This review was originally posted on The Moonlight LibrarySUMMARYMia Thermopolis’ extraordinarily ordinary American teenage world is thrown upside down when she finds out she is the one and only heir and Princess to the throne of Genovia, a small but rich country bordering France.WORLDBUILDINGI have to say, I know Genovia’s totally fake – I mean, what country can afford not to tax its citizens because it can rely on the money it makes from tourism to fix repair its infrastructure and fund its schools and emergency services and still have enough leftover to make the crown prince worth $300M – which, back in the 90s when this was written, was A LOT of money. But still, I like the fantasy of a non-taxing country, and I like that the national language is French, and how Mia’s father and grandmother still have these thick French accents. I even buy Mia’s weird high school Albert Einstein High and her rivalry with popular girl Lana Weinburger and her insane crush on Josh Richter. What can I say, her voice is really authentic for a teenage girl who worries that she’s too tall and still flat-chested and not pretty enough to be a princess.CHARACTERS + RELATIONSHIPSEven though Mia went through a princess makeover and I obviously never have, there were moments when I really identified with her. Being a teenager is hard enough without everyone wanting to control you. There was something sympathetic to the way Mia was treated by everyone, including her best friend Lily, that brought back memories of my own high school experience, which I suppose is the whole point of a book like this.The one thing I was annoyed about was that Mia had this massive crush on Josh Richter while at the same time being completely unaware of her own feelings towards Michael Moscowitz. And her relationship with Grandmere was so completely the opposite of the relationship portrayed in the films that I almost felt tricked or betrayed.WHAT WORKED/DIDN’T WORKOh Mia… I really don’t know of any other book when I have loathed the main character so much due to her unending stupidity and ignorance and then really come around the root for her in the final chapters. It’s just that Mia was SO DUMB, she’d written an essay on Genovia, visited the country multiple times where she would catch limos and go shopping after hours with Grandmere and basically be treated like a princess, and even seen a picture of the Crown Prince in the encyclopaedia (the what? Generation Me kids all chorus), but had no idea he was her dad! At least in the film adaptation her dad had died and she was oblivious to there being a small wealthy country called Genovia hanging on to one of France’s borders.Anne Hathaway narrating this audiobook was all kinds of perfection. I just couldn’t get over that the actress from the films was reading the books the films inspired, because I do know that later on in the series (which I haven’t read, only #11, Royal wedding, which inspired me to start reading this series from the start) Mia does have films made based on her life, and I think Hathaway plays Mia in the book-film version as well… I just really kind of love Anne Hathaway. Her emotional response to the text was spot on, and I think it’s what made this book more enjoyable that it probably would have been if I hadn’t been listening to the audiobook.OVERALLAlthough the books is substantially different to he film (and inferior, in my opinion), it was still good to finally read the source material – or have it read to me by the magnificent Anne Hathaway, who is basically perfection. Take it or leave it, if you’ve seen the film you’re not missing much.
If you've seen the movie version, this book takes up about the first third or maybe half of the movie (from what I remember), but don't let that fool you into thinking nothing much happens in this book.Mia Thermopolis lives in Manhattan with her artist mother Helen, going to a private school called Albert Einstein High and spending the summers with her father and his mother at her chateau in France. She knows they're rich, but she thinks her dad is just a politician. At school she's unpopular and has "triangular" hair; her best friend Lilly has her own tv show and is trying to expose the racism of the Chinese owners of the deli across the road for discounting Asian students 5 cents; she's in love with the most popular boy at school, Josh, who doesn't even seem to know she's alive; she's failing Algebra; and her mum is going out with her teacher Mr Gianini. Life is already a bit of a strain and when her dad tells her he's the crown prince of Genovia and, since his testicular cancer has left him unable to have more children, Mia is now the heir to the throne, it becomes even more unbearable.She's seriously not happy about the news, but makes a compromise with her Dad: that she'll keep going to school like normal, but would spend the summers in Genovia doing the princess thing. She wasn't expecting her formidable grandmother to come to New York to give her princess lessons, and she wasn't expecting the same grandmother to leak the story to the press. Now she's suddenly popular but it's the last thing she wants.Mia is effortlessly engaging, her voice and personality coming through strongly in her diary entries. She's funny without meaning to be, insightful without realising it, reveals more than she intends, and so allows the reader to not only really get to know her but also see what's going on more clearly than she does, as she's blinded by her own interests, passions and opinions. It's actually very cleverly written, and very funny.The grandmother is a scary character - Julie Andrews really toned the character down for the movie - she wears a purple turban, smokes a lot, drinks her favourite cocktail all the time, and comes across as somewhat harsh and even cruel. She certainly intimidates her son, Phillipe, and anyone else who crosses her path. She may have met her match with Mia - and I can see that as Mia slowly grows, matures and, yes, transforms, she'll probably have a softening effect on her grandmother as well. She's certainly got an interesting past, but we only get hints of it at this stage.Essentially, what saves this book from being just another YA journal-style teenage girl gushathon is Mia's liveliness, her spirit, her humour and, well, her. She's a wonderful protagonist and a good role model - not that she doesn't make some pretty silly mistakes and choices along the way. She's also a familiar character, and reminds me that what's considered "ordinary" usually disguises something pretty extraordinary. Plus, I love her summing-up of Marx's contradictions of capitalism; despite the fluffy pink cover, this is no Gossip Girls kind of book - Mia's not into having the latest crap: she's a conscientious worrier, and wants to join Greenpeace to save the whales. She's a bit of a dag, really, and that makes her infinitely likeable, even loveable.
What do You think about The Princess Diaries (2001)?
Lucette wrote: "Can't remember if you said you had any of these but I can loan you up to #6?"AW THANKS LASS But I kinda already bought them coz i'm naughty and i love them hehehehe
—April
I first read this series YEARS ago but thought it was time for a reread with A Royal Wedding coming out this summer! I simply loved it! I thought maybe since I'm so much older I wouldn't like it as much, and that maybe I'd get annoyed even.. (Freshman Mia can be a little dramatic) but I didn't! It was perfect! Excited to continue reading on until the new book comes out! In some ways, I actually feel like I connect better with Mia now then I did before, not because I'm a princess secretly or because I'm having boy problems.. But I never realized before how much Mia talks about being a vegetarian and animal rights and stuff! It was pretty awesome! I also love her mom and Fat Louie :D (view spoiler)[ I forgot that Michael was into Mia so early on.. Isn't a bit odd that a senior likes a Freshman? Idk.. Maybe it's just me! (hide spoiler)]
—Jessica (priceiswong)
I have always wanted to read this ever since I’ve watched the movie almost 15 years ago. When I learned that it was a continuous series having at least 10 books, I vowed that one day I’m gonna collect them. And now, half of that dream has come true! I've got Books 1-5 already and I can't wait to devour them all. I may not be a princess but now I have my own Kingdom of Books! Yay!Princess Diaries was an interesting read, great for teens maybe, but still, holds a special spot in my heart. The transformation of Mia from an ugly duck to a beautiful swan may be a little cliche’ but it was not excessively done here in the book, for Mia refused to believe that she is indeed beautiful because of her gigantism and flat chests. When Mia learned about her true heritage, she was in denial, primarily because she thought she would be called a freak in school – having a bodyguard in tow wherever she goes. Besides that, her bestfriend Lilly got mad at her because she did not support Lilly’s campaign against a Deli that discriminates Asian people; aside from the fact that Lilly has a thing against monarchies.When New York finally learned about Princess Mia, a handsome senior student made the moves on her while Mia got all starry eyed at him. In the end, there was a kissing scene and a confrontation scene which brought back the fire in Mia & Lilly’s friendship.The book was altered heavily on the movie version – but I still love the book better. Definitely a nice read!
—Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm
