Tag Archive | Danielle Steel

Far From Home by Danielle Steel

Jan3

Love Wins

Far From Home by Danielle Steel is a historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The novel is set in France & Germany towards the end of World War II. Hitler is losing the war but is blind to this fact. Some Germans are against him but are afraid to speak out – a few brave souls execute Operation Valkyrie. As history shows, this did not go to plan, and it is against this backdrop that the story is set.

We follow the war as seen through the eyes of a mother and a daughter following their husband/father’s attempt to kill Hitler. Their wars are very different – one is in France, the other is in Berlin.

Danielle Steel capture’s the reader’s attention as her plotline mirrors actual facts from World War II. Her characters are well drawn and easy to empathise with.

Continue reading →

In His Father’s Footsteps by Danielle Steel

Dec22

Empires And Legacies

In His Father’s Footsteps by Danielle Steel is both a historical and contemporary epic novel that follows the fortunes of a family.

The reader travels from Buchenwald to America, from poverty to wealth, from family to empire. The novel is a journey to discover the true meaning of wealth – and that is always found in people. The wealthiest people in the story are not those with the most money but those who lived, loved and survived Buchenwald. They are the ones who realised the true wealth was in people as they witnessed the fragility of life. “Being Jewish had become a death sentence overnight.” Survival was a lottery.

The legacy of the camps was fear. It hung over lives forever – the fear that it might happen again. It was not something that could be shaken off. Family was precious. Money was a necessity. It could buy life. “Don’t live by what we were afraid of.” Passing fear down to the next generation is not a good idea.

As the novel progresses, the reader sees love being eroded and characters being seduced by wealth. “Diamonds always helped.” The reader projects the end before a character does. Wealth can bring choice but it can also be a prison to be trapped in a cycle of work – money – more work – more money etc.

Continue reading →

The Ghost by Danielle Steel

May12

Spanning The Centuries

The Ghost by Danielle Steel is both a contemporary and historical novel about overcoming – both pain, hurt and disappointments. I read it when it was first released in 1997 and twenty one years later, The Ghost has stood the test of time and is still a marvellous read.

Strong characters created by Danielle Steel face life after either betrayal or abuse. They have to learn to take a risk and live again. Life is full of disappointments but we face a choice as to how we deal with them. Will we merely react? Or will we choose how to move forward?

There are two stories running parallel but separated by two centuries. There are similar themes running through both. the earlier story examines the Indian conflict and the fact that women were seen as goods in the marriage market. “She was traded for land.” In both centuries, everyone is fighting their private battles. “They each had their private sorrows.”

Continue reading →

Blue by Danielle Steel

Oct16

Beauty For Ashes

blue-dsBlue by Danielle Steel is a contemporary tale of loss, guilt, forgiveness and new beginnings. It has some difficult issues and is a love story with a difference.

Blue has the theme of loss. Ginny lost her husband and son, Blue lost his mother. Both are thrown together by circumstances. Can they help each other heal?

There is the theme of guilt. Past incidents mean both Blue and Ginny feel guilt, and not just guilt, they feel worthless. Ginny tries to assuage her guilt with humanitarian work. She tries to save people one at a time. “You can’t heal all of the broken and wounded in the world.” Working her way in the hope of feeling better about herself is futile.

Continue reading →