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Magic
It starts on a summer evening, with the kind of magic found only in Paris. Once a year in the City of Light, a lavish dinner takes place outside a spectacular landmark. Selected by secret invitation, the guests arrive dressed in white, and when the night is over, hundreds of white paper lanterns bearing everyone’s fervent wishes are released into the sky. Amid this wondrous White Dinner, a group of close friends stand at the cusp of change.
Jean-Philippe and Valerie are high-flying, successful and devoted to their young family. But a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in China may lead to separation – and temptation.
Bernadetta and Gregorio run an Italian clothing empire in Milan, but Gregorio has a weakness that will ignite a crisis in their company, and their marriage.
Screenwriter Chantal and Indian tech entrepreneur Dharam arrive as friends, but their paths will be set on dramatically different courses before the night ends.
A transformative year of successes and heartbreaks is to come, until the next White Dinner . . .
Danielle Steel is famous for her inspirational stories about family, love and life. Her novels will be enjoyed by readers of Penny Vincenzi, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.
Jean-Philippe and Valerie are high-flying, successful and devoted to their young family. But a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in China may lead to separation – and temptation.
Bernadetta and Gregorio run an Italian clothing empire in Milan, but Gregorio has a weakness that will ignite a crisis in their company, and their marriage.
Screenwriter Chantal and Indian tech entrepreneur Dharam arrive as friends, but their paths will be set on dramatically different courses before the night ends.
A transformative year of successes and heartbreaks is to come, until the next White Dinner . . .
Danielle Steel is famous for her inspirational stories about family, love and life. Her novels will be enjoyed by readers of Penny Vincenzi, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
2170 people are currently reading
3920 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Steel
911 books16.7k followersDanielle 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.
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
February 5, 2017
A strange concept where special members of Parisian society are secretly invited to a sublime 'WHITE' themed extraviganser/party? - including shoes, dress, linen, tableware - forms the basis of this DS story. It's a divine event, held in secret locations, all at the last minute. Elegant and perfect. It can't be this way! People apparently transfer their meals, beverages, linen, tableware etc, all by a golf like cart to this secret place. I didn't mean to be harsh but in typing this review, it's a little laughable! It was an okay read, my commute was always helped along with this offering. Unfortunately it was by the same narrator with the slight lisp that I've heard previously. Redeemed by the flawless (what would I know) French accent. This helps when the reader has no idea of French pronunciation. How on earth does she come up with these themes?! Secondary to all this are the relationships breaking down, forming and being tested.. A couple of them didn't ring true. All falling together unrealistically and some characters even being forgotten too simply. Fiction with DS is allowable like this though, isn't it?!
May 3, 2022
I’d like to thank my grandma to have encouraged me to read this book to fully understand how bad Danielle Steel is, and have making me realize that I'm a romance type but thankfully I'm not so desperate.
I have no idea of how many books she has written in her life - I'm just gonna say “a lot” -, so I don't get why she writes so badly.
Her narrative style is awful: boring, predictable and so damn repetitive. Everything is perfect, everyone is rich and good-looking. Basically, this is a book about rich people’s problems.
But the thing that made me want to kill myself is her stubbornness to keep saying the same things over and over. We got it, one of them is an amazing mother, the other one has to make a difficult decision and the last one is an asshole: there’s no need to keep repeating it!
The story itself is not so bad, it’s a romance to read on the beach, but there are hundreds like this one, and even better written.
In the future, I'm gonna talk about this as an experience.
Hopefully, an experience that I'm not gonna do again.
↠ 1.5 star
I have no idea of how many books she has written in her life - I'm just gonna say “a lot” -, so I don't get why she writes so badly.
Her narrative style is awful: boring, predictable and so damn repetitive. Everything is perfect, everyone is rich and good-looking. Basically, this is a book about rich people’s problems.
But the thing that made me want to kill myself is her stubbornness to keep saying the same things over and over. We got it, one of them is an amazing mother, the other one has to make a difficult decision and the last one is an asshole: there’s no need to keep repeating it!
The story itself is not so bad, it’s a romance to read on the beach, but there are hundreds like this one, and even better written.
In the future, I'm gonna talk about this as an experience.
Hopefully, an experience that I'm not gonna do again.
↠ 1.5 star
December 7, 2017
3.5*
The story was enjoyable and I really liked the depth of the characters and their entwining relationships. I actually read this one in one sitting because I got so involved in the characters relationships. There was an odd sense of disliking a character or two at the beginning because of their selfishness but by the end I was uneasy with their fate, like a struggle with was it karma and did they deserve that.
Overall, a good read with realistic characters struggling with the real feelings and difficulties of relationships.
The story was enjoyable and I really liked the depth of the characters and their entwining relationships. I actually read this one in one sitting because I got so involved in the characters relationships. There was an odd sense of disliking a character or two at the beginning because of their selfishness but by the end I was uneasy with their fate, like a struggle with was it karma and did they deserve that.
Overall, a good read with realistic characters struggling with the real feelings and difficulties of relationships.
August 4, 2016
I don't know why I continue to bother reading Ms. Steel's books.
Who cares about a white dinner in Paris that you can only go to if you get an invitation? Who has the kind of money all of her characters have? Who can afford to travel around in their own private plane. And why are all of the adult kids she writes about distant from their parents. If this is the kind of world Ms. Steel lives in, I want no part of it or her books!
Who cares about a white dinner in Paris that you can only go to if you get an invitation? Who has the kind of money all of her characters have? Who can afford to travel around in their own private plane. And why are all of the adult kids she writes about distant from their parents. If this is the kind of world Ms. Steel lives in, I want no part of it or her books!
July 22, 2016
Magic is a perfect book to throw in your beach bag and enjoy a day of frivolous reading at the beach or the pool. In classic Danielle Steel style, this story follows three couples who attend a glamorous Paris dinner party known as the White Dinner. The story begins at the party and as the year unfolds some of the party guests struggle with relationships while others find new love. The characters are one dimensional, the plot is obvious, the setting are extravagant and entirely unrealistic, and yet it is still a fun read and great way to escape from reality for an afternoon.
December 28, 2016
Is it just me, or does Danielle just recycle the same cliché tropes?
Slow, boring and predictable. Too many rich people complaining about privileged problems, uh
Slow, boring and predictable. Too many rich people complaining about privileged problems, uh
September 18, 2018
I’m a little bit torn into two pieces with this book. On the one hand, I absolutely adored the idea of the White Dinners and was absolutely fascinated by it! But on the other hand, I found everything in between a bit lacklustre. I didn’t love or hate the characters, I just found them all kind of meh and that made me feel a bit indifferent about what was going on because I didn’t really care what happened to them.
October 5, 2016
Sorry, this book needs an editor. I decided to not waste my time.
October 26, 2016
Ms. Steel provides some good writing here in her predictive, narrative style. Unfortunately, there's just not enough to move this story or stories of couples to the wow factor. 4 of 10 stars
November 25, 2016
Why some might think her books frivolous & corny, I always feel happy to live vicariously through them.
February 27, 2024
3/5⭐
“No todo se puede imponer ni comprender. No se puede mandar en el corazón. Este quiere lo que quiere.”
🗼Como siempre me gusta leer a ésta autora porque cuando me inicié en la romántica junto a Johanna Lindsey, ésta era de las únicas autoras de romance que había en la biblioteca pública de mi ciudad. Le tengo cariño pero ésta historia ha sido plana y lo único interesante fue el tema de la Cena Blanca que yo desconocía y es a la que asisten nuestros personajes invitados por Jean-Philippe Dumas y su esposa Valerie.
🗼El libro nos presenta a dos parejas y a dos solteros: La primera es de Gregorio y su esposa Benedetta, que nunca pudieron tener hijos, dueños de una firma de moda ubicada en Milán, que se enfrenta a problemas personales y financieros; historia que puede ser muy real porque son la típica pareja que no se quiere divorciar, él es un mujeriego, que le atraen las modelos, sobre todo las jóvenes, y Benedetta procura que no asista a las pruebas de modelaje por dicho motivo, aunque se las ingenia para encontrarlas él solito. Siempre tiene alguna jovencita pendiente mientras su esposa hace la vista gorda. Pero jamás se traslucía ningún indicio de sus infidelidades cuando salían juntos. Él era un marido devoto que adoraba a su esposa, hasta que entra en escena una modelo rusa de nombre Anya que la deja embarazada de gemelos y la cosa empeora cuando la infidelidad sale a la luz y los papparazi la hacen pública afectando no solo a los protagonistas sino al negocio de la firma de modas.
🗼La segunda pareja es la que invitó, Jean-Philippe Dumas y su esposa Valerie, matrimonio joven con tres hijos pequeños a los que adoran y parecen ser la pareja perfecta hasta que una importante oferta de trabajo pone a prueba a la pareja ya que a Jean-Philippe le ofrecen mudarse a Beijing. Valerie por su parte, está dividida entre el papel de madre y coeditora de Vogue París, y se niega a perder su carrera que tanto trabajo le costó. De modo que ésto amenaza la tranquilidad de la feliz pareja
🗼Otro personaje es Chantal, viuda, guionista con tres hijos que tiene desparramados por el mundo y que ve pocas veces al año, es LA protagonista con un mensaje y una filosofía de vida y un gran desafío: enamorarse a sus 55 años de un hombre mucho más joven. Chantal está harta de ser esa persona que da todo para sus hijos y está a la altura del alto listón que le exigían; Empieza a sentir que tiene derecho a ser ella misma, a cometer errores y a ser quien le apeteciera, lo mismo que hacían sus hijos. Chantal está harta de que la maternidad fuera una calle de un solo sentido, que era lo que hasta ese momento había sido, porque en su vida se cruzará Xavier, un joven que conocerá al concluir la cena blanca y sorprende a los comensales repartiendo farolillos de papel que, una vez encendidos, suben hacia el cielo y lo llenan de color. Este hombre la hará sentirse más relajada, entera, y más cómoda de lo que se había sentido en años.
🗼Y por último el carismático Dharam, un rico empresario indio, divorciado con hijos, es un invitado nuevo en el grupo, pero que termina sintiendo unos sentimientos que no está seguro, sean correspondidos hacia Benedetta. Pero cuando el matrimonio de ésta y Gregorio va camino al divorcio, y ella debe lidiar sola con la prensa, la empresa y un marido indeciso, Dharam se convierte en su puerto seguro, es un caballero leal, enamorado de Benedetta la cual tiene el corazón roto, pero que está decidido a esperarla hasta que esté completamente sana para volver a amar. Dharam es muy dulce, le contará sobre su país y la invitará a la India, mostrándole la belleza de éste país.
🗼 “Una noche mágica” cuya portada es HERMOSA no hace otra cosa que mostrarnos el glamuroso mundo de los ricos, protagonistas adinerados, y Steel nos pasea por París, Tokio, Los Ángeles, Milán, Berlín, distintas ciudades de la India. Este mundo de ricos no es otra cosa que el testimonio real de que las apariencias engañan, un claro reflejo de la alta sociedad actual.
Lectura ligera para leer en un fin de semana.
“No todo se puede imponer ni comprender. No se puede mandar en el corazón. Este quiere lo que quiere.”
🗼Como siempre me gusta leer a ésta autora porque cuando me inicié en la romántica junto a Johanna Lindsey, ésta era de las únicas autoras de romance que había en la biblioteca pública de mi ciudad. Le tengo cariño pero ésta historia ha sido plana y lo único interesante fue el tema de la Cena Blanca que yo desconocía y es a la que asisten nuestros personajes invitados por Jean-Philippe Dumas y su esposa Valerie.
🗼El libro nos presenta a dos parejas y a dos solteros: La primera es de Gregorio y su esposa Benedetta, que nunca pudieron tener hijos, dueños de una firma de moda ubicada en Milán, que se enfrenta a problemas personales y financieros; historia que puede ser muy real porque son la típica pareja que no se quiere divorciar, él es un mujeriego, que le atraen las modelos, sobre todo las jóvenes, y Benedetta procura que no asista a las pruebas de modelaje por dicho motivo, aunque se las ingenia para encontrarlas él solito. Siempre tiene alguna jovencita pendiente mientras su esposa hace la vista gorda. Pero jamás se traslucía ningún indicio de sus infidelidades cuando salían juntos. Él era un marido devoto que adoraba a su esposa, hasta que entra en escena una modelo rusa de nombre Anya que la deja embarazada de gemelos y la cosa empeora cuando la infidelidad sale a la luz y los papparazi la hacen pública afectando no solo a los protagonistas sino al negocio de la firma de modas.
🗼La segunda pareja es la que invitó, Jean-Philippe Dumas y su esposa Valerie, matrimonio joven con tres hijos pequeños a los que adoran y parecen ser la pareja perfecta hasta que una importante oferta de trabajo pone a prueba a la pareja ya que a Jean-Philippe le ofrecen mudarse a Beijing. Valerie por su parte, está dividida entre el papel de madre y coeditora de Vogue París, y se niega a perder su carrera que tanto trabajo le costó. De modo que ésto amenaza la tranquilidad de la feliz pareja
🗼Otro personaje es Chantal, viuda, guionista con tres hijos que tiene desparramados por el mundo y que ve pocas veces al año, es LA protagonista con un mensaje y una filosofía de vida y un gran desafío: enamorarse a sus 55 años de un hombre mucho más joven. Chantal está harta de ser esa persona que da todo para sus hijos y está a la altura del alto listón que le exigían; Empieza a sentir que tiene derecho a ser ella misma, a cometer errores y a ser quien le apeteciera, lo mismo que hacían sus hijos. Chantal está harta de que la maternidad fuera una calle de un solo sentido, que era lo que hasta ese momento había sido, porque en su vida se cruzará Xavier, un joven que conocerá al concluir la cena blanca y sorprende a los comensales repartiendo farolillos de papel que, una vez encendidos, suben hacia el cielo y lo llenan de color. Este hombre la hará sentirse más relajada, entera, y más cómoda de lo que se había sentido en años.
🗼Y por último el carismático Dharam, un rico empresario indio, divorciado con hijos, es un invitado nuevo en el grupo, pero que termina sintiendo unos sentimientos que no está seguro, sean correspondidos hacia Benedetta. Pero cuando el matrimonio de ésta y Gregorio va camino al divorcio, y ella debe lidiar sola con la prensa, la empresa y un marido indeciso, Dharam se convierte en su puerto seguro, es un caballero leal, enamorado de Benedetta la cual tiene el corazón roto, pero que está decidido a esperarla hasta que esté completamente sana para volver a amar. Dharam es muy dulce, le contará sobre su país y la invitará a la India, mostrándole la belleza de éste país.
🗼 “Una noche mágica” cuya portada es HERMOSA no hace otra cosa que mostrarnos el glamuroso mundo de los ricos, protagonistas adinerados, y Steel nos pasea por París, Tokio, Los Ángeles, Milán, Berlín, distintas ciudades de la India. Este mundo de ricos no es otra cosa que el testimonio real de que las apariencias engañan, un claro reflejo de la alta sociedad actual.
Lectura ligera para leer en un fin de semana.
March 14, 2019
Entretenido!
No ha sido lo que esperaba, es el primer libro que leo de Danielle después de varias recomendaciones y no me ha llenado del todo, ha sido entretenido y ágil, rápido de leer, muchos personajes, varios amigos y gente interesante que se reúnen en una conocida cena en Paris, una cena muy especial y a partir de ese momento vamos descubriendo las vidas y problemas de todos ellos, unas parejas superan las dificultades y otras no, pasa un año y vemos como ha cambiado todo. Los personajes me han parecido muy humanos, llenos de dudas, miedos y algo variables en sus sentimientos, situaciones muy de actualidad, mujeres que quieren triunfar por si mismas, mayores de 40, las relaciones de diferentes edades e hijos independientes. Muy bien descritos los lugares y costumbres. Paris, Milan, Londres, la India y China son algunas de las localizaciones. El final muy bonito, termina en el mismo lugar, pero con nuevos sueños.
Para mí aunque no ha sido una gran lectura, volveré a repetir.
No ha sido lo que esperaba, es el primer libro que leo de Danielle después de varias recomendaciones y no me ha llenado del todo, ha sido entretenido y ágil, rápido de leer, muchos personajes, varios amigos y gente interesante que se reúnen en una conocida cena en Paris, una cena muy especial y a partir de ese momento vamos descubriendo las vidas y problemas de todos ellos, unas parejas superan las dificultades y otras no, pasa un año y vemos como ha cambiado todo. Los personajes me han parecido muy humanos, llenos de dudas, miedos y algo variables en sus sentimientos, situaciones muy de actualidad, mujeres que quieren triunfar por si mismas, mayores de 40, las relaciones de diferentes edades e hijos independientes. Muy bien descritos los lugares y costumbres. Paris, Milan, Londres, la India y China son algunas de las localizaciones. El final muy bonito, termina en el mismo lugar, pero con nuevos sueños.
Para mí aunque no ha sido una gran lectura, volveré a repetir.
July 28, 2016
This was entirely too fanciful to be taken seriously. All of the "life struggles" presented were handled so much easier by these people with money than they would have been without. While I enjoy a "fantasy" novel as much as the next person, I had no sympathy for most of the characters/situations. Things are so much different when you can't travel between countries to see an injured child, or take multiple inter-continental vacations to move on from a bad marriage, or suffer marital discourse by trying to keep up an entirely superfluous way of life with a horrible job change vs changing your spending habits. I would have enjoyed this a little more one way or the other, less "real, serious" problems or more realistic people dealing with them.
August 7, 2016
This book made me wonder if I'd OD'd on Danielle Steel. The book starts with an improbable magical annual dinner and deals with a whole year in the lives of three couples till the next year's annual magical dinner. The book has a lot of gender stereotyping too. For example after Chantal's big dinner, which she cooked, the women clean the kitshen while the men play video games. I'd say I stuck with it only because I don't like to read part of a book and give up. All that I can say in its favour is that it's an easy read.
August 6, 2025
ok....its danielle steel so to complain about everything "danielle steel" is ridiculous on my part..... i was intrigued by the description about "The White Dinner".... I thought we'll THATS new.....however it was such a small part of the book mentioned only in the 1st and last chapter and the characters behind the dinner were never even mentioned.... it would have been such a great story I think.... and Why oh WHY does she always have to have the martyr-mom character who's adult children dont appreciate her and take her for granted? BECAUSE YOU RAISED THEM THAT WAY ya dumb a## that's why! I had issues too in this one because I do like a description of what the main characters look like and there was little to none. I did love the description of the places in India....it made me wish for a more in depth book by DS set in India..... but overall classic DS escapism.... 2.5 rounded up to 3 for the description of the beautiful locations in India....
October 2, 2017
Why do I need to bother myself with something I am not interested in at all????? I am reading for fun , but unfortunately there is no fun to be found in this book 😶😐
nothing seems like magic at all . Everything sounds
miserable and I just can't stand it . In other words, this Book is KILLING ME . I am really sorry to say that , but I need to admit it . I find only rubbish and nothing interesting at all . It is perhaps good book for others , but it is not written for me .
What is the point of knowing about Jean Philippe who has a trouble attempting to persuade his wife to move to another city and to utterly different culture temporarily , for he is looking for better future for his family. On the other hand, his wife doesn't want to move for the sake of her current job . (How lovely 😐)
What is the point of being aware how much Chantal feels lonely because her three children are grown up now and have their own lives . And here a handsome man who is younger than her by seventeen years seems interested her (obviously, he likes her😶 )
What is the point of knowing about how much Benedetta suffers because of her husband, the one who sleeps with other young ladies ,but still loves her by all of his heart. Suddenly, he becomes a father of two Twins from another lady ( GREAT😐) . Meanwhile, Benedetta is arranging for divorce.
To make a long story short , i need to say that I find no slight interest or fun in neither the plot nor the characters. Besides, there are a lot of repetitions of the same ideas (which I can't stand😶)
The only good thing is the white dinner, yet it lasts only ten pages or so . Then I have to struggle with theses characters and their lives (how remarkable 😐)
nothing seems like magic at all . Everything sounds
miserable and I just can't stand it . In other words, this Book is KILLING ME . I am really sorry to say that , but I need to admit it . I find only rubbish and nothing interesting at all . It is perhaps good book for others , but it is not written for me .
What is the point of knowing about Jean Philippe who has a trouble attempting to persuade his wife to move to another city and to utterly different culture temporarily , for he is looking for better future for his family. On the other hand, his wife doesn't want to move for the sake of her current job . (How lovely 😐)
What is the point of being aware how much Chantal feels lonely because her three children are grown up now and have their own lives . And here a handsome man who is younger than her by seventeen years seems interested her (obviously, he likes her😶 )
What is the point of knowing about how much Benedetta suffers because of her husband, the one who sleeps with other young ladies ,but still loves her by all of his heart. Suddenly, he becomes a father of two Twins from another lady ( GREAT😐) . Meanwhile, Benedetta is arranging for divorce.
To make a long story short , i need to say that I find no slight interest or fun in neither the plot nor the characters. Besides, there are a lot of repetitions of the same ideas (which I can't stand😶)
The only good thing is the white dinner, yet it lasts only ten pages or so . Then I have to struggle with theses characters and their lives (how remarkable 😐)
July 13, 2016
Truly magical novel! Fabulous!!! Way beyond amazing! Wonderful characters, engaging plot, fantastic entertainment, pure bliss, happiness and joy. The action takes place in the most beautiful places all over the world: Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Beijing, India, Berlin to name just a few. I recommend it to anyone looking for pleasure and escape from everyday problems.
February 27, 2017
Magic is another typical Danielle Steel summer beach read. I enjoyed reading and learning about the White Dinner in Paris. Steel introduces her readers to several individuals who attended this celebration. We follow these characters for one year! Cheered some characters and disliked some too.
July 29, 2016
Yuck! Now I remember why I am not a Danielle Steel fan.
August 14, 2016
Nothing new here -- typical Danielle Steel. An enjoyable read with a bit of a lackluster ending -- seemed like she didn't quite know how to wrap the story up. Just OK . . . 4 out of 10.
October 27, 2018
Me ha gustado más de lo que pensé me iba a gustar, y cuando lo terminé sentí que había terminado muy rápido, quería seguir leyendo más sobre los personajes.
Es una historia sencilla, con tramas individuales por cada pareja de personajes. Al ser una novela contemporánea, es muy fácil sentirse identificado con los personajes y la manera en que la autora desarrolla sus relaciones, logra que emptices con cada uno de ellos. Aunque mi favorita siempre será Chantal 💛
Es una historia sencilla, con tramas individuales por cada pareja de personajes. Al ser una novela contemporánea, es muy fácil sentirse identificado con los personajes y la manera en que la autora desarrolla sus relaciones, logra que emptices con cada uno de ellos. Aunque mi favorita siempre será Chantal 💛
March 26, 2024
um livro cheio de fofocas de gente rica 🤌🏻 é sem dúvida um livro que a minha mãe ou avó leria, totalmente fora da minha zona de conforto, mas não desgostei!
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July 20, 2016
This book did not fail to keep my attention. This might actually be one of my favorite books of Ms. Steel's! I loved the couples that she introduced and their back stories. I absolutely loved the story and idea of the White Dinner. It's magical and I absolutely enjoyed hearing about the back story of the dinner. We read (or listen to, in my case) the stories of Jean-Phillipe and Valerie, Benedetta and Gregorio, Chantal, & Dharam. Jean-Phillipe invited Chantal and Dharam to the White Dinner seperately, hoping to help them get involved and become interested in each other. That didn't happen.
A little back story, Chantal was a single mom to 3 grown children, having lost their father and her husband when her children were very young. Her children lived all across the world. Berlin, Los Angelas and Hong Kong. She meets Javier, who is quite some years younger than her and they fall in love. Only her son, who is the youngest and lives in Berlin, is happy for her and realizes that she could be lonely by being alone in Paris all the time.
Benedetta and Gregorio aren't able to have children. He has an affair with a young model and gets her pregnant. Tragedy happens with their babies, and he ends up falling in love with her. Do they make it? Read the book!
I really did enjoy the book. My fears of not being able to follow along because I have always been able to learn and remember more by reading and not listening. It was a downfall I had in high school and college when teachers would do lectures. I had to take a lot of notes. Anyways, I was able to follow along really well with the book just by listening, and I'm glad, because we take long trips frequently, and audio books will now help me pass that time!
This is a book that has very little curse words, hardly any sex scenes, and would be good for I'd say 13+.
A little back story, Chantal was a single mom to 3 grown children, having lost their father and her husband when her children were very young. Her children lived all across the world. Berlin, Los Angelas and Hong Kong. She meets Javier, who is quite some years younger than her and they fall in love. Only her son, who is the youngest and lives in Berlin, is happy for her and realizes that she could be lonely by being alone in Paris all the time.
Benedetta and Gregorio aren't able to have children. He has an affair with a young model and gets her pregnant. Tragedy happens with their babies, and he ends up falling in love with her. Do they make it? Read the book!
I really did enjoy the book. My fears of not being able to follow along because I have always been able to learn and remember more by reading and not listening. It was a downfall I had in high school and college when teachers would do lectures. I had to take a lot of notes. Anyways, I was able to follow along really well with the book just by listening, and I'm glad, because we take long trips frequently, and audio books will now help me pass that time!
This is a book that has very little curse words, hardly any sex scenes, and would be good for I'd say 13+.
August 1, 2018
edicionilustrada 01 agosto 2018
Es el segundo libro que leo de Danielle Steel, y siempre es una buena elección. Tiene una gran precisión en las descripciones, y caracteriza muy bien a los personajes. Utiliza un lenguaje muy fácil, a veces es un poco repetitiva, pero te facilita seguir la historia, y que sea una lectura ágil, divertida y ligera.
En este caso, nos traslada a Cena Blanca de París, donde conoceremos a varios personajes cada uno con sus diferentes circunstancias. Y por supuesto que Danielle me trasladó a esta noche mágica, fue como estar allí, y sentir la magia a través de la narración.
Los personajes:
Jean-Philippe y su esposa Valerie, pareja perfecta pero una inesperada propuesta de trabajo, hace que él se mude a Beijing y amenaza su tranquilidad y su relación.
Benedetta, y su esposo Gregorio. Él recibe una llamada telefónica de una amante y abandona la cena… pero aparece Dharam que la llena de atención, y la hará sonreír y que la noche sea menos apática.
Y, por último, Chantal, una guionista que acude sola, tal y como vive. Ya que actualmente sus hijos son mayores y trabajan en el extranjero. La iremos conociendo a lo largo de las páginas. Es la protagonista indiscutible.
En definitiva, es una novela altamente recomendada para quienes aman las historias bellas, para aquellos que desean investigar los sentimientos humanos y los que desean viajar a diferentes lugares del planeta a través de la narración. Steel no te decepcionará.
Es el segundo libro que leo de Danielle Steel, y siempre es una buena elección. Tiene una gran precisión en las descripciones, y caracteriza muy bien a los personajes. Utiliza un lenguaje muy fácil, a veces es un poco repetitiva, pero te facilita seguir la historia, y que sea una lectura ágil, divertida y ligera.
En este caso, nos traslada a Cena Blanca de París, donde conoceremos a varios personajes cada uno con sus diferentes circunstancias. Y por supuesto que Danielle me trasladó a esta noche mágica, fue como estar allí, y sentir la magia a través de la narración.
Los personajes:
Jean-Philippe y su esposa Valerie, pareja perfecta pero una inesperada propuesta de trabajo, hace que él se mude a Beijing y amenaza su tranquilidad y su relación.
Benedetta, y su esposo Gregorio. Él recibe una llamada telefónica de una amante y abandona la cena… pero aparece Dharam que la llena de atención, y la hará sonreír y que la noche sea menos apática.
Y, por último, Chantal, una guionista que acude sola, tal y como vive. Ya que actualmente sus hijos son mayores y trabajan en el extranjero. La iremos conociendo a lo largo de las páginas. Es la protagonista indiscutible.
En definitiva, es una novela altamente recomendada para quienes aman las historias bellas, para aquellos que desean investigar los sentimientos humanos y los que desean viajar a diferentes lugares del planeta a través de la narración. Steel no te decepcionará.
May 25, 2017
Magic is by Danielle Steele. It is a fantastic novel by such a beloved author. How she manages to come up with such new stories boggles my mine. It is definitely up to her standards and is another one you can’t put down.
The White Dinner is held each year in Paris. It is an invitation only dinner with some 8000 participants. The attire and setting is all in white. Each person brings their own chair, china, etc. It is set up very precisely and when it is over, there is no sign that it was held. On this particular night, Jean-Philippe Dumas invited his nine couples as he had done for the last ten years. Among those invited were Chantal Giverny , Benedetta and Gregorio Mariani, and Dharam Singh. With his wife, Valerie, Jean-Philippe set out to have a fantastic dinner. Little was he to know that this night set in motion a set of circumstances that would lead to complete upheaval of all their lives.
This book is definitely one of her best and one which should not be missed.
The White Dinner is held each year in Paris. It is an invitation only dinner with some 8000 participants. The attire and setting is all in white. Each person brings their own chair, china, etc. It is set up very precisely and when it is over, there is no sign that it was held. On this particular night, Jean-Philippe Dumas invited his nine couples as he had done for the last ten years. Among those invited were Chantal Giverny , Benedetta and Gregorio Mariani, and Dharam Singh. With his wife, Valerie, Jean-Philippe set out to have a fantastic dinner. Little was he to know that this night set in motion a set of circumstances that would lead to complete upheaval of all their lives.
This book is definitely one of her best and one which should not be missed.
July 25, 2016
This is the story of three couples who are at the White Dinner held in Paris. The book follows the couples thru a year to the next White Dinner. Jean-Philippe and Valerie Dumas have been married seven years and have three young children. Jean-Philippe get the chance of a lifetime to go to work in China but Valerie is on track to become editor of Vogue in Paris. Benedetta and Gregorio Mariani are from Milan and have been married for twenty years. He has a young mistress who is pregnant with twins. Chantal Giverny and Dharam Singh have been invited by Jean-Philippe but they do not click but Chantal does click with Xavier who brings lanterns to the dinner. The book was a quick easy read.
July 9, 2016
Am not a big fan of this author & picked this one up while waiting for a stack of "holds" to come in from my library. Enjoyed the premise of the White Dinner. But as the story line progressed, things sounded somewhat predictable, notably that everyone was wealthy & good looking, had a fantastic job, jetted around Europe, wore fabulous clothes, etc. I also got pretty tired of every other sentence beginning with "And". That got very tiresome. That being said, the story didn't have me stopping at page 50 and giving up. I did read the entire book, but this will probably be the last that I pick up by this author.
Read
August 4, 2016DNF.
I made it to the halfway mark when I realized I didn't have any reason to finish this book. The story no longer interested me and I didn't like any of the characters enough to care what happened to them.
I've now DNF'd the last two new DS releases. I forced myself to finish the one before that (Property of a Noblewoman). Has Steel's writing changed, or have I? The storylines don't seem as engaging and the characters seem more pretentious and self-absorbed. I don't know, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm starting to outgrow her work. I'll read the older DS titles I already own and haven't gotten to yet; I'm not sure that I'll bother to pick up her next book.
I made it to the halfway mark when I realized I didn't have any reason to finish this book. The story no longer interested me and I didn't like any of the characters enough to care what happened to them.
I've now DNF'd the last two new DS releases. I forced myself to finish the one before that (Property of a Noblewoman). Has Steel's writing changed, or have I? The storylines don't seem as engaging and the characters seem more pretentious and self-absorbed. I don't know, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm starting to outgrow her work. I'll read the older DS titles I already own and haven't gotten to yet; I'm not sure that I'll bother to pick up her next book.
Read
November 22, 2016The book starts out describing an event in Paris...called the 'White Dinner' or 'Diner en Blanc'. I googled it to see if it was for real, or just Danielle Steel's imagination. Turns out, it's for real! Looks like fun!
Another typical Danielle Steel book....quick, easy read....
Another typical Danielle Steel book....quick, easy read....
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