Untold Story

Untold Story
Monica Ali
Simon and Schuster

Untold Story is about Princess Diana. But it isn't the story you think. Instead, this work of fiction tells of a "what if" scenario. What if Diana had survived the car crash and went on to fake her own death? Where would she be living? What would a life of lies and secrets be for this woman who spent so much time in the limelight? Ali weaves a tale that is more about simple life of regular people and the cost of true friendship.

Untold Story is a brilliant attempt to get into the head of Diana, ask some hard questions, and gives her a chance to mature. But the real theme of the book is about aging. What happens when one is no longer the hot young thing of the past? What is it like to be a woman in middle age who is coming to grips with life changes?  What does it mean to give up what one used to have -- not just fame and fortune but good looks, love, desire, dreams and children? What are the differences that men face at that same age? And what do you do when it isn't middle age but actual death that forces these changes?

I would have thought this book would be more exciting but it does grab the reader in its simplicity. The book definitely takes the shine off of celebrity status.  Ali makes the reader appreciate the simple life of regular folk.

What does this book have to do with my faith? The book made me think again about secrets. What secrets do we keep from one another? What lies do we weave even as Christians who say we don't lie? What do we keep inside our hearts yet think about almost every day? God knows our secrets. And sometimes it is so healthy to find someone to confess to. It could be a friend but it might be someone "safer" like a spiritual director. If we continue to keep things bottled up and if we don't confess to God, we will be losing out on being truly free. Who can I share my own secrets with? What about yourself?

I recommend Untold Story.

Happy reading!

Amelia

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims