Average customer rating:
- Danielle Steel is THE BEST
- Excellent, until a too sudden, too sugarcoated ending!
- Sisters
- Too Fluffy too perfect !!!
- Should have been a short story - not a novel
|
Sisters
Danielle Steel
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Sisters
| Women's Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
H.R.H.
-
Bungalow 2
-
Coming Out
-
Family Tree
-
I Heard That Song Before: A Novel
ASIN: 0385340222
Release Date: 2007-02-13 |
Book Description
Four sisters, a Manhattan brownstone, and a tumultuous year of loss and courage are at the heart of Danielle Steel’s new novel about a remarkable family, a stunning tragedy—and what happens when four very different young women come together under one very lively roof.
Candy–it’s the only name she needs—is blazing her way through Paris, New York, and Tokyo as fashion’s latest international supermodel. . . .
Her sister Tammy has a job producing the most successful hit show on TV, and a home she loves in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills. . . . In New York, oldest sister Sabrina is an ambitious young lawyer, while Annie is an American artist in Florence, living for her art. . . . On one Fourth of July weekend, as they do every year, the four sisters come home to Connecticut for their family’s annual gathering. But before the holiday is over, tragedy strikes and their world is utterly changed.
Suddenly, four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives—on opposite sides of the world—reunite to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and their father, and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. Thus begins an unscripted chapter of their lives, as a bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends, men . . . and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, they are forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. As the year passes and another July Fourth approaches, a season of grief and change gives way to new beginnings—as a family comes together to share its blessings and a future filled with surprises and, ultimately, hope.
With unerring insight and compassion, Danielle Steel tells a compelling story of four sisters who love and laugh, struggle and triumph . . . and are irrevocably woven into the fabric of each other’s lives. Brilliantly blending humor and heartbreak, she delivers a powerful message about the fragility–and the wonder—of life.
Customer Reviews:
Danielle Steel is THE BEST.......2007-10-07
My mom and I have been reading Danielle Steel for years and years. We collect all her books. Her stories take you all over the world. She has lived(in real life) in many different parts of the world. And her stories make you feel, as though, you have been there too! And the way she describes her characters in her stories, make you feel as though, you personally know the person. Her books are ones, that you don`t want to put down. You want to finish the story, so you can start another one of her books.She has a new book due out in February 2008. Mom and I can`t wait to read this one!!!!!
Excellent, until a too sudden, too sugarcoated ending!.......2007-09-14
In Danielle Steel's latest novel "Sisters", the story starts out with the usual trademark fairytale quality.
Four sisters with highly successful and interesting careers, are scattered around the world; New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Florence. Hardly your average bunch of ordinary lives.
But that's the beginning. The surface. The setting. Until tragedy strikes and man's vulnerability cuts through whatever glamourous lifestyles the sisters may seemingly enjoy.
Life is turned upside down. Reality is as unexpected, harsh and as far from a fairytale as can be. The best part of the book describes the developments straight forward, honest and with much warmth and insight.
That a happy ending awaits, is Danielle Steel's trademark. However, the way tragedy all too quickly literary turns into happiness is a bit too easy to give the story balance. The pieces of the puzzle fall into place so fast and conveniently for all the family members that the situation is hard to fathom even for the most soft-hearted.
Tragedies ARE overcome but usually it takes time and hardship to build up a new future.
This book could actually have been longer. A more natural development of the situation and not the lightening quick wrapping up of loose ends during the last fifty pages or so, would have given the story more credibility.
Happy solutions are nice, but the turning of events in "Sisters" is simply too sweet and sudden even for a fairytale.
Sisters.......2007-09-06
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Being one of three sisters I could definatly understand the sisters.
Too Fluffy too perfect !!!.......2007-08-28
Although I did enjoy this book, I found the characters too perfect. The relationships between the sisters seemed too false. All the sisters were beautiful, with great jobs, and would do anything for each other, and they hardly ever had a fight, blah, blah,blah. Most sisters do not get to live like the girls in this fluffy type fairytale.
Should have been a short story - not a novel.......2007-08-20
I have not read DS in many years and now I remember why. This book repeated the same ideas and even the same phrases so often it was annoying. She could have written this book in just a few pages and not missed anything important. I anticipated the predictable story ie. tragedy, depression, find a man fall in love, live happily every after. The rape story seemed thrown in and was all wrapped up too quickly to add anything interesting to the story.
Average customer rating:
- Looooooong winded drivel
- A Must Miss
- Worst Danielle Steel Book I've Ever Read
- The Queen of Fairytales!
- Great book
|
H.R.H.
Danielle Steel
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Sisters
-
Coming Out
-
Bungalow 2
-
The House
-
Villa, La
ASIN: 0385338295
Release Date: 2006-10-31 |
Book Description
In a novel where ancient traditions conflict with reality and the pressures of modern life, a young European princess proves that simplicity, courage, and dignity win the day and forever alter her world.
In blue jeans and a pullover, Princess Christianna is a young woman of her times: born in Europe, educated in America, worried about the future of the world she lives in, responsible beyond her years. Christianna is the only daughter of the Reigning Prince of a European nation that takes its royalty seriously–and her father has ironclad plans for Christianna’s life, a burden that is almost unbearable.
Now, after four years at Berkeley, life in her father’s palace cannot distract Christianna from what she sees outside the kingdom–the suffering of children, the ravages of terrorism and disease. Determined to make a difference in the world, she persuades His Royal Highness, her father, to let her volunteer for the Red Cross in East Africa. And for Christianna, a journey of discovery, change, and awakening begins.
Under a searing East African sun, Christianna plunges into the dusty, bustling life of an international relief camp, finding a passion and a calling among the brave doctors and volunteers. Finally free from the scrutiny of her royal life, Christianna struggles to keep her identity a secret from her new friends and coworkers–even from Parker Williams, the young doctor from Doctors Without Borders who works alongside Christianna and shares her dedication to healing. But as violence approaches and invades the camp, and the pressures of her royal life beckon her home, Christianna’s struggle for freedom takes an extraordinary turn. By a simple twist of fate, in one shocking moment, Christianna’s life is changed forever–in ways she never could have foreseen.
From the splendor of a prince’s palace to the chaos of war-torn nations, Danielle Steel takes us into fascinating new worlds. Filled with unforgettable images and a remarkable cast of characters,
H.R.H. is a novel of the conflict between old and new worlds, responsibility versus freedom, and duty versus love.
Customer Reviews:
Looooooong winded drivel.......2007-10-19
I love reading, and I actually like Mrs Steels' books very much. So when I saw this book in the local supermarket, I happily grabbed it.
What a disappointment! I should have read the reviews first and saved the money... what a horrible piece of drivel. As other readers said, it's repetitive, boring, and long winded. The Royal Highness is altogether too perfect, if I ever met such a person in real life I'd scream! After the umtieth description of her boredom and what was requiered of her, I wanted to yell "Yes I KNOW, get on with it!"
And when she finally did get on with it, things didn't get better....... my advice is don't waste your money on this book, borrow it from the library instead.
A Must Miss.......2007-10-16
1-star is even too highly rated. This book was redundant and boring through and through. The heroine was completely unsympathetic, selfish, and at the risk of being redundant myself, b.o.r.i.n.g. She laments repeatedly "for the first time in my life... I just want blah blah blah", and yet she had ample freedoms and even spent 4 years away at college in Berkley. She manipulates her father, snivels and pouts when she doesn't get her way, and in general is the most single dimensional character I've encountered to date. The global settings were as pale and superficial as Christianna herself, yet another missed opportunity to develop something here. Characters and plotlines appear and disappear, leaving the reader disappointed and bewildered. Maybe Ms. Steele is off her game here, but the constant repeating of major plot points leaves me to wonder if she simply "copy and pasted" to fill in enough pages for her publisher. And where is the editor to allow this undeserving and undeveloped story past and actually in to print? Inconsistent, shallow, and utterly forgettable.
Worst Danielle Steel Book I've Ever Read.......2007-10-10
I've read many of her books and most were great if not just very good, but if I hadn't known she was the author I would have never thought this was her work. After about the first 50 pages I wanted to scream "I get it already!!" She just kept repeating the same things over and over. And Christianna was unbelievably just too perfect! Bottom line--VERY BORING read.
The Queen of Fairytales!.......2007-09-14
Once upon a time there was a young princess in a small European country. Princess Christianna was beautiful, kind and intelligent, he perfect escort for her widowed father, Prince Hans Josef, at his numerous official functions. In spite of her youth, Princess Christianna as the First Lady of her country, did her duty with style, warmth and elegance. Dressed exquisitely, she opened hospitals and libraries. Visited old peoples' homes. She cut ribbons, held speeches and received bouquets of flowers.
But, in truth, the Princess loved far more to play in the mud with her dog Charles, wearing jeans and no makeup. She longed to do something more worthwile than parading in couture clothes and looking lovely.
Christianna had a gift. A gift which led her to join The International Red Cross as a voluntary aid and choose an entirely different path in life than the one she had been born to.
I leave the rest to the reader. And it is an interesting read. Danielle Steel knows her facts both politically and socially. The Internatilnal Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. She takes us far away from the splendeour of the royal castle in Vaduz and glamourous couture ball gowns.
Christianna does not look for love. Neither is there a prince travelling with a glass shoe searching for the one it will fit. But as in all fairytales there is love. And as in all fairytales involving a royal princess, there are obstacles.
Is it unfair to new readers to reveal that they lived happily ever after? I don't think so. At least not to faithful Danielle Steel fans. All fairytales have a happy ending. This one is no exception.
Danielle Steel has created a whole new literary genre with her authorship - well writen, intelligent fairytales for grownups. As such she is a master. As such she deserves her five stars.
A critic once called Danielle Steel a literary pheomenon. And she certainly is.
Great book.......2007-07-14
Another wonderful book, this one was a lot more adventurous than some of her others. I think it is a must read.
Book Description
This best-selling real estate book delivers the proven formula for creating a fast-track career and higher profits in real estate. Discover the trade secrets to building lifelong customers and gaining market share from the first-hand experience of one of real estate's most highly regarded professionals. In her dynamic style, Danielle explains how technology will not replace the value of an agent but, instead, has increased the demand for personalized selling. Seize the opportunity to set in motion these NEW basics to your success in real estate.
Customer Reviews:
How to List and Sell Real Estate.......2007-07-15
Absolutely the best! A real must if you are serious about your real estate career.
Fair review.......2006-07-05
This book was o.k. I learned a few things. I thought it was a bit corny on some topics.
Great eye opener.......2006-06-02
I'm a new agent and this book is giving me the tools to understand how this industry works. AWESOME tips!!!
Good Practical Information.......2005-10-02
I really enjoyed this book and found it had many practical tips. One the best tips the author gives is to develop your "quick speak inventory." When you get a call from someone looking to buy or sell, you really need to know the inventory off-the-top-of-your-head as much as possible. The author gives a sensible way to start and build your quick speak inventory. Other great advice is given for how to deal with "old pros" and how you have to be willing to "bury the dead cats." I also like the 12 month farming almanac to keep up a marketing cycle. A truly joyful training program for the new agent and a good refresher even for old pros!
A Great Buy for the New Agent.......2003-10-11
I thought this was an excellent book. I've read it straight through and now I'm working on the Break-away schedule in the back of the book. As a new agent, it was very helpful to get an honest preview of the work it takes to be successful in this business. My broker said that I was the most prepared of any of the new agents that he'd interviewed with. I have Danielle's book to thank for that. It's worked for me so far, so now I'm going to hit the ground running with her break-away schedule! Worth the money, if you're willing to work it.
Book Description
Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Second Edition is the perfect tool for learning one of the most sophisticated enterprise solutions available today. Designed to being with the basics, you will become acquainted with the entire SAP system, from navigation to creating your own reports. You'll also cover:
- Implementation tools and methodologies
- NetWeaver
- ECC 5.0
- Designing Screens and menus
- Reporting
- Integration with Microsoft Office
- And more
Written by leading SAP consultants with over 20 years of combined experience, this easy-to-understand tutorial is ideal for getting up and running with SAP quickly and efficiently.
Download Description
Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours is the perfect tool for learning one of the most sophisticated enterprise solutions available on the market today. This book covers everything you will need to become acquainted with the SAP system, from basic navigation through creating your own reports. This book is designed to begin with the very basics and to move forward to cover the topics necessary to unleash the power of SAP. Topics covered include: Navigation in SAP, Implementation Tools and Methodologies, NetWeaver, ECC, Designing Screens and Menus, Reporting, Integration with Microsoft Office, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Great overall reference.......2007-08-15
I am on a project team that is starting the implementation of a specialized SAP module, and I purchased Mr. Anderson's book to help me get a high-level overview of the overall SAP application. I am a relatively new SAP user, and this book was extremely valuable in helping me ascend the learning curve and get up-to-speed on this project. I can now have intelligent conversation with our technical staff, ask knowledgeable questions, and generally understand their answers.
My suggestions at this point would be to include a general glossary and an acronym glossary. I would also recommend, in addition to the "Watch out" and "By the way" boxes, another information source titled, "For further information on this topic".
Given that an overall reference for SAP could easily be the size of a set of encyclopedias, I would give this single book 5 stars out of 5.
A little bit here and there.......2007-07-26
Although many good points are made in this easy to read book, it clearly suffers from a lack of target audience definition. As a theoretical intro to the field, one doesn't need to know how to customize a screen in SAP. As an intro user's guide, one doesn't need to know many of the more technical topics briefly discussed. Since there isn't enough coverage for any one audience, I can't recommend this book.
Not really worth the purchase.......2007-03-16
This book is not intended for technical users. It provides a very high level guide for day to day users. Chapters 1-3 are worth reading to get a broad overview of SAP.
After those three chapters, the book suffers from trying to cover just a tiny bit of everything in SAP. The authors dont want to leave anything out, but at the same time they don't cover anything in great detail.
At your company, you will probably need to learn certain components and transaction in SAP, but surely not everything.
I recommend reading the first 3 chapters, and then the single chapter on the area of SAP in which you will be working. Reading much more than that will probably be a waste of time. I doubt you will ever use it as a reference and that is why I do not recommend purchasing it. It might be available at your local library.
To its credit, the book is well written. The pictures are in black and white, but are still useful. Learning how to use SAP, however, is best done in front the computer with a teacher at your side. I learned much more in a half-hour session with a seasoned user than I did by reading several chapters of this book.
Excellent Resource.......2007-02-06
We give this book to all folks new to SAP; especially good for sales executives, account managers, project managers, and others who do are not in a technical position and need to gain a good overview of SAP and SAP's latest architecture
Good but not Great..........2006-12-29
I was looking for a book that would provide a beginners introduction to SAP. Well this book did fulfill my needs to a great extent. This book is probably the most up to date introductory book on SAP. It also provides a good concise history, purpose, and value for each of the SAP modules. However the book fails to show how various modules link to each other. It also fails to explain why there are so many modules. I did find answers to all these questions but that was with the help of other books.
This book will set you in right direction but don't expect it to answer all your questions. It seriously needs some good technical diagrams. Diagrams in the book are of no value.
Book Description
Did you know you could teach from home and earn a six-figure salary? Thousands of people make a great living teaching online courses from home, and the more classes they teach the more they earn! If you want into this exciting profession, this guide will show you how to get started, find great jobs, and earn more than you thought possible.
Customer Reviews:
Required Reading!.......2007-09-19
This step-by-step guide to breaking into the online teaching field is required reading for those who want to know the ground truth. Each chapter is well thought out, with nuggets of personal experience and personal preference thrown in to help guide the reader in best practices.
It is easy to read the book cover to cover, and the authors provide plenty of references to find further information you may need to get started. The information about school accreditation and about possible technology needs have been especially useful to me.
Great book.......2007-07-26
This is an excellent book that tells you how to face the real market as far as teaching online. It gives guidelines that will really help you to start your online teaching career even if you do not have much experience.
A very satisfied customer.......2007-05-16
I am an aspiring instructor of online education and found this book to be very informative and enlightening. I would recommend this book to anyone who has the desire to teach online.
~Jibreel
Written for a very narrow audience.......2007-04-22
This book is written for a very narrow audience - specifically those with Master's or Doctoral degrees under their belt. The author even goes so far as to say that people with "only a bachelor's degree will not be able to make a good living but might find some work at the high school level".
There may be a degree of truth to this, but I could not believe they just came out and stated this in their intro. There are plenty of opportunities out there for people with all ranges of experience and abilities, and to throw that wet blanket on the reader right off the bat seems foolish in the extreme - especially given the catchy "Make Money Teaching" title.
I almost bought this book based on the title, the premise, and the favourable reviews it received. After reading the first few sections, and scanning the rest, I left it on the shelf with a "phhfft".
A better title would have been "How to get into online teaching for those with a post-graduate pedigree and little to no computer knowledge". Pass (on the book) and Fail (to be of value to 99% of the readers out there)
The perfect guidebook to online teaching........2007-04-15
It's unusual for me to find a non-fiction book that I couldn't stop reading. This was it. The book came out at an especially good time for me. I was just trying to break into teaching online, and having trouble getting my first teaching gig. This book takes you through that process, in a way that is positive while making a lot of good sense of what to do, and how to do it. Best of all, it helps you understand why to do things a certain way.
I think a lot of people are fearful or hesitant to try their hand at teaching online. All through the book there are words of encouragement and confidence-building suggestions. That's great. The sample documents in the book are a nice touch; instead of just telling readers what to do, the authors show them with examples. I was not aware all these colleges want a statement of teaching philosophy, and that helped, too.
The authors include helpful rundowns on the three main systems for online teaching. The chapter on necessary equipment and technologies helped steer me in the right direction, too.
All in all, this book is quite a gem, a bargain, and a must-have guide for anyone wanting to teach online. I have found it extremely helpful: advice from the experts.
Book Description
SAP Query Reporting is everything an SAP user needs to know to create your own reports in SAP using Query tools, no programming required! Designed as a hands-on learning aid, you will be able to follow along and perform each new skill learned on your own SAP system. The book's tutorial style, step-by-step instruction will teach you everything you need to know to use the SAP Query tools, including its configuration, advanced usage, and integration to Microsoft. Additionally the book gives best business practice recommendations for the technology and internal business use of the tools. Learn to:
- Understand query security, table reads, and table joins
- Perform basic and advanced calculations
- Incorporate pictures and graphics into reports
- Configure shortcuts and tran codes, schedule jobs and email PDFs
- Utilize SAP Reporting with Microsoft Office applications
Customer Reviews:
Good book, bad tool.......2007-09-20
The author does a great job of covering SAP queries and is one of the only books I found that covered it at all. It's a confusing subject, but the book is well organized and builds nicely.
It tilted a little towards HR, but most of the concepts translated pretty well.
However, I was new to SAP queries and was shocked how awful the technology was (no fault of the author's, of course). It's at least 10-15 years behind state of the art, even by SAP standards. If information is important to your business (and you have a choice), go with Crystal Reports, BI, Cognos or practically anything other than this.
SAP Query Reporting - A start.......2007-05-14
So far this has been a good starting point to learn SAP Query reporting, for a new SAPer.
Is waht it says.......2007-05-13
Just a book that tells you how to use SAP query. Not a book to teach you how to query but you will learn a little about it because of the way it is presented.
Average customer rating:
- Ugh
- Ugh...What happened to Danielle Steel?
- Repetitious
- Excellent Read
- Danielle Steel has the nerve to criticize soap opera writers after writing this?!!!!!
|
Bungalow 2
Danielle Steel
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Steel, Danielle
| ( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Hardcover
| Steel, Danielle
| ( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Romance Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Amazing Grace
-
Sisters
-
Drop Dead Beautiful
-
H.R.H.
-
The Choice
ASIN: 0385338317
Release Date: 2007-06-26 |
Book Description
Danielle Steel takes us beyond the dazzle of Hollywood in her compelling new novel—the story of one woman’s journey from suburban mom to award-winning screenwriter...and all the joy, heartbreak, and challenges along the way.
Bungalow 2
The phone call came on a hot July day—a day like any other for Marin County mom and freelance writer Tanya Harris. But this call—from Tanya’s agent—was anything but ordinary, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to write a major Hollywood screenplay, a dream she had put aside long ago to devote her energies to her family. This time, Tanya knows she cannot refuse, even though she’s torn about leaving her husband and their daughters. From the moment she steps into her lush bungalow at the fabled Beverly Hills Hotel, Tanya is thrust into an intoxicating new world where she feels reborn—energized by the creativity swirling around her—yet the pull of her family at home is strong.
Suddenly she’s working alongside A-list actors and a Hollywood legend: Oscar-winning producer Douglas Wayne, a man who always gets what he wants–and who seems to have his sights set on her. Flying home between shoots, struggling to reconnect with a family that seems to need her less and less, Tanya watches helplessly as her old life is pulled out from under her in the most crushing of ways.
As her two lives collide, as one award-winning film leads to another, Tanya begins to wonder if she can be a wife, a mother, and a writer at the same time. And just as she confronts the toughest choice she has faced, she is offered another dazzling opportunity—one that could recast her story in an amazing new direction, complete with an ending she never could have written herself.
In
Bungalow 2, Danielle Steel takes us into a world few ever see—a world of fame and fortune, celebrity and genius–daring to show us the real lives, real dreams, and real struggles hidden beneath the flash and glitter of Hollywood.
Customer Reviews:
Ugh.......2007-10-15
Once upon a time, I really loved Danielle Steel so when I saw this book on the shelf with its pretty cover and the promise of finding out what happens behind the scenes for a Hollywood writer. I learned long ago that Danielle Steel gave up on writing original stories sometime in the 80s, but I decided that it'd been so long since I'd read something of hers, even the pattern book this was sure to be would be a nostalgic trip back to my teens. I prepared myself to read the same story with the names changed to protect the innocent so I wouldn't get frustrated on my quest to find out what a writer gets to do on a Hollywood set in an entertaining way. I knew I wasn't picking up Nabokov.
Even in that mindset, I was shocked at the level of trite drivel this book soared to out of the gate. The main character was a complete and total doormat. She revelled in the abuse heaped on her by her children and her husband. No one with an ounce of self esteem could possible take joy in that level of servitude without being heavily medicated. She made Stepford Wives look rebellious and outgoing in comparison. I fear for any teenager who picks up this book and looks for a role model.
This is the first book I have ever seriously considered demanding my money back. I mourn the hours spent reading it as time wasted.
Ugh...What happened to Danielle Steel?.......2007-10-08
When I started reading her books, they were almost epic novels. I don't know if she is required per her contract to churn out so many books a year or what or no longer feels it necessary to actually write something original but holy cow! It seems like the last 10 books have had the exact same female lead character with exactly the same issues in slightly different locations. If I wanted to read Harliquin Romance novels, I would.
Repetitious.......2007-10-05
Loved the cover, hated the book. Tanya is boring, whiny, and too good to be true. And how many times can you say the same thing? Eight times, it seems, judging by the repetitions in the first half of the book. The insights into making a Hollywood movie made it more interesting.
Excellent Read.......2007-09-26
I really enjoyed this latest book from Danielle Steele. I had a hard time putting it down.
Danielle Steel has the nerve to criticize soap opera writers after writing this?!!!!!.......2007-09-18
I agree with the other reviews of this book. Except for "His Bright Light...", her story about her son, Danielle Steel has not written a decent book in years. Like a lot of my fellow reviewers, I borrowed this book from my local library. I could barely make it half-way through before I gave up in disgust. I hated the characters and I hated the morally superior tone. As a soap opera fan, I especially took offense on behalf of all the talented writers, actors and other professionals in that genre. I'll take a bad episode of any soap opera over this drivel any day. Like another reviewer said, please don't kill any more trees for more of the same old regurgitated plot! You have enough money, Ms. Steel; please take a vacation and a good long break from writing!
Amazon.com
Another casualty of the Vietnam War, Danielle Trussoni has told her story in Falling Through the Earth with bravado, pride, sadness, and candor. Her father, Daniel, served as a tunnel rat, one of the incredibly brave men who went into the webs of tunnels and rooms searching for Vietnamese guerillas hiding out underground. The heat and stench, the courage combined with fear, the claustrophobic confinement, and the incessant tension are recounted with an immediacy that only one who has been there, or knows someone who has, could tell. In fact, Danielle Trussoni went to Vietnam and was guided through the tunnels, trying to follow, literally, in her father's footsteps.
The Trussoni family of Onalaska, Wisconsin, is famous for bar fights and not much else. Daniel is a thug like his brothers, all of whom pride themselves on being tough guys who might just be mobbed up, although there is no proof of that.
Trussoni Thanksgivings were like boxing matches. There was sure to be a rumble on the front lawn of my grandparents' house and a rematch at the tavern down the street... A little blood before dinner was what aperitifs were to other families.
In this atmosphere, Danielle, her sister Kelly, and her brother Matt are trying to raise themselves, or just stay out of the way. After getting a job and some sense of self, Mom takes on a boyfriend and asks Dad to leave. According to Danielle, Dad is pretty broken up about the departure, so she goes to live with him and is treated to a steady round of women callers. The other two children stay with their Mom. Most evenings, Daniel takes Danielle to Roscoe's, the neighborhood tavern, where she sits and watches him get drunk and tell his Vietnam stories. Over and over again. Every so often, he forgets her and she has to make her own way home.
Danielle is endlessly forgiving of this case-hardened vet who is relentlessly mean, paranoid and petty. He is a prototype of the guy who came home and didn't know why he was a survivor. Trussoni has captured the essence of being in bloody battle one day and home the next, and then trying to make sense of it all.
Alternating chapters tell of her father's time in Vietnam, her own journey there, and their messy lives--starting with the divorce and continuing until her adulthood. Family secrets are revealed; Danielle realizes that her mother was not the only person at fault in the breakup of the marriage and that her defense of her father was not always appropriate.
She is finally able to say, after writing him a letter outlining her grievances, "I wanted you to know I was hurt by the way I grew up. ...I wanted you to know how hard I've tried to get through to you, how much work it has been for me." There has never been a daughter more loyal than Danielle Trussoni. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
From her charismatic father, Danielle Trussoni learned how to rock and roll, outrun the police, and never shy away from a fight. Spending hour upon hour trailing him around the bars and honky-tonks of La Crosse, Wisconsin, young Danielle grew up fascinated by stories of her dads adventures as a tunnel rat in Vietnam, where hed risked his life crawling head first into narrow passageways to search for American POWs.
Customer Reviews:
well written.......2007-09-19
I read Trussoni's memoir and found it to be well-written, insightful, and subtlely compelling. It's not the kind of thing that you "can't put down," but it grabs you enough to want to pick the thing back up again once you have set it down.
My only complaint, really, is that it felt like the whole thing was a build-up to something, but I never really saw what it was. And the epilogue confused any sense of what I had Thought the build-up was for.
Casualties of War.......2007-09-12
Danielle Trussoni, author of Falling through the Earth, is as much a casualty of the Viet Nam war as was her father, Dan, who returned from that war as damaged goods, a man unable to show his wife and children that he loved them. Trussoni's benign neglect of his children forced them to grow up tough and able to solve their own problems because he was a firm follower of the old adage that "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Sadly, their situation shows clearly how the crippling aftereffects of combat can be so easily passed on from one generation to the next, making one wonder where the cycle finally ends.
Dan Trussoni was a volunteer tunnel rat in Viet Nam, one of those incredibly brave men who went alone into the underground tunnel system that allowed Viet Cong soldiers to disappear at will and that provided them with a safe haven to recover from wounds and to hide food and weapons until they were needed. These young American soldiers, armed with little more than a pistol and a flashlight, had to crawl through booby traps and utter darkness never knowing what awaited them around the next corner as they tried to clean out the systems they discovered. It is little wonder that they came back with mental scars that never really heal.
Danielle became aware at an early age of how her father's Viet Nam experience impacted his life. She found the pictures of dead bodies and the human skull that he brought home. She also found that she was largely going to have to raise herself after her parents split up and she decided to live with her father. Dan Trussoni's idea of a little quality time with his daughter was to bring her to his favorite neighborhood bar in which she spent so much time that she was considered to be one of the regulars.
Life for the Trussoni kids was full of surprises, including the appearance of an illegitimate half-sister and a full sister who had been placed for adoption by their parents who felt too young and overwhelmed to keep her when she was born. Danielle was her father's daughter in every way, fearless, tough, brash and willing to take whatever life threw her way. That personality led her to Viet Nam, alone, where she saw for herself some of the same sights and experienced a little of the fear that her father felt while he was there, even forcing herself to "tour" one of the famous tunnel systems with a guide.
Falling through the Earth, with chapters that alternate between views of growing up in the Trussoni family, Dan's Viet Nam war, and Danielle's own trip there, is a fascinating book, one that makes me wish that we would make absolutely certain that our wars are really necessary before we send our young men into them.
A Disappointment.......2007-09-11
I was bored with this book but finished it because I wanted it to be better! I kept reading, hoping for something. Never found it!!!!
Book review.......2007-07-18
Incredible book, Danielle lived through a period of time that was the darkest of our countries history, except for now, and lived to tell about it. Not only dealing with the VN war but the consequences of a father with post traumatic stress syndrome that affected her and her families lives. For her to detail it as she did and have the brilliance to turn it into the literary expression of "my life with a VN vet" is incredible. A must read!
LaCrosse.......2007-07-09
This was an interesting book regarding the effects of war on an entire family, not just the veteran. It was more interesting to our book club as these were local people and local happenings. I missed the discussion at book club, but found out it was quite active and interesting.
Book Description
A book to contemplate each day, Offerings is a deeply thoughtful collection of wisdom and knowledge from the masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Three-hundred sixty-five photographs by Olivier Föllmi present an evocative new image every day-each accompanied by a choice Buddhist quote. This spiritual advice, which is suited to people of any belief or religious tradition, is organized into 52 themes, including spirituality, ancestors, money, trust, and dependence.
Danielle and Olivier Föllmi share a message of peace and hope in this new book. Through subjects that preoccupy us today, the masters of Tibetan Buddhist thought-including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kalu Rinpoche, Chogyam Trungpa, Shabkar, Jack Kornfield, and Arnaud Desjardins-convey to us their vision of existence. Their collective and individual vision celebrates humanity and encourages continual self-improvement.
Customer Reviews:
Ho Hum ..... .......2007-09-26
While the thoughts and "wisdom" provided are beautiful, they seem a bit cumbersome for every day referral. A quick one liner would be more suitable and more apt to remain with us throughout each day. These seem pretty wordy even though the thoughts are terrific and inspirational. The length makes it difficult to wrap your arms around them and keep them in your thoughts throughout the whole day. The pictures are lovely but the whole "feel" of the book is not inviting to and welcoming to pick up and open to any page .... soft cover might be more conducive.
Offerings: Buddhist Wisdom For Every Day.......2007-07-25
I have been looking for this book ever since seeing it at a friend's house. Turning the page is a wonderful way to start each day, full of inspiration and insight. I have put this on my gift list of must buys for all of my friends! I keep my copy in my art studio for all visitors to enjoy.
The human condition in word and image.......2007-06-27
A deeply thoughtful collection of wisdom. Beautiful photographs accompany each daily entry. All about the spiritual and transitory nature of the human condition. A spectacular collection of photos and guidelines. Totally unique. By far and away one of my favorite books.
Love this book! .......2007-03-15
I reference this book when I need an inspiring quote, or a reminder on how to be a better behaved human being. It is full of rich wisdom and beautiful pictures.
excellent.......2007-01-19
Such a beautiful book. Inspiring and the photos are fabulous. I bought this for my mother for Christmas and I would love to buy one for myself. Great to start your day with a meditation from this book.
Book Description
A work of humanity on a universal scale, a work of reconciliation between nature and culture, Indian Wisdom celebrates those who live in harmony with the forces of earth and sky, who aspire to nirvana-the highest level of heart-, body-, and mind-consciousness. This remarkable book by Danielle and Olivier Föllmi, authors of 15 previous books on Buddhism, presents the wise words of a great master, philosopher, or poet for every day of the year, accompanied by Olivier's beautiful, moving photographs of Indian people and places. The effect is transformative, awakening our senses and preparing our souls to receive these simple yet profound teachings.
Contemporary specialists on Indian culture have contributed to Indian Wisdom, which draws on such ancient yet timeless sources as poems by Rabindranath Tagore and Krishnamurti; the longest epic in world literature, the Mahabharata; and the most significant of the Hindu sacred writings, the Vedas. A treasure in both content and form, this inspirational book artfully conveys the essence of India. AUTHOR BIO: Danielle and Olivier Föllmi have written 15 books about Buddhism, including Abrams' Buddhist Himalayas. They are the official photographers of the Dalai Lama and recipients of the World Press award. The Föllmis divide their time between the Alps and the Himalayas.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtful daily gems, if you are willing to think a little........2007-02-16
This is a lovely book, with breathtaking photos that accompany equally powerful daily written words of "wisdom." The book is great as a gift for a special person because it is smart, priced well, and very pretty, but it functions on a more meaningful level for those ready to receive its message. Personally, I think the writings are strong selections of some of the best ideas of the humanities, and I find the book inspiring each and every day.
Another daily treasure!.......2007-02-16
My wife and I have a special time each day where we sit together and read to each from our library of inspiration literature. We have two of the Follmi's books, this one, Wisdom, and Offerings. Our inspirational and meditative reading time is not complete until we read the passages for the day from each of these books. I especiall like their selections and the references to the photographs which are exquisitly beautiful. The Follmi's books will nourish your heart, mind, and soul.
Wisdom.......2006-07-10
A beautiful book that is inspirational in both its pictures and pearls of wisdom.
as wise as it is beautiful.......2006-03-04
The authors have chosen the quotations well and matched them with beautiful pictures. I am an American and have lived in India for over 22 years in an ashram. Many attempts to capture the spirit of India, especially by foreigners, seem to ring false, but this one combines a range of moods in the pictures and a range of depth in the written selections. It is a joy to read every day.
sheer wisdom.......2006-01-31
absolutely breathtaking pictures which capture the very essence of india and convey incredible peace. the thoughts are just what we need everyday to remind us of the "big picture" and look around, above and beyond ourselves to get a little wiser...
Books:
- Spiritual Connections: How to Find Spirituality Throughout All the Relationships in Your Life
- Stop, Train, Stop! a Thomas the Tank Engine Story (Beginner Books(R))
- Sunrise (Sunrise Series #1)
- The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times . . . and Why It Matters Today
- The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
- The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time
- The Bible of Options Strategies: The Definitive Guide for Practical Trading Strategies
- The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (James H. Silberman Books)
- The Enchanted April (New York Review Books Classics)
- The Eternal Flame (The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Object of His Desire
- Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook Set
- Structural Analysis of Thermoplastic Components
- The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel
- A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama
- Cheesemaking Practice
- Assistive Technology for Young Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Providing Family-Centered Ser
- The Body: The Finest Collection of Esthetic Nude Art Photography
- The Penguin Dictionary of Art And Artists: Seventh Edition
- Great Commanders in Action: From the Publisher of Military History
