The House [Import] [Paperback]

STEEL (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: BANTAM; Airport, Ireland & South Africa Only edition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593053362
• ISBN-13: 978-0593053362
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,103,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 590 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include 44 Charles Street, Legacy, Family Ties, Big Girl, Southern Lights, Matters of the Heart, One Day at a Time, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Still Hoping........., April 27, 2006

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House (Hardcover)

No matter what people may think I once was a Danielle Steel junkie. As soon as he newest book reached a bookstore 9this was pre Internet days), I was there grabbing her latest book. And I have suchfond memories of her titles like Season of Passion, The Ring, Crossings, The Promise and most recently Ghost. I also had to watch all of the made for TV movies and then would have to reread the books they were based on again. And then a funny thing happened to this loyal Steel reader. I found that her new books no longer interested me and the ones I did finish was because I decided to stick them out till the end. Recently I did enjoy Steel's book The Ghost and today keephoing that a new book by this author would really grab me. When I read the premise of her latest book, The House, I thought this might be that book which grabbed me and took hold. I ultimately thought that while it was an OK book, it left me yearning for the years when her books really enticed me and made me want to read more of this author's title.

Sarah is a 38 year old estate attorney trapped in a four year realtionbship with a man who only sees her on the weekends. And Sarah seems to be content with the way things are, afraid face facts and be alone.

When her very elderly and extremely wealthy client dies, Sarah feels as if she has lost a grandfather. She wonders why he spent his life amassing a fortune and living in an attic room of his huge San Francisco home. Then while dispersing his very
sizable estate among 19 relatives whome he hardly knew during his life, Sarah receives an inheritance she never expected with along with a letter which encourages her to do something which the money which will provide her with a happy and meaningful life. He reflects that while he never had a family or friends and spend his time and energies amassing his fortune, life should be lived to the fullest surrounded by love.

In a bold and unusal move Satah decides to use the money to purchase and bring his home back to the glory days it once knew. And while she is in the process of renovating her home, Sarah learns more about the family whom originally occuppied the home, a family secret concerning her grandmother but most of all, about unconditional love.

Set in both San Francisco and the chateaus of the Loire Valley, Steel does a find jobe of capturing the essence of both areas. But she glosses over the history of the home and the original inhabitants preferring to tie up the book with the inevitable happy ending for the principal characters.

I read this book while on a plane hoping it would provide me with that AHHHH moment but in the end it was a title I most likely won't ever recommend to a person that wants to begin reading Danielle Steel's books. Now, I think the time has come for me to remember this authors older books and pass on reading her new titles.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Danielle Steele Needs to Retire, March 1, 2007

By 

Marla J. Sands - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House (Mass Market Paperback)

There was a time in my life that Danielle Steele was my favorite author. I even named my daughter after her 20 years ago. However, she is living on her laurels now and really should retire. Her novels are not much better than what a high school student could write. She overuses words such as "she loved that about him." "she loved how he did this.." and so forth. With "The House", by the third chapter, it was as if she thought her reading audience did not have enough sense to realize that Phil was not good for the heroine. She had to keep beating our heads with it, just filling up paper in order to make it long enough for a book. I doubt I will ever read another one of her novels. So sad....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok for DS, February 25, 2007

By 

Loves to Read "ReadReadRead" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House (Mass Market Paperback)

While this certainly wasn't her worst novel, it isn't much more than ok. I got the impression she had written an outline then filled with book with annoying, repetitive details - about the people, the house, etc. And oh, just once can't someone in her novel be happy being single??