Customer Reviews

The Way We Were: Remembering Diana

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Despite some other Diana book authors (I shall not name them here) who bashed and trashed the late Princess of Wales and are now shedding crocodile tears over Burrell's book (the effect on the "poor boys" when they themselves labeled Diana a "neurotic", or "damaged" or worse), I find Burrell's book an excellent choice for fans of the late Princess. It describes the Princess as a woman with a wicked sense of humor, a devoted friend, and someone who must have been very interesting to work for. She comes across as an excellent mother devoted to William and Harry whose pictures appeared throughout Diana's royal apartments during her lifetime. Diana's devotion to Hasnet Khan is detailed here as well; Burrell maintains that her relationship with Dodi Fayed would have broken up eventually had it run its course. I see nothing objectionable in this book, Burrell offers interesting insights into the late Princess. This is a must read for fans of Princess Diana. The photographs included are marvelous--there is a very touching picture of Diana and Mother Theresa among them.

Paul Burrell did an excellent job on this book. I laughed and cried reading it. It's so full of emotion. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a real since of what it was like taking care of the "Boss" . The pictures are beautiful, and you can certainly get a feel of how it was to actually live in KP apt's 8 & 9.

Paul, thank you for sharing and enlightening me on how Diana was treated by the Spencers, the Royal Family and friends. I would have never known what she went through without you.

You were a true friend to her and to those who think he should not have written this book, that somehow it may have been an invasion of her privacy or whatever, believe me when I tell you that this book is the most Precious Memorial anyone has done for her. He knew what a privilege it was just knowing her and getting to be that close to her. From the beginning to the end, he had her best intentions at heart always!!

Get this book you will be so glad you did.

If I read only this book and then someone gave me a pop quiz on Dianas' life I would make a 100. My favorite by far of any book I have read about Diana.



Someone was wondering why the author would even mention the incident in the garden. He says in the book that Diana herself said, that the way the Rumor mill worked in her life SOMEONE would surely claim at some point in time that it was HER baby. He wanted to tell the world this was NOT the case. He straightens out other rumors which have surfaced since the last book as well.



This man is still protecting Diana and I adore him for it.{I WANT a loyal Butler Manservant guy......} He mentions the photos are likely to be the ONLY ones to capture how she really lived her daily life .The Royals made museums out of the OTHER royals residences' who have passed, but tore through Dianas' place like it was just the home of a "tenant" who has come and gone. Ripping everything out, down to the electrical sockets. Um.........how touching. And Royal.



I think all things considered Diana would have definitely preferred having pictures of how she left her desk preserved for all eternity....{since I guess it was too much to ask of the Royal family to have preserved the ACTUAL desk } and in exchange a few secrets be told. She was after all the Mother to the future King of England................I think there are a few people who might be remotely interested in where she sat as she composed letters to her son.........



This book was wonderful and although it gives details of her life...it is not in a disrespectful way that would betray her memory. He refers often to how she laughed a LOT and her laughter would carry throughout the house. For anyone who loved Diana you will be at peace to hear how beautifully and graciously she lived her daily life, and that she did indeed have one true friend who protects her to this day. It is a wonderful read , do not miss it. I have to admit though , there are probably more than a few people who will NOT be happy to hear what Diana really thought of them. If I take issue with anything, it is with the fact that she worked so hard to be gracious to everyone, even if she loathed them, and now a few people are going to learn what she really thought. THAT might cause her to reach down from Heaven and smack Paul....but overall it is simply a wonderful book!

So many people are quick to condemn Paul Burrell for writing a second book about Diana. I don't think he did it for the money, I think writing is his way of keeping Diana's spirit alive. He does it both for himself and for all of the people who never knew Diana but wished they had. I have read many books on Diana and her life. Not all good, and some very questionable, but Paul's books always have the ring of truth in them. There is no doubt that he loved her and a part of him died with her, so why fault him for trying to keep her with him a bit longer?

He repeats a few things that were in his first book, A Royal Duty, but there are also many new things that have never before been revealed. Maybe some people see this as a betrayal, but after you read the book I think you will understand that Paul felt that there were stories being told that were untrue and needed to be set straight. I found it to be a very interesting book and I finished it in a few hours. Don't take that to mean that it is a short book not worth buying, because that is far from the truth. It is just a book that makes you want to read it without stopping, which is what I did.

The pictures of the interior of Diana's apartment at Kensington Palace alone are worth the price of the book. Paul took them himself and he did a splendid job. The only thing I found questionable was a picture of Diana's desk that was said to be "just the way she left it". Paul said he took these pictures during the weeks shortly after her death, but clearly, on the desk, is a set of rosary beads that were given to Diana by Mother Teresa. These beads are said to be the same ones that were placed in Diana's hands before her body was returned to London for burial. It makes me wonder how they turned up in a photo taken "weeks after her death."

Other that that small bit of confusion I found the book to be well written and very thoughtful and enlightening. You will get your money's worth. Thank you Paul, once again, for letting us into Diana's life.

Kind of a combination Diana/Paul Burrell biography "The way We were" tells about various aspects of Diana's life, mostly in the final years. You will find some material familiar, some of it told from a different viewpoint to what we're used to.
I take it as a sort of butler's eye view of the Princess's life/ death with inside details and opinions on her love life (he says the Dodi thing wasn't real, just a fling), the dress sale and Diana's friendships among other subjects. Mr. Burrell doesn't do much Royal bashing, doesn't attack the Spencer family, mentions other books but doesn't deride them. It was a nice touch having his sons each write a page or two about their memories of the Princess. There is some "I" and "We" stuff but mostly the book rings true to me. I have a feeling that very little material here can be dismissed as unreliable, a little too self promoting maybe but still reliable. Burrell does have several pictures of Kensington Palace that he took himself and may very well have been busy taking notes as some enemies charge but over all the book is a memorial to/ defense of Princess Diana as he says it is.
The book is definitely worth owning, much better that Burrell's obviously envious critics (Ingrid Seward in this month's Majesty Magazine is one of the worst)are willing to give him credit for. It is an inside source, maybe the only one we're going to ever get, and worth reading. If you have an interest in Diana you won't regret getting the book.

Of all the memoirists of her time, Diana's man, Paul Burrell, is the most believeable, the most astute and the sweetest. Worth a read just to hear about her first-hand, from someone who really, really cared.

Reading the reviews I say--don't judge the author or his motive--judge the book! Having read or purchased just about every book on Diana as authored by her psychics to her housekeepers yes there is little new material anywhere left.

Yet she continues to fascinate us as does Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

I have seen her fashions and jewels but never before the interior of her apt at Kensington.

As for Mr. Burrell, I feel he is very sincere. There is so much more he could say, but won't and we should honor that. This book brings Diana alive again within our memories.

I enjoy Mr. Burrell's books about Diana. However, I think that he has made a good decision not to write anymore. I think he has covered everything he could write about her.

As a true Diana fan, I'm so torn because I love this inside look into her life, and reading about the details we could never know from anyone else; but am I also guilty of intruding into her life as she often complained about? Anyway: great, easy, fast read, and lots of detail. I also went to the Mario Testino exhibition in Kensington Palace in July, and wonder if Mr. Burrell and I may have crossed paths--I agree with his proposal that Diana's apartments would have been a good museum (similar to Princess Margaret's). Recommended reading.

I loved this book and think anybody who read Royal Duty and liked it will really like this too.

This guy knew Diana better than many who want to write about her. He was closer to her and you can tell that. I dont' trust half of what I read about her. But when he talks about going back to her apartments years after her death to find the place ripped apart and tells you about his life and work with her there, you can feel his pain and frustration. When he talks about the way the royal family has honored the Queen Mum and Princess Margaret by turning their homes into museums, but hasn't done that for Diana, you can really see what he's doing -- he wants us to remember the special things about her, her compassion, the ways she was still growing into her own even in the summer before she died.

There are lots of scenes that ring completely true and are really unforgetable -- she and Burrell dig a grave for a stillborn child in Diana's garden in a solemn, very sad but loving and intimate little ceremony with the child's parents. And Burrell helps her sort out her romance with Dr. Kahn -- what could be a better example of what close friends do for each other?? -- and the way that story ends, with her breaking it up after two years, and Burrell's last visit with Kahn after her death -- is just heartbreaking. And there's very interesting stuff about the books and philosophy she was reading that helped her cope. If you like books, you'll find that very cool.

This guy knew Diana like no other and if you're interested in her, you have to read this book. It's different than Royal Duty, but well worth it. It's a story about love -- Burrell's friendship and admiration for her. And her love for Kahn, a man of dignity and integrity, who she couldn't have because of who she was.