Dias De Esplendor, Dias De Sofrimento (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I don't know... this story could be written so much better - again my hopes and expectations were so high and this book fell so far. I don't think I will be wasting my time on the third book... I was so disappointed with the first one and went on to read this one - and again - it just wasn't doing it for me - I will not be wasting my time with the third one. There are plenty of other books out there and will be more interesting. I really enjoyed this fictional account of Marie Antoinette as Dauphine and then as Queen of France. The first person narrative is extremely effective in allowing the reader to sympathize, although I didn't enjoy reading Marie's story as much as I enjoyed that of Josephine Bonaparte. Maybe the author's style wasn't as good, maybe Marie was too superficial compared to Josephine, maybe because she was so much younger than Josephine, I don't know. A criticism of this novel would be that there are some odd passages from the point of view of other characters, not many, but surrounding a plot to damage the reputation of Marie, that I found out-of-place and awkward. Plus the last fifth or sixth of the book, which outlines the unrest in France leading up to the Revolution, is much dryer than the rest of the novel, and although I like to read about true events, or the fictional interpretation of them, the last chapters in the book were not enjoyable. Nonetheless, I will read the third of this trilogy.
What do You think about Dias De Esplendor, Dias De Sofrimento (2012)?
Ughh her shallowness bothered me. But I am certain it's just the person, and not the writing style.
—emilysu244
I am such a Francophile and fascinated by Marie Antoinette and her demise. So sad yet so true.
—izzy
Juliet Grey gave justice to the tragedy that is Queen Marie Antoinette of France.
—megs
