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The Sight of the Stars : A Novel
New York Times bestselling author Belva Plain beguiles us once again with a novel that explores the bonds that sustain families—and the lies that can shatter them forever. Sweeping through the pivotal events of twentieth-century America, The Sight of the Stars chronicles four generations of one remarkable family as they journey through years of love, loss, sacrifice, and unimaginable betrayal.
Dressed in a brand-new suit, with one hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket, Adam Arnring says good-bye to his family and boards a train for the fabled West. The year is 1907. Adam is nineteen years old, a young man with stars in his eyes who has always dreamed of a future in the great open spaces of America. Now, far from his New Jersey home, he takes the first step toward attaining that dream, landing a job in a small department store in a booming Texas town. Here he meets a woman who excites him beyond all measure. The exquisite, untouchable Emma Rothirsch lives in a world whose doors are firmly closed to him. But Adam is a man willing to take great risks to get what he wants.
One is Emma. The other is to build a lasting business enterprise that will live on through his children and grandchildren. But just when Adam’s dreams are within reach, fate intervenes. Tragedy strikes from the trenches of World War I, setting in motion a series of events that echo down through the years. The owner of a prospering department store and the head of a growing family, Adam succumbs to a moment of weakness that culminates in an unforgivable act of betrayal. And now, as another generation prepares to take its rightful place in the family’s legendary empire, the tenuous threads of the Arnrings’ past begin to unravel, revealing a shattering secret that reaches back nearly a century.
Across a teeming canvas of history, through world wars and the close of a century, The Sight of the Stars tells a deeply affecting story of family and forgiveness, guilt and redemption. Brimming with the emotional depth and moral complexity we have come to expect from this incomparable storyteller, The Sight of the Stars is about what happens when we dare to dream, and the moments that can change families forever.
Dressed in a brand-new suit, with one hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket, Adam Arnring says good-bye to his family and boards a train for the fabled West. The year is 1907. Adam is nineteen years old, a young man with stars in his eyes who has always dreamed of a future in the great open spaces of America. Now, far from his New Jersey home, he takes the first step toward attaining that dream, landing a job in a small department store in a booming Texas town. Here he meets a woman who excites him beyond all measure. The exquisite, untouchable Emma Rothirsch lives in a world whose doors are firmly closed to him. But Adam is a man willing to take great risks to get what he wants.
One is Emma. The other is to build a lasting business enterprise that will live on through his children and grandchildren. But just when Adam’s dreams are within reach, fate intervenes. Tragedy strikes from the trenches of World War I, setting in motion a series of events that echo down through the years. The owner of a prospering department store and the head of a growing family, Adam succumbs to a moment of weakness that culminates in an unforgivable act of betrayal. And now, as another generation prepares to take its rightful place in the family’s legendary empire, the tenuous threads of the Arnrings’ past begin to unravel, revealing a shattering secret that reaches back nearly a century.
Across a teeming canvas of history, through world wars and the close of a century, The Sight of the Stars tells a deeply affecting story of family and forgiveness, guilt and redemption. Brimming with the emotional depth and moral complexity we have come to expect from this incomparable storyteller, The Sight of the Stars is about what happens when we dare to dream, and the moments that can change families forever.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
113 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Belva Plain
147 books321 followersBelva Plain was a best-selling American author of mainstream women's fiction. Her first novel, Evergreen (1978) topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was made into a TV miniseries. At her death, there were over 30 million copies of her twenty-plus novels in print in 22 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 21, 2020
I've had the Reader's digest condensed version of this book, together with Nicholas Sparks' The Wedding (which sucks by the way). I didn't have high hopes on its selections because it has a "chick lit" vibe on it, and the The Wedding underwhelmed me. It's a me problem; I don't have a romantic bone in my body (:
Good thing this novel is hardly about romance. But the story is rather predictable and mundane, no larger than life characters whatsoever, (in a span of three generations, people normally die) not so full plot twists, just like in real life.
Nonetheless it turned out to be better than I expected. Finished the book in two sitting.
Good thing this novel is hardly about romance. But the story is rather predictable and mundane, no larger than life characters whatsoever, (in a span of three generations, people normally die) not so full plot twists, just like in real life.
Nonetheless it turned out to be better than I expected. Finished the book in two sitting.
February 8, 2017
Dressed in a new suit with 150 dollars in his pocket, Adam Arnring says goodbye to his family and boards a train for the West. The year is 1907. Adam is nineteen years old, a young man with stars in his eyes who has dreams of a bright future in the wide open spaces of America. Far from his New Jersey roots, Adam lands a job in a small department store in a booming Texas town. He is taken with the beautiful and untouchable Emma Rothirsch who inhabits a world whose doors are forever closed to him. But Adam is determined to fight for what he wants.
One is Emma, another is to build a lasting empire to pass on to his children and grandchildren. But just when Adam seems to be able to attain what he wants, fate intervenes. Tragedy strikes from the trenches of World War I, setting in motion a series of events which will have reprecussions throughout the years.
Adam, now the head of a growing family and a prosperous department store, succumbs to a moment of weakness culminating in an ultimate act of betrayal - one that is unforgivable. Now as a new generation of the family is born, a secret from the Arnrings' past reaches forward to shatter their lives.
Surprisingly, this is one of very few books by Ms. Plain that is completely new to me. Somehow, it never even registered on my radar that she had written a new book until this one had been out for almost a decade. I have always thought Belva Plain was a wonderful author - in my opinion, she was a natural born storyteller, able to develop the type of characters that readers could really relate to and plots that were incredibly realistic.
The Sight of the Stars by Belva Plain is just such a book - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and was completely swept away by it; avidly wanting to know what would happen next. I would definitely give this book an A+! and would whole-heartedly recommend it to others who enjoy reading historical family sagas.
One is Emma, another is to build a lasting empire to pass on to his children and grandchildren. But just when Adam seems to be able to attain what he wants, fate intervenes. Tragedy strikes from the trenches of World War I, setting in motion a series of events which will have reprecussions throughout the years.
Adam, now the head of a growing family and a prosperous department store, succumbs to a moment of weakness culminating in an ultimate act of betrayal - one that is unforgivable. Now as a new generation of the family is born, a secret from the Arnrings' past reaches forward to shatter their lives.
Surprisingly, this is one of very few books by Ms. Plain that is completely new to me. Somehow, it never even registered on my radar that she had written a new book until this one had been out for almost a decade. I have always thought Belva Plain was a wonderful author - in my opinion, she was a natural born storyteller, able to develop the type of characters that readers could really relate to and plots that were incredibly realistic.
The Sight of the Stars by Belva Plain is just such a book - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and was completely swept away by it; avidly wanting to know what would happen next. I would definitely give this book an A+! and would whole-heartedly recommend it to others who enjoy reading historical family sagas.
August 15, 2009
It started slowly and maintained a stately pace throughout, but I got attached to the characters by the end, and it ended up being one of those books you can't stop thinking about for days. It made me want to read more of Belva's books.
June 25, 2018
I was underwhelmed by this book. the back cover intrigued me enough to want to read it, but there was no part of the story that geipped me and I felt as if I could be reading someone's diary. The end left me wanting. despite the lack of a true plot line, I still felt like I enjoyed the author's writing. She was able to paint beautiful pictures in my head with her vivid descriptions of life in the west.
August 22, 2017
I thought I had read all of Belva Plain's books. My sister gave me this book and I was pleasantly surprised to read it was new to me. It was a very fast and enjoyable story as so many of her books are.
April 23, 2018
Very good
Haven’t read anything by this author in years...forgot how much I liked her books.
Haven’t read anything by this author in years...forgot how much I liked her books.
May 18, 2023
Fast moving and very interesting. I love to read family sagas and all its twists and turns…a lot like all our lives.
August 7, 2023
I found this book to go by very quickly, but I also had some questions that went unanswered. The whole side story of Adams brother Leo was never really detailed...what exactly were all the books he was reading, and hiding from everyone, and why? What was the shattering secret that reached back centuries? These and other questions were not explained.
It was also at times a bit difficult to follow. When starting a new chapter, a couple of days to a few years may have passed, but you didn't know it when starting the chapter. You just have to figure it out.
Overall, it was a very nice story, Adam was made out to be a bit more of a hero then was called for, but the characters were very nice to follow. I recommend it if your bored and just want a fast read.
It was also at times a bit difficult to follow. When starting a new chapter, a couple of days to a few years may have passed, but you didn't know it when starting the chapter. You just have to figure it out.
Overall, it was a very nice story, Adam was made out to be a bit more of a hero then was called for, but the characters were very nice to follow. I recommend it if your bored and just want a fast read.
May 24, 2018
The Sight of the Stars - yet another wonderful human interest story by Belva Plain!
I was looking for another "good read" and remembered Belva Plain. In fact, I have never read one of her books that I didn't like. So I just kinda closed my eyes "so to speak" and chose "The Sight of the Stars." I was not sorry. And, as I often do when I am about to finish a book I'm enjoying, I found myself slowing down because I didn't want the book to end. Her characters are very believable. Indeed, I saw a recognizable trait sometimes found in my own family. That being, the reticence to forgive and forget past perceived hurts. It was very sad that both Adam and Leo died without ever reconciling their differences.
I was looking for another "good read" and remembered Belva Plain. In fact, I have never read one of her books that I didn't like. So I just kinda closed my eyes "so to speak" and chose "The Sight of the Stars." I was not sorry. And, as I often do when I am about to finish a book I'm enjoying, I found myself slowing down because I didn't want the book to end. Her characters are very believable. Indeed, I saw a recognizable trait sometimes found in my own family. That being, the reticence to forgive and forget past perceived hurts. It was very sad that both Adam and Leo died without ever reconciling their differences.
July 15, 2017
The story revolves around Adam Arnring who was born about the turn of the century to a Jewish father and an Irish immigrant mom. It's Adam's success story about using his drive and ability to to get along and work hard to achieve his goal. Not all members of his family are quite as successful and happy in their lives.
October 17, 2019
Love the development of the characters... looked forward to reading each day .. I felt like part of the family. Love and heartbreak.. forgiveness making life so full... and forgiveness coming too late .
This is the 7th Belva Plain book I have read over the past few months... none have disappointed me.
This is the 7th Belva Plain book I have read over the past few months... none have disappointed me.
October 20, 2019
This one took 1/3 of the book before I even got interested in the characters. A little family saga over several generations. Nothing too eye-catching but still fairly enjoyable read.
I’ve enjoyed other Belva books in the past, so long in the past that I don’t remember which ones (Evergreen, probably).
I’ve enjoyed other Belva books in the past, so long in the past that I don’t remember which ones (Evergreen, probably).
November 20, 2016
Found this book in a bar...it belongs back in a bar.
November 19, 2017
Belva Plain, signature majeure de la littérature féminine mondiale, est décédée en 2010. Elle est l’auteure de nombreux best-sellers, tous parus chez Belfond. Parmi eux figurent Là où les chemins nous mènent (2010), Les complaisances du cœur (2012) ou encore Promesse qui a été réédité en 2017 dans la collection Le Cercle. Tous ses titres sont repris chez Pocket.
Dans Les saisons du bonheur, nous sommes en 1900 et l’Amérique est le pays de toutes les espérances. Bien décidé à être acteur de son destin, Adam Arnring décide de quitter son père et ses deux frères pour tenter sa chance en Californie. Son voyage n’ira pas plus loin que Chattahoochee, à la frontière texane, où Adam a croisé le regard d’Emma, héritière d’un grand magasin. Mais le jeune homme sans le sou n’a rien d’autre à offrir que son audace et sa fougue. Ces qualités seront-elles suffisantes pour obtenir l’amour d’Emma, couvée par une vieille tante acariâtre, lui assurer la réussite sociale qu’il espère tant et préserver les siens des aléas de l’Histoire et de la vie ?
Cette saga familiale qui témoigne d’une maîtrise romanesque rare souligne la fragilité de la vie et du bonheur. Entre liens familiaux indéfectibles, blessures inguérissables, vengeances personnelles et rivalités amères, Belva Plain donne vie à une constellation de personnages inoubliables et tous plus attachants les uns que les autres. Joies et drames scandent les destins d’Adam et de ses proches. Sabine, Emma, Jonathan, Leo, et beaucoup d’autres encore... C’est une ronde de personnages en quête de bonheur, d’amour et de partage dont les vies se nouent et se dénouent pour le plus grand plaisir du lecteur ! À petites touches fines et sensibles, Belva Plain offre une mosaïque humaine magnifique, pétrie d’espérance et portée par une écriture limpide qui sonne toujours juste.
Happés dans un tourbillon d’épreuves et de drames, touchés de plein fouet par les aléas de l’Histoire et de la vie, les Arnring seront sans cesse poursuivis par la perte, les déceptions, la haine et la jalousie. Combattifs et passionnés, parfois même vindicatifs, ces personnages authentiques, qui se battent pour leur émancipation, leur liberté et leurs passions, ne peuvent que toucher le cœur du lecteur. Qu’il s’agisse d’hommes ou de femmes, tous suscitent l’émotion et inspirent une tendresse particulière. De leur histoire de famille tourmentée, leurs drames, leurs secrets et leurs bonheurs, on retiendra finalement que rien n’est jamais joué d’avance, qu’il faut se battre, toujours, pour que triomphent l’amour, le bonheur et la liberté…
Plus qu’un roman, c’est une philosophie de vie, une magnifique leçon de tolérance doublée d’un message d’espoir, que Belva Plain tente de transmettre. Agissant comme un baume sur le cœur, Les saisons du bonheur fait partie de ces romans réconfortants que l’on referme avec le sourire aux lèvres et la satisfaction d’avoir fait un beau et long voyage ! Sensible et généreuse, illuminée de soleil et de couleurs, c’est une intense et émouvante saga romanesque à découvrir sans attendre !
Dans Les saisons du bonheur, nous sommes en 1900 et l’Amérique est le pays de toutes les espérances. Bien décidé à être acteur de son destin, Adam Arnring décide de quitter son père et ses deux frères pour tenter sa chance en Californie. Son voyage n’ira pas plus loin que Chattahoochee, à la frontière texane, où Adam a croisé le regard d’Emma, héritière d’un grand magasin. Mais le jeune homme sans le sou n’a rien d’autre à offrir que son audace et sa fougue. Ces qualités seront-elles suffisantes pour obtenir l’amour d’Emma, couvée par une vieille tante acariâtre, lui assurer la réussite sociale qu’il espère tant et préserver les siens des aléas de l’Histoire et de la vie ?
Cette saga familiale qui témoigne d’une maîtrise romanesque rare souligne la fragilité de la vie et du bonheur. Entre liens familiaux indéfectibles, blessures inguérissables, vengeances personnelles et rivalités amères, Belva Plain donne vie à une constellation de personnages inoubliables et tous plus attachants les uns que les autres. Joies et drames scandent les destins d’Adam et de ses proches. Sabine, Emma, Jonathan, Leo, et beaucoup d’autres encore... C’est une ronde de personnages en quête de bonheur, d’amour et de partage dont les vies se nouent et se dénouent pour le plus grand plaisir du lecteur ! À petites touches fines et sensibles, Belva Plain offre une mosaïque humaine magnifique, pétrie d’espérance et portée par une écriture limpide qui sonne toujours juste.
Happés dans un tourbillon d’épreuves et de drames, touchés de plein fouet par les aléas de l’Histoire et de la vie, les Arnring seront sans cesse poursuivis par la perte, les déceptions, la haine et la jalousie. Combattifs et passionnés, parfois même vindicatifs, ces personnages authentiques, qui se battent pour leur émancipation, leur liberté et leurs passions, ne peuvent que toucher le cœur du lecteur. Qu’il s’agisse d’hommes ou de femmes, tous suscitent l’émotion et inspirent une tendresse particulière. De leur histoire de famille tourmentée, leurs drames, leurs secrets et leurs bonheurs, on retiendra finalement que rien n’est jamais joué d’avance, qu’il faut se battre, toujours, pour que triomphent l’amour, le bonheur et la liberté…
Plus qu’un roman, c’est une philosophie de vie, une magnifique leçon de tolérance doublée d’un message d’espoir, que Belva Plain tente de transmettre. Agissant comme un baume sur le cœur, Les saisons du bonheur fait partie de ces romans réconfortants que l’on referme avec le sourire aux lèvres et la satisfaction d’avoir fait un beau et long voyage ! Sensible et généreuse, illuminée de soleil et de couleurs, c’est une intense et émouvante saga romanesque à découvrir sans attendre !
September 13, 2025
These are my notes to help me remember the story - Simon Arnring had two families - 1st son Adam by a woman who died right after birth, then he married Rachel and had Leo & Jonathan. Jon always knew what he wanted to do (be a doctor), Leo was the 'black sheep' of the family- hateful, always felt he deserves more- Adam took off from New Jersey to go out west at age 19 (this was early 1900's) and walked into a department store to buy a shirt when he told the store owner he could improve the store in a couple of days (he did- and continued making it huge) Owner had a niece (actually Emma was abandoned & Sabine adopted her) but Emma had all the perks of wealth- fell in love with Adam. Life goes on, Adam & Emma has 3 sons, 2 daughters, good life. Leo still an unhappy person, Jon dies in war ( more to this story - Blanche). The storyline is good, typical life stuff other I kept waiting for Leo to cause trouble - I guess with his half million dollars he got from Adam, he was able to live a good life- ( interesting that the great -granddaughter of Adam, Emma& her husband Charles who live in New Hampshire, was at the cottage of the Snow estate- guess all those books Leo read paid off. Leo reinvented himself, marrying a rich blind woman, even using Simon's story about the dog and her litter of pups, Arthur being the one to survive). Good book
April 13, 2022
Great read. Story of a marriage between a young man,(Adam )with little to offer,to a young gal of wealth(Emma ).He rose in life and worked into a man deserving respect and its accompanying wealth. The lives of his family affected his....brother who wanted to become a doctor, married Blanche ( beauty )who also rose in the family and in Adams industry (fashion) to be famous, despite the fact that she broke up with Jonathan and thus he committed suicide. In a moment of weakness Adam is unfaithful with her and almost destroys his marriage to Emma. She forgives him, but he doesn't forgive Blanche and sends her away. Later his little brother, (disfigured and disrespected by all except Adam's dad) learns of his mistake with Blanche and blackmails him by threatening to tell Emma(his wife). He pays blackmail and banishes Leo from his life. Emma forgives Adam and begs him to forgive Leo. Book ends with both boys starting to write to each other and forgive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2022
The book went along well enough if you like saga stories spanning generations (like I do.) However, the epilogue was very confusing and it made me mad. Who were the Snows? Was that supposed to be Leo? If so, why did he find a dog and name him Arthur? The whole last few pages made no sense. The rest of the book went along with names, dates, incidents, etc. in a basic order so you could follow the story line.
Also, I was watching the complete series of "Rich Man, Poor Man" last week while reading this book at other times during the week and I was getting confused as to what I was watching and what I was reading. The 2 stories almost ran parallel to each other. (Poor man makes it good while brother is a misfit and doesn't do well. Rifts between the brothers, infidelity, etc.) I guess it's true what some say that there are only 7 different storylines (books/movies) and all of them put their own spin on the basic ideas.
This book was a fast read with a disappointing ending.
Also, I was watching the complete series of "Rich Man, Poor Man" last week while reading this book at other times during the week and I was getting confused as to what I was watching and what I was reading. The 2 stories almost ran parallel to each other. (Poor man makes it good while brother is a misfit and doesn't do well. Rifts between the brothers, infidelity, etc.) I guess it's true what some say that there are only 7 different storylines (books/movies) and all of them put their own spin on the basic ideas.
This book was a fast read with a disappointing ending.
March 28, 2020
In 1907, nineteen year old Adam leaves his family in New Jersey and ventures to the West. The train stops in a small town in Texas and he walks into a department store that needs revitalizing. The manager takes a chance on him: Adam turns the shop into a mega store. The manager's niece seems to be above his class, but love ensues and the two eventually marry. Their family is happy until a situation arises that threatens their dynamics. This is a sweet love story that values persistence and determination coupled with hard work.
August 28, 2023
This is my first Belva Plain novel. She is a wonderful story teller. I love the “everydayness” of her drama. There is a great comfort in knowing that the mundaneness of how we live is a reality within the majority! Obviously Adam is amazing and Emma to good to be true. The feel-goodness and solid foundation of their relationship brings warmth amongst the average life. Not fireworks and fanfare, but rather, simplistic reality that chugs forward with iron-clad grit. Beautiful and peaceable! Above all, thanks for not using vulgarity or crude sexual innuendos… BRAVO!
March 11, 2020
Another winner!
As always I've enjoyed this author's style of writing. Her stories of families are so believable you feel you are a part of them and will miss them. I love a book that goes through the generations of families. This makes the 6th book written by this author that I've had the pleasure to read. She never disappoints me.
As always I've enjoyed this author's style of writing. Her stories of families are so believable you feel you are a part of them and will miss them. I love a book that goes through the generations of families. This makes the 6th book written by this author that I've had the pleasure to read. She never disappoints me.
July 25, 2020
A story of family legacy
This book isn't Harry Potter but holds it's lwn magic that will weave it's way into your soul so that every simple word, every paragraph and every chapter will keep you hooked on. You feel the emotions of the characters and you seem to grow with them and see the life changes through their eyes. I recommend everyone to read it.
This book isn't Harry Potter but holds it's lwn magic that will weave it's way into your soul so that every simple word, every paragraph and every chapter will keep you hooked on. You feel the emotions of the characters and you seem to grow with them and see the life changes through their eyes. I recommend everyone to read it.
July 25, 2020
Delightful, sad, suspenseful, and full of truth. I am impressed w/ the sense of foreboding and danger that the author created. At one point, I had to stop reading for fear of the unknown bad event that was surely coming. The ending, also, was quite good. We can only know so much about others. Be careful not to become certain one knows all.
April 29, 2021
Adam Arnring leaves his home in New Jersey and ends up in Texas where he lands a job with a department store and married the owner's niece. A brother dies in WWI and his fiance becomes a famous designer with designs on Adam. A third brother blackmails Adam and then disappears. In the latter part we get updates on Adam's children as they mature.
February 28, 2021
I enjoyed this gentle read. The story of a man, Adam Arnring, who became is successful business man. You read of his loves, his losses, his successes and his failures. Sometimes a gentle read is very satisfying.
February 2, 2017
I was first introduced to the novels of Belva Plain by my mother over thirty years ago. Somehow I had overlooked this one and only recently stumbled onto it as an audio book. It did not disappoint.
October 10, 2017
This is OK,
November 24, 2017
Belva Plain is one of my favorite authors.
December 28, 2017
The characters became family to me. Couldn't wait to see their next life event.
May 22, 2018
A family saga that was a pleasant, relaxing light easy read.
September 21, 2018
My first BP. All in all it consists of a gripping and compelling saga.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews