"There is something about Crown Princess Mary" - Emma Tom

[Ethel]

http://www.abc.net.au/northcoast/stories/s1526959.htm

This article came out yesterday. It's about the book on CP Mary that Emma Tom wrote.

[Layla1971]

Originally Posted by Ethel

http://www.abc.net.au/northcoast/stories/s1526959.htm

This article came out yesterday. It's about the book on CP Mary that Emma Tom wrote.

Well, it gives a new angle to what the book will be about, but it still isn't right that anyone's privacy is invaded, least of all someone who's private details will be splashed across the tabloids. I won't be buying this book.

[Ethel]

I absolutely agree, I wouldn't buy it either, that part where they describe how a private investigator went through the rubbish in her bin is just sick!!!

[Margrethe II]

I agree that the way information was gathered is much to be admired, but as I collect all books & collectables relating to the Crown Princess, I shall also be purchasing this aswell. As I have already read it (the book, through a lovely friend of mine) I know what to expect so wont be expecting any shocking revelations etc.

I am simply buying it because whats the point of collecting if you chose not to collect? :)

"MII"

[Toledo]

Mandy, I found this from December 8th 2005, it's the most used headline title on Mary but in a new article on a book on her.
I don't know if it belongs here or if it was posted alreday but it has a photo of Mary before and after her life changed forever:

There is something about Crown Princess Mary
Thursday, 8 December 2005

[Lillia]

Originally Posted by Toledo

Mandy, I found this from December 8th 2005, it's the most used headline title on Mary but in a new article on a book on her.
I don't know if it belongs here or if it was posted alreday but it has a photo of Mary before and after her life changed forever:
There is something about Crown Princess Mary

Thursday, 8 December 2005

wow -- if that picture in the blue top is really one of CP Mary before she got married, then she has certainly changed her physique alot!

But it does not matter to me -- I still like her though! Still what a make-over she's had!!

[ysbel]

Well if the main source of the book is her trash, I'd have to wonder how reliable the information inside is. The author would have to do a lot of interpreting to make a book out of it.

After Charles and Diana I don't believe in fairytales anymore but Mary is interesting to watch as is the whole Danish Royal Family. I find them a fascinating cast of characters.

They seem very down-to-earth with a flair for the theatrical from time to time which is very appealing. Actually I'd say Mary is the least interesting of the royals and that is by no means an insult - they're all very interesting.

Mary does seem to be fitting in the family which is miraculous considering she's had to adapt to a new country, learn a new language, and pick up a high profile role. I just hope that the DRF is more self-aware than the BRF when it comes to knowing who can make it in their family and who can't. But it seems they are.

[Hotdog]

I will give a summary of the book since I own a copy and have read it.

Emma Tom writing is neither saccharine sweet or completely anti-Mary.
She writes with a style that is satirical in nature.
At first it is amusing though after a few chapters it starts to grate like little kids dragging their nails across the blackboard to get a reaction.
eg an example of her "wit" is describing her hairdresser coming up to give her a "blow-job" when she knows that both Mary and the gentleman concerned are very attached to their respective husbands (yes he's gay).

There is little in the way of original information on mary as such.
The originality lies in her records of the length that the media has gone to to get dirt on Mary.
At least half the book is on the media and the publics reaction to Mary.

If "a brief history of an Australian And Danish Media Stampede" interests you then buy the book.
If you want new information on Mary then you will have to search through for the few meagre pickings.

IMO: In the long run this book will do a lot more for Mary than the PR department Ninka book as it puts on record the lengths the media went to to intrude into her life, the fact she came out sqeaky clean and how much she put up with to be with Frederik.

Hotdog

[Margrethe II]

Originally Posted by Hotdog

I will give a summary of the book since I own a copy and have read it.

Emma Tom writing is neither saccharine sweet or completely anti-Mary.
She writes with a style that is satirical in nature.
At first it is amusing though after a few chapters it starts to grate like little kids dragging their nails across the blackboard to get a reaction.
eg an example of her "wit" is describing her hairdresser coming up to give her a "blow-job" when she knows that both Mary and the gentleman concerned are very attached to their respective husbands (yes he's gay).

There is little in the way of original information on mary as such.
The originality lies in her records of the length that the media has gone to to get dirt on Mary.
At least half the book is on the media and the publics reaction to Mary.

If "a brief history of an Australian And Danish Media Stampede" interests you then buy the book.
If you want new information on Mary then you will have to search through for the few meagre pickings.

IMO: In the long run this book will do a lot more for Mary than the PR department Ninka book as it puts on record the lengths the media went to to intrude into her life, the fact she came out sqeaky clean and how much she put up with to be with Frederik.

Hotdog

Thank you Hotdog for your very much appreciated analysis :)

"MII"

[Toledo]

Thanks for the preview, hotdog! :)!

[Toledo]

So, the book is more in the lines of exploring how the media has reacted and used this new character in the celebrity horizon, Princess Mary, more than a more biographical project?
Well, is seems interesting still. Like when you point the camera the other way. From your description is looks like the book explores the people who follow the people who are in the news.

But a book can mean diferent things for diferent people. We will have to wait for QM II to get that Christmas gift :) and gives us a review from his point of view.

Has anyone in Denmark heard about this new book in the Danish language Mary news?

[Hotdog]

Here is an extract from the full review of "Something About Mary"
from

http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php/...olery-rampant/

Tomfoolery rampant

BRENDA STJERNE:

Denied access to Mary, her relatives, her friends, and the Danish court With nil results.

However, if you want to find out the toileting arrangements of the private investigator parked in a car 24/7 outside Mary’s terrace in Bondi Junction, then read the book.

Tom’s hissy fit

Faced with unrelenting royal rectitude and thrown back on her own resources, Ms Tom goes in for a distinctly vulgar vocabulary, no doubt to impress that she is just as good as, if not better than her quarry.

Take The Slip Inn, the pub where Fred met Mary, for example. Why stick to three words when for an extra 78 of them you can write an excrutiatingly detailed exposition on the Sydney watering spot’s sexually ambivalent name?

Or elaborate on how you think a speculum designated for royal duty might be decorated. Emma favours gilt-edged, and latex gloves with red velvet trim. Nothing, of course, to do with Mary whatsoever, but revealing a literary dexterity that’s sorta awesome in its own way.

Mis-aimed potshots
Ms Tom also manages to get in the word ‘fart’ in several instances, again a word not usually associated with royal circles, though I once heard Gough Whitlam describe such a scene with his usual urbanity and wit, and without once resorting to the f-word.

She does admire the bridal gown, ... But she still attempts to make the outfit sound salacious — ‘erotic and vaginal’ are her words and that, dear reader, was just for the sleeves.


More Mary …
There is a better book to look for, Mary, Crown Pincess of Denmark, by a trio of Danes. It’s got some interesting background, is neither gratuitously nasty nor a rave-up, and has terrific pics. So frog kissers, for more details turn to another look at Mary here.

[stellad]

Hotdog,

You are so right and I agree with you. Mary has had to put up a lot with the media to be with Fred. Perhaps in time to come books will only be written about her to commemorate special occasions like the 10th wedding anniversary,etc. Hopefully then she will be interviewed (like her mother-in-law was for recent books published about her) and it will be absolutely the truth.

Stellad

[ysbel]

And one thing about perfectionism. Of all the Crown Princesses, Letizia seems to me to be the most perfectionist. Since her marriage, she has been very careful not to make a mistake and I respect that. She married into perhaps the most tradition-bound monarchy outside of Britain and the care she took showed respect for the position and her country. She also was a star reporter for CNN where if you make a mistake on-air you don't last long. She made the appropriate choice for being a member of the SRF.

Mary comes from a PR background where image is important and she married into the DRF which IMHO has the most elegant and theatrical image of all the royal houses. Queen Margrethe certainly knows how to exude a very regal presence. Although in some ways they are down-to-earth, creating a certain image seems to be important to them. And as a royal watcher who only gets to see the images, I appreciate the care they take to give that certain image. I'm not a fan of royalty who tries to look like the girl next door.

Mary with her unusual looks and presence seems to fit right in with the DRF.

[fandesacs2003]

Originally Posted by ysbel

And one thing about perfectionism. Of all the Crown Princesses, Letizia seems to me to be the most perfectionist. Since her marriage, she has been very careful not to make a mistake and I respect that. She married into perhaps the most tradition-bound monarchy outside of Britain and the care she took showed respect for the position and her country. She also was a star reporter for CNN where if you make a mistake on-air you don't last long. She made the appropriate choice for being a member of the SRF.

Yes. We should not forget that Letizia's wedding announcement surprized EVERYONE, even IMO her family. Have a look to the relative thread at this time. http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ment-1161.html
After the first shock, the whole world was awaiting her to watch her and to blame any mistake she could do.

But she managed everything perfectly, it means that she is able and perfectionnist, and this is honour of her. She took a task very very heavy towards the people and also towards Felipe who trusted her and brought her in this position against all. Thanks to Letizia's behavior Felipe showed to everybody that he was right to choose her. For a girl coming from a completely other "planet" that Felipe's environnement this result can be obtained only by being extremely carefull and restless and she managed it:)

Originally Posted by ysbel

Mary comes from a PR background where image is important and she married into the DRF which IMHO has the most elegant and theatrical image of all the royal houses. Queen Margrethe certainly knows how to exude a very regal presence. Although in some ways they are down-to-earth, creating a certain image seems to be important to them. And as a royal watcher who only gets to see the images, I appreciate the care they take to give that certain image. I'm not a fan of royalty who tries to look like the girl next door.

Mary with her unusual looks and presence seems to fit right in with the DRF.

Mary arrived already quite accepted by people and the DRF, her task was quite easier, but she still keep's trying hardly. IMO she is more sure of her charm, she looks like being at the stage when she knows that she is already the DIVA

Originally Posted by ysbel

I'm not a fan of royalty who tries to look like the girl next door.

Very right, people need to dream with their royals, not to see them looking worst than them.
Both Mary and Letizia seems to realize people's wishes and they "play the game" very gracefull:)

[auntie]

I hear what all of you are saying, but I still feel, and have read many quotes in TRF that people feel that she isn't natrual or friednsly enough and people complain that she is too model like with the designer clothes etc. I feel that she looks fantastic, and after all this time it is evident that she and Freddie are in love,but should loosen up a bit, esp. as the DRF are known for being friendly and humane to us common folks.

[gattica28]

The one thing I've learned by reading all of these internet message boards about the various crown princesses...is that regardless of what they do..they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The crown princesses are developing their own roles to suit their individual personalities and their respective monarchies and IMO, they are all assets to their husbands and monarchies!

[Margrethe II]

Originally Posted by gattica28

The one thing I've learned by reading all of these internet message boards about the various crown princesses...is that regardless of what they do..they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The crown princesses are developing their own roles to suit their individual personalities and their respective monarchies and IMO, they are all assets to their husbands and monarchies!

Here Here Gattica :)

"MII"

[Harmony]

Originally Posted by gattica28

The one thing I've learned by reading all of these internet message boards about the various crown princesses...is that regardless of what they do..they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The crown princesses are developing their own roles to suit their individual personalities and their respective monarchies and IMO, they are all assets to their husbands and monarchies!

Well said gattica28. :)

[JessRulz]

If any Australian member, or overseas member too, is interested, I know a shop near where I live where this book is available for $AU5.00