Book 5 - Blog 1 - Diana

Book Details:

Diana - Her True Story
Pages: 174
Pages read: 174
Words on page 50: 429 (39 x 11)
Words in book: 74,646 (averaged)
ISBN 1-85479-128-1

Author: Andrew Morton
Published: 1992 by Michael O'Mara Books Limited, London

Price: $5.00 (saw it on ebay one day, and I just couldn't resist)

Well, I have finished reading this book already, which is unusual for this blog, as I have not done the first blog installment. In all honesty, the reason for that is twofold. Firstly, I read the book in one day. I was travelling to WA, from Queensland, for work on Monday, and I got through the whole book. Therefore, I did not have a chance to do a blog at some point during the book. Secondly, I am not sure that I am really qualified to write about Princess Diana. It is actually quite difficult to put pen to paper (so to speak) and write something about a person who did so much for the world, and for the underprivileged. She was obviously an amazing woman, and I have got my head around doing a blog entry about someone so famous. So, here goes.

Andrew Morton mentions several times throughout the book that he has been given all of the correct information, and that the interviewers were true and correct. We can, though, presume that the book is authorised.

Now, following reading this book, you will be left very clearly with only a few thoughts and feelings about Diana. These thoughts and feelings are simply - the poor girl, what a tough existence she lived whilst part of the royal family, Princes Charles sux - he was a horrible husband (and father) and crippled her self confidence, and what a loss she was to the world - we lost a very special person when Diana passed on. This book was written before she passed on August 31, 1997, and I can still remember exactly where I was when I found out the day she died. I was standing on a sporting oval, and was working as part of a working bee, putting up light poles so that we could play cricket and rugby league at night time. I was in a small mining town in WA called Pannawonica, and it was mid afternoon when I heard, and when word passed around our group. We were all quite upset about it. It was a big shock, even in outback Australia.

So, Diana Spencer was born in 1961, into a life that was challenged from an early stage. Her parents separated when she was young. She was one of four children, two sisters and a brother. Her sisters were quite a few years older than her, so she struggled with her sibling relationships for many years. Her brother, Earl, and her, were quite close.

She was sent to boarding school, and with one older sister a very high achiever, and one a bit of a rat bag, her teachers wondered which sister she would emulate. She certainly struggled academincally, though was both an outstanding sports person, as well as a dancer. She was gifted in many ways, and she was loved by many people, particularly her close friends and the house mates that she moved in with after her school days. She was given a house (not a bad pressie, hey) for her 21st (I think it was that birthday - might have been earlier). She really had resigned herself to being low paid for her working life. Shit, how that changed. Her jobs included cleaning, teachers aide and dancing teaching.

During her years in her own home, with her house mates, the story goes that they were practical jokers, and threw eggs on people's cars, amongst other naughty stuff. She really was quite normal. Until, that is, when she met and married Prince Charles. Her older sister was actually going out with Charles, before he showed an inerest in Diana.

They married, and then the fun started. I could blog about this for days, but here is the shortened version. She was treated very poorly by both her husband and his family. Andrew Morton realy does paint a bad picture of how she was accepted. They really never accepted her into their lives. This resulted in her self confidence plummeting, and she became suicidal. She attempted (somewhat veinly) to take her own life. It really was difficult reading, going through how Charles continually bagged her, and told her she was not good enough. ALl the while, mind you, he maintained a relationship with Camilla. Now, I don't know about you, but I think she is a terribly bad looking woman - that is just me, though. Charles obviously saw something in her, and it did drive Diana mad. Charles and Camilla had pet names, spoke regularly, swapped presents, and even lived close (and holidayed together) all while he was married to Diana. Charlie, what is going on there, brother. Mate, no excuses for that.

Anyway, Diana became Bulemic. She struggled with that disease for many years, until finally her and Charles decided to separate. Then, of course, that, plus most of ther other big decisions made by her and Charles, had to be ratified by the Queen. Holy Dooley. Talk about control.

Anyway, finally, she got herself together, got her illness under control, and moved on. It must be said, though, that she did not really cope well with all the attention that she got when she became a public figure. That did not help her illness or her self confidence.

She found solace in her charity work, and even befriended Mother Teresa. She became a friend to the underpriveleged, and as we have all seen, she made a huge difference to the world. And, get this, Charles hated the fact that she was more popular than him. Hee Hee. Anyway, I could go on, but that is about the crux of the book.

Feelings

You finish reading and love Diana more, and dislike the royal family, Prince Charles particulary more.

The book is a good story, and it is one that just keeps you reading. It is not the best book that I have ever read, but it is certainly interesting reading about someone so famous. It really is weird writing about someone so famous.

Anyway, keep reading.

Jimmy A