Two sisters...and a war (Mirror Image - Danielle Steel)

Member Name: diamond_sparkles

Product:	Mirror Image - Danielle Steel
Date:	11/09/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of sisterly love and emotions

Disadvantages: Styling and structure could have used some polishing off

This has to be the most different Danielle book that I ever read. It also happens to be one of her best books- and I would put this down to the raw emotion that is depicted in the story. I have to say that the book cover is perfectly suited for the story: An optical illusion artwork that can depict the profile of two women. Usually I just open the book and dive straight into the story but it that case, I particularly admired the book cover and at that point, I had no idea to what extent the cover would enhance the plot as a whole!


PLOT:
The story is about the lives of two identical twin sisters, Olivia and Viola. One is wild and reckless, while the other is characteristically shy and somewhat demure. While the sisters are as different as can be, there is an amazingly strong bond that links them no matter what happens. However, with the turbulence of the First World War, certain incidents happen that might put their friendship to test. When a switch might just abruptly end up their bond, will the sisters manage to overcome difficulties and become best friends and sisters again? Danielle Steel delves deep into the shackles of human emotions to depict a brilliant relationship of love, strength and independence.


While the plot might sounds rather simple and straight to the point, I can assure you that the actual story is far from being so simple! She really delves extremely deeply into emotions; I have rarely seen an author paint so many vivid emotions in such little space. I would say that most of the spaces in the book are filled with feelings and emotions- there is quite a little amount of descriptive narration but the feelings are obviously given number one priority in this book.


This was a rather positive element for be because I could relate to many of the feelings thanks to the strong friendship that I have with my own sister. While the story explores identical twins, the description of such a bond and the sentimental aspect of the prose would encourage all sisters to relate to such a story. The plot is certainly filled to the core with new dramatic events and occurring but they seem to contribute towards enhancing the friendship that Danielle Steel depicts within the sisters.


The negative point that I have with this story, however is that the pace does not gradually quickens up to a climax. It rather seems that the sentences were going slowly, and the plot advancing at a normal pace when suddenly, everything just rushes up to build quite an unexpected climax. I would really have liked the book better if it had not been so suddenly rushed like that!


In addition, like I said, I loved the way and intensity in which Steel depicted sentiments, but I did not like her choice of words for these aspects. I think that her knack for providing details and feelings is really good since she dives deep into them but her choice of words were quite inappropriate: Some sentences are really extremely long and complicated with overly strong words. I think that this might somewhat hinder a reader's appreciation of the sisterly love depicted within the book.


Overall, I would say that his is extremely wonderful as a story but the styling could have used some polishing off. Recommended especially to those who have a sister, identical or not!


Thanks for reading!

Summary: Olivia and Viola are as different as can be