Customer Reviews

The Ranch

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

At times, I was actually embarrassed to be reading this book. But I got it at a used book sale for $1, and I think I got my money's worth! Yes, Ms. Steel needs a better editor for her commas and run on sentences and mindless repetition. And by the way, I had to check 5 times to see what year this book was written. Pink jeans? Turquoise boots? In 1997?

In Danielle Steel's "The Ranch", three close friends from college decide to reunite at a Dude Ranch in Wyoming after many years of separation. None of the friends have seen or spoken to one another in years, and although they used to be the best of friends when they were young, they quickly discover after reuniting in Wyoming that their lives have all taken very different paths. Mary Stuart is now a housewife, raising several children and working inside of her home. Tanya lives a much faster-paced life; she is a successful singer and actress, and Amy is a counselor at an AIDS clinic. Their new positions in life are just a few of the new things that these women learn about themselves and one another on this adventure, an adventure that ultimately proves to be one that they will never forget. While in Wyoming, the three women learn more than how to relax and take time away from their busy schedules and lives. During their time away dark secrets are exposed, as the women go beyond reminiscing about their pasts together and being able to discuss the current issues in their lives. While one woman is dealing with the tragedy of AIDS and how it has affected her life, another is surviving her son's suicide, and a third is struggling with the difficulty and scrutiny that comes with being a famous performer. Through it all, the three women learn that although their personal problems and concerns may be different, they can all still relate to one another on the same level that they could when they were young. Although everything has changed in their personal lives, the relationships between the three women remain the same. They are all still great friends and discover that they still have very much in common, although on the surface they may appear to lead very different lives. The Ranch was a great book that I would recommend to almost anyone just looking for a romantic novel to read when given some free time.

Liz Kenney Period 3

Humanities

How often does the reader need to be reminded that these women are drop-dead gorgeous??? Their characters were already hard to relate to (how many average people personally know a movie star, an AIDS doctor with their own clinic, and a "perfect" woman who is able to fly off to Europe at the drop of a hat, and did I mention perfect?)
I enjoyed reading about the renewed friendships and the trip to Jackson Hole. And about how the "perfect" wife finally puts her foot down in the end. But constantly reading about how beautiful these women are, became downright annoying at times. Also, the way 2 of them managed to find and fall in love with equally perfect men, within a matter of days at this ranch. I found the movie star's tabloid problems just a tad exaggerated. Multiple sex lawsuits, screaming fans bombarding her bus....does the general public really behave like that?
I liked it, but I wish Danielle Steel would write about a working class family once in a while. And throw in a imperfection or two, just to keep it believable.

When i got hold of the book, i thought it will tell me something about a ranchers life. But i was wrong, it only tell few parts of a ranchers life. that is very dissapointing. Danielle Steel have wrote to much about Hollywood actors and actreses, ie, in star and secret. but the love between tanya and gordon(what a wierd name) was a succes. It really drove me crazy. and I should say tanya deserve it. Mary Stuart's decision to get back to her husband who she almost divorce was what i don't want it to happen but that's her choice. Unfortunately zoe's life with AIDS is not told completely. it seems here Zoe is only a background of everything. she met no one at the ranch,(except that two doc.) and yet when she got back, her love story with that doc. is not told. Unlike tanya's and Mary Stuart's love story, it was told from A 2 Z. well of course Zoe doesn't want to have a sosial live i could say but the love (her only love) to that doc. should at least be told it a lenght. Anyway it's a good job miss Steel but you could have done better. And can you write something about AIDS this time just concentrate on it, and about gay lifes. TQ.

Are you dying of a terrible disease? Are you thinking about leaving your husband? Are you being sued? Then don't worry. All you need to do is visit Wyoming for 2 weeks & you're guaranteed to find true love within 3 days (give or take a day). There are three heriones in this story, all in their forties, and according to the author (who tells us every few minutes), they're "gorgeous," "sexy," "sensational," "lovely,""stunning," and haven't changed since college 20 years earlier. It got distracting hearing about what these Vogue models were wearing. Reminded me of how a Nancy Drew book is written.

I've read Danielle Steel in the past for her storytelling. She has the ability to tell stories that make you care about the characters and completely escape from your own life for a little while. This book, however, was so poorly written that I had trouble finishing it. The sentences were never-ending, strung together by so many commas that you forget what she's talking about by the end. The writing was cliched, full of such gems as "her hair was like a huge mane." (Don't go out on a descriptive limb there.) At one point, when two main characters are talking, a quote is attributed to the WRONG CHARACTER. That's right, she has one main character apparently addressing herself. How did that ever make it into print? Now, I don't pick up Danielle Steel expecting complicated prose, but I do expect decent writing that allows me to enjoy the story. I was disappointed. I found the whole book to be shallow. I wasn't engaged by any of the characters, and I really found it hard to care about their lives. They weren't fleshed out enough, and the words that came out of their mouths seem to be repeated over and over. Each character said basically the same thing throughout the book. I've enjoyed books by Steel in the past, such as "Heartbeat" and "Mixed Blessings." Each of these books had characterization and good storytelling. You cared about the characters. This book left me flat...

I thought this was a great Danielle Steel book. It is my 20th by this author and I loved it! The book focuses on three college friends living very different lifestyles. They keep in touch over the years (except for two that had a falling out) and have a reunion at a ranch. Their lives each have their own problems but their friendship continues! It was also romantic with the men in their lives but not gushy romance. Some of Danielle Steel's books make me really cry but this one had more happiness to it! Bittersweet ending also!

I live in the mountains and have horses, I really enjoyed this book. It's Rona Jaffe, SATC, all rolled into 1 big cool story....if you like that sort of thing:)

Another easy-to-read and enjoyable book by Danielle Steel... Three women who were college roommates: Zoe, Tanya and Mary Stuart get-together on a dude ranch in Wyoming to reunite after many years. Now middle aged, they come from different parts of the country with different career paths. Zoe is a physician who works with Aids patients. Tanya is a famous country singer and Mary Stuart is married to an attorney. Once they get over the old conflicts that occurred in college, they become fast friends again. They discover that they share similar painful experiences and it brings them closer together on a new level of friendship. The story tells of their new romances and adventures together on the ranch and it has a happy ending with a twist...

I read this book after it was given to me by a friend. I just skimmed right through this book, it had so little substance. It was boring and predictable, like so many of her novels.