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Mrs Queen Takes the Train
Mrs Queen Takes the Train: A Novel | William Kuhn
33 posts | 33 read | 50 to read
After decades of service and years of watching her family's troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain's Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memoriesthe former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace into the freedom of a rainy London day and heads for King's Cross to catch a train to Scotland. But a characterful cast of royal attendants has discovered her missing. In uneasy alliance a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty's cheese set out to find her and bring her back before her absence becomes a national scandal.Mrs Queen Takes the Train is a clever novel, offering a fresh look at a woman who wonders if she, like Britannia herself, has, too, become a relic of the past. William Kuhn paints a charming yet biting portrait of British social, political, and generational rivalriesbetween upstairs and downstairs, the monarchy and the government, the old and the young. Comic and poignant, fast paced and clever, this delightful debut tweaks the pomp of the monarchy, going beneath its rigid formality to reveal the human heart of the woman at its center.
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keys_on_fire
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Bailedbailed

It just wasn‘t what I wanted, which was a story where the Queen escapades and thoughts were the central focus. Instead, this was primarily about the supporting characters and their efforts to find her. Just not my cup of tea…

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Sharpeipup
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That‘s all folks.

Megabooks Wow! Great year! 3y
Traci1 Nice! 3y
Sharpeipup @Megabooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @Traci1 thanks! I had some free time last year... 3y
33 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

I did enjoy this story quite a bit, I liked the mix of fact and fiction. Loving watching The Crown, this is a natural reading pick. I am not crazy about the audio. Usually I LOVE a British accented narrator but in this case I could zone right out and lose track of the story so easily. I even sped it up but still just wanted to close my eyes. If you have trouble sleeping maybe? 🤣🤣

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mcctrish
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I was driving around doing some errands and listening to my book. How did I live before ? 🤣🤣 last episode of The Mandalorian tonight so I am kitted out

LibrarianRyan Where did you get the tee. I have to know. 3y
mcctrish I ordered from an Instagram ad 😬 and I‘ve never seen it again 3y
LibrarianRyan @mcctrish thanks. Time to go digging 3y
rubyslippersreads @LibrarianRyan Please let me know if you find out where to order. 3y
46 likes4 comments
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mcctrish
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I have no idea where I heard about this book? Here? A post about if you like The Crown read this? 🤷🏻‍♀️anyways I‘m currently listening to it through Libby and enjoying it a lot. Kind of fictionalized truth?

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Shadowfat
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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We didn't get back from the Lego movie till late so I didn't post till now. Thank you @Redy2trvl for all the fun things! That's one of my favorite Riiter sports and the books all look really good! I also like your card, I just read the book from that and it's so pretty! #cupidgoespostal2019 @BookishMarginalia

Redy2trvl Awesome! I‘m so excited!!!! Enjoy! 5y
30 likes1 comment
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Andrea313
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Not really about a #railroad, per se, but one of my favorite books of the last few years which features a train. 😋 🚂 📖 #ANewChapter

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daniwithtea
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Unwinding with this adorable audiobook after a very very very long day or work and school.

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DebinHawaii
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#HeyJune #GetBack

This is a sweet & fun book about Queen Elizabeth 'escaping' the palace one day & all of the efforts from staff to get her back before it becomes a national scandal or anything happens to her. In the book she uses a 'borrowed' navy hoodie with a skull-and-crossbones to be incognito but I thought the pic of The Queen in a hoodie, driving was funny. My dish back when I reviewed it back in 2013 was Cheddar Cheese Risotto. 😋

erzascarletbookgasm That sounds fun! I like both the covers 🙂 6y
Cinfhen This sounds like a really fun palette cleanser 😍great graphics 6y
whatrebeccasread This sounds just up my street!! Thanks for the recommendation! 👍🏻 6y
See All 8 Comments
BethM This sounds super fun! 6y
Mdargusch This sounds like a fun one! 6y
Pamwurtzler I liked this too - it was a fun read! 6y
DebinHawaii @erzascarletbookgasm Yes--both covers are great, aren't they?! 👍📚@Cinfhen @whatrebeccasread @BethM @Mdargusch It really is a cute book.😊 @Pamwurtzler Such a fun read! 😀👍 6y
ValerieAndBooks Looks like a good beach read! Stacking. 6y
95 likes5 stack adds8 comments
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lycomayflower
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Jaimelire
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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Pickpick

I started reading this book a while back, go side-tracked with another series but finally got back to it this weekend. It‘s a cute, cozy story. I probably would have enjoyed it more in winter, by the fireplace with a hot chocolate. It‘s fairly slow moving but the characters are well written and I really enjoyed it. It‘s a good break from the more fast paced books I have been reading lately.

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KarenUK
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#getmovin
#anthem made me think of ‘God Save the Queen‘ 🎶
I loved ‘Uncommon Reader‘, and the tagged book has been compared favorably to it... so on the #tbr it goes!
“Mrs Queen Takes the Train wittily imagines the kerfuffle that transpires when a bored Queen Elizabeth strolls out of the palace in search of a little fun, leaving behind a desperate team of courtiers who must find the missing Windsor before a national scandal erupts”

Cinfhen Adorable 🇬🇧 6y
58 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Jaimelire
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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Finally warm enough to sit on the deck!
It was a very long winter. Glad it‘s coming to an end.

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Jaimelire
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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This is so cute and entertaining. 👑

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smilingshelves
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Final #25infive total. I hope we do this again soon, on a weekend where I actually have time to read! This was a lot of fun! 😊
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Thanks for taking part, a good total. I hope to do it again in the future when we can publish in advance! 💐🎉🥂🎈🍾 6y
29 likes1 comment
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smilingshelves
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Here's my total so far. Better than I thought it would be at this point of the weekend. I've finished one book and am on to my second! #25infive
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done 😊 6y
26 likes1 comment
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Jaimelire
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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Saw this at used book store and I couldn‘t resist. Can wait to read it.

RaimeyGallant I used to read all the J'aime Lires when I was a kid. 6y
24 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Zelma
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Bailedbailed

I had high hopes for this one but the pacing and style didn‘t work for me. The short and partial sentences kept driving me nuts. Looking at other reviews, it also looks like the book focuses more on the surrounding characters and their back stories than the Queen, so I decided to cut my losses early and just re-read The Uncommon Reader.

Zelma @BookishMe yeah, that one is a gem! 👍 6y
blondie I just wanted to let you know that you won my giveaway! I figured maybe you didn't see my comment in your feed, so I wanted to let you know. My email is in my last post in the comments. 😄💕 6y
Zelma @blondie holy moly, thank you so much!!! 😃 I missed your comment somehow so thank you for posting here. And wow, I am super excited! 😆💕 will email you tonight or tomorrow morning. 6y
50 likes4 comments
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Zelma
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Another #libraryhaul that I didn‘t need. 😂 and due to all the swooning and fanning over Mr. Darcy lately, I figured I could rewatch this classic. 😍 I‘m partial to Matthew Macfayden, but really love this version as well.

2BR02B All the Birds in the Sky was a great read. 6y
Foxyfictionista I rewatched this recently too! There's a lot more dancing than I remembered... 6y
62 likes2 comments
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Redy2trvl
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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Pickpick

This was a perfect read to finish off 2017. Light, funny & refreshing. A fictional adventure involving the Queen of England and a varying group of people from all walks of English life. In the end, it reminds you the Queen is a real person, with real life feelings. It also shows people from varying backgrounds & walks of life can find common ground & friendship. I recommend for #Anglophiles and alike. 4⭐️

drokka I'm hoping to use this as my MC over 70 in the #Booked2018 challenge. I've had it forever. I'm glad you enjoyed it; I'm looking forward to it. 6y
Redy2trvl @drokka That is perfect! It truly was a delightful read!!!! 6y
39 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Redy2trvl
Mrs Queen Takes the Train | William M Kuhn
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While my husband FINALLY watches the last episode of Stranger Things, I‘ve started a new read. George is graciously allowing me to use his backside as a book prop which is quite useful. 🐱 #Georgie‘sGotBack #catsoflitsy #crazygeorge

19 likes1 stack add
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Wife
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Mehso-so

I‘ll never be able to look at a pic or video of Queen Elizabeth II again without imagining her wearing a hoodie 🤣🤣🤣! For that, I thank the author. The story was so-so. I needed more Queen and less of the other characters. The reader was Excellent! If you choose this one, take the audiobook for sure.

Laura317 Sounds delightful! Stacked. 6y
48 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MallenNC
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Mrs. Queen Takes the Train
Evicted
Long Walk to Freedom
Young Jane Young
Silver Sparrow
Stories I Only Tell My Friends
All the Light We Cannot See

This was fun! #booknames @ScorpioBookDreams

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lisakoby
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Pickpick

I loved this book, implausible but totally charming. Excellent narration by C. Prebble. #audiobook #audiobooklove ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DebinHawaii This is such a cute book. 📚👍 6y
coffeenebula Found it on Hoopla and happily listening now! ❤️ 6y
lisakoby @coffeenebula I'm so glad! I hope you liked it. 6y
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Ncostell
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Pickpick

This was a lovely book that I discovered serendipitously at the library. I've been picking books lately for different challenges and haven't just picked up a book randomly in a long time. I had not heard of this book previously but it just jumped out at me and I was pleasantly rewarded.

52 likes1 stack add
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christineandbooks
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Began listening this morning...so far it's a fun listen... anyone read this?

DebinHawaii I read it a few years ago for review and really enjoyed it. Charming and fun story. 😀👍📚 7y
smilingshelves It's on my TBR. Looking forward to hearing what you think about it! 7y
emilyesears I read in December 2016. I only found it fair. I wished there was more focus on the queen and less on the other characters. 7y
Jaimelire This sounds good. Will add to my huge TBR list 7y
Jess_Read_This I've had this one on the TBR pile for awhile now... it needs to move up the list 🙈 7y
51 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Jess_Read_This
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"Whatever she wore The Queen regarded as not unlike a uniform. She put on pearl earrings in the same spirit that a policeman did up his silver buttons. They were part of the job." ?

??‍♀️#LondonCalling #RockinMay #London #WilliamKuhn #HerMajesty #GodSaveTheQueen #BlameLitsy #RecommendsDay

DebinHawaii This was such a fun book! 👑📚💜 7y
Jess_Read_This @DebinHawaii Oh yay!! I just picked it up in a used bookstore and can't wait to read it! The cover instantly said "Buy Me" 7y
DebinHawaii @Jess_Read_This I read it a few years ago for review & enjoyed it. Charming & fun. 😀 7y
Cinfhen Loved the quote...and the pillow is adorable! This sounds like a fun book.. 7y
Jess_Read_This @Cinfhen I'm looking forward to reading this one! It just seems so charming! 7y
73 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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Crinoline_Laphroaig
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Pickpick

Absolutely adored this book. The Queen goes on an adventure and uses yoga to navigate her way. 😂👒👜👑💛
@RealLifeReading #readjanuary #royals

40 likes3 stack adds
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DebinHawaii
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Day18 #readjanuary #royals Here's 2 novels that give glimpses behind the scenes of royal life. Mrs. Queen Takes the Train has the Queen 'escaping' the palace incognito & having an adventure. The Royal Nanny is a look at Charlotte Bill (known as Lala), nanny to future Kings Edward VII & George VI. Both ended up paired w/ rice on my blog reviews-Cheddar Cheese Risotto for Mrs. Queen's cheese-living horse & Rice Pudding w/Jam for young royals. 👑🇬🇧

89 likes1 stack add1 comment
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emilyesears
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I have a London-themed wall-hanging in my bedroom and this book matches perfectly. As the people on tumblr say (or used to say anyway--I might be becoming outdated on tumblr lingo), this book is my aesthetic. I'm about 150 pages in and it's FINALLY picking up! It's a cute story about the Queen deciding she's fed up with royal life and wants to take a jaunt as a private citizen and all the hijinks that ensue.

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Andrea313
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Pickpick

If we're talking #planestrainsandautomobiles then I have to recommend Mrs. Queen Takes the Train. The story of the Queen leaving the castle and traveling incognito, it's light and fun and I loved every minute of it.

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MeganMarieWrites
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For today's #AugustOfPages it's #laidbackbook...it doesn't get much more laid back than the Queen of England in disguise, exploring London! This book is great fun!

DebinHawaii I read this one for review a few years ago and loved this fun, quirky and laid-back book. Great pick! 👍 8y
23 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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CarrieKitz
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Pickpick

My local librarian told me this was her favorite book, so I had to read it. I am so glad I did - it is completely delightful. The Queen inadvertently leaves the palace incognito, and her attendants freak out. She, however, has a lovely time.

Sydsavvy I loved this book so much. I got it I think because it was on sale. Let it sit for ever, then finally picked it up. It's a true gem, and the narrator for the audio book is wonderful. 8y
CarrieKitz @Sydsavvy I should do a reread on audio, then. 8y
Sydsavvy Truly! 8y
7 likes3 stack adds3 comments