Title: Honor Thyself
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publish Date: Feb 26, 2008
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb:
A world-renowned actress falls victim to a terrifying explosion in Paris—and begins a courageous journey of survival, memory, and self-discovery in Danielle Steel’s mesmerizing new novel.Carole Barber has come to Paris, with its rain-slick slate roofs and winding streets, to work on her novel—and to find herself after a lifetime in the spotlight. A legend of film and stage, Carole has set a standard of beauty and grace, devoting herself to her family and causes around the world. But on this cool November evening, as her taxi speeds into a tunnel just past the Louvre, a fiery instant of terror shatters hundreds of lives—and leaves Carole alone, unconscious and unidentified in a Paris emergency room.
At the Ritz, they wonder where their famous, incognito guest has gone. From California to London, Carole’s friends and family begin to make inquiries. Then comes a moment of shock as they all realize that Carole is far from home and fighting for her life.
In the days that follow, the paparazzi swarm. A mysterious stranger, a man famous in his own realm, quietly visits the hospital to see the woman he once loved and never forgot. Carole’s two grown children rush to her bedside, waiting and praying—until the miraculous begins to happen.…But as a woman who the whole world knows slowly awakens, she knows nothing of herself. Every detail must be pieced back together—from a childhood in rural Mississippi to the early days of her career, from the unintentional hurt inflicted on her daughter to a fifteen year-old secret love affair that went tragically wrong. But for Carole an extraordinary opportunity has arisen in a life-threatening crisis: a second chance to count her blessings, heal wounded hearts, recapture lost love… and to live a life that will truly honor others—beginning with herself.
A tale of survival and dignity, of small miracles and big surprises, Honor Thyself creates an unforgettable portrait of a public figure whose hopes, fears, and heartbreaks are as real as our own. Her courageous journey inspires us all.
Review: I want to put it out there that I review Danielle Steel books differently from most books I read, though as you see, this year I am failing miserably reading anything. But with her books, I base my reviews on how much I want to toss the book at the wall while reading it. Steel's writing is never deep and she tells the story to you without letting you get into the hearts and minds of her characters.
I will give her credit, she comes up with great plots. Wonderful plots. I just wish they were all executed differently. This book was no exception to that rule.
Honor Thyself seems to twist a lot of ideas together. The idea of a beautiful beloved actress being involved in a horrific attack in a Paris...wait for it...TUNNEL...made me think of Princess Di quite often while reading it, though that is where the similarities end.
The problem with Carole Barber for me, was that she seemed to have no flaws. She has 3 relationships, divorced, widowed, and the other is the one that got away. Her ex still loves her, the one that got away still loves her...and well, she loved the husband that passed away deeply.
Her children are mostly well adjusted and love her, though her daughter has her issues. (None bad). The story is served to you on a silver platter, of the attack and recovery and her rediscovery of her memories that she lost in the attack.
This plot should have delivered a punch. We should have seen so much more, especially of Carole's relationships. I wanted to know Jason and Matthieu and her children. I wanted their feelings to come across, but like all Steel's novels, you don't get that. You get the story but nothing more.
I didn't want to toss the book, but I was sad, because if these characters could have become more real and less flat, the book would have been amazing.
Rating: 3 flowers
