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Lara Cameron is a famous powerful wealthy New York building developer who struggled from brutal poverty in Glace Bay, a banker who took her body as part of her first deal, to Chicago, banker Keller whose love she takes lightly for granted. As her skyscrapers and boutique hotels tower on earth, she is at the top of a male dominated field. She lies and cheats to close a deal, making cruel enemies. She is forty, beautiful, glamorous, insecure, ruthless, vulnerable, secretly generous, rich - and still wants more. She marries an international concert pianist, the Lochinvar of her childhood dreams, but aomeone puts him in the hospital and threatens to take down her empire.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 1992
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4813 people want to read
About the author
Sidney Sheldon
401 books8,551 followersSidney Sheldon (1917-2007) was an American writer who won awards in three careers—a Broadway playwright, a Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist.
His TV works spanned a twenty-year period during which he created I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-84), and The Patty Duke Show (1963-66), but it was not until after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980) that he became most famous.
His TV works spanned a twenty-year period during which he created I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-84), and The Patty Duke Show (1963-66), but it was not until after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980) that he became most famous.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
April 27, 2016
The book can be roughly divided into 2 parts.
1st part is all about the rags to riches story about the main character, which is quite entertaining (with shades of 'Master of the Game')
2nd part is all about parties, concerts, more parties, conspiracies & a really tame ending
It could have been really great but not disappointing. A page turner. So 3 stars.
1st part is all about the rags to riches story about the main character, which is quite entertaining (with shades of 'Master of the Game')
2nd part is all about parties, concerts, more parties, conspiracies & a really tame ending
It could have been really great but not disappointing. A page turner. So 3 stars.
May 10, 2011
I promised myself not to write a review, but GR is so tempting. I'm currently sitting, waiting, waiting for the right time to stand. Imagining the high buildings, the towers and even the tallest skyscraper built in Dubai. I can't pronounce the word skyscraper, boo. A skyscraper is a tall, habitable building, no definite height as long as it gets higher and higher.
One of the most iconic and popular skyscraper built in New York was the World Trade Center. Built on 1973 and stood for 23 years after the great suicide attack forcing it to collide in full height causing thousands of deaths and millions of mourners to pray for the soul and the survivors. It was one of the worst terrorist attack happened, when the news flashed a picture of Bin Laden informing the casualties that he died when American armies entered his territory last week my cousin said that she can't forget the days that the people mourned for the 3,000 deaths including Filipinos and some foreigners.
On September 24, 2004, the tallest skyscraper was beginning to rise through the wide sky and in 2009 it was finished with great satisfaction and named as the tallest man-made skyscraper. The Burj Dubai designed by Adrian Smith and his team creating a marvelous, luxurious habitable building defeating the tallest pyramid in Asia, Great Pyramid of Giza. I'm not interested to buy a room in that building, remember the earthquakes. In 1992, Sidney Sheldon wrote his first attempt to build a skyscraper by his well-know protagonist, Lara Cameron, by writing an interesting yet claimable masterpiece as she journey through man's world, real estate.
Lara Cameron, born in Nova Scotia, her mother died in childbirth with her twin and her hopeless dad took care of her, or maybe not. She was never given any attention, no money to buy new clothes, to own things, to go to school, and secluded from other children. When her father died, she realized she have to face the future, the strength that she needed must be zipped off from her so she face her greatest challenge, to dominate man's world, real estate.
As she venture through years, meeting people, enemies and friends, losing them one by one, building skyscrapers, parks, condominiums and etc. She achieved far from what she imagined, a strong willed woman who wants to be the empress of her own kingdom as she built her structures higher and higher. But when a tragedy happened to her husband, she soon been accused causing herself to carry the weights. Can she survive in the end or another destiny that the Faiths destined to her to suffer like her father?
A very interesting and commercially written for everyone to enjoyed, not only for female but to everyone who really interested in reading a fast-paced and informative book. The beginning until the end, the book was so boring keeping you to continue reading but the near end was so shockingly interesting. Sidney Sheldon cannot missed such great writing style, pulling the readers till the end and giving twisted lines. A must read!
Rating - The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon, 4 Sweets and concrete jungle where dreams are made! (So far, I was impressed by how Sidney Sheldon wrote this book, although he doesn't have any idea and experience in playing the real estate. Kudos, and in the end friendship and love will always conquer everything. Spoiler! But still, I highly recommend his Master of the Game)
Challenges:
Book #72 for 2011
Book #44 for Off the Shelf!
One of the most iconic and popular skyscraper built in New York was the World Trade Center. Built on 1973 and stood for 23 years after the great suicide attack forcing it to collide in full height causing thousands of deaths and millions of mourners to pray for the soul and the survivors. It was one of the worst terrorist attack happened, when the news flashed a picture of Bin Laden informing the casualties that he died when American armies entered his territory last week my cousin said that she can't forget the days that the people mourned for the 3,000 deaths including Filipinos and some foreigners.
On September 24, 2004, the tallest skyscraper was beginning to rise through the wide sky and in 2009 it was finished with great satisfaction and named as the tallest man-made skyscraper. The Burj Dubai designed by Adrian Smith and his team creating a marvelous, luxurious habitable building defeating the tallest pyramid in Asia, Great Pyramid of Giza. I'm not interested to buy a room in that building, remember the earthquakes. In 1992, Sidney Sheldon wrote his first attempt to build a skyscraper by his well-know protagonist, Lara Cameron, by writing an interesting yet claimable masterpiece as she journey through man's world, real estate.
Lara Cameron, born in Nova Scotia, her mother died in childbirth with her twin and her hopeless dad took care of her, or maybe not. She was never given any attention, no money to buy new clothes, to own things, to go to school, and secluded from other children. When her father died, she realized she have to face the future, the strength that she needed must be zipped off from her so she face her greatest challenge, to dominate man's world, real estate.
As she venture through years, meeting people, enemies and friends, losing them one by one, building skyscrapers, parks, condominiums and etc. She achieved far from what she imagined, a strong willed woman who wants to be the empress of her own kingdom as she built her structures higher and higher. But when a tragedy happened to her husband, she soon been accused causing herself to carry the weights. Can she survive in the end or another destiny that the Faiths destined to her to suffer like her father?
A very interesting and commercially written for everyone to enjoyed, not only for female but to everyone who really interested in reading a fast-paced and informative book. The beginning until the end, the book was so boring keeping you to continue reading but the near end was so shockingly interesting. Sidney Sheldon cannot missed such great writing style, pulling the readers till the end and giving twisted lines. A must read!
A Hymenocallis flower showing six spokes, as pattern for the three-lobed design - Wikipedia
Rating - The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon, 4 Sweets and concrete jungle where dreams are made! (So far, I was impressed by how Sidney Sheldon wrote this book, although he doesn't have any idea and experience in playing the real estate. Kudos, and in the end friendship and love will always conquer everything. Spoiler! But still, I highly recommend his Master of the Game)
Challenges:
Book #72 for 2011
Book #44 for Off the Shelf!
July 26, 2017
Another master piece by master story teller Sidney Sheldon. 👌
Lara Cameron is youthful and excellent. Ascending from a past she looks to subdue, she accomplishes her most out of control aspiration, making a quite begrudged business domain. At that point, overnight, every one of that has gone some time recently, her fortune, her accomplishments, and her marriageeverythingis at hazard.
Paul Martin, a splendid however secretive legal advisor who is enthralled by Lara, at last is confronted with her craving for autonomy and his own impulse no to release her.
Howard Keller, Laras long-term companion and tutor, is torn between faithfulness to her and keeping up a startling mystery, one that must never be revealedespecially to Lara.
It is Philip Adler who offers Lara an energizing new world, yet at an overwhelming value that undermines to decimate them both.
From Scotland to Nova Scotia, New York to London, Rome to Reno, The Stars Shine Down is exemplary Sidney Sheldon, highlighting the startling stuns and astounding astonishments a huge number of perusers have generally expected and cherish. It is additionally a feature in a continuum of virtuoso exhibitions by the man everybody swings to for overwhelming sentiment, bluff holder tension, and the absolutely sudden.
Lara Cameron is youthful and excellent. Ascending from a past she looks to subdue, she accomplishes her most out of control aspiration, making a quite begrudged business domain. At that point, overnight, every one of that has gone some time recently, her fortune, her accomplishments, and her marriageeverythingis at hazard.
Paul Martin, a splendid however secretive legal advisor who is enthralled by Lara, at last is confronted with her craving for autonomy and his own impulse no to release her.
Howard Keller, Laras long-term companion and tutor, is torn between faithfulness to her and keeping up a startling mystery, one that must never be revealedespecially to Lara.
It is Philip Adler who offers Lara an energizing new world, yet at an overwhelming value that undermines to decimate them both.
From Scotland to Nova Scotia, New York to London, Rome to Reno, The Stars Shine Down is exemplary Sidney Sheldon, highlighting the startling stuns and astounding astonishments a huge number of perusers have generally expected and cherish. It is additionally a feature in a continuum of virtuoso exhibitions by the man everybody swings to for overwhelming sentiment, bluff holder tension, and the absolutely sudden.
October 23, 2016
Read in a day! Even though we didn't get a full closure and there were some minor inconsistencies, I loved it :)
May 19, 2023
Stunningly beautiful Lara Cameron reviews her life on her fortieth birthday. She has just lost her fame and fortune. She was the foremost and only female building developer in Chicago, then New York. Her name was plastered on the highest deluxe hotels and offices.
Born unwanted to an impoverished drunk in Glace Bay, she takes over his rent collection when he is dying. Her first banker, ugly and fat, makes her first deal dependent on having her virgin body. I almost gave up reading.
I almost quit again.
International famous pianist Philip Adler is the living picture of Lara's childhood imaginary Lochinvar, so despite nothing in common, she wants him for a husband. I foresee trouble with Paul, and am tired of her pate and champagne, private jets and hoity toity lifestyle. I skip to the end, then check back a bit.
I could have quit at the beginning.
Born unwanted to an impoverished drunk in Glace Bay, she takes over his rent collection when he is dying. Her first banker, ugly and fat, makes her first deal dependent on having her virgin body. I almost gave up reading.
I almost quit again.
International famous pianist Philip Adler is the living picture of Lara's childhood imaginary Lochinvar, so despite nothing in common, she wants him for a husband. I foresee trouble with Paul, and am tired of her pate and champagne, private jets and hoity toity lifestyle. I skip to the end, then check back a bit.
I could have quit at the beginning.
September 22, 2018
this is like an adult The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo EXCEPT this time the woman gets famous because of her ruthlessness and cleverness (she’s a real estate agent), not her hot body
but it’s a bit straighter, whiter and more sexist (it was written by a man over two decades ago)
3.75
but it’s a bit straighter, whiter and more sexist (it was written by a man over two decades ago)
3.75
October 5, 2023
4.5
یه جاهاییش غر زدم که چرا تموم نمیشه
یه جاهاییش از موفقیت زیاد و صعودی لارا حرص خوردم!
اما اعتراف میکنم که با ده صفحه آخر کتاب اشکم در اومد و با لارا احساس همدردی کردم.
پ.ن: ساعت 0:30صبح، سومین کتابم هم از سیدنی شلدون تموم شد. حالا بریم ببینیم بعدش چی میخوام بخونم:)
یه جاهاییش غر زدم که چرا تموم نمیشه
یه جاهاییش از موفقیت زیاد و صعودی لارا حرص خوردم!
اما اعتراف میکنم که با ده صفحه آخر کتاب اشکم در اومد و با لارا احساس همدردی کردم.
پ.ن: ساعت 0:30صبح، سومین کتابم هم از سیدنی شلدون تموم شد. حالا بریم ببینیم بعدش چی میخوام بخونم:)
March 11, 2018
ειναι καποιοι συγγραφεις που οτι και να γραψουν θα καταφερουν να μας αγγιξουν...δεν ξερω πως ακριβως γιντε αυτο...θα πω απλα οτι εχουμε χημεια..ενας τετοιος ειναι για μενα ο sheldon ...μπορει να γραψει ενα θεμα το οποιο να μου ειναι παντελως αδιαφορο και να καταφερει να μου το δωσει τοσο εξυπνα και με τετοιο τροπο που να θελω να μαθω τα παντα γιαυτο!για ακομα μια φορα ζωγραφισε!η αληθεια ειναι πως δεν πηγε το μυαλο μου στο ποιος ηταν ο κακος της υποθεσης και εμεινα λιγο με το στομα ανοιχτο οταν αλλον περιμενα και αλλος ηταν τελικα!αγαπω sheldon τελος
January 19, 2020
Just like Sheldon's other novels, The stars shine down is a light read, with the pages literally flying by. But apart from its utter readability, it offers little substance and even less tension than other works by Sheldon. I know Sheldon's novels are fluffy reads we consume for fun, but I still prefer more suspense and twists. This novel is pretty much a flat line - after overcoming her unfortunate beginning, Lara Cameron barely has any obstacles. And if she does encounter a hiccup here and there, it's all handled efficiently, usually by telephoning the deus ex machina, Paul Martin. The main intrigue kicks in relatively late in the novel and by that time we all suspect what's going on.
In terms of rating, this book would ideally be a 2.5 stars. Even though it's better than A stranger in the mirror in several aspects, it's still doesn't top The naked face .
In terms of rating, this book would ideally be a 2.5 stars. Even though it's better than A stranger in the mirror in several aspects, it's still doesn't top The naked face .
October 30, 2020
Imi plac cărțile lui Sheldon de fel, dar asta nu a fost deloc wow. Atât de tare m a enervat povestea încât imi venea sa dau cu ea de pereti.
Pentru ca stiu cum stau lucrurile în imobiliare, detaliile din spatele poveștii nu au fost ceva nou, poate un pic prea mult, dar na, despre asta e vb in carte până la urmă.
Romanul se citeste rapid, e plin de dialog iar lucrurile decurg alert, dar chiar si asa nu m-a cucerit.
Personajul principal a fost de a dreptul infect. S-a vrut a fi un model de "uite cum poti face bani din nimic, dacă ești ambitios" dar s-a uitat de zicala " a NU calca pe cadavre". Egoistă, avara, perfidă, mincinoasă... toate la un loc. Dpmdv, Lara a încălcat toate normele etice la care țin, asa ca n-am agreat-o absolut deloc. Consider că pentru a fi un om in adevarul sens al cuvântului, e nevoie de mai mult.
A, a fost o chestie misogina la început când se expune faptul că o femeie nu poate sa-si deschidă drumul decât cu desfacutul picioarelor... asta m-a dezgustat teribil. Din clipa aia parca mi-a dispărut toată plăcerea de a citi. În fine.
O carte scrisă bine, destul de antrenanta, cu un subiect interesant, dar nu pe gustul meu. Ii dau 2 stele.
Pentru ca stiu cum stau lucrurile în imobiliare, detaliile din spatele poveștii nu au fost ceva nou, poate un pic prea mult, dar na, despre asta e vb in carte până la urmă.
Romanul se citeste rapid, e plin de dialog iar lucrurile decurg alert, dar chiar si asa nu m-a cucerit.
Personajul principal a fost de a dreptul infect. S-a vrut a fi un model de "uite cum poti face bani din nimic, dacă ești ambitios" dar s-a uitat de zicala " a NU calca pe cadavre". Egoistă, avara, perfidă, mincinoasă... toate la un loc. Dpmdv, Lara a încălcat toate normele etice la care țin, asa ca n-am agreat-o absolut deloc. Consider că pentru a fi un om in adevarul sens al cuvântului, e nevoie de mai mult.
A, a fost o chestie misogina la început când se expune faptul că o femeie nu poate sa-si deschidă drumul decât cu desfacutul picioarelor... asta m-a dezgustat teribil. Din clipa aia parca mi-a dispărut toată plăcerea de a citi. În fine.
O carte scrisă bine, destul de antrenanta, cu un subiect interesant, dar nu pe gustul meu. Ii dau 2 stele.
July 24, 2020
U poređenju sa drugim Šeldonovim knjigama, ova je bila prosečna. Ne počinje nizom isprekidanih scena i nije bilo iznenađujućih elemenata - priče su bile predvidljive. Svideo mi se završetak. Sve u svemu: lepa, lagana knjiga za čitanje.
"Ti stvaraš svojim rukama. Ja stvaram svojim umom."
March 6, 2017
یکی از محرک های من در دوران نوجوانی که باعث علاقه ام به معماری شد
February 7, 2021
A strong beginning that became weaker by the page, with a very weak ending. Not enough depth in my opinion. It had potential, but the story, somehow, remained superficial...
May 26, 2025
"Who flies high, falls low" perfectly describes this book and all the twists and turns that happen to the main character. Her attitude towards work and her overnight huge success are a little unrealistically described, but still hold the reader's attention. Overall, everything fits well together with the happenings in the story.
October 11, 2013
THIS BOOK ROCKS. I can't think of any good words to say about this book actually - it is indescribable.
Okay, I shall go on to explain why.
Lara Cameron is born with a jack-ass of a father who refuses to acknowledge her in his life, calling her a "jinx" creating all sorts of problems for her. What made matters worse is that her mother had died giving birth to her, which added to all the tension. As a result, Lara grew up without a mother's love AND a father's love, being outcast by the students in her school who liked to bully her upon knowing she does not have any parents. Her father works at a boarding house in which he needs to collect rents from the tenants and return to the landlord at the end of the month. The boarding house is where Lara starts to become more independent - while her father nearly died (unfortunately in a bad way) resting in a hospital, Lara was the one who went around to help collect dues owed and replaced her father's position. This impressed the landlord however, he was a bastard who intend to take advantage of Lara.
Fast forward, Lara became an impressive owner of hotels and she managed to make her mark in a man's dominated field - real estate. The put downs and humiliation by the men she had come across had not stopped her determination to succeed. What is inspiring about this novel is that a woman's inner strength is so strong that others can't help but stop to admire and respect her.
I feel that Lara has many good and strong points. Firstly, though she has a stoic stone cold woman facade, beneath all that lies a gold heart. This is evident in how she treats her employees as though they are her family - a family she could never have, properly.
I am glad she finally found her happily ever after with the pianist.
The Stars Shine Down truly deserve an accolade.
Okay, I shall go on to explain why.
Lara Cameron is born with a jack-ass of a father who refuses to acknowledge her in his life, calling her a "jinx" creating all sorts of problems for her. What made matters worse is that her mother had died giving birth to her, which added to all the tension. As a result, Lara grew up without a mother's love AND a father's love, being outcast by the students in her school who liked to bully her upon knowing she does not have any parents. Her father works at a boarding house in which he needs to collect rents from the tenants and return to the landlord at the end of the month. The boarding house is where Lara starts to become more independent - while her father nearly died (unfortunately in a bad way) resting in a hospital, Lara was the one who went around to help collect dues owed and replaced her father's position. This impressed the landlord however, he was a bastard who intend to take advantage of Lara.
Fast forward, Lara became an impressive owner of hotels and she managed to make her mark in a man's dominated field - real estate. The put downs and humiliation by the men she had come across had not stopped her determination to succeed. What is inspiring about this novel is that a woman's inner strength is so strong that others can't help but stop to admire and respect her.
I feel that Lara has many good and strong points. Firstly, though she has a stoic stone cold woman facade, beneath all that lies a gold heart. This is evident in how she treats her employees as though they are her family - a family she could never have, properly.
I am glad she finally found her happily ever after with the pianist.
The Stars Shine Down truly deserve an accolade.
July 24, 2012
The Stars Shine Down is the story of Lara Cameron, a self-made billionaire who had dominated the world of real estate—which, according to the book, is mostly dominated by men, as portrayed in other characters used in the story. My opinions on different aspects of the story vary as follows:
1.) The story of Lara being from rags to riches sounds a little impossible, more like a fairy-tale-type of story. But it's Sidney's story, so I give him that right to tell his story and develop characters any way he wanted to.
2.) In this story, Sidney had proven himself once again as a "Wizard of Words." As a writer myself, I admire authors who can actually write detailed sex scenes without being too vulgar. Sheldon did that with his metaphor with the act of having sex to the storm and the buildings, as well as the curtains and ripples and shadows. 100 stars for that!
3.) Relating the title to some scenes in the story somehow—as silly as it may sound—gave me tears. This is the only book that had done that to me, Sheldon being the only author. "The stars shine down and watch us live our little lives and weep for us..."
4.) Some twists in the story were like fallacies. But that's an element in thriller and suspense writing, innit?
4.) The ending somehow didn't leave a lasting impression to me. Or perhaps, I've expected something similar to Sidney's "The Other Side Of Midnight." It's good though that Sidney made this one less tragic.
I'd still give Sheldon 5 stars for this novel. He's a wizard of words. I like his prose. Fantastic author. He's the only author whose genre I despise yet can still entice me to read up to the very last page.
1.) The story of Lara being from rags to riches sounds a little impossible, more like a fairy-tale-type of story. But it's Sidney's story, so I give him that right to tell his story and develop characters any way he wanted to.
2.) In this story, Sidney had proven himself once again as a "Wizard of Words." As a writer myself, I admire authors who can actually write detailed sex scenes without being too vulgar. Sheldon did that with his metaphor with the act of having sex to the storm and the buildings, as well as the curtains and ripples and shadows. 100 stars for that!
3.) Relating the title to some scenes in the story somehow—as silly as it may sound—gave me tears. This is the only book that had done that to me, Sheldon being the only author. "The stars shine down and watch us live our little lives and weep for us..."
4.) Some twists in the story were like fallacies. But that's an element in thriller and suspense writing, innit?
4.) The ending somehow didn't leave a lasting impression to me. Or perhaps, I've expected something similar to Sidney's "The Other Side Of Midnight." It's good though that Sidney made this one less tragic.
I'd still give Sheldon 5 stars for this novel. He's a wizard of words. I like his prose. Fantastic author. He's the only author whose genre I despise yet can still entice me to read up to the very last page.
September 22, 2007
Dreadful. Simply dreadful. While I can admit to taking pleasure from some of Sheldon's frothy soap style novels, this one takes the genre to new lows.
It's the usual beautiful woman who claws her way to the top amongst intrigue and sexual discrimination. There's the love interest, also heavily endowed with wealth and talent (of course...)and the disasters and calamities that befall them as they try valiantly to stay together.
It's paint by numbers, at best...
It's the usual beautiful woman who claws her way to the top amongst intrigue and sexual discrimination. There's the love interest, also heavily endowed with wealth and talent (of course...)and the disasters and calamities that befall them as they try valiantly to stay together.
It's paint by numbers, at best...
August 15, 2023
The usual ride on the fast lane. Super fast, entertaining and a straight arrow.
This was one of later books. It's quite entertaining and a very easy read. Lara must've been a shock when it was published. A strong willed woman when it comes to work and an utterly vulnerable moth when it comes to personal feelings; wonder how many would be offended by her nowadays.
There wasn't mush to think about. But I saw a little restrictive nature to his writings. Compared to his early, no barriers style, this felt a bit suppressed. There were some pretty cool godfather vibes. The chopped off penis was as wonderful as gutting from navel to throat.
I was a bit tired of all the high class glamour; the Diors, the Jets, the penthouses and the Limos. But I guess it's quite essential. The cut throat corporate race, enemies and friends, schemes and plots were quite alright too. But I seriously think Sidney could have taken the box of dirt to a different level.
However, no harm done. As I already said, it was very very entertaining.
Book #36 of 2023.
Sidney Sheldon - Book#07
This was one of later books. It's quite entertaining and a very easy read. Lara must've been a shock when it was published. A strong willed woman when it comes to work and an utterly vulnerable moth when it comes to personal feelings; wonder how many would be offended by her nowadays.
There wasn't mush to think about. But I saw a little restrictive nature to his writings. Compared to his early, no barriers style, this felt a bit suppressed. There were some pretty cool godfather vibes. The chopped off penis was as wonderful as gutting from navel to throat.
I was a bit tired of all the high class glamour; the Diors, the Jets, the penthouses and the Limos. But I guess it's quite essential. The cut throat corporate race, enemies and friends, schemes and plots were quite alright too. But I seriously think Sidney could have taken the box of dirt to a different level.
However, no harm done. As I already said, it was very very entertaining.
Book #36 of 2023.
Sidney Sheldon - Book#07
April 23, 2015
One of the reasons why I like Shidney Sheldon's books is because he usually has strong women protagonist and this book did too. The book is about a successful real estate businesswomen Lara. The book begins with an epilogue where Lara is going to celebrate her 40th birthday in the highest building of the United States, built by her. The story portrays Lara as a firm, nononsense ambitious woman who does "anything" to get her job done. Like the usual Shidney Sheldon stories, the protagonist faces difficult situations, connects with the Mafia, becomes ridiculously rich, makes friends and enemies too. I liked how the author portrayed the background story of prime characters and described Lara's success vividly.Compared to other books, by Sheldon, this was an average one. There were no surprising elements- the stories were kind of predictable. I liked the ending of the story. Overall, a nice, light book to read.
April 17, 2009
Boring and unoriginal. I don't even know why I read this book. I almost slept through the whole thing.
I kept on reading, thinking something exciting was going to happen - a wonderful 'Sidney Sheldon Twist' - but was terribly disappointed.
Concluding here... skip the book... only thing you'll lose is nothing.
I kept on reading, thinking something exciting was going to happen - a wonderful 'Sidney Sheldon Twist' - but was terribly disappointed.
Concluding here... skip the book... only thing you'll lose is nothing.
February 22, 2022
A rags to riches story. Good in some parts but predictable in some.
I find Sheldon's depiction of a strong, independent woman problematic, why does she have to be so cutthroat in some instances? ...and throw in an affair with a married man to show how free she is. A married man that she hotly pursues, at that.
No, thanks.
Sheldon's writing is easy to read but also very surface level and that includes his characters - we never get to know them deeply and even when we get a glimpse into their thoughts, it's just that, a glimpse. They just have passing, sentence long thoughts about what's happening, they are never shown to think long and hard about things... All for plot's sake, "the story must keep going, no time to dwell on what they're thinking".
It could have been told better.
I find Sheldon's depiction of a strong, independent woman problematic, why does she have to be so cutthroat in some instances? ...and throw in an affair with a married man to show how free she is. A married man that she hotly pursues, at that.
No, thanks.
Sheldon's writing is easy to read but also very surface level and that includes his characters - we never get to know them deeply and even when we get a glimpse into their thoughts, it's just that, a glimpse. They just have passing, sentence long thoughts about what's happening, they are never shown to think long and hard about things... All for plot's sake, "the story must keep going, no time to dwell on what they're thinking".
It could have been told better.
March 19, 2021
titular sentence:
p174: The stars were shining down, lighting the dark hills surrounding the Bowl.
ocr:
p21: James Cameron was in a whorehouse, drunk, the night his daughter and son were bom.
p40: "J thought I explained..."
p163: / missed you.
p169: / create with my mind.
p224: "Lara, 1 just received a call from the Gaming Commission in Reno," the attorney said.
Sidney has returned to his roots, roots that made his name. And I was ready to sing his praises back in The Doomsday Conspiracy.
I remember some early parts--I must have read a few parts back in college.
I thought a few plot points were not satisfactorily resolved but I don't really care.
p174: The stars were shining down, lighting the dark hills surrounding the Bowl.
ocr:
p21: James Cameron was in a whorehouse, drunk, the night his daughter and son were bom.
p40: "J thought I explained..."
p163: / missed you.
p169: / create with my mind.
p224: "Lara, 1 just received a call from the Gaming Commission in Reno," the attorney said.
Sidney has returned to his roots, roots that made his name. And I was ready to sing his praises back in The Doomsday Conspiracy.
I remember some early parts--I must have read a few parts back in college.
I thought a few plot points were not satisfactorily resolved but I don't really care.
March 13, 2024
Recomiendo mucho este libro. Lo leí hace tiempo, pero me gusto y me enseño mucho.
Lo imposible solo existe en nuestra mente. Y si, Maquiavelo a veces se le puede dar la razón, cuando el fin es lo más deseado los medios se pueden pasar por alto...
Lo imposible solo existe en nuestra mente. Y si, Maquiavelo a veces se le puede dar la razón, cuando el fin es lo más deseado los medios se pueden pasar por alto...
April 19, 2018
Pessimo, letture inglesi del periodo irlandese per migliorare la comprensione dell'inglese.
Very easy but very silly
Very easy but very silly
January 5, 2023
Sidney Sheldon is always one of my favorite authors, and The Stars Shine Down is another masterpiece by "the top-10 best-selling fiction writers of all time".
However, The Stars Shine Down didn't win my heart.
Lara Cameron is one of Sidney Sheldon's motif main girls, she shares many similarities with Kate (Master of the Game), Paige Taylor (Nothing Last Forever), Tracy (If Tomorrow Comes) or Jennifer Parker (Rage of Angels). Lara had a tough childhood when her mother and her male twin died during their birth and her Scottish father, who collected rents for boarding houses, didn't want her, as she admitted that "it was difficult for her to express her emotions. Her father had ridiculed her when she had tried".
Lara experienced kind of the same past with Tracy (If Tomorrow Comes) when she had to have sex by forced, but Tracy was raped, when Lara made a contract with Sean MacAllister by her virgin body. I think that is the big reason why Lara is petty, vindictive, savvy more than any Sidney Sheldon's main girls. Lara is smart, but she couldn't have what she wanted in the first place if her life didn't revolve around Charles Cohn, Howard Keller, Paul Martin. For me, reading Lara's story was like reading an amazing story of a beautiful villain.
First part, I thought Sidney would give Charles Cohn more land because the relationship between Lara and Cohn sounds quite similar to Paige Taylor and Dr. Benjamin's, or as least he should be someone who can save her in the end, bringing some warm stories like what happened in Nothing Last Forever, but it didn't happen. He just shined for one moment in her life, like a chess piece and nothing. I wanted to read more about him.
Howard Keller, Sidney gave Howard Keller a small story telling about his young life, he also had a tough life like Lara did. But Howard Keller didn't actually even have a happy moment because every guy who met Lara would be obsessed with her, and Keller did, too. He was loyal, working hard until he was losing his memories, and finally committed crimes because of Lara. Howard had always been Lara's advisor, telling her what to do but he was too loyal to stop her making foolish decision. It was always Lara ignored his advice, then something happened, and she would be "All right. Then do it" (page 185, she put more homeless people inside the building and kicked them out, not being sorry to them).
In my opinion, this ending for Howard Keller didn't sound like a twist, it was just so suddenly, so wasteful and Keller didn't sound like a mad guy who lost his mind to be fail in jealousy trap. I wonder if he was so mad with her change (page 103, "Don't ever change, Lara" She looked at him hard "I won't")
If Sidney wrote more about his feeling and his thoughts, we might find the answer. I think Howard Keller deserved more.
Paul Martin was my favorite character; he might deserve to be betrayed by Lara in the end, but if it was not because of her foolish and selfishness, maybe he was still "very much married" with his wife and did not cheat on her. Lara excused " she had never been in love with him and going to bed with him had been easy - the payment for all he had done for her". That was not true, going to bed with him was not the payment because Lara was obsessed with Paul, and herself too. She loved herself too much that couldn't deny the fact that a man refuses her, and she tried her best to gain Paul's attention. And when she had to face Paul as her biggest enemy, she thought he went mad at her because he became old. Everything was about herself and her "narcissistic personality disorder".
One more thing I didn't like is, Lara sounded like a good boss by "her employees were her family. She worried about them and was generous with them". But her action proved the opposite. She fired Marian for being nice with her husband, when she asked her to do it. She doesn't sound like a good boss to Kathy too when scared her at the same time. What she did to her tenants, employees etc., was absolutely unforgivable.
In the end, she still had 40 people celebrating her birthday, instead of 200 people as her expectation. I was moved at the part "I haven't lost everything after all. I'll spend the rest of my life making up to him (Philip)... I don't need anything else"
And then, she failed me again by stopping the car and explained to Philip her plan of buying a shopping mall. In my imagination, if the story continues, Philip will not be a teacher and will be the second Howard Keller and work for her. Who knows.
However, The Stars Shine Down didn't win my heart.
Lara Cameron is one of Sidney Sheldon's motif main girls, she shares many similarities with Kate (Master of the Game), Paige Taylor (Nothing Last Forever), Tracy (If Tomorrow Comes) or Jennifer Parker (Rage of Angels). Lara had a tough childhood when her mother and her male twin died during their birth and her Scottish father, who collected rents for boarding houses, didn't want her, as she admitted that "it was difficult for her to express her emotions. Her father had ridiculed her when she had tried".
Lara experienced kind of the same past with Tracy (If Tomorrow Comes) when she had to have sex by forced, but Tracy was raped, when Lara made a contract with Sean MacAllister by her virgin body. I think that is the big reason why Lara is petty, vindictive, savvy more than any Sidney Sheldon's main girls. Lara is smart, but she couldn't have what she wanted in the first place if her life didn't revolve around Charles Cohn, Howard Keller, Paul Martin. For me, reading Lara's story was like reading an amazing story of a beautiful villain.
First part, I thought Sidney would give Charles Cohn more land because the relationship between Lara and Cohn sounds quite similar to Paige Taylor and Dr. Benjamin's, or as least he should be someone who can save her in the end, bringing some warm stories like what happened in Nothing Last Forever, but it didn't happen. He just shined for one moment in her life, like a chess piece and nothing. I wanted to read more about him.
Howard Keller, Sidney gave Howard Keller a small story telling about his young life, he also had a tough life like Lara did. But Howard Keller didn't actually even have a happy moment because every guy who met Lara would be obsessed with her, and Keller did, too. He was loyal, working hard until he was losing his memories, and finally committed crimes because of Lara. Howard had always been Lara's advisor, telling her what to do but he was too loyal to stop her making foolish decision. It was always Lara ignored his advice, then something happened, and she would be "All right. Then do it" (page 185, she put more homeless people inside the building and kicked them out, not being sorry to them).
In my opinion, this ending for Howard Keller didn't sound like a twist, it was just so suddenly, so wasteful and Keller didn't sound like a mad guy who lost his mind to be fail in jealousy trap. I wonder if he was so mad with her change (page 103, "Don't ever change, Lara" She looked at him hard "I won't")
If Sidney wrote more about his feeling and his thoughts, we might find the answer. I think Howard Keller deserved more.
Paul Martin was my favorite character; he might deserve to be betrayed by Lara in the end, but if it was not because of her foolish and selfishness, maybe he was still "very much married" with his wife and did not cheat on her. Lara excused " she had never been in love with him and going to bed with him had been easy - the payment for all he had done for her". That was not true, going to bed with him was not the payment because Lara was obsessed with Paul, and herself too. She loved herself too much that couldn't deny the fact that a man refuses her, and she tried her best to gain Paul's attention. And when she had to face Paul as her biggest enemy, she thought he went mad at her because he became old. Everything was about herself and her "narcissistic personality disorder".
One more thing I didn't like is, Lara sounded like a good boss by "her employees were her family. She worried about them and was generous with them". But her action proved the opposite. She fired Marian for being nice with her husband, when she asked her to do it. She doesn't sound like a good boss to Kathy too when scared her at the same time. What she did to her tenants, employees etc., was absolutely unforgivable.
In the end, she still had 40 people celebrating her birthday, instead of 200 people as her expectation. I was moved at the part "I haven't lost everything after all. I'll spend the rest of my life making up to him (Philip)... I don't need anything else"
And then, she failed me again by stopping the car and explained to Philip her plan of buying a shopping mall. In my imagination, if the story continues, Philip will not be a teacher and will be the second Howard Keller and work for her. Who knows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2021
Lara nép mình trong vòng tay chồng, cố nén để khỏi oà khóc. Và nàng thầm nghĩ: mình đã đang ở nhà. Đây mới là vị trí của mình. Trong lòng nàng trào lên một cảm giác nồng ấm diệu kỳ và thanh thản. Chàng ôm chặt vợ trong vòng tay và Lara cảm thấy thân thể chàng nóng hổi. Đây mới là điều đáng giá nhất, nàng thầm nghĩ.
Câu chuyện này khá nhẹ nhàng, không có những màn đuổi giết vì lí do chính trị như vài cuốn khác của đại ca Sheldon 😁 Cái kết có hậu dành cho Lara, người phụ nữ tuyệt vời đã luôn nỗ lực, không bao giờ ngừng cố gắng để đạt được những thành công rực rỡ trong đời. Và cuốn này cũng đặc biệt ít cảnh nóng nữa haha 🤣
-----
Btw, bạn nào muốn mua sách đẹp với giá hợp lý thì ghé page mình xem nha :")
facebook.com/hieusachcuaGaby ❤
Câu chuyện này khá nhẹ nhàng, không có những màn đuổi giết vì lí do chính trị như vài cuốn khác của đại ca Sheldon 😁 Cái kết có hậu dành cho Lara, người phụ nữ tuyệt vời đã luôn nỗ lực, không bao giờ ngừng cố gắng để đạt được những thành công rực rỡ trong đời. Và cuốn này cũng đặc biệt ít cảnh nóng nữa haha 🤣
-----
Btw, bạn nào muốn mua sách đẹp với giá hợp lý thì ghé page mình xem nha :")
facebook.com/hieusachcuaGaby ❤
June 22, 2023
An oldie but goodie! Have forgotten what good stories Sidney Sheldon has written.
Book has a strong female character whose over the top ambitions get her in trouble.
Book has a strong female character whose over the top ambitions get her in trouble.
November 2, 2024
Couldn't put it down. Lara's character has such a strong yet nuanced personality.
April 2, 2020
A not so good looking girl in teenage turns into a heartthrob of men in just a couple of years, the rags to riches story, enemies, conspiracies, an intense love story..... this is a typical Sidney Sheldon book except for the twists and turns which are nowhere to be seen. There is not much in the story. Unlike the female protagonists in other books, this one is not a figure of admiration. She sells her morals to go up.
When I read other Sheldon's books, I acquired some knowledge of the place or the profession that the characters are into. But, this book has complete disconnection. Basically you don't need brains to read this. (I finished 450 pages in two days).
When I read other Sheldon's books, I acquired some knowledge of the place or the profession that the characters are into. But, this book has complete disconnection. Basically you don't need brains to read this. (I finished 450 pages in two days).
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