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The House (2007)

The House (2007)

Book Info

Genre
Rating
3.44 of 5 Votes: 6
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ISBN
0440242037 (ISBN13: 9780440242031)
Language
English
Publisher
dell

About book The House (2007)

Once I wouldn't have ventured on any journey or holiday without a pristine Danielle Steel Paperback in my luggage to while away the hours. Her stories were always cozy, easy to read and predictable, but that was the attraction.I was drawn to this one because the heroine inherited a fortune and bought a San Francisco mock chateau with it - every girl's dream - but I am afraid I gave up before the half way point. A hundred pages in and the author is still labouring on the going-nowhere relationship between Sarah, the protagonist, a thirty-eight-year old lawyer who lives in scruffy chaos, and her egomaniac fitness freak boyfriend who should also know better. Their four year weekend-only relationship consists entirely of Friday night dinner, Saturday breakfast and maybe dinner, and sex - but little else. Sarah is very aware of where she stands in their relationship - nowhere - but she analyses it to the exclusion of all else, repeatedly - [mind numbingly so] and mentions that they have been together for four years - forty-four times in this book! - I counted! This created a complete empathy failure with the main character. And if you don't care what happens to the heroine - stop reading! So I did.I envy Steel's talent as an excellent writer, and she could certainly afford to get off the gravy train for long enough to work on a meaningful, heart-wrenching love story which would send her to the top of the serious author lists. This is one of the fluffy rubbish ones which don't do her skills justice. What a shame.

I canNOT believe that this kind of writing comes from a supposed best selling author. I am sorry to fans of Danielle Steel, but her writing is just sad. Her book is, to me, going against everything I teach about "showing and not telling." She has weak descriptions and several metaphors are done with no taste. (Yes, there is actually a reference to Helen Keller.) I was so disappointed, but I can't not finish a book. I trudged on. The ending was ridiculous. There were probably ten two page chapters trying to highlight all the great things that were happening to the main character. It was like a little kid writing who just can't end their story because they want to tell you every single good thing that happens. The plot was decent enough, but I just couldn't handle the writing style, or lack thereof. I will not be reading any more of Steel's books, and I would never recommend one to anyone that appreciates even mediocre writing. (Sorry.)

Do You like book The House (2007)?

It's really interesting how some books come into our lives at just the right time. I just went through a break-up with a guy I really shouldn't have been with, but didn't realize it until after he broke up with me. I picked this book up with some trepidation on two counts: one, I don't usually read Danielle Steel on the basis of personal principles, and two, I was afraid it would be some schmoopy love story about two people gazing into each others' eyes. Gag. But I was somewhat pleasantly surprised for the most part. Now back to my original point about being broken up with. The reason I really connected with this book was that, like the main character, I was with a man who I shouldn't have been with, but couldn't see it because I didn't want to or wouldn't see it for fear of being alone. I settled. But, like Sarah, have now realized that life is much better and brighter without the weight of having to be with someone I didn't really enjoy being with anyway. So, while the writing was elementary, and the end was predictable, it was very nice to read about a character with whom I could so closely identify. I wouldn't necessarily rush out in order to grab this one (or any other Danielle Steel book) off the shelves, but it was enjoyable for what it was.
—Gretchen

To tell you the truth, the moment I read the summary I knew I would love it and I was right. But the first part of the book seemed to drag on with Sarah and Phil. I was relieved when their relationship ended. I also think the last part was a bit rushed but one thing I can tell you is that I also fell in love with the house at Twenty-forty Scott Street just like Sarah.It is so rich in history. I would have loved if the renovation of the magnificent house was more explained in every little detail. I wished that a movie was adapted from this book, it would have been a success.
—Rose

This was a very easy, cute read. Don't really have to think out what is going to happen, because it is very predictable.Sarah, a tax lawyer, is stuck in a boring weekend only relationship of 2 years. She befriended a 99 year old man, he was like a father to her. He ends up passing away and she must contact all the heirs to tell them of their 20 million dollar inheritance for each of them. As she reads the will she gets a surprise herself, she receives an inheritance from him as well. One of the real estate holdings is the house that Stanley lived in, in fact he only lived in the attic of the 30000 square foot house. The heirs decide to sell it for whatever they can get. It needs a lot of work and was never remodeled. It was built in the early 1900's. Sarah falls in love with the place and decides to buy it and fix it up herself. Phil, her weekend boyfriend, thinks she is nuts for doing so and puts her down for it. She enlists the help of an architect, Jeff, that is in a 14 year rut of a relationship. As things progress on the house, Jeff's and Sarah's relationships fail, and start to build a friendship and a love that can't be broken. Sarah is against kids and marriage but she falls quickly for Jeff, and she may just change her way of thinking.
—Liz

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