Shattered Stars [Hardcover]

Hilary Norman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

Orphaned when their mother set fire to their home, the Cesaretti children are raised by an aunt in a Florentine palazzo, unaware that the sister they believed killed in the fire is alive--and terribly scarred. Reprint. K.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three siblings separated by fate and tragic circumstance--a sister, a brother and his twin sister whom they both believe to be dead--are the main players in this engrossing contemporary saga. When their mother, in a fit of madness, douses herself with oil and self-immolates, she sets into motion a chain of events that alter the Cesaretti children's destinies. From their childhood home in Tuscany to their uncle's palazzo in Florence and then in America, England and France, the siblings--Francesca, Luciano and Juliet--remain haunted by memories of one another and by their tragic past. Luciano, psychically linked to his lost twin, finds some measure of success as a novelist but is tormented by visions he cannot explain. Juliet, his twin, disfigured in the fire and abandoned by their cruel aunt, is adopted by a compassionate woman, but she is psychologically maimed and cannot achieve emotional release. Only Francesca, a successful photographer in love with a good man, seems capable of putting the past in its place. Even she, however, must surmount numerous pitfalls before the reunion she yearns for can occur. On the way to this novel's chilling finale, Norman ( In Love and Friendship ) recounts heartrending events without lapsing into melodrama. First serial to Good Housekeeping.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 436 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; 1St Edition edition (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385300018
• ISBN-13: 978-0385300018
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,459,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shattered Stars, by Hilary Norman, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Shattered Stars (Mass Market Paperback)

When this book first came out, I read an excerpt in Good Housekeeping and knew immediately that I wanted to read the whole novel. It's been almost ten years since it came out, and it is still one of my favorites. I've lost my copy, but have been searching diligently for another, because I want to be able to read it again and again!

3.0 out of 5 stars Very hard to find, August 6, 2002

By 

Psboston7 "~ And so it Goes ~" (Upland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shattered Stars (Mass Market Paperback)

Let's see well. I don't know if it was just me but I ran through this book very quickly to just have it finished. The beginning started out really interesting the suicide scene is unforgettable. The story of the children after that was like watching a 70's Night Time Soap Opera. I guess if you are trying to find this authors back list then it would be worth it. I'm sure that it sticks out in readers mind for those who read it when it first came out, had a very international vibe and the prerequisite climatic end. Like some of the earlier "Susan Elizabeth Philips" try some of her earlier ones or perhaps "Judith Michael" if you like this style of writing.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a shattering read afterall!, February 12, 2002

By 

bumblebee (Petaling Jaya, Selangor Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shattered Stars (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read this book in 1996 and I found myself reading it again in 2002 because of the excellent plot the author has so brilliantly created.
The story started with the suicide of Serafina Cesaretti, mother to Vittorio, Francesca, twins Luciano and Giulietta and baby Giacomo, who had gone mad and set herself ablaze which too, had killed her own husband and Giacomo. Giulietta was burned 30% of her body. The homeless kids were sent to live with their kind uncle Bruno who, unfortunately had a wicked wife, Livia and 2 spoilt children. Livia, unable to tolerate another disfigured child living with them, had plotted a fake death of Giulietta. Each and everyone of them had thought that Giulietta had succumbed to the burns but she was quietly sent to an orphan and had her name changed. The Cessaretti children finally attempted an escape of their own from their uncle and aunt but tragedy struck when they were about to board on the ship sailing to Boston , with the help of their gypsy friend, Niccolo Dante. Vittoria was killed by a truck, Luciano was taken away by uncle Bruno who had meant no harm while Francesca ran away and managed to board the ship to America.
Years passed by and both Francesca and Luciano who had overcome tremendous hardships, had finally found some happiness in their lives. Francesca went back to Italy in search of her brother Luciano and they had a tearful reunion but little did they know that they still had a sister, still alive somewhere but was being surrounded by darkness and loneliness. Being a twin to her sister, Luciano is constantly plagued by tormented physic dreams. By chance, they found out that Giulietta was still alive and is now living in England, under the name of Juliet Austen. However, Giulietta is no longer that little 5 year old sister they used to know. The longing for a final reunion with their sister, had brought nothing but a grave mistake.