Rating: 
Summary: Literary comfort food
Review: "Shining Through" is one of those wonderful books that owes it appeal to its fairy tale-like plot. The editorial reviews call it a modern Cinderella story, but I've always read it as an "ugly duckling to swan" tale. Unappreciated by her Ivy League cad of a husband (who only married her because he had to), a part-Jewish working class girl goes undercover in Nazi German. The heroine's true worth shines through, and, after the requisite suspense and plot twists, she gets her Prince Charming. This book may not be great literature, but it's a satisfying read. Like an earlier reviewer said, it's one of those books to keep around and reread from time to time. For any reader who has felt downtrodden and/or underappreciated (and who hasn't) "Shining Through" is indeed literary comfort food.
Rating: 
Summary: A good summer read
Review: A fun read with suspense, love, and betrayal. The heroine evolves to trust herself and use her wits as a spy in Nazi Germany. Great ending!
Rating:
Summary: A good summer read
Review: A fun read with suspense, love, and betrayal. The heroine evolves to trust herself and use her wits as a spy in Nazi Germany. Great ending!
Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: I bought this book after reading the enthusiastic reviews on amazon, but soon after beginning to go through it I learned the hard truth: it broke the number one rule for characterization. That rule states that the writer doesn't have to say how a character is, but rather let the reader deduce this from his/her actions and his/her dialogue. Well, at the beginning of this novel we are repeatedly told by the narrator that John, her boss, is gorgeous. We know little else about him appart from the fact that Linda, the narrator and main character, says that he is perfect: handsome, rich, intelligent and cultivated ...she says. Some ten pages later on she also tells us how she fell in love with him because she saw that he was beautiful inside ...she says. But never, at least up to page 50, is he given the opportunity to speak or, indeed, are we given the opportunity to see through his actions and own words his personality. Of course the narrator (Linda) goes on to do the same with all the other characters, constantly telling us what to think of them. Really, I don't want to be told WHAT to think of a character, I want to be SHOWN how the character is and then decide by myself...And I have so many other books to read that may just follow this important rule that I had to drop this one.
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book!
Review: I have attempted some other Susan Isaacs books and was disappointed, so it may be surprising that this book has a constant place on my "frequently read" bookshelf. Rather than discuss the plotline (I think the editorial review does that succinctly enough), let me try to convey to you the experience of actually reading the book.The singlemost outstanding feature of this book is the screaming reality with which Isaacs develops characters. One reviewer was apparently upset that the narrator felt too little sympathy for the Germans (and described her boss, rather than "showing" what he was like). These details actually contribute greatly to my love of the book, as the editorializing narrator (Linda Voss) demonstrates her own personality through the way in which she communicates. She only describes her boss as "perfect"? Exactly--she's blinded by her feelings. Not sympathetic towards the Germans? Of course not--the character is an extremely cynical, stubborn woman who is working for the U.S. Government during the war. Perhaps, then, the best feature of the narration is the consistency which Isaacs employs; assuming that you are able to recognize literary tricks, you should have no problem differentiating between Linda's views and the facts of her world. As for the plot itself, despite frequent rereading, this book keeps me spellbound from the first chapter until the last. At times, the plot twists are truly surprising; other times, the story is unsurprising but told saucily enough to hold my interest all the way through. As aforementioned, the narrator is such a compelling character that one gets the feeling of just listening to her chatter her way through the pages. I enjoy this book in one straight read; it helps maintain the feeling of Linda Voss, storyteller (as opposed to Susan Isaacs, author). In short, then:
1. Linda Voss is THE most compelling narrator/character I have ever read.
2. The writing is consistent and precise.
3. The plot is interesting enough to be worthy of the gorgeous characterization. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book!
Review: I have attempted some other Susan Isaacs books and was disappointed, so it may be surprising that this book has a constant place on my "frequently read" bookshelf. Rather than discuss the plotline (I think the editorial review does that succinctly enough), let me try to convey to you the experience of actually reading the book. The singlemost outstanding feature of this book is the screaming reality with which Isaacs develops characters. One reviewer was apparently upset that the narrator felt too little sympathy for the Germans (and described her boss, rather than "showing" what he was like). These details actually contribute greatly to my love of the book, as the editorializing narrator (Linda Voss) demonstrates her own personality through the way in which she communicates. She only describes her boss as "perfect"? Exactly--she's blinded by her feelings. Not sympathetic towards the Germans? Of course not--the character is an extremely cynical, stubborn woman who is working for the U.S. Government during the war. Perhaps, then, the best feature of the narration is the consistency which Isaacs employs; assuming that you are able to recognize literary tricks, you should have no problem differentiating between Linda's views and the facts of her world. As for the plot itself, despite frequent rereading, this book keeps me spellbound from the first chapter until the last. At times, the plot twists are truly surprising; other times, the story is unsurprising but told saucily enough to hold my interest all the way through. As aforementioned, the narrator is such a compelling character that one gets the feeling of just listening to her chatter her way through the pages. I enjoy this book in one straight read; it helps maintain the feeling of Linda Voss, storyteller (as opposed to Susan Isaacs, author). In short, then:
1. Linda Voss is THE most compelling narrator/character I have ever read.
2. The writing is consistent and precise.
3. The plot is interesting enough to be worthy of the gorgeous characterization. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book!
Review: I have attempted some other Susan Isaacs books and was disappointed, so it may be surprising that this book has a constant place on my "frequently read" bookshelf. Rather than discuss the plotline (I think the editorial review does that succinctly enough), let me try to convey to you the experience of actually reading the book. The singlemost outstanding feature of this book is the screaming reality with which Isaacs develops characters. One reviewer was apparently upset that the narrator felt too little sympathy for the Germans (and described her boss, rather than "showing" what he was like). These details actually contribute greatly to my love of the book, as the editorializing narrator (Linda Voss) demonstrates her own personality through the way in which she communicates. She only describes her boss as "perfect"? Exactly--she's blinded by her feelings. Not sympathetic towards the Germans? Of course not--the character is an extremely cynical, stubborn woman who is working for the U.S. Government during the war. Perhaps, then, the best feature of the narration is the consistency which Isaacs employs; assuming that you are able to recognize literary tricks, you should have no problem differentiating between Linda's views and the facts of her world. As for the plot itself, despite frequent rereading, this book keeps me spellbound from the first chapter until the last. At times, the plot twists are truly surprising; other times, the story is unsurprising but told saucily enough to hold my interest all the way through. As aforementioned, the narrator is such a compelling character that one gets the feeling of just listening to her chatter her way through the pages. I enjoy this book in one straight read; it helps maintain the feeling of Linda Voss, storyteller (as opposed to Susan Isaacs, author). In short, then:
1. Linda Voss is THE most compelling narrator/character I have ever read.
2. The writing is consistent and precise.
3. The plot is interesting enough to be worthy of the gorgeous characterization. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst book ever written makes worst movie ever made
Review: Just for the record, the film version of "Shining Through" starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith, swept the Razzie Awards the year it was released. The Razzies are, of course, the Oscar awards for worst movie of the year. If memory serves, this got worst Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and script. The film follows the novel pretty faithfully except for the creation of a sympathetic German officer played by Liam Neeson who is absent from the book. Which brings us to the problem of the book: it's vile. Linda Voss has zero sympathy for the German people suffering under the Nazi regime. What a heroine -- there's even a paragraph where she feels moderate pity for the suffering of orphaned German kids and old people made homeless by the Allied bombing but shrugs it off saying "they had it coming." This book and "The Unlikely Spy" probably go hand in hand for most inexplicable bestseller based on one of the worst periods of human history.
Rating:
Summary: Worst book ever written makes worst movie ever made
Review: Just for the record, the film version of "Shining Through" starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith, swept the Razzie Awards the year it was released. The Razzies are, of course, the Oscar awards for worst movie of the year. If memory serves, this got worst Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and script. The film follows the novel pretty faithfully except for the creation of a sympathetic German officer played by Liam Neeson who is absent from the book. Which brings us to the problem of the book: it's vile. Linda Voss has zero sympathy for the German people suffering under the Nazi regime. What a heroine -- there's even a paragraph where she feels moderate pity for the suffering of orphaned German kids and old people made homeless by the Allied bombing but shrugs it off saying "they had it coming." This book and "The Unlikely Spy" probably go hand in hand for most inexplicable bestseller based on one of the worst periods of human history.
Rating:
Summary: Here's a Cinderella story with a surprise.
Review: Linda Vos is a secretary to Wall Street's Dreamboat international lawyer John Berringer, with whom she is secretly and hopelessly in love. What chance does a poor girl from Queens have with a handsome, popular Ivy Leaguer? None at all, it would seem. However, circumstances lead to their marriage and both become undercover agents for the COI (later OSS) as WWII floods Europe. Linda, sympathetic to the plight of victims of Naziism, volunteers for a dangerous mission in Berlin where events lead her into heroic action. The picture of daily life in wartime Germany is especially interesting as is Isaacs's portrayal of the American espionage organization and the people who manned it. Susan Isaacs is never dull. Each book she writes is entirely different from the others as she challenges herself to grow as a writer. She never disappoints her readers as she leads them through adventurous stories in colorful settings with fascinating characters. SHINING THROUGH is a dynamic reading experience.
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