Once in a Lifetime [School & Library Binding]

Danielle Steel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1985

Millions adored Daphne Fields, for she shared their passion, their pain, their joy, and their sorrow. But America's most popular novelist remained a closed book to the world — guarding her life with a fierce privacy no reporter could crack.

Her life hides a myriad of secrets. The husband and daughter she lost in a fire. The son who barely survived it and would be deaf forever. The victories, the defeats, the challenges of facing life as a woman alone and helping her son meet the challenges of his handicap. A strong woman, she would not accept defeat, or help from anyone... until she found she could no longer face it alone.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Millions adored Daphne Fields, for she shared their passion, their pain, their joy, and their sorrow. But America's most popular novelist remained a closed book to the world -- guarding her life with a fierce privacy no reporter could crack.

Her life hides a myriad of secrets. The husband and daughter she lost in a fire. The son who barely survived it and would be deaf forever. The victories, the defeats, the challenges of facing life as a woman alone and helping her son meet the challenges of his handicap. A strong woman, she would not accept defeat, or help from anyone... until she found she could no longer face it alone. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Millions adored Daphne Fields, for she shared their passion, their pain, their joy, and their sorrow. But America's most popular novelist remained a closed book to the world -- guarding her life with a fierce privacy no reporter could crack.

Her life hides a myriad of secrets. The husband and daughter she lost in a fire. The son who barely survived it and would be deaf forever. The victories, the defeats, the challenges of facing life as a woman alone and helping her son meet the challenges of his handicap. A strong woman, she would not accept defeat, or help from anyone... until she found she could no longer face it alone. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• School & Library Binding: 480 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (August 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808518798
• ISBN-13: 978-0808518792
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,032,686 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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best stories!, May 13, 2002

By 

Jody L. Schoth (Katy, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once in a Lifetime (Mass Market Paperback)

This has been one of my favorite Danielle Steel books for a long time. I really enjoy her early works the best, and the characters seem to be more realistic, though their struggles are heartwrenching and devastating. This one is no exception. It's hard enough to lose a spouse or a child, but to lose both... then have to raise a handicapped child that will never meet his father or sister... and to do this all alone... well, all I can say is Danielle Steel takes real life tragedies, and pushes them to find out how much her characters can take... then pushes them a little more. This one will have you crying for the devastating loss, then crying for the heartwarming mother-son relationship. There is so much more to this story, and anyone that has ever read Danielle Steel will know that her stories take you on a roller coaster ride, and make you walk away a different person than the one you were before.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now this is how Danielle Steel used to write..., April 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Once in a Lifetime (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first book I read by Danielle Steel and I fell in love with it. It was a looong time ago (1985 or 86, I believe) but I still remember it well. The characters (especially Daphne and her son) were realistic and fascinating. Daphne seemed like the writer type--very shy, quiet, and likes her privacy. I also liked hearing (no pun intended) about the school for the deaf and how Daphne and her son learned sign language. For those of you who've read only her 1990's books, you have got to read this one. I think then you'll understand how she became a bestselling author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best by Steel, January 18, 2006

By 

Reader "Reader" (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once in a Lifetime (Mass Market Paperback)

Sometimes I marvel how the lady creates such strong characters that you laugh and cry simultaneously with them....Absolutely wonderful..A MUST Read