Customer Reviews

The Long Road Home (Danielle Steel)

5 star:		(108)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

For inspirational words of hopes and desires, noone out there does it as prolifically in fiction as Ms. Steele. In, "The Long Road Home", readers are witness to a profound story of victory of the human spirit.

We meet Gabbie Harrison at a young age and follow her harrowing journey from vile physical child abuse by her wealthy mother, irritating ignorance from her father, and a 10 year old girl who is then totally abandoned into the hands of a strict yet loving Mother Superior.

It is here at St. Matthews Gabbie meets Father Joe Connors. Going against all they know to be immoral, a relationship of impossibilities flowers. Only to be gnarled into deep emotional desperation.

Gabbie's long road home takes her then to New York, to be on her own, to her writing, to more disappointment and despair. How she survives and conquers is a lesson in forgiveness and fortitude we can all learn from.

A well written story that moves quickly. I highly recommend this insightful read.

Thanks for your interest & comments-CDS

Oh, my God! I have never read Danielle Steel before, and I certainly expected more than what I got from this bestselling author. The story was full of pathos and grabbed my attention all right, but much of the horror came from the poor quality of her writing and research. Such stories of abuse do exist, but I don't think Steel has a clue about the real impact that the (unrealistic) conditions she set up would have on a young girl like Gabriela. The dialogue was pedestrian and she continually "told" us what emotions her characters were having, rather than "showing" us through skillful storytelling. I will run rather than walk if I see another book by this author coming my way.

The Long Road Home was the 1st Danielle Steel book I had ever read...and I LOVED it. It sent me on an emotional roller coaster. One moment I was Angry, then Sad, then Happy...throughout the book, I was up and down. I never knew what was going to happen next. Because I enjoyed the book so much, I have begun reading ALL of her books, starting with her very 1st. To anyone who has never read a Danielle Steel book...The Long Road Home comes HIGHLY recommended. Enjoy!

This was my first Danielle Steele book,and,having just finished it,I must confess to being exhausted with all the terrible pain and emotional torture that the heroine endures. She kept wondering why people called her"strong".I can't imagine anybody being as strong as she without having a total nervous and physical collapse.If such brave women exist,they have my total admiration to be able to survive such horrors from childhood!Are there really appalling women who torture their children in this way? God help the children if such monsters Do exist.

I have never read anything by Danielle Steel. I happened to find this book in a "Book Trade" shelf at my place of work. The summary seemed interesting so I borrowed it and finished the entire book in two days.

I'm a big reader. I have also been a reporter for years, with a Bachelor's and Master's in journalism. I have to say, the writing of this book is sub-par at best. There is absolutely no creativity in this book whatsoever. This happens, then that happens, then something else happens. It's very straight-forward. Everything is just spelled out literally without much thought put into decent writing.

I never connected with a single character. Most of the descriptive writing comes from the author going into gruesome detail on how a child was beat and left in bloody puddles. But although I felt shock that a mother was doing this, I was so detached from the characters. Nothing felt real. It was like all characters were made of cardboard. This happened and she felt like this, then that happened and she was sad. And then she smiled. It becomes pretty dull to read. Steel doesn't even describe the characters beyond bare necessities. The only thing I know about Gabriella through that entire book is that she has blonde hair and large blue eyes. Oh, and that she's beautiful. There is no description anywhere to be found in this book.

There was nothing particularly gripping about this book other than all the abuse Gabriella endures her whole life. Steel goes into so much detail describing beatings, and they seem horrific and the entire time Gabriella's character is thinking to herself, "I just laid there and let her do it. I didn't feel pain while she was doing it. I just took it as my mother beat my cardboard head off." It almost seemed like Gabriella herself was bored! This is the only way I can explain how the characters seemed made of cardboard. There was barely any realistic emotion.

I also found it hilarious how EVERY person Gabriella encountered in her life could "see her pain, in her eyes." I don't know about anyone here, but I come from a densely populated area. I have NEVER run into someone once, and seen their entire tragic lives in their eyes, and known without a doubt that they have lived a deeply tragic, sad, painful life. I just don't run into the, "someone just killed my dog" look very often, or lets be real here...ever.

Not to mention, the end. This had to be the biggest cop-out in history. The whole book just dragged on and on. I could have edited out chapters that didn't even need to be in the book and the MOST important situation, or what SHOULD have been the most important situation in this book is Gabriella coming to terms with her childhood, re-connecting with her "parents" and getting answers. I kept waiting for this to happen. Chapter after chapter. When there were literally 10 pages left in the book THAT'S when this event happened. This could have been developed into something beautiful, to show some real closure. But instead **SPOILER** she re-connected with her father, whom she learns had been living in NYC the entire time, never went to see her at the convent, doesn't have an ounce of love for her, won't hug her... and she actually walks out of his office with closure?! HOW IS THIS EVEN REMOTELY REALISTIC?! And then she goes to see her mother, who turns out to have been dead for the last four years. Gabriella meets fantastic new step-parents, and walks off into the sunset with her fabulous new doctor boyfriend. The end. Are you kidding me?! Any person who has lived through a life of abuse, emotional, physical and mental, who then went on to be tossed out by everyone else, lived through the suicide of a loved one, beaten by a con-artist boyfriend... then just completely puts her trust into another man right away? This would NEVER happen in reality.

Human emotions were too unrealistic. There was absolutely NO research done about child abuse, the mental effects it has, nor was it even touched on. It's like Steel just wanted to write a story for shock value. I don't understand how anyone could read this book and find it "inspiring." There is nothing remotely real about it. The writing is poor, and exactly the same page after page. No creativity beyond beating scenes... I don't think I'd ever be a Steel fan. Too mediocre for me.

If you're looking for books that have shock value, as well as inspiration after surviving horrific events, look at Jodi Picoult books.

Danielle Steel writes one of her best novels about a young girl named Gabriella who is physically abused while growing up. Even though she is from a wealthy family, her mother continuously beats her for the smallest things. He father, a weak man, allows it to happen. Through a series of events, Gabriella is abandoned by her family and is raised in a convent by loving and supportive nuns. She is relieved that she does not have to interact with her mother. Although she is physically safe, she is lonely and empty. As she grows into a young woman, she discovers love and begins to enjoy life. In the end, she is able to restore healing and wholeness from her childhood racked with lies and abuse.

This is one of Steel's most inspiring stories EVER. What you'll read in the pages of this book will make you cringe & cry. You'll feel exactly as this young girl does, confused as to why her mother seemingly hates her. However sad this story though, it's truly about survival & making a life for yourself beyond your past abuses. I think this is an excellent story & I'd really recommend reading it!

I found, as a person with physical abuse in my past, this novel was very touching and difficult to read. However, it reinforced very sharply to me several important points. Steel advocated through her writing that a person cannot blame themself for life occurrences beyong their control and among other things, it is important to face your past. I instantly felt connected with Gabbie. She captured childhood thoughts I still clearly remember verbatim out of my mind. This is my new favorite book. A must-read! Trust me, it's worth your time!! (and don't forget the kleenex!)

The Long Road Home By Danielle Steel

The book The Long Road Home takes place in New York. There is a preppie family that consists of a mother, a father, and one child. The mother is abusive to her daughter. She beats her up every time she turns around. She beats her for everything whether she does anything or not. Her father does not beat her, but he doesn't put his foot down and stop her. He just gets drunk and cheats on his wife and eventually leaves them. It takes a lot to make me cry, but I bawled through that book. I give it a five star rating. I recommend this book for adults and older kids because it might be too disturbing for younger kids.

This book is just great. I have to admit for the first 100 pages it was very depressing and I am so glad the book really took off after that.
I didn't know how much I would care for a danielle steel book since it is unlike most of the books I read. I was so plesantly suprised.
I am now reading another one of her books and have bought more to read that I just can't wait.
I am now a DS fan.