Reviews

The Award by Danielle Steel

ritasac's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

vintage_library's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The synopsis of this book sounded so interesting. A young French girl saving Jewish children from the Nazis, however that seemed to only last for 2 or 3 chapters and then it focussed on the main character suddenly becoming a model and moving to New York. It was very repetitive and not very well thought out. It could easily have been 100 pages shorter. A book that started off with a story about saving children during the second world war turned into a boring tale of a horrible bratty daughter and her mother’s broken relationship with her. Also, how many times can an author use the word “and” in one book? 

I have given this book 1 star because I did like the first couple of chapters. 

treparker73's review against another edition

3.0

I haven’t read DS in awhile. Her books are always so descriptive. I dint realize how little dialogue until this book. The title had little to do with the majority of the book. However I appreciate the subject matter and hearing another description of what happened during the war and how people survived. I know this is fiction but DS stories are throughly researches, so no doubt what I read happened or could have happened.

jbarr5's review against another edition

4.0

The award by Danielle Steel
Enjoy the author's works and know I will enjoy this one.
Starts out Giella and she's about to get the award. Chapters go back to when she was 16.
Rebecca came from Germany, Giella's best friend. The Jews are being forced from their homes.
One day she sees them take Rebecca's family and throw them into a truck and they disappeared. She tracks them down and visits and is able to talk to Rebecca and even gives her a coat with promises to come the next day.
She visits through Christmas and for many months later always bringing foods and clothes for the family.
Story tells what she had to do to survive and she ends up in the fashion industry.
Love hearing of the model world, travel, the art world and the places she visits. Tragedies and there are happy times also from both sides of the ocean.
Really enjoyed this book and glad she went on with her life but went back to her past endeavors... Didn't like that the author didn't spend as much time devoted to all of her children...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

elizabeththebookwoman's review against another edition

2.0

Only the first 5 or 6 chapters were about the war. Very beginning was decent but the rest dragged on. Not enough imagery, detail or dialogue. Felt like a quick description of someone's life. Had potential to be better. Lacking.

caslater83's review against another edition

4.0

Oh wow! This is a great novel! I have a love/hate relationship with WWII. So many good books, but so much grief and loss. I love strong women like Gaelle. Despite all the hardships she faced, she kept plodding onward. I'm not sure I could have risen from the ashes of war like that. She went on to find love and even then endured loss, several times over. But still, she remained true to herself. Her daughter, Dominique, is a piece of work. Her attitude is both appalling and astounding. I honestly have no idea how anyone as wonderful as Gaelle could just put up with that kind of attitude day in and day out. I would have sent Dominique to a teenage boot camp for a serious attitude adjustment!

This is a book that is worth reading and re-reading. Clear your weekend!

kookie9200's review against another edition

3.0

Honestly, not bad. Lately, Steel's written far, far worse. There were moments when I had to stop and puzzle out what she was trying to say (when you have to read a sentence 3 times to understand it, it should probably be rewritten) but all in all, I enjoyed this book much, MUCH more than many of her recent offerings. I feel this book was better because Steel did what she writes best, take a story from the past and write about something that matters. She painted a wonderful picture of Gaelle's life, and what made her so strong and special. The book wasn't about how beautiful or delicate or elegant she was, but how she grew from numerous tragedies. If Steel stays in this lane, I enjoy her books. Otherwise, it's a slap in the face how far she's fallen.

nnowels's review against another edition

1.0

I liked the description of this book, and decided to give Danielle Steel another try. I had read a publisher review, and the story sounded interesting... but there was too much Danielle Steel in there to truly enjoy the book. This could have been great, but she turned a potentially great historical fiction into a soap opera.

In another author's hands, this may have really been something, because I really liked the premise of the World War II part of the story.

If you're like me, and enjoy historical fiction, don't be tempted by this. You'll just come away disappointed.

daftfader's review against another edition

5.0

One of her more interesting stories. Some repetition, but quite an interesting history lesson. One character is really annoying(on purpose)

tayab's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

2.0

Very repetitive