Books Blog : England

Elizabeth II, in Film and Fiction

myzticrhythmz@evpl — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:45:00 GMT

Britain’s Royal Family is always a source of curiosity, and their Monarch is no exception. Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, has been featured in a number of films, documentaries, and books over the past several years. Here are a few to enjoy.

The Queen, a 2006 feature film starring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren, portrays the turmoil in the Royal Family in the days following Diana, Princess of Wales’ death. This film portrays the public’s strong sentiment in favor of the Princess, as the Queen struggles with a proper response to her former daughter-in-law’s death. Mirren’s portrayal is sensitive, with a bit of humor thrown in, and well worth the viewing.

As Queen, Elizabeth has sometimes seemed detached from her subjects, and fiction authors have responded by imagining her in creative ways. Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader poses a unique notion: What if Queen Elizabeth became such an avid reader that she loses interest in her “duty,” and becomes more introspective and sympathetic to others? This novella is a quick, pithy read, and sure to bring a smile.

Author William Kuhn creates a different scenario for the Queen. In Mrs. Queen Takes the Train, the longtime Sovereign of the United Kingdom ponders what she might be find missing in her life. The answer, strangely enough, is Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch. Alone on an inclement winter’s day, Elizabeth grows restless. First, she decides to visit one of her horses, also named Elizabeth. Then she’s off to the cheese store to buy Elizabeth (the horse) some of her favorite cheese. And finally, Elizabeth boards a public train bound for Scotland to visit her beloved yacht. The chaos that ensues among the Queen’s staff and acquaintances by her unexpected journey helps cement relationships, and demonstrates loyalty beyond “duty” to their Sovereign. This book, like The Queen and The Uncommon Reader, adds a bit of warmth and compassion to a celebrated historical figure.

For more in the Library’s catalog about Queen Elizabeth, click here.

Grab a warm cup of tea and your favorite QEII tale, and enjoy!

The Music Room: A Memoir by William Fiennes

HRevvdon@evpl — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:16:00 GMT

The Music Room: A Memoir (2009) by William Fiennes is a memoir that is a portion of this man’s growing up with an unusual family dynamic and in an unusual environment. It is powerful, but not in the way so many growing up chronicles are; there is no abuse or substance abuse, there is a very normal family in which the eldest brother has severe epilepsy due to a brain injury.

The family lives in an ancestral medieval English estate complete with castle and moat. Although the castle is almost a character itself, it does not dominate the story because it is just home for Fiennes. He has grown up with it and so does not find it unusual. What is unusual is growing up in a family that becomes dominated by the needs and emotions of one person who is mercurial. Richard can be loving and kind, then abusive and mean, then remorseful and sad – all in the space of a few hours.

Fiennes spins the story of his growing up without strict chronological order, weaving his brother’s story with his story, his family, the staff of the castle (it is open to the public for historic tours), and his perception of his home; all of which alternates with a sequence of stories outlining the development of seizures and epilepsy research. Fiennes provides a wonderful portrait of his brother who at times is a tyrant and at times an evocative wonder and at times a total bore.

La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith

HRevvdon@evpl — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:18:00 GMT

La’s Orchestra Saves the World (2009) by Alexander McCall Smith is the first book in a long time that I have sat down and read in one sitting. McCall’s book is an old fashioned story set in Suffolk, England, during World War II. La, short for Lavender and pronounced “as in do-ra-mi-fa-so….,” has moved to the country after her marriage ends. The war breaks out and La stays in the country and begins to do her share by taking care of the chickens at a neighboring farm – an unofficial “Land Girl.” An injured Polish flyer, no longer able to fly, begins to work at the farm as well. Their relationship grows into a rich friendship but before it can deepen he is taken from the farm – in part because of La’s concern about his true background. Is he really Polish or is he a German?

La starts a community orchestra, enlisting neighbors, townspeople, and service men from a nearby air field. Their unconventional orchestra becomes a symbol for maintaining a normalcy in horrific times. The story is not about the orchestra at all, it is about the quiet and determined courage of the English people when faced, again, with war.

Reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008), I think this book will inspire just as many book discussion groups.

This is the first McCall book that I have read. It is well written and the characters are wonderful. I am already searching for my next read by this author, any suggestions?