To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink

To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink

Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (December 2012)

272 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $9.56)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Today, the average person spends around 40% of their time moving others to depart from resources.  This is the central message of Daniel Pink’s book: ‘To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others’.  With some fascinating social science and psychological research, Daniel Pink shows that, due to modern technology, many employees are forced to wear different hats, including sales.  From there he outlines different concepts on how to improve your ability to move others.  A fascinating read, it will make you rethink what “sales” means and what a “sales-person” is.

The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

Publisher: The Penguin Press (June 2012)

304 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $12.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations and Sexual Language

This is the story of Count Axel von Fersen, Swedish noble, solider and Marie Antoinette's lover. From his childhood to his violent death, this novelized account covers many areas of his life, including but not limited to his association with Marie Antoinette. Though there are some overly long excerpts from his correspondence that got a little tedious, this was a wonderful story told in both his voice and that of his sister's, in a free-flowing, many times light-hearted manner that I enjoyed. Unfortunately, much like Marie Antoinette, he would meet a horrible end. In the eulogy at his funeral, Bishop Gustaf Murray summed it up saying he was "the undeserving victim of a misled public's bloodthirsty frenzy." Ironic that Marie Antoinette and Fersen should both meet their end in such a way. Great read!

Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas

Farewell, My Queen by Chantal Thomas

Publisher: George Braziller Inc. (June 2012)

257 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

This book tells the story of the last three days at Versailles (July 14-16, 1789), from the point of view of a servant, particularly a young woman whose occupation it is to read to the Queen, and in the end is asked to dress as the Duchess de Polignac while they make their escape to divert danger from the Queen's favorite. I found this story slow-moving, at times rambling, at times ruminating. Having just finished 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser', I found this lacking detail, but looking back, I think that was the point. The servants and many courtiers had little or no information about what was going on until it was upon them, leaving only the bewildering reflections of an intricate world falling apart at an amazing pace. It also showed the stark contrast between the few servants that remained loyal to stand by the royals and the great masses that fled to save themselves, with varying degrees of internal conflict. I'm hoping the movie version, which I have not seen yet, will better hold my interest.

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

Farewell, My Queen (2012)-Subtitled

Lea Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Virginie Ledoyen

Movie Rating: R

My Rating: 4 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Publisher: Anchor (November 2002)

544 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $13.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Beginning with Marie Antoinette's birth and following along her journey of life to her death, at age 37, this account is both thorough and fascinating. For those aspects of her life that cannot be absolutely substantiated by the historical record, an attempt to conjecture viable answers is attempted, but never deemed to be fact, which I appreciated. It's a shame that a long campaign of vicious propaganda, led a people to largely support the violent end to their monarchy, when it might have been otherwise. The sordid, misguided handling of the royal family by the revolutionaries and the ultimate outcome thereof, is best summed up, as was the book, with the Queen's own words: "Oh my God, if we have committed faults, we have certainly expiated them." Excellent Read!

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn

Movie Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 5 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

Blackmoor by Edward Hogan

Blackmoor by Edward Hogan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (September 2009)

220 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing

Being an albino, Beth has been avoided and looked upon with suspicion in the small Derbyshire town she's lived in all her life, her husband George the only person who is interested in her beyond a curiosity. But the birth of her son and a bad case of postpartum depression, along with the environmental changes taking over the small town, all conspire to end in her death. This is an interesting study in the small insignificant things in a person's life that come together to form change and loss. The interaction between George and his son, Vincent, or lack thereof, highlighting the simultaneous avoidance and cleaving desperation that surrounds the memory of Beth. Thought provoking, with rich imagery and a blunt style, oftentimes conveying an uncomfortably accurate assessment of the grittiness of life, stripped of the glamour we wish it had. Great read!