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Synopsis
For the christening party of the Her Serene and Royal Highness Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne (known as Amy) two hundred and twenty cooks made marzipan trees, great ships of sugar candy, and a cake decorated with hundreds of sugar bells and crystallised roses - so tall they had to stand on silver stepladders to ice it. All the princess's seven godfathers and seventeen godmothers arrived with fabulous presents - except the last fairy godmother, Crustacea, who was caught in a traffic jam and was late and very cross. Perhaps that was why she gave Amy a curious gift. "You shall be Ordinary!" cried the most important fairy godmother. But the Ordinary Princess grew up to have the most extraordinary adventures...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Heliumion
Format:Paperback
No matter what she does, Princess Amy (christened Amethyst) cannot be as perfect as her six older sisters, each one more perfect than then next. This is because at her christening, a disgruntled fairy cursed her with being Ordinary.
So when her parents resort to dragons and rewards in their attempt to get this very ordinary girl married off, she runs away to the forest to be friends with the woodland creatures who accept her for who she is.
And she finds that being ordinary is not such a curse after all - I don't want to give away how!
What I loved about this book was all the descriptions - all the jewels and velvets of court life, the banquets, the woodland creatures and comforts. And they are a delightful foil for the ordinariness (yes I know it's not a word) of Amy - she comes across as even more real and down-to-earth because of her fairytale surroundings.
There are plenty of ridiculous characters for humour too, in case you think this is a bit worthy.
This book is a beautiful fairy story for those who've outgrown the traditional ones - and I still enjoy reading it!
Definitely five stars!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
When I was a child, this was one of my favourite books and having reread it recently with my young nephew, I can remember why. It's almost PC the way Princess Amy can't abide by her parents wishes to be locked up in some tower while Dad hires out for a dragon and perhaps a Prince to come and slay the beast. Why any girl in her position seems to have no choice except to run away. And so the Princess does. She escapes into the forest and is quite happy there with her various woodland friends. That is until the practicalities of her wardrobe and some very sensible advice from her fairy godmother mean that she needs to seek out some form of gainful employment. So she ends up working as a kitchenmaid and she does meet a Prince, eventually. I fell in love with this book all over again! There is a lesson in this book somewhere, possibly more than one but it escapes me at the moment. I just find it a very enjoyable read, even now. Princess Amy is most certainly a patch above the rest and as you'll soon discover, there is nothing ordinary about her perserverence in the face of a typical fairytale ending.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Claire
Format:Paperback
After reading an article in the TES, I have just come online to see if it's really true...that after too many long years of waiting, The Ordinary Princess has finally been reprinted. Whooo hoooo!
Every page in this book is filled with memories of my childhood - how many other little girls make believe they're an ordinary princess too, especially when they have a wood to run through behind their house, just like Amy.
My well-read and battered copy can now have a well deserved rest as I place an order for my new copy. I'll also be ordering a copy for my children. If there are any females in your family, young or old, make this a magical Christmas and get them a copy - much better than fluffy slippers :- )
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty little story for youngsters
nothing nasty or frightening about this story, good book for Christmas or Birthday presents. will look for some more of M.M.Kaye books
Published 19 days ago by jimmia puddleduck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent nearly new condition
This story was a childhood favourite of mind so I wanted to get it for my daughter but didn't really want to pay full price. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Suzie HV
2.0 out of 5 stars
childrens book
should be noted as childrens book really my neice loved it however, exactly the kind of pink and fluffy every teenager needs.
Published 1 month ago by opinionated
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful fairy tale
This is the most wonderful fairy tale. I have just read it to my 5 year old daughter and she loved every word of it. The illustrations are simply beautiful. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M
5.0 out of 5 stars
100% Satisfied
This was a most satisfactory transaction. The product arrived in good time, and was in the condition promised. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Courtney
3.0 out of 5 stars
Childs book
Cannot comment was a present for achild as requested by them , they were pleased so assume it was all OK.
Published on 16 Mar 2010 by Mrs. Jacqueline Hollinshead
5.0 out of 5 stars
A childhood (and grown-up) favourite
I still have my old Puffin copy of this, but had to buy the Jane Nissen reprint as it contains M. M. Kaye's own charming illustrations. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2008 by Sakerfalcon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unusually magical!
I was given this book when I was about 9 and was immediately captivated by its charm and humour. It tells the story of Princess Amethyst whose christening is marred by the arrival... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2002 by "hannahfinch1"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
I remember being captivated by this book as a child - the down to earth Princess Amy seemed so much more like me than any other fairytale princess I'd ever read about. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting, endearing, a book that I still read today!
I've fallen in love with this book and I think you will too. First read when I was ten, I still sneak a look every now and again at aged 24! Read more
Published on 14 Nov 1998
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