Mistrals Daughter [Hardcover]

Judith Krantz (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Crown Publishers, Inc.; Book Club (BCE/BOMC) edition (1926)
• ASIN: B000NCZO6K
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,668,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AN ALMOST MISS, December 13, 2004

By 

Martin Boucher "Authorfan" (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mistral's Daughter (Paperback)

OK, let me start this review by saying that I adore big family-oriented sagas with many sins and oh-so many secrets. I'm always the first in line when any book resembling what is already mentioned comes out. So imagine my joy when picking up (twenty years late, mind you) Mistral's Daughter by the lady of all lady writers, Judith Krantz. _The_ Judith Krantz who made Princess Daisy such a fun and addictive read. Not to mention the classic of all classics, Scruples. Two great books which deserved all of their mega-successes.

Well, dear readers, I guess the saying three's a crowd is true, for Krantz's third novel may have been another smash to many eyes, but not so much to yours truly. Don't get me wrong, all the melodrama is in there : the innocent yet bold heroine, the manipulative and abusive foe, the temperamental but loving hero, steamy steamy love scenes galore... well, you get my drift.

Despite those pluses, somehow Krantz failed to capture the essence of her first two novels. The desire, the need to tell a great story behind the glitz and glamour is there yet missing. It's as if a wall has been built up between Krantz's talent and deadline, and her need to stay on automatic pilot was her safest bet.

Indeed, in her third outing originality is out the door and replaced by a paint-by-the-numbers plot and tiresome descriptions of sceneries and cathedrals. Yes, Mistral is a painter and Krantz tries her best to be true to him, but the line between reality and fiction can only be saved by editing and, alas, in Mistral's Daughter, editing is in constant need.

That said, the novel is still better than many new releases out there. Judith Krantz is best when she lets her imagination run wild, and there are parts in Mistral's that are pure Krantz. The bowl of fruit scene, for instance, where Maggie, dressed in nothing but painted fruits, strutt her stuff (in pre-second World War II) for all the world to see. Krantz can easily make the unbelievable believable. Plus any scenes involving the character of evil Kate is pure delight. The last one in which she discovers she will no longer be needed is so perfectly told I was enthralled by Krantz's talent as a writer. If only these sparks of ingenuity could have been constant, Mistral's Daughter would have been a sure fire hit in my eyes as well.-----Martin Boucher

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it was a very good book, I like the way it is written., May 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mistral's Daughter (Audio Cassette)

I like very much the book, but I really like best the mini-series on TV I would like to know where can I buy the video of this movie, and the music of this picture, it was very beautiful I think the name was something like "april in paris" and I believe is french, where can I order it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mistral's women, October 20, 2004

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mistral's Daughter (Paperback)

Julien Mistral is a painter with great passion for his work. He also has passion for three generations of Lunel women, two of whom are his mistresses and one who is his daughter. With Mistral, nothing can come between him and his work and this obsession, coupled with fateful occurences in the lives of the Lunels is the foundation on which this book is written. Krantz has a way of creating characters which the reader cares about and putting them into situations where their flawed human nature causes many complications in their lives. This book takes the reader behind the scenes of the art and fashion worlds of France and New York, and tells an engrossing and interesting tale. It's a good read!