Rating: 
Summary: Now here's a good book. . . .
Review: The Other Side of Midnight - Sidney Sheldon A Review Know this, reader, before you dare read this book: Once you start reading this book, your attention will be on it alone, and you will, without a doubt, be reading it to the exclusion of all other activities until it is finished. This general rule applies for all of Sidney Sheldon books, and with good reason.
The first Sheldon book I read, Rage of Angels, became my favourite single book of all time. At the time, I was a fantasy genre only fan, but as soon as I read it, I knew that fantasy would not be the only genre I would read. Well, that was only several months ago, and now I'm reading other books by Sidney Sheldon, and others such as Michael Crichton, Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb, Anne Rice, Janet Evanovich, and Iris Johansen. Since Sidney Sheldon was the first author that got me into all books non-fantasy, I highly respected him and his writing.
After reading Rage of Angels, I read four other Sidney Sheldon books. (His newer ones, none of his older ones!) They were all good, but none of them compared to, what I thought, was the best book of all time, Rage of Angels. Recently I purchased the Other Side of Midnight to discover what his other older novels were like.
I just finished The Other Side of Midnight last night (I stayed up reading until nearly midnight, even when I wasn't supposed to!), and I am speechless. That night, I nearly cried in awe of how sad but great the book is. Truly, Sidney Sheldon is a legend and a prodigy of literature.
The Other Side of Midnight is not just a book. It is nothing short of an epiphany. Reading it, I kept on forgetting that this book was written nearly three decades ago! (!973). This book is a flawless work of art, a masterpiece of writing and up to this day still one of the best fiction books of all time.
Part of the reason I liked Rage of Angels so much was because Sheldon writes in a fashion so that one is really emotionally attuned to the main character. TOSOM was mildly different. When (Name removed so that no spoilers are given) dies near the end, I sighed in a depressed way, and continued on. That was all. But that alone gives some indication towards how powerful this book is. When one reads as much as I do, one becomes almost indifferent to the joys, struggles, and deaths of characters in books.
When I reached the end of TOSOM, I shrugged and put the book back on my shelf. I wasn't tired, but I didn't want to wake up anyone else in my house by selecting another book to read in the morning. And then, as I lay in bed with the lights out, I reflected on how incredible this book is. It is flawless, and without a doubt, a contender against Rage of Angels for my favourite book I've ever read. One cannot begin to imagine how emotionally powerful this book is. Or should I say powerfully emotional? Both.
What are my complaints? Well, like all Sidney Sheldon books, I hated the cover art. (Okay, let me explain something: nearly every Sheldon book has two different kinds of covers: one with the predetermined, default artwork on it. This artwork is usally made up of various objects reflecting elements in the book: roses, glasses, needles, etc. The other type of cover is a cheap, uncreative picture of a woman lying sideways, facing the reader, but in black and white, and very indistinguishable as to appear in some way, enigmatic.) The cover of my copy of TOSOM was as such. Why did I particularly despise the cover? Well, earlier this year one day, when I was looking at Sidney Sheldon books in a second hand bookstore, (Don't worry, I would never get any second-hand books!) I saw a really old copy of TOSOM. And yet, if I saw it again this day, I would buy it in an instant. Barely and vaguely I can recall the cover art (The shadows of two individuals, a woman and a man, against a sun rise/set, in a very beautiful setting!) And yet clearly I can remember the art to be undetailed and simple. I think this art was done with the movie in mind. (Yes, there is a TOSOM movie. Yes, it came out a while ago. No, I have not seen it. Yes, I am going to see it.) After reading the book, and bringing that cover art back into my mind, it sort of influenced my mind in a peaceful, serene, blissful even!, but sad way.
There is nothing left for me to say, except that this book and Rage of Angels are the two most influential books I've ever read. What one reads slowly changes that one's outlook and perspective on things, and although some books do it less or more than others, TOSOM is possibly out of all the books I've read the one that has had the most profound effect on me.
I'm not even enjoying writing this review by now. To me, it seems that my review interferes and violates the near-holy sacredness with which I now worship this book. That is because I feel my own writing talents, even though I am only writing a review for the book, cannot begin to accurately describe how unbelievable TOSOM truly is. This book is undeniably powerful to a nearly overwhelming extent.
All I can say is that one, after fully reading this review, would be an utter fool not to read The Other Side of Midnight, if he or she has not already read it.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This is one of my absolute favorite books. It's one of those that you just cannot put down. I don't want to ruin the end, which is the best part, but it is mind-blowing!
Rating:
Summary: 5-star soap opera
Review: It's funny that the people who criticize this book call it schlock, but good schlock. Schlock implies inferior writing. But if you agree that this book falls in the soap opera genre, just like romance novels fall in the romance genre, then you can make a judgment based on how it compares to other soap opera books. And this book compares very well. Who wants to read a soap opera story that's written like a serious novel? Soap opera, like musical opera, operates in melodramatic fantasy. There is plenty of schlock in all the genres, but this story is written very well for what it is. There is no bodice ripping and there are no cardboard stereotypes. It's a fun, exciting, emotional read. Relax and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The classic Sidney Sheldon novel
Review: This is Sidney Sheldon at his best, writing about romantic entanglements, reverses of fortune, thrilling suspense, and ultimate justice. Beautiful but poor Parisiene Noelle Page falls madly in love with American flyer Larry Douglas during WWII. When she becomes pregnant, he deserts her, thus setting her on a path of revenge that consumes her very being. Ruthlessly driven, she becomes a supermodel, movie star, and finally, as mistress to mega-rich Constantin Demiris, Noelle is reunited with Larry. Will she make him pay for what he did to her... or will she fall under his spell again?
Noelle, Larry, and his innocent wife, Catherine, are such fascinating, memorable characters that you won't want to stop reading until you find out what happens to them next. The story takes us from a poor French fishing village to Paris, then Hollywood and Athens, and the excitement keeps building and building as Noelle comes closer to tying up lose ends with the dastardly Larry, who proves to be her match when it comes to plotting evil. But don't underestimate Noelle's lover, Demiris, who will use all of his resources to get what he wants.
While this novel is enjoyable on its own, the story continues in Sheldon's "Memories of Midnight."
Rating: 
Summary: Deliciously Wicked
Review: This book is so bad, it's good. The writer obviously doesn't take himself seriously. He is writing schlock, knows he is writing schlock, and is having so much fun writing schlock that his delight is infectious. When some conniving wretch reaches a dramatic resolution, one can almost hear the welling orchestral accompaniment. Great fun.
It is refreshing to read a book that refuses to take itself seriously. Rather than masquerading as Something Deep, this book flouts its trash pedigree boldly. "Dahhling... have you ever met anyone so deliciously WICKED as Noelle? In the next chapter, we'll see just how much more WICKED Noelle can GET." This book is campier than a pot-boiler on bennies.
Books like this must be written over-the-top, or they don't work at all. The characters have to be caricatures, the setting has to drip with decadence, the plot has to twist and plunge like a runaway roller coaster and the prose has to reach such heights of garish camp that the reader gets nosebleed.
And Sheldon delivers all this by the barge full.
The manipulative witch, the love'm-then-ditch'm playboy, the wide-eyed innocent and the implacable billionaire, all have their respective moments. But they aren't just moments, they are Moments - teary-eyed (or steely-eyed) close-ups - the pores hidden with pancake makeup.
While this type of camp-glam amusement isn't really my thing, I can understand its appeal. It takes personality types, pumps them full of steroids, then throws them into ridiculously overwrought situations to generate exactly the exaggerated absurdities that keep the pot burbling. If you like this sort of thing, Sheldon hits all his targets with the skill of an Olympic fencer.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all time favorites!!
Review: This is an incredible novel that I've read twice. I envy those of you who haven't read it yet and get to read it for the first time. Novels like this don't come along too often. Don't miss it.
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: 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.
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