Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Globe Trotting Page Turner
Review: I realize I'm blowing all credibility by admitting this, but I have always adored this book. Before he turned to penning purple prose, author Sidney Sheldon was an Academy Award winning screenwriter in the 1940's and 50's, and he not only knows how to keep a story moving, but how to milk big, melodramatic scenes and plant great twists in the plot. Fabulous is the only word to describe this tale of lust, revenge and murder...there's even a little Nazi intrigue thrown in for good measure. Face it, most of us don't have very exciting lives, or at least they're not exciting 'round the clock. Well, not so with Sheldon's duo heroines Catherine Alexander and Noelle Page. You have the choice of identifying with either French movie star Noelle (she of the blonde hair, violet colored eyes and awe inspiring sexual technique) or spunky career gal Catherine (the sharp brunette with great legs and comebacks). Noelle is the ultimate mistress, shrewd and inscrutable, while Catherine is the ultimate wife, determined to hold her man by any means necessary. There's always been a snag in the plot that's bothered me, though, and I've spent far too many years obsessing about it. (Do not scroll further if you haven't read the book.) Larry -- dashing, decorated pilot Larry -- meets young Noelle in WWII Paris and they have a blissful affair. When he has to ship out, he gives her money to buy a wedding dress, promising to return in a few weeks time. Needless to say, he doesn't. But if Larry had no intention of seeing Noelle again, wasn't there an easier way for him to ditch her? Raising Noelle's hopes by sending her off to buy a WEDDING DRESS makes Larry seem sadistic, when he's only supposed to be a devil-may-care type rogue. It also bugged me that when the lovers cross paths years later, Larry can't even remember luscious Noelle, or her now famous violet eyes. (The whole point about Noelle is that she's not like you or me, but unforgettable!) Anyway, this little snafu aside, "The Other Side of Midnight" is pure, spun candy perfection. It's surprising that the 1977 movie version was so weak, because the plot is blazingly widescreen, both physically and emotionally. (The clothes, by "Mommie Dearest" costume designer Irene Sharaff, and Susan Sarandon's performance as a brisk Catherine are the best things about it.) Sarandon complained in an interview at the time that the story was only soap opera, and yet the producers were treating it as if it were Chekhov. Yes, Susie, it's soap opera...but it's the ULTIMATE soap opera, bar none! Read it and weep, then continue the spree by running to the library to check out "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" by Dominick Dunne...
Rating:
Summary: This book is one you can read over and over.
Review: This book is awesome. Sidney Sheldon's absolute masterpiece. I've read it countless times and it grips me every time. And considering the fact that I actually saw the movie first, (which was awful) that's really saying something. I felt for Noelle. It explains why she is so cold and uncaring to men. You really get in her head. And Catherine is easy to like also. Creating empathy for two rival women is a tricky thing to do, and Sidney Sheldon delivers with a punch. He is one of the greatest novelists ever. Don't pass up this book. The part where Noelle helps her friend who is a leader of the French Resistance will keep you on edge. This book is a great ride. I can't praise it enough.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Plain Trashy
Review: This is standard Sheldon fare - cutthroats and graphic albeit cliche bedroom scenes. Same old story. Set during the 1940s, this book contains all of the ususal Sheldon fare including some poor editing. An example of poor editing was in the case of a character named Israel Katz, who had an amputated leg. Early in the book, it was his right leg and later in the book, his other leg was identified as the amputeded limb. Inconsistencies like that are inexcusable. Dramatis Personae Catherine - a silly, starry-eyed girl who has pie in the sky hopes like her dreamer of a dad. She has a crush on a boy in her senior class and when he somehow manages to convince her to spend a night with him, she makes bizarre comments and kills off a possible conquest. She drops out of college to work and becomes involved with one William Fraser, who is the only likable character in the book. A truly nice man, he has her interests at heart. Larry - a cruel, indifferent man. He manages to convince Catherine to marry him instead of Fraser. He would later jilt her for one Noelle Page after making attempts on her life so he can remarry. An erratic pilot, he is sacked from several airlines and mail runs before being hired as the private pilot for a Greek tycoon. Noelle Page - Catherine's foil; her opposite number. Noelle is a ruthless barracuda who was encouraged to believe she was born into a noble gentry. Instead, she was born in a fishing village in Paris, the daughter of another barracuda and an unknown sailor. The man she recognizes as her Papa sells her when she reaches puberty. She then goes on to seduce men and sharpen her teeth and claws. A Greek tycoon named Constantin Demiris who bears more than a passing resemblance to Ari Onasis takes in interest in the young barracuda. He woos her after a callous pilot named Larry who jilted her. These three lives collide. Larry supposedly kills Catherine and is executed in a trial after her disappearance; Noelle and Larry reconnect and Noelle meets a grim fate as well. A tale of revenge and excess, this one shares a place with other Sheldon novels. This is just too trashy for me.
Rating:
Summary: CREME OF THE CROP!!!
Review: I absolutely LOVED The Other Side Of Midnight. I found it very difficult to put it down; I was intrigued by Noelle, Larry,Catherine and especially Constantin Demiris.(what a MAJOR creep!!) Even though Noelle and Larry were completely immoral, despicable people, I could not help but feel sorry for them at the end of the book when they meet their ultimate fate. There were many twists and turns in this book and it really held my interest all the way. But if you think this book is good, read the sequel Memories of Midnight which is even better than TOSOM(if that is even possible) I highly recommend both of these books; Sheldon is an unbelievably gifted writer.(fyi, he is the same person who gave us the tv series "I Dream Of Jeannie"!!)
Rating:
Summary: Can a book get any better? 50 Stars!
Review: Who do you hate and who do you love in this book. The characters are so well developed that you can relate to everyone. The ups and downs of each person are descibed with so much emotion. And the book takes you all over the globe. The scene where Catherine is left in the depths of the cave is breathtaking. Buy it, then read the sequel Memories of Midnight, it is just as good. Can anybody please get in touch with Sheldon - his fans are hungry for a new book.
Rating:
Summary: The book is good, but the movie is BETTER
Review: I saw this movie in 1977. Catherine was played by Susan Saradon and it was one of my favorite movies. If it is out on DVD or video, I would recommend checking it out.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I have ever read
Review: I have read this book countless times. Reading books more than once is unusual, but this was intriguing. Sheldon did research for this book and pays off when the storyline takes you to the occupation of Paris during the second World War. What amazing detail! It really made me feel like I was living through that time. Don't miss the part when Noelle tries to help her friend escape the Nazis!! It had my heart pounding!! If you saw the movie and didn't like it, DO NOT skip the book. The movie left out the best parts!!
Rating:
Summary: a work that comes alive
Review: I read The Other Side of Midnight in 8th grade -- about 25 years ago. It was all the rage with the girls in my class. Until recently, I would have dismissed our interest as teenage morbid laciviousness. Now, I believe the book is just one of those works of magic that "come alive," regardless of "literary merit" or "socially reedeming value."
Rating: 
Summary: Dragged on too long
Review: The book is almost 500 pages and it took about 250 to get to the intersting parts. The character development is incredible but the whole time you're like "well, when are they gonna be connected?" I previously read "Rage of Angels" by Sheldon and enjoyed that a thousand times more. I was a disgusted by Larry and especially Noelle. Adultury is a SIN!!!!!!!! I was disappointed to see Sheldon make it seem like it was no big deal. Not everyone has affairs and it is not normal. His book makes you believe it's OK to Sc**w the world. He's a great writer but I don't recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: I read this book about 16 years ago I'd say and it has been a novel that I have not forgotten.It has love, betrayal,revenge and it has a surprising ending.I find Sidney Sheldon's earlier work much more entertaining and more effort put into the characters and story line.His later work seems like everything is written too quickly and not as much time has gone into planning his storylines and characters.But it has been a while since I've read his newer books so maybe I should pick one up.He still is an author that I enjoy.This one and Master of the Game are two of his very best.
| 
