 'Laugh out loud funny' and No.1 Bestseller, so what did I make of it?

The Queen and I actually precedes 'Queen Camilla'. It begins in England one April, not so long ago, in fact 1992, when the Queen is laid in bed watching the General Election results. Falling asleep, before the final results are aired, she awakes to a republican England. Jack Barker is now the country's leader and the Royal family are to be banished to an enclosed Council Estate in the Midlands. Hellebore Close is to be the Queen's new place of residence, or Hell Close as it is known locally, due to the vandalism of the street sign.

Although I enjoyed this book I did not find at as funny as Queen Camilla. I think part of the problem was, having read that book first, and the fact that so much with the Royal Family has changed since this book was written. Comical as it was to imagine Prince Charles wearing a shell suit and growing a little pony tail, the fact that Princess Diana was still around, and enough in love with Charles to say he looked Fab, seemed more than a little odd. The Queen Mother, who died supposedly in this book in 1992, of course is also no longer around but only recently died. Remembering her funeral it also seemed more than a little far fetched to visualise her coffin being carried on a gypsy cart by Princess Anne's new boyfriend Spiggy. Princess Margaret is also alive, well and her usual haughty self. Her clicking heels around the estate can easily be imagined. Finally there is poor old Neil Kinnock. Well those of us old enough to remember Neil, will all remember what happened there, won't we? To Quote:-

'The Queen lay back on her crisp linen pillows and wondered who would be kissing her hand tomorrow afternoon, nice John Major or perfectly agreeable Neil Kinnock. She had no particular preference. Both party leaders publicly supported the monarchy and neither was Mrs Thatcher, whose mad eyes and strangulated voice had quite unnerved the Queen at her regular Tuesday afternoon meetings.'

I think that part of the problem is, that this book has soon dated, because of all these changes. However 'Camilla and I' still seemed very pertinent. So I would advise making sure that you read all the books in the correct order.

However, either way, if you want an amusing read this may be the book for you. It has an Alice in Wonderland feel, gone mad. There are many funny episodes but I will not spoil the book for you. Still a taster won't matter, will it?

-Beverley's heart pounded as she spoke. How did you talk to someone whose head you were used to licking and sticking on an envelope?

The locals in Hellebore also struggle to understand their neighbours upper crust accents.

-'Excuse me but would you have an axe I could borrow?'
'An ix' repeated Tony.
'Yes an axe' The Queen came to their front gate.
'An ix' puzzled Beverley
'Yes'
'I dunno what an ix is' Tony said.

Later in the same vein we have:

-'I need an implement of some kind to gain access to my house'
'Arse?'
'House!'

These minor differences between the locals and their new neighbours are very funny, so true of accents and did have me giggling out loud.

So overall if you fancy an irreverent look at the Royal Family, and we English folk in general, have a read of this book and follow it on with Queen Camilla.

ISBN is 9 780141 010878
A penguin books paper back edition.
270 pages
First published in 1992.
Sue Townsend is an English Author who also wrote of the Adrian Mole books and various plays. As as established writer she writes well in a style of her own.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Thanks for reading
(C) Eiley 2008

Summary: Royalty reality check