Fontmania - Add Artworks & Text to Your Photos!
Photo & Video and Social Networking
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Featured in "Best new apps" on the App Store in 36 countries! Let your photos speak! Fontmania is a...
WiFi Map Pro - Free Internet
Travel and Social Networking
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Get WiFi passwords for FREE internet access all over the world! Useful for TRAVEL! Works offline. ...
Borzoi (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)
Book
This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Borzoi serves as a complete introduction to beautiful,...
Bloomy: Dating Messenger App
Dating and Social Networking
1.0
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App
Download Bloomy and enter a world of love and attention from thousands of beautiful women and single...
Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated Before the Crown in Books
Jun 14, 2020
Before the Crown is a beautiful historical novel which delves deep into the romance between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece, perhaps better known as Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
However, this is not a traditional romance and Harding does not hold back in laying out all the struggles Elizabeth and Philip faced. From the King and Queen's disapproval of the match for their daughter to the effects of public opinion on the relationship, Flora Harding covers it all.
Nor does this novel present the engagement as all hearts and flowers. Despite Elizabeth being attracted to Philip from a young age, this is initially a one-sided crush and a political arrangement for the couple. However, due to Flora Harding presenting her novel from the perspective of both Elizabeth and Philip, the reader is able to experience first hand the doubts, worries, longing and evolution of this infamous relationship.
I will be honest it is hard not to envision the Netflix series when you read this novel but it is by no means a copy cat situation. Harding provides such interesting insights into Philip's lifestyle and his family that it is hard not to pity the sacrifices that he makes in order to be with Elizabeth.
In 'The Crown' young Philip was a bit of a dirt bag and, although Harding's Prince is no angel, he is clearly fighting an uphill battle against the aristocracy's view of him. It is difficult not to sympathise.
I would have liked an author's note to know how much of the story is fact and how much is fiction or speculation. However, given the privacy of the Royal Family I imagine any factual insights are rare.
In summary, 'Before the Crown' is a captivating read, exploring the sacrifices and struggles where we often blindly see prejudice, all against the backdrop of WWII Europe.
ClareR (5686 KP) rated The Other Half of Augusta Hope in Books
Sep 29, 2020
Alongside the story of Augusta, chapters are alternated with Parfait and his story. He lives in Burundi - a country torn apart by Civil War. Parfaits family is destroyed by the horrors of this war, so he and his younger brother leave for what they feel will be a better life in Spain. Life has more sadness to throw at Parfait, though - and Augusta is dealt a cruel hand as well. She finds solace in Spain, which is where Parfait and Augusta are destined to meet.
I liked the alternating chapters of Augusta and Parfait - this device really highlighted the huge differences in their lives early on. As the story progresses though, it also shows that no matter how different we may all appear, there are actually more similarities than differences. We are all human; we all experience love and loss.
This was such a good way to highlight the refugee crisis in Europe. At a couple of points in the story, Parfait announces to the Spanish town how many people had died in the Mediterranean that year in their quest to live a better life. This book is heartbreaking in more than this one way. Both characters suffer unimaginable loss, and both learn to value life, a feeling of home and belonging.
It’s a wonderful book, and one that I’d heartily recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and The Borough Press for my ebook copy.
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Three brothers caught up in a whirlwind week of love, blackmail, and betrayal that culminates in an...
Fiction
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Politics International Affairs Economics
Contre Jour HD
Games and Entertainment
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Apple has named Contre Jour HD iPad Game of the Year in more than 10 countries across Europe and...