Customer Reviews

Amazing Grace

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I have to admit, the last few, heck, most books within the last few years by Danielle Steel have been very shallow in storyline, and lacking in character development, making me feel that I'm wasting my time reading them.

I decided to giver her another chance, and picked up the newest release by Steel, Amazing Grace. I have to admit, I read this book in 24 hours. I found it to be a very quick read. I kept finding myself wanting to read on. The characters had a lot of potential, and the story was promising.

What I liked most about the story is that Steel has a unique knack for intertwining several stories with several different characters into her books, without leaving you confused. The characters were all drawn together in one place by one single situation, in this case, an earthquake. The majority of the book discusses how these characters attempt to get back to their normal lives, living with the life-changing effects of the earthquake.

What left me disappointed with the book was that I found the romantic situation in the story between a nun and a photographer (yes, a nun!) not very believable. A nun would not so quickly leave her beliefs behind to get married to a man who got a girl pregnant at 18, and uses vulgar language in her presence. I also felt there could have been a little more "wrap-up" with the characters at the end of the book.

Overall, I recommend this book if you are a Steel fan, but have been disappointed in her last few books. When compared to her other recent releases, Amazing Grace fairs much better with the setting, the situation and the intertwining of the characters, which makes it a very quick read.

This was a mediocre book written by a women who used to be a great author of great stories. Obviously the lure of the almighty dollar has clouded her ability to come up with an intriguing story and interesting characters. This book drags on.

Her early books were truly page turners. Wonderful stories that I couldn't wait to read. Now, they are just average to below average books or short stories.

The jacket on this book states "her most powerful and life-affirming novel to date". Yeah right. There was nothing powerful in this story. Even the earthquake story line was dull. There certainly wasn't anything life affirming.

It was just fair. I certainly wouldn't and didn't pay for this book, its not worth the price. Luckily the library is free.

Steel needs to read her own early books and find her true writing talent again. Anyone can put words to paper. It takes a special talent to make a real story out of it.

I was very very disappointed with this book. I hadn't read a Danielle Steele book for quite a while and after I read this, I remembered why. I kept waiting for something to happen. It was about the most boring book I have ever read. That's it for me - I used to enjoy reading her books. No more.....

This is my first Danielle Steel novel. I bought it because I just made my first visit to San Francisco and was familiar with many of the areas referred to in the story. I enjoyed the first 18 chapters very much, from that point on it was disappointing. It seemed like it just lost steam. I got the feeling that the author was in a hurry to finish the book. The characters that had been well developed up until that point were given a speedy conclusion to end the book. It was a shame that the ending seemed rushed when there could have been such a moving and dramatic finish to the book. It had all the potential to be a great novel and fell short in my opinion.

After a promising synopsis "Amazing Grace" was a great disappointment.

The main characters are interesting enough: Beautiful socialite wife and mother Sarah happily married to finance wizard Seth. Megastar singer Melanie and her overpowering ambitious mother. Bright young redtop Sister Maggie, nun and nurse. And restless, rootless, alcoholized (saved by the AA) former war correspondent Everett. During a major earthquake in San Francisco, the lives of these people are intertwined and their destinies changed forever.

There is surely enough material for a very interesting story here, as so many lives change direction. However, through Danielle Steel's pen only the surface is skimmed and the most likely solutions chosen. Most of what happens, is given already early in the book and the lack of intrigue and digging deeper into the characters' minds and feelings make the book boring and predictable.

Even the earthquake itself, a disaster of huge dimensions, seems more like a well organized event than a tragedy craving lives and homes of thousands. Popstar Melanie's search for a meaningful life is a lovely thought but somehow the convert does not ring through. Maggie's destiny is apparent the moment she meets Everett. The only hint of uncertainty regards Sarah and Seth's relationship. The book puts up the slightest questionmark and allows for a tiny bit of page-turning in order to find out.

Having been a fan of Danielle Steel's for years, I know she can do so much better than this. She will certainly be back.

On a night that should be perfect and Earthquake shakes the city of San Francisco and the lives of three women who are successful but somewhat unfulfilled. Sarah Sloan, Melanie Free and Maggie Kent are sent on a new journey after the rubble settles in the city. All three of their lives are turned upside down and they have to face things that they never thought possible. Each looking for a way to live life with Amazing Grace.

As a long time fan of Ms. Steele, I found this read pleasant but not as endearing as some of her other titles. Amazing Grace delves into three very different woman in three very different places in their lives. The way they deal with tragedy, life altering circumstances are by turns inspiring and almost predictable. As I stated before this is a nice read but if you are looking for an emotional heart tugging read you may find yourself a little let down here.

I try to read or listen to many Steel books but over and over again I find that she just puts words in to make it longer. She tends to repeat insights and visuals in the story. Once you comment that someone loves their job like Maggie, the reader has it; one does not need to say it ten times in the story. Steel does this in all books. If this book was abridged it could be cut in half for all the redundant comments.
This story is pretty far fetched too. There is no way in this day and age that a major city like San Francisco would be cut off from the outside world by more than several hours. There are many ferries that operate in the bay and anyone could get across to the east bay and get phone service. Also most companies have business continuation plans that are required by the government to get back up and running within 24 hours.
Now saying that, the story is not boring at all and it kept my attention. Give it a try and remember it is really not based on too much reality.

In this novel, Danielle Steel has created several genuine characters who really deserve your attention and admiration. The storylines are interesting and you won't find any two characters with the same set of problems to face and deal with. Yet each character faces his or her own set of circumstances in his or her own way and deals with them honestly. Amazing Grace is one of Danielle Steel's better novels.
Jo A. Fulkerson
Author, For Love of Teddy

Sorry, I shouldn't really rate it when only got 1/4 through - but I just couldn't read any more. So much repetition and grammatical mistakes that the story didn't flow. Repeating the colour of someone's eyes, etc. etc. (did I say, etc. again - oops)!
A woman in the story borrowed a jacket from a man with a medallion in pocket.. cut a long story short, she disposed of the jacket but said to herself (and us)... if I see him again I will give him the medallion back in lieu of the jacket. ????
Maybe I am just a nitpicker, and I just want an easy read... butthis story is just "fluffed up" too much to perhaps meet the number of words per book requirement?
Glad some readers enjoyed it - can't please us all.

This story kind of confused me in all honesty in regards to the plot. I thought the majority of the story was going to be based on the earthquake and it ended up being about the aftermath for the majority of the novel. I felt like the characters were a huge random mess of people that would never be together and kinda found the story in my opinion to seem thrown together and scrambeled.

I mean a nun and a recovering alcoholic; a superstar and an average college grad, it just seemed far fetched to me, and that the relatability between the characters were very unlikely.

It wasn't a horrible book, but at the same time in my opinion was very weak in contrast to some of the other Danielle Steel novels that I have read, this one just fell flat and didn't really do anything for me unfortantally.