Sisters by Danielle Steel
Monday, 12 Mar 2007 11:31
Sisters is the 69th offering from bestselling author Danielle Steel
Bantam Press, hardback, 341 pages, £17.99, out March 12th.
In a nutshell…
Tearjerker, cheesy, wholesome, family, unsurprising.
What's it all about?
From the queen of the tearjerker, Danielle Steel, comes a book about overcoming tragedy and the strength of the family bond. It tells the story of four sisters: Candy, a top supermodel; Tammy, a Hollywood television producer; Sabrina, a lawyer in the Big Apple; and Annie, an artist living in Florence. The four sisters have been pursuing their own successes, but have maintained a strong relationship with their parents in Connecticut and each other – despite being spread out across the world.
When the sisters travel home for their parents' annual July 4th party, tragedy strikes and the girls' once perfect lives are thrown into disarray. The book sees the family help each other to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of what has happened and they come to learn that nothing is more important than family.
Who's it by?
Sisters is the 69th offering from bestselling author Danielle Steel. With more than 560 million copies of her books having been sold worldwide, it's no wonder that most women have read a Danielle Steel novel at some point in their lives.
Steel's bestsellers include Echoes, HRH, Coming Out and Toxic Bachelors and she has also authored the book His Bright Light, which tells the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death.
Many of her books have been turned into television films – including Kaleidescope and Jewels.
As an example…
"Their mother was always generous with praise. She was proud of all four of her girls, and in their own way, each of them was doing well. More important, all four of them were happy, and had found their niche. Their mother never compared them to each other, even as children, and saw each of them as individuals, with different talents and needs. It made their relationship that much better with her now. And each in their own way was crazy about their mom. She was like a best friend, only better."
Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster
The army of Danielle Steel fans will undoubtedly see this book top the New York Times Bestseller list, but as far as Hollywood blockbusters go – it's more of a made-for-TV film.
What the others say
"Female bonding with a cozy slumber-party vibe." - Kirkus Reviews
"Another Danielle Steel ensemble novel that refuses to release you."- Barnes & Noble
So is it any good?
This book is typical of Danielle Steel who loves telling stories of perfect lives shattered and the overcoming of tragedy to reach happy endings. But unfortunately, rather than leaving you with that glowing feeling, it will leave you stone cold. The story is too make-believe for the reader to be able to empathise with the characters. The four Adams sisters and their parents are just too perfect. They're all successful, beautiful and kind and fit perfectly into the mould of the All-American, sickly-sweet family.
Steel lacks imagination throughout the book – including facts such as the four sisters each having different hair colours, and three of the sisters having dogs while one cannot stand them, but circumstances leading to her having to let go of her canine hatred.
When tragedy does strike, as awful as it may sound, the reader may be glad to see the girls' perfect world turned upside down. Steel is a master at tearjerkers and when disaster happens, you may feel a little emotional. But that's over when the chapter finishes. Nothing else really happens in the rest of the book and the happy ending is reached in no time.
Steel also has the annoying habit of spinning a redundant yarn. The book could have been half its size. But the author insists on repeating herself, making explicit each thought the characters have and the reasons behind them, rather than allowing the reader to think for themselves.
In all, a boring, unrealistic tale of perfect lives not shattered, but temporarily interrupted.
4/10
Chine Mbubaegbu
"I completely agree with the comments above. The book was dull and very predictable. Being one of four sisters myself, I had hoped for a great book with great stories. I was so bored I put the book down and wouldn't even give it away. If you must read, read up until the part where of the great tragedy... The rest you can leave up to your own imagination and come up with a much beter plot." - Elaine Eiland
"Your review has it ALL wrong! this is one of the best books I've ever read! It's amazing and will keep you wanting more." - Sheila Jones
"This was one of the most gripping books i've ever read,it kept me gripped till the end!!" - Lauren French
"The author has no imagination and creates no emotional connection for the reader to the book's characters. Honestly, she writes like a seven-year old, repeating everything to such an extent that it makes it all so fake. I had no compassion for any of the characters and even confused them together because they were not made to seem real. Terrible writing, I cannot believe steel is such an acclaimed author." - Sue Harris
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