Diana & Dodi: A Love Story

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Summary: Diana and Dodi A Love Story
Review: For someone who supposedly knew Dodi well, and spent time with Dodi and Diana during their romance, the author tells very little about their romance, beyond just some general comments about how happy they seemed to be together. Much of this story could be found in more detail in the tabloid newspapers. This book was probably written only to make Dodi's father Mohammed Al Fayed happy about this fairytale romance. No mention about Dodi's supposed engagement to marry Kelly Fisher at the time he was romancing Diana. Hardly to be expected to be the source for the truth about Dodi and Diana.

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Summary: THIS BOOK IS INTERESTING AND A QUICK READ
Review: I have started collecting all books on Princess Diana lately and have found some better than others. This book was truly a joy to read. It kept your interest and the story kept moving without any confusion. You are reading a book involving a rotation of character names and locations - would be easy to get lost. But surprisely I found the story to keep moving and very easy to read. Can even get a little emotional at a couple of places. The only negative might be the reference to this 'great love'. I don't want to make the call on that - let alone after only 37 days of starting up the relationship. I found it interesting that rumor had it Dodi was on another boat with his girlfriend when he went to his fathers boat and met up with Diana. Basically leaving the other, and or two timing them both. Rumor I know but nothing of reference was mentioned - and this man is the man that knew him the best.

All and all a good book. Touching.

Rating:
Summary: One of the sweetest Diana books - a delightful read.
Review: I've probably read all or nearly all the books on Diana. Somehow I'd missed this one until a friend gave it to me as a gift. While I didn't give it 5 stars for its great literary qualities, I thought that for Diana fans, it delightfully delivered the goods - it is a pleasing intimate portrait with plenty of detail (food, clothes, toiletries, habits) yet with a real sense of affection, humor and respect.

Setting this apart from most Diana books is the uniquely likeable voice of the narrator. Delorm is a class act, a man who respected and liked his boss, Dodi Fayed, and who seems to view everyone from his wealthy employer to his fellow cooks, butlers and masseuses with generosity of spirit and an open mind. This is a refreshing contrast with the self serving busybody tone of Patrick Jephson's Diana book, or any of the royal "experts" who simultaneously envy, fawn and snipe.

The author's joie de vivre and eye for detail turn this book into a lovely little vacation on a yacht, along with two people we might have enjoyed knowing very much. And unlike many books published after their deaths, it does not lay on the pathos, but instead is more of a celebration.

All in all, this is an intimate book you can enjoy without feeling like a voyeur, and a very welcome read for anyone who misses Diana. She sounds like a lot of fun.

A great escape read in these glamour-free times. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: One of the sweetest Diana books - a delightful read.
Review: I've probably read all or nearly all the books on Diana. Somehow I'd missed this one until a friend gave it to me as a gift. While I didn't give it 5 stars for its great literary qualities, I thought that for Diana fans, it delightfully delivered the goods - it is a pleasing intimate portrait with plenty of detail (food, clothes, toiletries, habits) yet with a real sense of affection, humor and respect.

Setting this apart from most Diana books is the uniquely likeable voice of the narrator. Delorm is a class act, a man who respected and liked his boss, Dodi Fayed, and who seems to view everyone from his wealthy employer to his fellow cooks, butlers and masseuses with generosity of spirit and an open mind. This is a refreshing contrast with the self serving busybody tone of Patrick Jephson's Diana book, or any of the royal "experts" who simultaneously envy, fawn and snipe.

The author's joie de vivre and eye for detail turn this book into a lovely little vacation on a yacht, along with two people we might have enjoyed knowing very much. And unlike many books published after their deaths, it does not lay on the pathos, but instead is more of a celebration.

All in all, this is an intimate book you can enjoy without feeling like a voyeur, and a very welcome read for anyone who misses Diana. She sounds like a lot of fun.

A great escape read in these glamour-free times. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A simple, but affectionate, recollection
Review: Rene Delorm, Dodi Fayed's former Butler, was clearly devoted to his former employer and this affection shines through these memoirs.

The scene is well set with a brief thumbnail sketch relating how his and Dodi's paths originally crossed, before the more eagerly-awaited period is focussed upon. Never overstating his case, Delorm recounts the beginnings of Dodi's affair with the Princess of Wales with disarming candour and seems to me conscious of the temptation to embroider upon his recollections or, worse still, hypothesise on what the future for the couple may have held. This temptation he scrupulously avoids and it is to his credit that he refers only to what he saw and heard and shies away from hearsay and speculation.

While necessarily anecdotal in content, the book gives a charming, if simplistic, insight into their last days together and makes an interesting addition to the huge library of titles dealing with the demise of Diana and Dodi, by one who was well-placed to observe their intimacies. Paul Burrell, Diana's Butler, (whom she referred to as her "rock") is arguably in a better position to reveal her state of mind in these last weeks but has, to date, sensitively deferred from comment. Delorm's book, though, is an affectionate and poignant recollection and his grief on hearing the devastating news is tangible.

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Summary: Diana & Dodi: A Lust Story
Review: The original concept behind this book was a good one....one would like to think of Diana's last days as warm and happy, basking in the sun and in the warmth of a new love. The problem with this "wanna be warm and fuzzy book" is the authors ever present droning on about himself, (his self-glorification at being the best butler ever put on this earth made me tear up in angst). Rene Delorm is annoying at best.

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Summary: Diana and Dodi A Love Story
Review: This book was very warm, discreet and also revealing of a mgical romance. Anyone that loves Diana will be extremely happy with this book.

In this book you can feel that Diana is being a real person- happy, smiling, laughing, eating, and falling in love, relaxing- an image she never got by hundreds of people- it is sad that her life was cut so short. She was a lovely, gracious woman who left way to early in life. Her time with Dodi- was to start a lifetime of romance that was ever so sweet. that was cut very short too.Now we will never know if they were to ever marry or not.

I am a greatful of Rene for sharing his memories with the world of Diana- allowing people to see and to hear about her romance.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet and sad - a last, loving look at Diana
Review: Whether or not Dodi and Diana would ever have married is something no one will ever know and this book may be wishful thinking - what is poignant and moving is the loyalty and affection Delorm shows for his boss and the Princess of Wales. Even more moving, though, is the little look we have at the Princess being a real person - smiling, laughing, eating and relaxing - an image never quite delivered by the hundreds of lovely - but very dressy - photos in existence. I had expected to find this book superficial and self-serving but it is anything but. Instead we have a haunting and all too short visit with Diana - and a confirmation that all the love and grief at her passing was perfectly fitting for a truly lovely, truly gracious woman who left far too soon. Her short time with Dodi -whether the start of a lifetime romance or simply a sweet summer interlude - was clearly one of great pleasure for the Princess. We should be grateful to Rene Delorm for sharing his memories of Diana - for allowing us to see her as we all imagined she would be if we had met her ourselves- funny, sweet, lovable and loving. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.