Mirror Image

Rating:
Summary: A reflection of the soul
Review: I have written several comments for Amazon.Com. regarding novels by Ms.Steel which I have read. Each time I have admitted that her books are enjoyable to me as they offer a nice diversion from the many serious, well-written novels by other novelists. I think of Danielle Steel as a novelist I like to read in-between tackling more challenging ones - like when one wants to watch a TV movie. In "Mirror Image" I have to admit I was pleased with the ending for it wasn't wrapped up in a nicely neat fairy-tale ending. I hope Ms. Steel continues to write more realistic conclusions. However, much of "Mirror Image" was disappointing. The story of Olivia and Victoria, two identical, mirror image twins, with two very different personalities takes a long time to progress. Victoria scandalizes the family by having an affair with a married man and her father, in order to rectify the family name, forces her to marry a man she does not love, but whom her twin sister loves. Much of what follows is predictable and it is not until Victoria goes to Europe to help with the war that "Mirror Image" becomes interesting. Ms. Steel is not a great writer; therefore, it is her story-telling capabilities which sets her apart from other romance writers and which always keeps this reader enthralled. Unfortunately, "Mirror Image" did not move - it just coasts along. Not one of Ms. Steel's best efforts but, as I said before, I hope she continues writing endings like this one.

Rating:
Summary: How many volumes did it speak?
Review: Note to self: The magazine aisle in the supermarket is NOT a good place to buy books. Because that's where I got this one. To be honest, the first half (pre-bad twin flits off to war) wasn't bad (for a DS book). Sure, it was corny as hell and if you hadn't caught on to the fact that the main characters (identical twins - one of whom is the Standard DS character, the other of whom is selfish and spoiled) were wildly beautiful and MIRROR IMAGES of each other, you'd have to be a moron - but it was the typical, brainless fare.

Then it got insulting. Danielle wrote the personalities of the twins to be so far-flunggedly removed from each other to seem ridiculous - and then devoted paragraphs telling the reader which twin was which. Just beat me over the head with a 2x4 a little more, Danielle.

And when you're done, for the sweet love of Jeebus, get yourself a new catchprase! I don't know HOW many times the phrase "...spoke volumes..." was in this book - I guess I lost count. Their beauty spoke volumes, their individuality spoke volumes, their toenail clippings spoke volumes. As I think about it, perhaps this is a subtle little trademark of Danielle's that she uses in all her books...

Rating:
Summary: Open this novel & let your emotions flow!
Review: So many people on Amazon gave this book a bad rating, so when I picked this book up I was almost afraid to read it. But I am so glad I did. This book starts out only one year after the Titanic tragically sinks. We meet Olivia and Victoria Henderson, two strikenly beautiful mirror image twins. One could not tell one from the other. Olivia is the calm and surreen one where as Victoria is the wild feminist. After a visit to New York, Victoria disgraces her good name. Her father becomes so horribly enraged and forces her to marry a man she didn't love. A man meant for her sister Olivia. His wife had died on the Titanis and he was left taking care of his little boy. This book will take you to New York all the way to war ravaged France. You will laugh and cry and look at life in a whole new beautiful day. This novel will make you love yourself and love the simple blessings you are granted. Don't let yourself pass this book up. Embrace it and love it like a beautiful child. Let the words speak to your heart and soul. And along the way LEARN! You will love this book.

Rating:
Summary: A weak read
Review: Story of Olivia and Victoria Henderson, mirror image twins growing up during World War I. Olivia and Victoria are completely identical, so much so that no one can tell them apart, not even Victoria's husband, Charles. When Victoria decides she wants to head off to Europe to serve as a volunteer for the war effort, Olivia takes her place as Charles' wife. I haven't read Danielle Steel since Star, mostly because she seems to have lost her ability to capture her readers. The first 20 pages of Mirror Image is a hodge-podge of explanations and repetitive paragraphs. How many pages does it take to know that these glorious, beautiful twins are identical? In addition, I felt nothing for the characters. Victoria was too selfish, Olivia was too passive and Charles, what little we had to go on other than he lost his wife on the Titanic, was too dull. Danielle needs to take another look to alleviate the glaring inconsistencies this book dishes out, not to mention incorrect grammer usage. Please, no Sunday night movie of this one.

Rating:
Summary: Not her best...
Review: The plot itself made me want to read this book. I found it intriguing how it revolved around a pair of beautiful twins who are identical only in appearance. The fact that Victoria had an affair with a married player causes her father to engage her to Charles. However, Olivia is obviously the one suited to him. She's the one who finds him respectful and whom adores his child. The new engagement is convenience only on both parts of the party. There is no love. Victoria marries to cover the scandal of the affair and Charles needs a mother for his child. Victoria eventually convinces Olivia to switch. She wants to go to the battlefields. Victoria sinks in a ship but later is discovered that she is actually alive. From that point on, both the twins find love. And voila, you got the plot.

And yet, it was just so poorly written at times!(the first half anyway). There were many times where Danielle Steel kept talking about 1)how identical they looked 2)how beautiful they were 3)how Charles felt Victoria was more wild and fiesty. 4)how ppl kept staring at their remarkable beauty. It just started getting corny after a while and I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I get the point after the first 5 times...

I love Danielle Steel's books but this one isn't as good as some of her others. For another book with almost identical plot, I suggest reading 'Deceptions' by Judith Michael.

Rating:
Summary: Mirror Image
Review: This was a fast read, as many of Danielle Steels books are. This book was about two sisters that had completly different out looks on life, but look identical "Mirror Image", as the book states numersous times. The sisters played harmless tircks on friends and family because no-one could tell them apart but a maid. But as they got older Victoria found a love that could ruin the family name and her father forced her to marry a man with a good name and forced her to forget about her trouble relation ship. Victoria tried as hard as she could to love the man her father demanded her to marry. Well Victoria asks her sister Olivia to take her place in her marriage so she can go off and support womans rights... little did Victoria know that Olivia secretly had feelings for Charles. And now I will let you learn the rest for yourself.

The book all in all was great. I didn't like the way they kept reminding you that the two girls were identical but had very, very differnt opinions on life. It was as if they didn't bring it up every chapter we might forget. I would definitally recommend this book.