Shattered Stars

by Hilary Norman

Four children torn from each other after an act of suicidal madness face different fates in different parts of the world, but a driving force urges three of them to search for their lost family

467 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Born and raised in London, loved reading but deeply lazy about writing at school, preferring drama. A brief acting career, then moved into the production side at the BBC's radio drama department - later at London's Capital Radio, by which time the writing "switch" had been flicked on. Spent as much time as possible travelling in the US, working and writing. First novel, IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP published in 1986 after five years of writing. Wrote sagas with big dramatic finishes in the early days, and then, as the body count rose, made the move into psychological suspense and thrillers. Last book LAST RUN soon out in trade paperback, and the latest (and 20th) -RALPH'S CHILDREN - out soon in hardcover.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy cow, this book. I actually think I read it twice in high school just because . . . I had no frame of reference for it. It's honestly like someone scribbled down a few episodes of a soap opera or something, and as an impressionable teenager who had never watched a soap opera I was just like, What?! I cannot look away!

Basically, these siblings flee a terrible foster home after their mother goes insane and kills herself and burns their house down. They think one of the sisters is dead, but no, she's just horribly scarred by the fire and also batpoop crazy. That sister's twin is troubled with weird psychic episodes where he feels their missing sister's rage at being left behind, and becomes both artistic and sensitive and depressed. Like you do. Nothing in their life goes right, though it's all very dramatic and they're all very pretty. As adults they meet up with scarred sister. It goes badly. The book ends with a dramatic twist that's supposed to make you go, Oh, NO! but in reality makes you think, This isn't possible! STOP IT.

[Ioanna Xristodoyloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ωραίο σαν σκέψη και σαν πλοκή αλλα σε ορισμένα σημεία έκανε κοιλιά και ήταν κάπως αδύναμο και τραβηγμένο. πολλές οι ραδιουργίες οι κακές της υπόθεσης κατατρεγμενα παιδιά κτλ . λίγο σενάριο επιστημονικης φαντασίας βρε παιδί μου,δεν μπορείς να ταυτιστείς με κανέναν ήρωα δεν ξέρω...καταλάβατε?μάλλον όχι . κρατήστε οτι κάθε φορά που έλεγα να διαβάσω ,προτιμούσα να κάνω δουλείες του σπιτιού πάρα να χαλαρώσω και να διαβάσω

[Mihaela Jazvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilary Norman - Zvjezde u sjeni @vbz
Teška i sumorna obiteljska saga, u kojoj,  trenutno, ne vidimo niti zrnca ikakve nade, a prati obitelj Cesaretti.
Te davne 1951. dogodila se podmukla tragedija koja je odnijela troje života i vatra je progutala cijelo obiteljsko imanje. Braća Giulio i Bruno su mogli zajedno raditi i preuzeti poslove svoga oca. No, Bruno se odlučio ostati u gradu, oženiti Liviu, s kojom je dobio dvoje djece, Fabia i Letiziu te je nastavio obiteljski posao. Giulio je bio trezveniji i orijentiran na zemlju. On je oženio Serafinu, bila je to ljubav na prvi pogled. Najprije su dobili Vittoria, zatim Francescu, blizance Luciana i Giuliettu i nedavno, najmlađe dijete Giacoma. Pazite, to su godine poslije rata, medicina nije u nekom velikom zamahu i nije se znalo za postporođajnu depresiju. Serafina je, nažalost od njege oboljevala nakon rođenja svakog svojeg djeteta. Tonula bi u crnilo i ne bi se iz nj izvukla. Tako je bilo i  ovoga puta, samo što nije presudila samo sebi, nego je naškodila i obitelji. Nakon požara, spašeni su Vittorio (jedanaestogodišnjak), Francesca (devetogodišnjakinja) Luciano i Giulitta koji su navrši pet. Siročad je došla na vrata stricu i strini, samo prvotnih troje jer je Giulietta stradala u požaru najviše.
Tu kreću njihove životne muke...obitelj ih ne želi, strina ih je primila s hladnoćom, a bratići s rezigniranošću. Sve je bilo odlično dok nije strina uzela 'stvar' u svoje ruke!
A kako? Saznajte!
Toliko napeta i intrigantna, ne ispušta se iz ruku! Radnja je podijeljena u tri dijela, ali teće takvom lakoćom i jednostavnošću da je užitak čitati! Sigurna sam da ćete uživati. Popustio me prvotni šok, pa nevjerica, sad je samo ostala ljutnja ali i nada...baš potresna, no ne i nemoguća priča!
#osvrt #preporuka #obitelj #saga #nevjerica #palež #blizanci #nemoć #patnja #oskudica #book #books #bookstagram #čitanje

[Sondra Casser · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent written story.

This book pulled me in from the moment I started reading it. I loved the characters. Hlary Norman has an imagination for reality that makes even the most normal act for her characters so bazaar but so interesting. I love the way he writes. Fast reading and really enjoyable.

[Sherry D'ambrosio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multi generational story of Italian family and tragedy that sent family members in different directions.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was full sure i wouldnt think much of this book when i started it,but apart from stretching belief in more than one instance it was quite enjoyable.At the beginning i was worried the whole book was going to be a bit cliched,three orphans sent to live with kind uncle and evil aunt?!but the story was good enough to keep me interested,even though it was a very quick read!

[Jackie Simons]

Read 12/09

[Sonja Brose · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good saga, norman has a lot of "dar" twists that keep you on your toes