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A Brief History of Montmaray (The Montmaray Journals #1)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 1,831 ratings · 452 reviews

“There’s a fine line between gossip and history, when one is talking about kings.”

Sophie Fitzosborne lives in a crumbling castle in the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray with her eccentric and impoverished royal family. When she receives a journal for her sixteenth birthday, Sophie decides to chronicle day-to-day life on the island. But this is 1936, and the news that trick...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (first published June 2nd 2008)

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Jun 12, 2011 Mariel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: QT! QT!

Recommended to Mariel by: I read everything like all my favorites except 'Castle' readalikes. I need to expand!

Michelle Cooper is the Quentin Tarantino of young adult novels. Not really original, kinda wears their influences on most of the outfit if one is being honest, but what she does right is really hard to do and better, I think, than originality. (Not that I wouldn't agree that Michelle Cooper owes big time royalties to Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle.) Cooper is funny. I was down in the dumps and the two Montmaray books cheered me up when nothing else did. (This analogy might not work well for...more

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May 26, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, 20th-century-early-to-mid, examined-lives

This book would have been a perfect companion for my fifteen year old self. I think I simply found this one too late to be receptive to many of its charms. This is a book that one should hand to a young girl to introduce her into a world that I've already found. I've already read I Capture the Castle, I've already peeked into the mad wife's attic, and Elinor Dashwood and I are old friends. I've visited Avalon, I've immersed myself in King Henry's court, and I already majored in European history....more

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Jul 06, 2011 Hirondelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Meh. This sounded much better than it turned out to be. And this time I even followed that one rule that I always skip and then regret, of reading a couple pages BEFORE buying the book, just to make sure. I think I was deceived because the first couple pages are a letter from Toby and Toby´s letters are the liveliest, most charming pieces of this narrative.

This is somewhat derivative, it strongly brings to mind I Capture the Castle, up to secondary character´s names (Simon), and as well in type...more Meh. This sounded much better than it turned out to be. And this time I even followed that one rule that I always skip and then regret, of reading a couple pages BEFORE buying the book, just to make sure. I think I was deceived because the first couple pages are a letter from Toby and Toby´s letters are the liveliest, most charming pieces of this narrative.

This is somewhat derivative, it strongly brings to mind I Capture the Castle, up to secondary character´s names (Simon), and as well in type of narrative, abject upper class poverty, and living in a castle. But where ICtC became a cult favorite by being quirky, somewhat unsentimental and unpredictable and, above all Cassandra´s voice and feelings seeming *true* to the reader , Montmaray never approaches that level.

First, I should say I have a problem with suspension of disbelief regarding the setting. The details of the setting seem awfully vague around the edges in questions of scale. I was probably originally mislef by the map which must be totally off scale. From the narrative it sounds like the Montmaray is so small it would not show up on any map otherwise. From the map on the book Montmaray seems biggish, the size of say, Madeira. And then there are all sort of details which do not seem credible, they have inhabited a off-shore island for almost 400 years, but they have no discernible accent or evolving language (hmph. No.). The island goes from a population that could support a fighting force of at least 160 men ( so I guess a total population 500 to 2000 I guess) to a dozen inhabitants on 20 years - even with the spanish flu epidemics, I do not think emmigration patterns work like that, not for long-independent isolated places where families have lived for centuries. (People living on the island would probably be able to keep subsisting there, paying no rent and living off fishing or kitchen gardens, as their ancestors have done for centuries and probably with not much use for hard currency on their island anyway. People ambitious for hard cash or other opportunities would emmigrate surely, but a percentage almost totally emmigrating to places where they would have to pay rent and leave their homes seems incredible. Even assuming the unbelievable generosity of passing ships to make stops to take passengers without charging passages! Consider maybe Azorean emigration patterns for example. Or other northern Atlantic archipelagos. Surely only islands with major natural disasters got emigration patterns like these?). Ok, this is a geek thing, but still if I suspend disbelief in worldbuilding, my belief in characters is damaged as well.

Besides the worldbuilding looking very flimsy, the plot also seemed very flimsy on a few things.(view spoiler). Just examples of stuff which seemed a bit out of the blue plot wise.

I would have probably have forgiven all that, if only I had loved Sophie´s (our narrator) style better. Sophie is the blueprint of a journal writing heroine meant to be dear to the female YA genre reader´s heart: admittedly bookish, a fan of the divine Jane (aren´t we all?), with a prettier sister (OK, cousin in this case) and eccentric younger sibling. The elements did not quite add up to charm for me.

So that was that, I did not particularly believe the setting, believe in the plot, nor particularly love the characters. Meh.

( besides the obvious I Capture the Castle, this somewhow reminded me of Summers at Castle Auburn which is a totally different type of book, but a good example of a YA heroine who charmed me).(less)

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Oct 25, 2009 BOOK BUTTERFLY rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wish-list

Sophie FitzOsborne is a teenage girl living on the small island kingdom of Montmaray, a desolated place populated by a decaying craggily castle, wherein there are “as many Royal Highnesses on the island as there are subjects”. Sophie is determined to document life on the island, and armed with her trusty journal, she paints us a vivd picture of life within the castle, which includes a raving, lunatic King with a penchant for throwing chamber pots about his bedroom, extreme weather conditions, il...more Sophie FitzOsborne is a teenage girl living on the small island kingdom of Montmaray, a desolated place populated by a decaying craggily castle, wherein there are “as many Royal Highnesses on the island as there are subjects”. Sophie is determined to document life on the island, and armed with her trusty journal, she paints us a vivd picture of life within the castle, which includes a raving, lunatic King with a penchant for throwing chamber pots about his bedroom, extreme weather conditions, illnesses and dangerous German visitors who trespass onto the island in the pursuit of artifacts.

A Brief History of Montmaray is written in the style of I Capture the Castle, and if you are a fan of that novel, you will definitely want to read Michelle Cooper’s compelling romantic, adventure. Though there are similarities, it's important to note that Michelle Cooper has definitely made A Brief History of Montmaray all her own. All the characters were extremely well drawn with strong, quirky personalities – from tomboy Henry with her wild recklessness, to Sophie’s beautiful and brilliant cousin Veronica, with her flair for political debate and historical facts. The novel transpires through the journal entries of Sophie, who is an extremely likable protagonist. I enjoyed flipping through the pages and watching her natural progression into a more mature young woman.

The plot of A Brief History of Montmaray was incredible. The elements of history, intrigue, romance and a dash of the supernatural all blended together in a fast paced, seamless manner. The unexpected plot twists and turns left me reeling time and time again. My heart was pounding especially hard when the Germans came late one night in their relentless pursuit of the legend involving the Holy Grail. But, the ending was what absolutely blew me away. I could not put the book down at that point. I’m not sure if Michelle Cooper plans on writing a sequel to A Brief History of Montmaray, but I would be most eager to snatch one up and continue on with the saga of FitzOsbornes.

This novel was also awarded the 2009 Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature and shortlisted for the 2008 Golden Inky Teenage Choice Award.(less)

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Apr 01, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, audiobook, reread

Thank goodness there's a sequel (coming out in the US in the spring of 2011, according to the author's website) because otherwise the loose ends might have overwhelmed the (many) charms of the story. Yes, the story bears a strong resemblance to I Capture the Castle, in the way the story is told as a teen girl's diary and in the genteel poverty of the characters lives. The adults are a bit hapless and the teens end up shouldering heavy responsibilities in both books, but here the circumstances ar...more

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Nov 11, 2009 Kricket rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lindsaygail, fans of "I capture the castle" & "The lost art of Keeping Secrets"

Recommended to Kricket by: Booklist

Shelves: 2009, bildungsroman, historical-fiction, teen-fiction, wwii

this book is so much fun! it's the diary of princess sophie fitzosborne of the tiny island nation of montmaray (fictionally located in the bay of biscay) at the very start of WWII. her uncle, the king, is completely crazy, the castle is falling to bits, and sophie's aunt charlotte is trying to convince her to visit England and start husband shopping. but before that can happen, two german SS officers arrive unexpectedly on the island and what happens next was a total surprise to me. funny, myste...more

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May 22, 2013 Branigan Teens rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First of all, I loved the characters. Michelle Cooper created a group of smart, charismatic, and odd characters that made you love them, hate them, or love to hate them. Sophia is a great heroine. She's smart, and funny, and brave. She doesn't always see it in herself which makes her a bit more lovable. Henry is out to prove that she is boy, or as tough as one anyway. Veronica is beyond an intellectual, she’s an educator. Toby and Simon are a perfect pair of opposites, and Rebecca and King John...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Charty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It started off a little slow as we meet the ragtag inhabitants of the Kingdom of Montmaray as they eke out their life on the island nation they call home. Set immediately before the outbreak of the WWII the FitzOsbournes are mainly concerned with keeping King John confined to his room and getting enough eggs from the flock to have something half-edible to eat. To say they live in genteel poverty would be an understatement. Young Princess Sophia (Sophie) is using her journal to chronicle what tur...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Catie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction

Princess Sophia Margaret Elizabeth Jane Clementine FitzOsborne, aka Sophie, does not consider herself a princess. This is because Montmaray, an island equidistant from London, Paris, and Madrid in the Bay of Biscay, hardly warrants royalty. To start with, there are hardly ever more than eleven people on the island ever—and half of them are royal themselves. Also, Montmaray does not really have a castle so much as a fortified residence, which happens to be in appalling shape due to the severe lac...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Everyday eBook rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Everyday by: Christine Hung

If I had a dime for every time someone (yes, publishing world, I'm looking at you) said something was like "Downton Abbey," I'd probably have enough money to buy my very own Downton Abbey. On the surface, "Downton Abbey" and Michelle Cooper's A Brief History of Montmaray share similarities -- both are about British families right before a world war starts and both have their fair share of drama. But in reality, A Brief History of Montmaray, is much more closely related to I Capture the Castle, D...more If I had a dime for every time someone (yes, publishing world, I'm looking at you) said something was like "Downton Abbey," I'd probably have enough money to buy my very own Downton Abbey. On the surface, "Downton Abbey" and Michelle Cooper's A Brief History of Montmaray share similarities -- both are about British families right before a world war starts and both have their fair share of drama. But in reality, A Brief History of Montmaray, is much more closely related to I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith's often-overlooked classic about an impoverished English family living in a castle in the 1930s. So maybe using "Downton Abbey" was a semi-cheap ploy for your attention. But A Brief History of Montmaray is so good that I'm willing to resort to gimmicks just so you'll pick it up and read it.

For any fans of I Capture the Castle, this should automatically sell you on A Brief History of Montmaray, which is also about an impoverished family living in a crumbling castle in the '30s -- but this time, the family is royal. Sophie FitzOsborne and her sister live with their beautiful cousin Veronica and her father, the mad King John, in the fictional island kingdom of Montmaray, located just off the southern coast of England. The book is perfect at capturing that period feeling; Sophie's voice matches exactly how you'd expect a sixteen-year-old to sound in 1936. Sophie writes in her journal about everything that happens in the small island kingdom, including sharp observations like, "There's a fine line between gossip and history, when one is talking about kings."

The book picks up with the arrival of two German soldiers in Montmaray. Suddenly, the looming war that seemed so distant is right on their shore. What follows next is the fight to hold onto home when the world seems to be exploding.

Michelle Cooper writes beautifully, and the pacing and plot are spot on. This is a work of young adult historical fiction that you will not want to miss.

Head to www.EverydayeBook.com for more eBook reviews (less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

The FitzOsbornes aren't your typical royal family. Impoverished and isolated, they rule over a tiny island--although perhaps rule is too strong a word given that there are as many villagers left on the island as there are FitzOsbornes in the family castle. Fortified house, that is, as pedant Veronica points out very primly that it cannot properly be called a castle.

Though it is Veronica who is the bookish, studious one of the clan,...more This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

The FitzOsbornes aren't your typical royal family. Impoverished and isolated, they rule over a tiny island--although perhaps rule is too strong a word given that there are as many villagers left on the island as there are FitzOsbornes in the family castle. Fortified house, that is, as pedant Veronica points out very primly that it cannot properly be called a castle.

Though it is Veronica who is the bookish, studious one of the clan, and who is purportedly writing the official family history, the reader will be relieved to know that it's not through her officious eyes that we explore the blustery, ramshackle island of Montmaray, but rather through those of her cousin Sophie. Instead of searching back through the history books to put together her account of life on the island, Sophie does so with pen and paper and a keen eye for the humour to be found in human interactions--something Veronica patently lacks.

"When I asked Veronica what she'd thought about Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the nineteenth century without once mentioning Napoleon," says Sophie. (This is perhaps why Veronica also fails to understand Sophie's allusion when she describes a homoerotic situation as "a bit like Oscar Wilde and that boy." "Oscar Wilde?" says Veronica blankly.)

Her account has been translated from its original (made-up) Kernetin ("Kernetin is based on Cornish and Latin, with some Greek letters and random meaningless squiggles thrown in to be extra-confusing. Also, it is boustrophedonic [I adore that world and try to say it as often as possible, but unfortunately it hasn't many everyday uses.]"), but readers will be pleased to know that none of its wit and whimsy has been lost. Or indeed, if it has, then to no detriment of the narrative.

A Brief History of Montmaray is a warm, quiet read that owes much of its success to Sophie's sense of humour and her wry observations of the daily lives of a handful of teens (and one child), a few adults, and one mad regent, whose experiences extend only as far as the shores of their tiny island. And the occasional shipment of newspapers or letter from Toby FitzOsborne, who is studying abroad (or more accurately, attending school abroad, as studying is not something Toby makes a habit of.)

Sophie muses on the near-insolvency of their kingdom: "As I wrote that last bit, Henry wandered through the kitchen wearing an ancient jersey of Toby's that is more holes than wool, but that's because she idolises Toby, not because she is a Dickensian beggar child"; the problems of marriage when one is a member of a royal family: "Heavens, what a snob I sound! But it's not my fault I'm a princess (albeit one from an impoverished and inconsequential island kingdom that is miles from anywhere)" and her typical response to Veronica's bookishness: "I got distracted as I tend to do, and started thinking about the herringbone pattern in which the stones were set and whether herrings really did have their bones arranged in that particular manner."

Trivia involving vicious chickens, dwindling candle stubs and maybe-ghosts might form a large part of the narrative, but its presence is twofold. Not only does it (amusingly) highlight the purposelessness of the FitzOsbornes' daily lives and the family's utter irrelevance to the wider world, but these petty concerns and interests also highlight just how myopic people can become when they're cut off from the wider world. The setting of the novel, you see, is the end of the 1930s. There are hints of the looming WWII, but with months often going by between the arrival of news from England, the FitzOsbornes are largely in the dark regarding what's going on.

Only Veronica raises concerns: "--and if even a tenth of it is true, it raises some serious questions about the British policy of...oh, I'm sorry, this must be boring you." But even then, those concerns seem unsubstantiated, because Montmaray is so apart from everything else that the idea of a war seems almost unfathomable. Over Christmas pudding, for example, Sophie says: "I said I wished for peace throughout the world, especially in Spain (I actually wished Simon could come home for Christmas)". Even when a group of SS officers arrive at the island, Sophie is clueless. "You have family in England, yes?" says one of them. "The young princess told me about your brother and aunt. It will be safe there." And to this, Sophie responds: "Safe from what?"

Though there are surely plenty of dark moments to come for the FitzOsbornes--and indeed quite a few in this book--Sophie's personable, whimsical narrative style carries the reader through relatively unscathed. It's also key to the success of the format of the novel. It's so very easy for an epistolary format to feel not quite real, but Sophie's messing up of dates, haphazard leaps across time and subsequent backtracking to fill in moments where she's got ahead of herself, make it easy to suspend disbelief. It's a wonderful read, and one that I highly recommend.
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Sep 09, 2012 Sherwood Smith added it · review of another edition

This had been recommended to me as a young adult I Capture the Caste. I guess I should know better when someone says something is a X version of Y, but when I really loved Y, I can get suckered in because one can never have new Y again.

There were parts of this story about a fictional tiny island kingdom far off the coast of France (size relative to distance was bothersome), down to a handful of people living in a grim castle, dependent on the occasional boat. Sophie keeps a diary, her writing be...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 Stars

Loved it. It’s a mix of I Capture the Castle and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (sort of). It’s the tale of the impoverished royal family of Montmaray and their villagers. Sum total: 12 people if you count Carlos the dog (which everyone does). Montmaray is an island halfway between England and Spain. The story takes place in 1936, and there are Nazis.

It’s a journal-entry story. And in truth I’m not crazy about this style. I had a terrible time remembering who the various...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

Princess Sophie FitzOsborne keeps a diary documenting life in 1936-1937. She is part of the royal family of Montmaray, a tiny, fictional island in the Bay of Biscay. Sophie, her brother and sister, her cousin, the King, and a housekeeper live in a crumbling castle with about three villagers still in residence on the island. Sophie and her family get mail and supplies from passing ships, but are otherwise completely cut off from the rest of the world. For a tiny island in the middle of nowhere th...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Krista rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, adolescent-literature

This was an interesting read about Sophie FitzOsborn, a 15-year-old girl who is a princess of the Kingdom of Montmaray. What makes it interesting is that Montmaray is a tiny island Kingdom some two hundred miles off the coast of Spain and the book opens in 1936. Historical references abound, such as Hitler and the abdication of the King of England for Wallis Simpson. There are so many historical allusions that I finally had to put down the book and Wikipedia Montmaray to see if it really exists....more

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Jul 04, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Much of the world is captivated by the Spanish Civil War, which is dividing Europe, and King Edward VIII’s’s abdication, which allowed him to marry his divorced lover, but it’s been a long time since anyone paid much attention to the little island nation of Montmaray, isolated in the Bay of Biscay between France and Spain. Their King is mad, the castle is crumbling, and most of the citizens are gone, but Sophia FitzOsborne lives there with Veronica, her brainy, self-assured cousin and closest fr...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is an apt exploration of a young girl's mind. It leads the reader through some years of the main character's (Sophie's) life and holds back nothing that would be going through her mind. There are internal as well as external conflicts that endear the characters to the reader. The main character (Sophie) is somehow presented as humble and self sacrificing even though it is "her" journal.

The development of each character was surprisingly deep, though I would have liked to hear more about...more

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May 17, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wwii

I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I might have liked it much better when I was like fourteen, but as it is, I just couldn't quite get into it. The writing was charming and the pace decently fast, but I was still bored for at least 50% of it.

The good:
-Sophia, as a narrator, is very lively and her voice very clear. She can be a bit vapid, but other than that she's pretty relateable and not Mary Sue-ish, which is refreshing.
-It's a light tale, very whimsical, which I appreciate.
-It...more I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I might have liked it much better when I was like fourteen, but as it is, I just couldn't quite get into it. The writing was charming and the pace decently fast, but I was still bored for at least 50% of it.

The good:
-Sophia, as a narrator, is very lively and her voice very clear. She can be a bit vapid, but other than that she's pretty relateable and not Mary Sue-ish, which is refreshing.
-It's a light tale, very whimsical, which I appreciate.
-It included a lot of European history and political philosophy...although I did have some problems with this aspect, but still, it's a nice introduction to those subjects for younger readers.
-The gay subplot (maybe?). Unique for a young adult fiction, and definitely a departure from the usual girl-meets-boy.

The bad:
-It's very, very reminiscent of I Capture the Castle. The crumbling castle, the introspective girl writing in a journal, the foray into first crushes, the mad male head-of-household, the eccentric relatives...I could probably go on. There are worse books you could use as inspiration, but it does invite a comparison between the two, and frankly, I Capture the Castle is way out of A Brief History of Montmaray's league.
-The concept is just kind of silly. There something to be said for light, whimsical tales, but the idea that nations like Britain and Germany would give a crap about a tiny island "nation" of teenage girls who call themselves princesses? Yeah, no. I basically just rolled my eyes at all the Nazi crap - I most sincerely doubt that the Nazis would have taken time out of their busy schedule overrunning actual countries to bomb a tiny, insignificant island because one guy went missing there. And the whole thing about them being royalty...please. They're basically just poor kids playing dress-up and calling themselves by grand titles.
-The history was dull. It would have been good for a younger reader, maybe, but I don't need the Spanish Civil War explained to me in ten pages, thanks, and I don't care about characters having lengthy debates about the troubles with Communism versus Fascism. It just felt patronizing.

It was a quick read, and I'm glad I read it. I'll probably read the sequel at some point. But it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, so I'm a bit disappointed. I much prefer I Capture the Castle for poor-yet-charming upper-class heroines and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for light WWII fiction. (less)

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May 17, 2012 Ligaya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The year is 1936 and Princess Sophie lives on a small godforsaken island of the coast of France called Montmaray. The Island is ruled by the long forgotten FitzOsborne family, of which Sophie is part. This book may seem a tad slow for some people but it has a wonderful sense of place and time. Princess Sophie's vivid descriptions of her island kingdom are both nostalgic and tragic- for she is describing an age that is now lost forever.
Characters are very well developed, considering the book is...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-the-shelf

Sophie Fitzosborne lives in a crumbling castle in the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray with her eccentric and impoverished royal family. When she receives a journal for her sixteenth birthday, Sophie decides to chronicle day-to-day life on the island. But this is 1936, and the news that trickles in from the mainland reveals a world on the brink of war. The politics of Europe seem far away from their remote island—until two German officers land a boat on Montmaray. And then suddenly politics bec...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Maureen E rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, simply-superb, young-adult

A couple of weeks ago, my friend B. (who sometimes comments here as the Baroness) mentioned A Brief History of Montmaray and The FitzOsbornes in Exile as being very Maureen-y books. Shortly afterwards, I was at the library* and happened to see the first one on the shelf. So I snatched it and settled down to read.

And, yes, these are very Maureen-y books. Which is a way to translate my slavering love for them into somewhat sane human-speak.

In A Brief History, we’re introduced to Sophie FitzOsborne...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Graili rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, diary

The Kingdom of Montmaray in a fictional place but that doesn't mean that there's any paranormal activity in it at all.
Sophie was an excellent narrator and she wasn't like other main characters in historical fictions, meaning: she wasn't a tomboy. She was a regular and believable person. In fact all the characters were lovable and entirely unique. All of them, Veronica, Simon, Henry, etc. were well-rounded characters. (Hell, even the dog seemed to have a certain amount of personality to him.) Cha...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Gemma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book could have been a lot better.

It starts out promising; telling the history of a fading kingdom, population somewhere around seven (a kingdom that never actually existed, but very well could have). There is so much potential here. It's also told in diary format, which I hadn't read for a while, so I was a little bit excited about that.

And then I remembered why diary formats so often fail: it means we have to be stuck in the same character's head all the way through (which isn't necessar...more This book could have been a lot better.

It starts out promising; telling the history of a fading kingdom, population somewhere around seven (a kingdom that never actually existed, but very well could have). There is so much potential here. It's also told in diary format, which I hadn't read for a while, so I was a little bit excited about that.

And then I remembered why diary formats so often fail: it means we have to be stuck in the same character's head all the way through (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) and we have to listen to them ramble on about the chores they did today, the boys they saw and all their speculation on all of this.

One word: boring.

I think the author was going for the realistic part of realistic fiction. And she nailed it; in real life, teenage girls do chores, list the boys they think are cute, gossip with their friends... Yeah, all that actually happens. However, reading about it is exceedingly dull. People read to escape; we don't necessarily want realistic. Realistic means could concievably happen with a few stretches of the mind; it encompasses everything from the mundane to the improbable. (Like in Pirates of the Caribbean, where Barbossa goes 'not possible' and Jack's like 'not probable '. Impossible enters into fantasy, but improbable is still on the edge of reality. Anyway). The author chose mainly to focus on the mundane elements of reality. She also chose a very dull and very stupid narrator, Sophie. She is, to put it simply, not the brightest tool on the tree.

The author wanted to throw some political intrigue in, or something, so she basically does that by having a character mention something about communists, or Nazis, or King Edward who's marrying a divorced woman (I wonder if that's the same guy from The King's Speech...). Which just adds an extra level of boringness to the story.

However, the second half picked up considerably, although that did make it to the other side of realistic, improbable. It makes me think this story could have been a whole lot better, or a whole lot shorter, if the author had had some creativity in her.

Because there is definitely room for improvement here.

UPDATE: So there's a sequel... I may consider reading it, mostly because I wonder whether or not the brother actually is gay...(less)

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May 17, 2011 Whatchyareading added it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, kate, series, young-adult

I read Michelle Cooper’s A Brief History of Montmaray what feels like a million years ago, but was more likely sometime in 2009. Obviously I bought it because the cover was so pretty and really evoked what was the ultimate feel of the novel. It feels like I read this book a million years ago because it was one of those books that I just loved so much that it sort of crept onto my list of Those Books. The books you recommend to everyone. The books that you clutch to your chest and hope to share w...more I read Michelle Cooper’s A Brief History of Montmaray what feels like a million years ago, but was more likely sometime in 2009. Obviously I bought it because the cover was so pretty and really evoked what was the ultimate feel of the novel. It feels like I read this book a million years ago because it was one of those books that I just loved so much that it sort of crept onto my list of Those Books. The books you recommend to everyone. The books that you clutch to your chest and hope to share with your future kids. The kind of book that reminds you of the spirit of one of your all time favorites and captures that same magic for you (for this book it was I Capture the Castle). If I’d had a blog way back when, I’d have gushed about it. But I didn’t. And I’ve been busy. So my gushing has been forestalled to…now.

A Brief History of Montmaray tells the story of Sophie Fitzosborne and her family. They live on the tiny island of Montmaray and, though they’re poorer than dirt, they also happen be the island’s royal family. A Brief History is told through Sophie’s diary as she chronicles the events of the island. In 1936. When this little thing called World War II was gearing up but before anyone really knew what the heck was going on. Montmaray has always been isolated, but now Sophie and her eccentric clan are thrust into the middle of something bigger than the tiny island could have ever imagined.

This book was magic. All of the characters, the plot, the writing, the pace…they all blended seamlessly to come together in the form of a suspenseful and moving book. I think the fact that this was written like a diary is what really reminded me of I Capture the Castle. The eccentric family in the rundown castle are similar, but it was the gorgeous voice of first Cassandra and then Sophie that spoke to me. Now, aside from the very basic premise mentioned above, the two books aren’t really alike at all. But, as I said, they had that same kind of magic. And reading Sophie’s words felt like magic for me. Her words were vivid, and I found myself feeling like I was trapped on this island with her.

Sophie was an amazing lead. Strong and independent but still young and unsure. Stuck on this tiny island which at times felt like a prison but was always, always home. I held my breath as she found out about the things happening on the island. I wanted to hug her through some of the darker times. I wanted to curl up in the castle and laugh with her too. Sophie is the kind of character you want to share with young girls everywhere, because she’s feisty and independent but still down to earth and pretty wholesome. Sure, it’s 1936, but I can appreciate that about her. And the fact that she wasn’t the only smart, capable girl in the book was refreshing.

The plot of this book was so well done. The pace was perfect, which is hard to do when it’s told through a diary form that kind of has to happen AFTER things have happened. But this was, underneath the coming-of-age feeling of the book, a war novel as well. My heart pounded in the later chapters and I clutched my chest (actually clutched it, y’all) in parts. And when I got to the end and it was the end? Heartbroken that there was no more.

Funnily enough, I actually had no idea that this book even had a sequel, The Fitzosbornes in Exile until right when that book was about to be released. I haven’t read the sequel yet because none of my local bookstores have had it in stock. But as soon as I can get it in my hot little hands you better believe I’ll be plowing through it.

A Brief History of Montmaray was a refreshingly smart book that had the timeless magic so many books now are missing. I can’t recommend it enough, and I can’t wait to read more about Sophie and her crazy clan.

Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on May 13, 2011.(less)

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Apr 27, 2011 Carrie Abigail rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As we approach the eve of the royal wedding, it reminds me of this book that presents a royal family in a completely different view...impoverished. The following is my booktalk:

How many of you ever dreamed of being a king or queen, prince or princess? Well, that’s kind of what the ancestors of the main character in the book want when they self declare their family royal and take over an island off the coast of Spain.

Now imagine, that you need to sell something that is very valuable to you? Perha...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Catriona rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: so-much-love-for-these

I cried. Yes ladies and gentleman, ACTUAL tears sprouted. This book is just gorgeous. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

You know when you have a strong love for something, that’s so strong it hurts? That’s what I feel with this book. This was the type of novel that if my friends touched it I would go mad. I would physically warn them not to bend the cover, I want to cherish this book forever and ever! One of the short review things on the back says “Bitter sweet and delectable, this book deserves to be an ins...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Alex Baugh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-2

The brief history referred to in the title of this novel is the entries made by the main character, Sophie FitzOsborne, after she receives a diary for her 16th birthday from her brother Toby.

Montmaray is a very small fictional island in the English Channel at the mouth of the Bay of Biscay. The FitzOsbornes are the reigning royal family on the island. However, its royal residents only include, besides Sophie, her 10 year old tomboy sister Henry (short for Henrietta), her beautiful cousin Veroni...more

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Jul 06, 2010 Jacki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-fiction

This book makes me glad I'm not a princess.

At first I didn't think the plot would ever take off, and I had difficulty deciding what the familial relationships between the characters were. Perhaps I had that problem because my edition had no blurb (why do publishers DO that?) and I had no idea what the book was about when I started it. The writing is nothing grandiose or sweeping, but the heroine has a realistic, engaging voice that keeps the reader moving through the setup. I genuinely liked the...more

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Nov 03, 2009 Jane Fisher rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: yal

This was a really weird book, but I really enjoyed it! "A Brief History of Montmaray" was a work of historical fiction that was a complicated twist of a teenage girl's coming of age, growing up as a royal in a deteriorating kingdom, the repercussions of WWI, Nazi attacks and the beginnings of WWII. Cooper's book had awkward and unexpected moments of romantic intrigue between the mentally ill king's legitimate and illegitimate sons, and of fairly brutal murder attempts. All of these events were e...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished this for a YA book club I just joined. YA is tricky in a group of strangers, because authors often come on strong with an agenda when writing for younger, impressionable readers. Luckily, this is my type, and Michelle Cooper seems to be my people. The novel follows Sophie FitzOsborne, Princess of the fictional island of Montmaray, located in the Bay of Biscay directly between France and Spain. She lives there with her super-clever cousin Veronica, little sister Henry who "should...more

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About Michelle Cooper

Michelle Cooper writes novels for teenagers. She is the award-winning author of A Brief History of Montmaray, The FitzOsbornes in Exile and The Rage of Sheep.

More Info:
Michelle was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969. She attended a succession of schools in Fiji and country New South Wales, then went to university in Sydney. She started a Pharmacy degree, but didn't like it very much. She dropped ou...more Michelle Cooper writes novels for teenagers. She is the award-winning author of A Brief History of Montmaray, The FitzOsbornes in Exile and The Rage of Sheep.

More Info:
Michelle was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969. She attended a succession of schools in Fiji and country New South Wales, then went to university in Sydney. She started a Pharmacy degree, but didn't like it very much. She dropped out of her course in her final year and did a variety of jobs, including stuffing envelopes, selling ladies' shoes and working in a blood bank. Then she decided she should get a proper job, so she enrolled in a degree in Speech Pathology. She worked as a speech and language pathologist for fifteen years, helping students with learning problems. Michelle liked this job a lot. She got to watch students improve their literacy skills and become happier, more confident learners - also, she got to work in an office covered in Harry Potter posters and give herself smiley stamps when she did a good job.

The Rage of Sheep was her first novel. An early draft of the novel won a mentorship with the Children's Book Council of Australia. This meant she was lucky enough to work on the manuscript with Young Adult author Alyssa Brugman. The Rage of Sheep was published by Random House Australia in August, 2007.

Michelle's second novel, A Brief History of Montmaray, was published by Random House Australia in June, 2008, with an audiobook version, narrated by Melissa Chambers, released in November, 2008, by Louis Braille Audio. The novel was awarded the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature and was shortlisted for the Golden Inky, Australia's teenage choice book award. A Brief History of Montmaray was published in North America by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers in October, 2009, and was named in the 2010 ALA Best Books for Young Adults list. An audiobook version of the North American edition was published in January, 2010, by Listening Library.

The FitzOsbornes in Exile, the second book in The Montmaray Journals trilogy, was published in Australia in August, 2010, with an audiobook released in November, 2010. The book was published in North America in April, 2011 as a hardcover, e-book and audiobook. Michelle is currently working on the final novel in the Montmaray trilogy.

-> from http://www.michellecooper-writer.com/...(less)

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Books by Michelle Cooper

The FitzOsbornes in Exile (The Montmaray Journals, #2)

The FitzOsbornes at War (The Montmaray Journals, #3)

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“There’s a fine line between gossip and history, when one is talking about kings.” — 24 people liked it

“When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the nineteenth century without once mentioning Napoleon.” — 7 people liked it

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A Brief History of Montmaray (The Montmaray Journals #1)

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