Rage of Angels

by Sidney Sheldon

I started reading this book 2 days ago and finished this morning. I must say Sheldon books always read like soap dramas, and they are really easy to read and finish. It was 500 pages but they are such quick books. Feels a bit like junk food, in the sense that you just keep munching and munching away and when you finish you still end up with a slightly empty feeling like you didn't eat much at all. The content doesn't feel all that feeling, but that doesn't mean that the ride wasn't entertaining.

This book is about Jessica Parker, a lawyer and she gets intertwined with the lives of Michael Moretti, a Mafioso and a Adam Warner, an aspiring lawyer and politician. Their lives become complicated when Jessica Parker struggles to hold her ideals while dealing with the reality of the real world.

Actually, I was 200 pages in when I asked myself whether I read this story before. Sheldon's story set ups are quite similar for most of his books and it read very much like other stories I have read from him. But about midpoint, I realised that no, I have never read this story. The pacing of the story is decent and character development is mainly focused on Jessica while less focus is given to the other characters. This isn't a criticism of character development, just an observation. As a whole, it just felt like a run-of-the-mill Sheldon story of a heroine's initial struggle, rise to power and eventual falling back in to reality. Nothing more and nothing less.

Windmills of the Gods

by Sidney Sheldon

This story is about Mary Ashley, a university professor who is selected by the newly-elected president of the United States to be the ambassador to communist-ruled Romania. This is during the time of the Eastern and Western blocs, when the Iron Curtain was a massive issue. Book 1 follows the story of Mary Ashley's journey from being a university professor to becoming the ambassador. Book two goes to her life in Romania, the challenges she face and the dangers that ensue. There are many political enemies to the US, and also more specifically to the new administration who do not want to see Mary succeed in opening Romania to the world. Some would even go to murder to achieve this end.

This book is as always thrilling. But in book one I really did not like the feeling of the book. Mary Ashley is portrayed as quite dumb and arrogant at times. I do believe she could be more independent and a stronger character. She is a university professor and would be more suited to be a stronger woman. Also her reason for selection did not seem to be carried through to her job role much. I get the feeling the reason she was chosen, because she was an expert in Eastern European politics did not play into the considerations and actions she made later on. This is sort of an overall criticism.

In book 2 the pace picks up more and all those criticisms though I think valid, I simply did not care anymore. The pace was thrilling and the action was wonderful. I love the political issues she were faced with and how she overcame them. At moments, they seem a bit self-serving, the issue and solution format but I do not really care. And of course the ending has a wonderful twist. So overall a lovely book.

Bloodline

by Sidney Sheldon

This is a story about the Roffe family, a wealthy family who owns a large pharmaceutical company. Their annual profit is more than that of several countries combined. Sam Roffe, president of the company has died in an accident while climbing Mont Blanc and the whole Roffe empire is now left to his only daughter, Elizabeth Roffe. There is increasing pressure on all the other Roffes to make the company go public. The other Roffes are desperate and would go to any length to make this happen...even murder.

So I just picked to read this now because felt like something pacey. And yes, it really was! I started reading Monday evening and finished Thursday. Actually i finished the last 200 pages in about 2-3 hours. So that's how riveting it was. It is typical Sheldon but I wanted much more from some of the characters, because they were such wonderful characters. And the ending could have been a bit more conclusive. Nonetheless, it was quite good.

One side note, I just realize that Sheldon novels are a lot like soap operas. I would say like novelas, because those are always so much more intriguing and the people are hotter. So I guess Sheldon's books are sort of like soap books. But I still like them.

memories of midnight

by sidney sheldon

Just finished this book yesterday. Took about a day. It was rather nice but not as nice as the first one. I did not feel the rich texture and the layers that I felt were present in the first book. Felt a bit left wanting more of something which I can't really put my finger on. If it was to use a food analogy, I'd say it satisfied the hunger satisfactorily but was not as delicious as what I hoped. Still the pace of the book was wonderful.

Alright, so. This book was more focused on Constantin Demiris, the Greek billionaire. He was raised from humble beginnings and had to work hard to rise in the world. His hunger was what drove him to succeed and become one of the richest and most powerful man in the world. He controls fleets of ships, aircrafts, properties around the world. Also owns oilfields, and under the table has control of officials, prime ministers and world leaders. This book looks into his dealings with the world and how Constantin is a person who remembers anyone who did him wrong and he pays them back a hundredfold. This is a double edged sword as he also treats people who has done him  right well. For instance a lady who took him in when he was little, was anonymously given a large property.

After the incident with Noelle Page however he starts to become unraveled and becomes an increasingly manic person. This is essentially the story Constantine and his revenge on the memory of Noelle Page.

the other side of midnight

by sidney sheldon

This book revolves around 2 women, Noelle Page and Catherine Alexander. Noelle is a girl from Marseille and Catherine an American. They have rather different upbringings but their lives eventually were intertwined when they at different times had fell in love with the same man, Larry Douglas. This story is set pre WWII to just post WWII.

Noelle is bent on revenge as Larry did not come back for her in Paris after agreeing to marry her and getting her pregnant. Noelle begins her revenge by killing the baby in her which she deems a part of Larry. She does not straight away get an abortion but waits 3 months whence the fetus would have already fully developed to know and feel things. After which she begins her plan of revenge on Larry by going on the path of being a successful actress to lure back Larry.

Catherine in the meantime is in American having moved to Washington to work in politics. She was assigned to manage a war effort movie to recruit the younger generation. There she meets RAF pilot Larry Douglas, where they fall in love and get married.

Noelle then becomes a very popular actress and becomes social royalty where she meets one of the wealthiest and most powerful man in the world, Constantine Demeris. She becomes his mistress and she begins her plan of revenge on Larry which leads to the intertwining of these three lives.

This book is very nice and wonderful. It is set in France, America and Greece. Very wonderful characters. Some twists that I did not see coming but in all honesty did not like to see coming. Also, did not want it to come. But it did and in the end the results are bittersweet. As a whole the book is riveting, took me 2-3 days to read. Now looking forward to the second book Memories of Midnight. I love Sidney Sheldon and will read everything he has written.

The Naked Face

by Sidney Sheldon

Finished reading this book on Sunday. Pretty good read but lacking a little of the excitement of his latter books. This was the first book written by Sidney. The progression of characters is a little jagged at times. Also, the growth of the antagonist was not very well-established. But as a whole a wonderful adventure, that was at times frustrating. You really feel for the character of what the hell is really going on, is it in his head or is it really going on. Feels like John Katzenbach's The Analyst, another book which I loved very much. That was more mental though, this was with more grit.

the other side of me

by Sidney Sheldon

Just finished this book last night. It is about Sidney Sheldon's life, from his upbringing to working on Broadway, movies, TV and finally books. Very good read and a very fascinating life.