On a warm May night in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton ballroom shimmers with crystal and silver as a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity dinner dance. The evening is perfect–until, just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters. And as the lights go out, people begin to scream….In the earthquake’s aftermath, the lives of four strangers will converge.… Sarah Sloane, the beautiful wife of a financial whiz, watches her perfect world fall to pieces…. Grammy-winning singer Melanie Free, the event’s headliner, comes to a turning point in her life and career…. Photographer Everett Carson, a former war correspondent whose personal demons have demoted him to covering society parties, finds new purpose amid the carnage…and Sister Maggie Kent, a nun who normally works in jeans and high-tops with the homeless, searches through the rubble–and knows instantly that there is much work to be done….As the city staggers back to life, a chain reaction of extraordinary events will touch each of the survivors.… For Sarah, it begins with the discovery of a crime and a betrayal, then a strength she never knew she had. For Melanie, volunteering at a refugee camp will open new worlds of possibility. And Everett will be shaken by the unlikely relationship he forges with Maggie, who helps him rebuild his shattered life–and upends her own in the process. But as a year passes, and the anniversary of the earthquake approaches, more surprises are in store–as each discovers the unexpected gifts in a tragedy’s wake…and the amazing grace of new beginnings.Throughout these enthralling pages, Danielle Steel creates a stunning array of contrasts–from the dazzle of a society benefit to the chaos of a makeshift hospital, from the pampered lives of rock stars to the quiet heroism of emergency volunteers. It is her most powerful and life-affirming novel to date.
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
This was my first Danielle Steel novel and it will be my last. Her writing style drove me crazy. I think the book could have been 100 pages shorter and still gotten her superficial point across.
The characters are all very boxed into whatever their specific character trait is. For example, Melanie is the sweet, humble pop star who has an (unrealistically) over-bearing mother. And we get to hear, during every section of the book in which Melanie appears, that she is sweet and humble and kind.... It was very cliche, as were the rest of the characters, who barely had any development to them.
All of the writing is very redundant. Every idea in the story is shoved down the reader's throat. I feel like this story could have really been deep and gritty and dug into people's raw emotions but instead it kind of glazed over those emotions. It kind of tried to TALK about those emotions and amazing moments that can change lives, but it didn't SHOW you those emotions or make you FEEL those emotions. At least it didn't for me.
Parmi ces meilleurs romans ca fait plus que 2 ans que j'ai lu.mais chaque fois que je regarde le titre dans mon bibliothèque. j'ai eu les même sentiments de joie et de plaisir de lire cet roman. Je la recommande vivement.
قرأت هذه رواية منذ 4سنوات و اتذكرها جيد بل لقد اعدت قرءتها و انا من نادر ان افعل ذلك. و من جيد انها في مكتبتي.هذه ليس رواية رومانسية هي رواية : تحدي،وقوف،الصمود،غدر الزوج،الاختيار صعب في الحياة بين حياة الرهبنة ام الحب.؟ تبدأ الرواية في حفلة خيرية نظمها مستشفى لجمع تبرعات لانشاء قسم جديد. اين يقع زلازل،و نبدأ رحلة مع 4 أشخاص حضروا ذلك حفل و كيف ردود فعلهم؟ و اهم شئ كل منهم سيصيبه زلازل في حياته. - الزوجة التي ستفتح عينيها على حقيقة زوجها (ليس هناك خيانة) لكن هنا شئ اقسى من خيانة. - الفتاة المراهقة التي تخرج من شرنقة امها. و الراهبة التي ستقف حائر بين الواجب و القلب. من اجمل م قرات لها و الوحيدة التي اعطيتها علامة تامة. كم اتمنى ان تقرؤها خاصة البنات 😉😍.
I used to really enjoy Danielle Steel. This one felt like she hadn't bothered to develop the dialogue and the books events beyond the outline for the book. At times yes, but large portions were repetitive descriptions of "this is what the book is about." It felt like she maintained an observer mode instead of bringing the reader into the feel of each character. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to how a book is presented at this point. I write non-fiction but am contemplating doing some fiction. So how a story is written is more on my mind. And I just finished a Nora Roberts trilogy. She is remarkably good at making you part of the action, in making her characters feel like flesh and blood people, albeit with that super duper extra that us mere mortals don't posess. I don't have any of the older Danielle Steel books on my shelf, but my memory says she used to be a much better writer. I remember her earlier books as can't put down page turners with a strong emotional punch.
حسيت اني بتفرج على فيلم للشؤون المعنوية. اعترف أن الرواية عندي من زمن وعنوانها كان دايما يشدني أبدأها واختار تأجيلها لوقت احتاج فيه لرواية دافية لاعتقادي أنها رحمة مذهلة، للأسف كانت مقلب منيل.
يدمر زلزال قوي معظم سان فرانسيسكو، ويتم التركيز على حياة أربع أشخاص، سارة الشخصية المرموقة والغنية في المجتمع وعائلتها اللطيفة، ميلاني الشابة صاحبة الصوت العذب الفائزة بالغرامي، المصور الفوتوغرافي إيفريت مصور الحروب المتعافي من إدمانه، الأخت ماغي الراهبة المتفانية في خدمة الرب والمجتمع. سارة خسرت زوجها ومكانتها وثروتها، وميلاني قررت تصالح روحها وتبدأ تعمل حاجات بتحبها بجانب الغناء تنسحب فترة من حياة الشهرة وتدور عن نفسها في خدمة غيرها، إيفريت يستمر في مقاومة الإدمان والتوصل لابنه الذي تخلى عنه ويقع في حب الأخت ماغي، الراهبة ماغي وتمزق قلبها بين عهدها مع الرب وحبها لإيفريت.
الفكرة كويسة ولكن لم يتم استغلالها بالعكس تم تناولها بسطحية سخيفة، النبذة عن الرواية أن الزلزال هيكون السبب في تحول حياة كل شخص من الأبطال وهيبقى السبب في تقاطع حيواتهم، موصلنيش ولا إحساس حسيت أني بقرأ كلام بلا روح، دا غير الرغي الكتييير بلا داعي حتى المواقف الإنسانية باردة، صراع كل بطل مع نفسه كان ضحل مخلنيش أتعاطف مع أي واحد فيهم، كأني بسمع حكاية عن شخص بعيد بنصف تركيز وبلا اهتمام.
This story kind of confused me in all honesty in regards to the plot. I thought the majority of the story was going to be based on the earthquake and it ended up being about the aftermath for the majority of the novel. I felt like the characters were a huge random mess of people that would never be together and kinda found the story in my opinion to seem thrown together and scrambeled.
I mean a nun and a recovering alcoholic; a superstar and an average college grad, it just seemed far fetched to me, and that the relatability between the characters were very unlikely.
It wasn't a horrible book, but at the same time in my opinion was very weak in contrast to some of the other Danielle Steel novels that I have read, this one just fell flat and didn't really do anything for me unfortantally.
الرواية التي عرفتني بـ دانييل ستيل .. الغريب انها في البدء لم ترقني كثيرا .. ولم تعجبني.. توقفت في الصفحة الثمانون .. ولم اتزحزح لـ شهرين كاملين .. وذات يوم أعدت قراءتها ولم أضعها من يدي إلا وكنت أنهيتها .. جميلة جدا.. قصة كفاح خمسة أشخاص .. بعد زلزال مدمر..
مع عدة زلازل شخصية مرت بالأبطال.. تستحق الخمس نجمات.
I read this book because we were getting ready to move to SF and I had never been there, so I was hungry for any information that I could find about the city, fact or fiction, that would make me feel more familiar with it once I arrived. I am not a typical Danielle Steele fan - not that I don't like her, I just don't choose her books for some reason - too mainstream for my liking I guess. However, I found myself totally engrossed in this story and wondering why I don't read more books by DS. I borrowed this book from the library and have been considering purchasing it for my collection ever since. When I do buy it, I will definitely read it a second time.
This is a story about what happens to a family when the husband's carefully balanced scam gets interrupted by a major earthquake and leaves the family's structure in shambles like the rest of the city. This story was everything I was looking for with regards to details of city locations, neighborhood names, and the remifications of a major natural disaster that could easily happen at any time, as many San Franciscan's know all to well. That combined with a great story and an ending that readily satisfied me made this a big hit as far as I was concerned.
Danielle Steele is a great story teller as far as I'm concerned and I fully intend to read more of her works after finding such enjoyment with this one.
This is the second Danielle Steel book I have ever read and although it's not as bad as the first one I gave an awful review to, A Good Woman, it still wasn't great. I have no idea why this author is as famous as she is.
Good thing this book had 4 principles in it and not one because every character she has, I could care less about. She seems to not be able to build characters up at all. Every character is so Lilly white and perfect. Doesn't she get tired writing about boring people? I sure am tired of reading about them. Everything is so far from reality where people don't get angry, make mistakes, or are ever mean. The only mean or flawed characters are the fleeting ones. Her writings are simplistic and uneducated. I try to never say or write "had had" ever and I am no writer. Why is this acceptable over and over again? She is extremely repetitive throughout her writing. You would think she was getting paid by the word or something! I think two chances was enough, don't think I'll waste my time on another one of her books.
I am so proud of Derek for going Back to School...but this is how it went... "Hey, Derek, I'm going to the library. I need a new book on CD for the car." "Hey, Amanda, I need to study math, so I am going to the library. I will pick out a book for you, baby." Later, that same day... "Hey, Amanda. Just got back from the libes. I checked out this book...a Danielle Steel novel." "Hey, Derek, do you really take me for that kind of girl? I am not a chick-lit kind of girl. I am schematically offended." "Hey, Amanda, step outside of your comfort zone." "Hey, Derek, I will take your challenge, and I will raise it. I will find ways to make fun of this book. It is my quest. I will mock it, yes, I will."
My first Danielle Steel novel and probably my last. I actually picked this up thinking it HAD to be fairly decent considering how popular the author is. How wrong I was! The plot had some promise and the potential to be interesting, but it was spoiled by cliches+, predictable characters and storylines and some truly awful writing. In my job as a teacher I can literally say I have read better from the pencils of 9 year olds. So repetitive! So redundant! She goes over the same points again and again and again until I'm tearing my hair out. I was ready to give up after wading through the first two chapters but persevered until the end somehow. It felt like lazy editing. How many times did we have to be told that Sarah's life is falling apart and she doesn't know who her husband is any more? Or that Melanie is sweet and humble and her mother ambitious and living through her vicariously (that exact phrase was used at least three times)? I'm not a diehard convert to the 'show don't tell' rule but the author could certainly have taken some pointers from it! The book could have been 100 pages shorter and hugely improved. The amount of times a character 'looked angry', 'looked concerned', 'looked worried' was infuriating, especially since we were supposed to be in their POV. How do they know how they look? I never really felt for any of the characters because I never felt we were truly in their heads since she hopped around POVs so many times per scene. Probably one of the worst books I've read in a while.
This is one of the Best Novels I have read which made me rethink a lot about myself. i learnt from Sarah, The art of making it on my own and the art of forgiveness. There is always a hidden strength in us, which carries us through one of our worst times ever. Never Give Up.. Because the moment you do Failure becomes mandatory. From Melanie, I learnt the importance of having the freedom to make our own decisions. I learnt how much ever of money one has, it cant make you as much happy as volunteering or helping needy people can make you. That satisfaction cannot be obtained from anything else. From Maggie I learnt that in order to serve GOD and help people, one doesn’t need to be a nun. It should just come from the heart. And if the relationship is good enough, it is worth ‘n’ number of sacrifices. And from Everett I learnt it is never too late to hold out a hand to your loved ones. People who love you, will always love you no matter how many years have passed.
تبدأ القصة بزلزال سان فرانسيسكو و الزلزال الذي أحدثه في نفوس شخصيات القصة .. البعض منهم كسبوا ، و البعض خسروا. خسر البعض حياتهم . و آخرون هاجروا بعيدا. لقد زلزل حياتهم بكاملها لتتغير إلى الأبد. أعرف بأن روايات دانيال ستيل مثل أفلام أمريكية بلمحات رومنسية و كنت أحتاج كتابا لا يتعب عقلي لتزجية الوقت و لكن هذا الفيلم ممطوط بشكل كبير أزعجني جدا لاسيما و أن النهاية كانت شبه محتومة. أعجبتني حوارات ماغي جدا .. بدت لي منطقية و جميلة .. لكني ما برحت أهرول على السطور علي أجد براءة سيث أو عودته .. تمنيت حقا أن تكون النهاية مثل أي فيلم و يعيش الجميع سعداء و لكني بدلا من ذلك تقمصت شخصية سارة و شعرت بالبؤس و الحزن بدلا عنها .. شعرت بالغضب لما حدث .. كان هذا زلزالا ضخما بالنسبة لها .. باقي القصص الجانبية لم تستدع انتباهي مثلما فعلت قصة سارة و سيث .. لماذا يصبح البعض أنانيا هكذا ؟ أيضا لقاء ايفيريت بشاد كان جميلا .. ما عدا ذلك : كسرت خاطري سارة و الله ☹
La obra profundiza en la idea de que, incluso en medio de la destrucción total, hay una oportunidad para renacer. Cada uno de estos personajes debe reconstruir no solo su entorno físico, sino también su mundo interior, enfrentando sus miedos, pasados y anhelos. A través de sus historias, Steel nos muestra cómo la adversidad puede transformar la vida y cómo el apoyo mutuo, la fe y la fuerza de voluntad pueden convertirse en herramientas para superar las pruebas más difíciles. El libro es un poderoso recordatorio de que, incluso después de las mayores catástrofes, siempre es posible encontrar esperanza y comenzar de nuevo.
I've never read a Danielle Steel novel before, despite their ubiquity - it's next to impossible to walk past any bookshelf (especially those found in public places, like staff canteens or doctor's waiting rooms) without there being at least three Danielle Steel novels sitting on the shelf. They're more inevitable than mildew.
Amazing Grace is one that I picked up off a shelf at random. I don't know if this was a good place to start, though I see no reason to believe it isn't - or that I would have been better off with another novel, as from what I've gleaned the consensus is that Danielle Steel novels are pretty much interchangeable and there's a reason why there's never a lot of critical acclaim for them.
The idea was that I'd broaden my reading horizons: I'd read something that's totally unlike my usual literary fare and in the process maybe gain some understanding into just what it is that makes authors like Danielle Steel so face-meltingly popular.
As such it feels kind of churlish of me to give this book a bad review, when it's so obviously not meant for someone like me or someone with my reading tastes. It even says right here on Goodreads that it's "chick lit" and has not even come close to landing in a 'recommended based on your tastes/reading patterns' list.
However, I still think it probably was objectively pretty terrible, even when factoring in taste and the fact that the book was never marketed to me for the same reason that pork pies don't tend to sell well in Synagogues.
The book is about an earthquake hitting San Francisco and a group of very wealthy cardboard cut-outs having their lives affected in slightly interconnected ways.
I'm not totally against this kind of thing, by the way - in fact I suspect this is the appeal of Danielle Steel's work for some people: It's not so much about plot (there isn't one) or characters (they're just empty archetypes) - it's designed so that people can read it in bed and fantasise about what it would be like to be rich and famous just before they go to sleep. Nothing really bad happens (the earthquake is sort of glazed over) and no one in the book is really bad either (even the horrifically narcissistic Seth is still somehow painted in warm tones).
There's nothing wrong with that. It's fine.
What is wrong is the frankly dreadful prose. I don't expect every work I read to be a dazzling work of prosaic genius, in fact I think simple and transparent writing is great.
But this book is guilty of almost every writing sin that normally would peg you as an amateur writer - it's rife with clichés, awkward similes and constantly tells, rather than shows.
I felt almost no connection to any of the characters or the events of their lives because the book is hell-bent on trying to tell you what to feel, rather than presenting the events and letting you react emotionally to them. The book is also terribly incoherent - for example, you're still finding out basic information about the main characters in the final chapter, as if the author decided to add these details at the last minute because she couldn't think how to finish it.
And really, I do need to emphasise just how stock and forgettable the characters are. The only remotely interesting plotline in the book is the romance between Sister Maggie and Everett - although this plot is one of the oldest stock tropes in the book, literally dating as far back as the Roman Empire. A nun is conflicted over whether or not to give up her vows for a man. Queue dramatic music.
The other threads are just ridiculous. There's a woman whose husband turns out to be a financial criminal. I didn't care even slightly. And there's a pop starlet with a controlling mother (of course) who falls in love with... some random guy. For some reason, that is never well described.
What comes across loud and clear is that the book is written for people who like soap operas - and is about as intellectually nourishing. So if you're the kind of person who never misses an episode of Days of Our Lives then you'll probably have a much better time with this book than I did.
My enduring impression, though, is that my first Danielle Steel novel will be my last. This book was neither amazing nor graceful.
Hace ya demasiado tiempo que no leía algo de esta autora y creí que era tiempo de volver a aventurarme con ella y en cierto modo no me decepcionó, aunque tampoco es que la tuviera tan arriba en mi altar de lecturas, por lo que puede que simplemente se quedara en alguien que volvería a leer si algo de ella llegara a mis manos.
Un Regalo Extraordinario nos cuenta la historia de varios personajes y lo que sucede con ellos post terremoto. Sarah, una mujer profesional, pero que se dedicó por entero a su familia y que se verá enfrentada a las mentiras y el engaño. Melanie una chica increíblemente talentosa y famosa en todo el mundo, que descubre que hay algo más que llena su alama a parte de la música, Everestt un fotógrafo en rehabilitación del alcoholismo que encuentra una segunda oportunidad para volver a vivir y Maggie una monja que entregada por entera a la ayuda a los demás se da cuenta que hay más formas de ayudar al mundo.
La historia transcurre de un modo rápido y suave. Con lenguaje muy simple que hace que ocurra lo mismo con la trama sin hacer que emerjan tramas muy complicadas más allá de lo que los mismos protagonistas van armando a medida que toman las decisiones que definirán su vida a partir de ese momento.
Cada personaje fue aportando parte de su vida para ir creando esta historia, pero sin duda la que más me gustó fue la de Everett el fotógrafo. Me gustaba su personalidad, su forma de vestir, el cómo iba mostrando y enseñando pedazos de su vida y como a partir de un terremoto comienza a cambiar lo que mantuvo igual después de mucho tiempo. Me gustó el comienzo y el final de su personaje uno que va mutando bastante y que deja más feliz a uno como lector.
El personaje femenino, en este caso el de Sarah, Maggie y Melanie, también me gustaron bastante, pero creo que de alguna forma sus desenlaces se volvieron demasiado obvios a medida que la trama avanzaba, lo que no quiere decir que al final fueran interesantes.
Al final lo que me gustó fue que las historias se entrelazaran y dedicaran el espacio justo a cada una de ellas sin tomar favoritismo por alguna en especial por parte del autor, cosa que he visto muchas veces y que solo logra que odiemos a ese mismo personaje. Esta vez creo que fue un equilibrio perfecto entre todos.
Por otro lado lo malo porque dedicarse hacia lo plano que se volvía a veces el libro, si no fuera por el terremoto del principio, el libro habría sido una eterna lectura de lo mismo. Pero más allá de eso no veo algo que lo catalogue como malo.
¿Lo recomiendo? Sí, pero solo si tienes tiempo. No porque sea un libro malo, sino más bien porque es un libro que debe ser leído en un momento de ocio, donde no se espera nada y no haya presiones por terminarlo. Para pasarlo bien con una lectura simple.
I had to read this book for my book club and if it were possible to give it negative stars I would. Danielle Steel is not an author I would choose to read on my own but I am all about trying new genres/authors and came to it with an open mind. However, this was just the worst. I found the writing to be repetitive and the characters under developed, unrealistic, and unrelatable. The book could have been at least 100 pages shorter and still made the same vague points. I detested the gratuitous references to many of the women's bodies and clothing and if one more man thought "I need to protect this girl" I was going to vomit. So many of those moments were completely unnecessary and did nothing to further the weak plot. The various stories all ended with a fairly neat bow - the pop star ends up with the nice college boy and a future that balances bother her career and volunteering; the nun gets released from her vows to be with the alcoholic photographer who is rekindling the relationship with the son he abandoned 30 years ago; the socialite realizes that while she's lost all material good and social standing thanks to her lying criminal (soon to be ex-)husband she has found the grace to forgive him.
In theory the story had potential but the execution was completely lacking. By the end I was annoyed to even be reading the book and so will not be reading anything by Steel again - do yourself a favor and skip this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Danielle Steel's Amazing Grace is an easy beach read for the summer. Each character is full of depth and emotion you feel as if you are right there with them in the midst of all the earthquake has caused. She really shows you exactly what different people can think and on what levels they think on in a situation like this and why they would think it.
I love this book for the myriad of different characters and the parallel stories which are interlinked throughout the book. My favorite would be Maggie and Everett!
Danielle Steele is my all time favorite "fun book" author. Amazing Grace was enjoyable and a fun read, but not one of her best books, in my humble opinion. I feel it would make an excellent beach book.
تبدأ سارة زوجة المستثمر الذكي سيث بتجهيزات الاحتفال الخيري و يجتمع حشد من المشاهير المتألقين في القاعة، و من ثم تبدأ المغنية المشهورة ميلاني بالغناء.... و فجأة من غير سابق إنذار... يخيم الظلام على القاعة، و يعلو الصراخ و تبدأ أرض سان فرانسيسكو بالتزلزل، و لكن مهلاً، ليس فقط أرض سان فرانسيسكو بل أيضاً حياة جميع أبرز الشخصيات في القاعة.
أهي رواية تملأها الإثارة و الخطورة؟ كلا، ليست كذلك.. قد تبدو كلمة "زلزال" كلمة جاذبة للقارئ و لكن بدت الرواية درامية أكثر من مشوقة، فهي أشبه بمسلسل درامي ليس ب فيلم إثاري و تشويقي.
القصة بإختصار : تكتشف سارة خبر صادم، تفتح ميلاني عيناها أخيراً للحقائق و تمتلك الجرأة لإختيار المصير الذي تريده لنفسها بعد أن سئمت من قرارات والدتها، تبدأ حياة إيفريت بالتغير من لحظة لقاءه لميغان و لكن لم يكن يعلم إن كان هذا اللقاء سيبعث فيه يأس أم أمل، و أما الأخت ميغان لم تعد تعرف ما تريد فهي تعشق كونها أختاً و تعشق المقر فهو حلمها منذ الصغر...
أعليك أن تقرأ هذه الروية؟ الجواب هو "ليس بالضرورة" ليست واحدة من تلك الروايات التي يجب أن تكون متواجدة في مكتبتك، بل هي فقط رواية عادية جداً تدور أحداثها حول غرباء اجتمعوا بحفلٍ و تعرضوا لكارثة طبيعية و من ثم جعلتهم هذه الكارثة متقاربين و متصلين ببعض على نحوٍ ما.
و أما من ناحية الترجمة، ترجم الكتاب بترجمة واضحة و ممتازة من دون أي تشويش، ليس هناك أخطاء إملائية و يعني أن هذا أمر جيد جداً.
A mon plus grand étonnement j’ai adoré ce livre, rien à voir avec ce que je lis d’habitude mais les personnages sont tous très attachants et intéressant !! Vraiment une grande découverte 3.5/5