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The House (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,774 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The restoration of a majestic old home provides the exhilarating backdrop for Danielle Steel’s 66th bestselling novel, the story of a young woman’s dream, an old man’s gift, and the surprises that await us behind every closed door…. Perched on a hill overlooking San Francisco, the house was magnificent, built in 1923 by a wealthy man for the woman he adored. For her and for this house, he would spare no expense and overlook no detail, from the endless marble floors to the glittering chandeliers. Almost a century later, with the once-grand house now in disrepair, a young woman walks through its empty rooms. Sarah Anderson, a perfectly sensible estate lawyer, is about to do something utterly out of character. An elderly client has died and left her two gifts. One is a generous inheritance. The other, a priceless message: to use his money for something wonderful, something daring. And in this old house, surrounded by crumbling grandeur, Sarah knows just what it is. A respected attorney and self-described workaholic, Sarah had always lived life by the book. With a steady, if sputtering, relationship and a tiny apartment that has suited her just fine, Sarah cannot explain the force that draws her to the mansion and its history–to the story of a woman who once lived in the house, then mysteriously left it, to a child who grew up there, and a drama that unfolded in war-torn France…and to a history she never knew she had. Taking the biggest risk of her life, Sarah enlists the help of architect Jeff Parker, who shares Sarah’s passion for bringing the exquisite old house back to life. As she and Jeff work to restore the home’s every detail, as one relationship shatters and another begins, Sarah makes a series of powerful discoveries: about the true meaning of a dying man’s last gift…about the extraordinary legacies that are passed from generation to generation…and about a future she’s only just beginning to imagine. In a novel of daring and hope, of embracing life and taking chances, Danielle Steel brilliantly captures one woman’s courageous choice to pour herself into a dream–and receive its gifts in return.
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"I really enjoyed House Girl by Tara Conklin. The subject matter (reparation for blacks/African Americans) is one that I've always been interested in...but this is the first time, I'm aware, that it's ever been taken on in a novel. Conklin wrote parrallel stories, one that transported us back to the 1800 when slavery was still alive and well, the other during modern day. The transitions were seamless and it was easy to flashback or move forward without getting lose. I must admit I'm generally pissed and upset when I read about slavery, especially the horrors of it all as far as my ancestors were concerned. And Conklin didn't disappoint...I felt a range of emotions (actually rage) as I read the stories of Josephine, Lewis, Boo, Lula and all the others who came before them or experienced the same cruelty. I'm not sure I know of any other group of people who were tramautized and treated as poorly as black folks in America...who have NOT been paid reparations. To which I say, why not and for how long do we have to wait? Actually, why do black folks always have to wait! Thankfully, I'm not waiting as I don't believe, at least during my lifetime, that the US will ever make good on this matter. House Girl was engaging, informative and enlightening. I listened to the audiobook(which was 14 hours long) and finished it in two days because it was such a compelling read. I highly recommend House Girl to those who enjoy historical fiction and books about strong women of color as well as book clubs as this is a book that will make for a great discussion and one that you will probably think about long after you've read. My only disappointment was the ending...I felt like the author punked out...since it was fictional I believe a more unpredictable ending could have been written...in this case it would have been okay to take creative license to explore and travel a different road."
— Yasmin (4 out of 5 stars)
The House Listener Reviews
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" Beautifully written, very moving story! Highly recommend! "
— Jessica, 2/9/2014 -
" This book is about two women, born years apart, Lina, an attorney, and Josephine, a slave and house girl. Some may find the dual narration cumbersome, but I liked it. Good story. I just had a couple of problems with the premise of the story and the connection(or lack thereof)between the two girls. Overall, definitely worth the read. Fans of The Kitchen House would like it. "
— Karen, 1/24/2014 -
" I keep vacillating between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I really enjoyed it, but at the same time everything was just a little too neat and tidy, especially for the subject matter (slavery). It was a compelling read, though. "
— Leslie, 1/17/2014 -
" I enjoyed this book from the beginning and was captivated by the character of Josephine. The switching back and forth from one time period to another was disconcerting at first but as the story developed- they fit together seamlessly and enhanced each other. I highly recommend this book. "
— Chris, 1/15/2014 -
" This was a pretty interesting book. It mixed several very different themes and stories into one and surprisingly made it all come together. Not the best book I ever read, but a pleasant read. "
— Teresa, 1/13/2014 -
" This book was fantastic. It sucked me in and I couldn't put it down! Highly recommend. "
— Cameronne, 12/28/2013 -
" Loved it. It is our March Book Club pick and I can't wait to discuss! "
— Tracy, 12/27/2013 -
" Enjoyable read. The author is telling two stories throughout the novel and I felt she did a good job of it. I learned some things, felt emotion on many levels and liked the characters overall. Worth the time! "
— Deb, 12/26/2013 -
" Wonderful historical fiction novel. Great story/mystery. "
— Lynn, 12/13/2013 -
" Okay. Mediocre writing, no one ever told the author verbs are better than similes. Characters flat, you don't ever feel they are real. Plot was good enough to keep reading but just barely at times. "
— Mandy, 12/8/2013 -
" I thought this was a good book. It intertwines two stories one of a young lawyer in NYC that starts working on a case involving slavery and the story of a slave Josephine. I did the audio book and thought it was well done. It keeps you engaged and you want to find out how it all ends up. "
— Eileen, 11/15/2013 -
" 3.5 stars really. I won't miss any I the characters but I enjoyed watching the novel unfold. "
— Molly, 8/5/2013 -
" I finished it but it was really slow going. "
— Cindy, 5/14/2013 -
" A great book, but the ending was missing. Great run up to what should have been a satisfying finish, and you are just left there with more questions. "
— Autumn, 7/16/2012 -
" It's a good story, and it made me think. "
— Barbara, 5/15/2012 -
" At the outset I was really enjoying this book. A very compelling premise! Unfortunately not enough happened. It was an interesting book but felt like a missed opportunity. The plot fell flat, the ending abrupt. I had hoped for more. "
— Donna, 3/25/2012 -
" I loved this book! Good story. Couldn't put it down! "
— Margaret, 12/23/2011 -
" I absolutely adored this book. It reads flawlessly. While I was incensed at the appalling abuse and torture visited upon African Americans in the south, the rich story of the book is ultimately hopeful. This is a story I won't soon forget. "
— MaryAnn, 10/27/2011 -
" This was a good book - engaging and interesting to read. I liked it. "
— Elise, 6/24/2011 -
" I have been reading a lot of YA fiction so trying to read an adult book was next to grueling. I liked the plot (I liked the Josephine story better than the Lina one) but I was just waiting for something to happen "
— Angel, 6/18/2011 -
" A rich story, beautifully rendered. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in slavery, the rights and roles of women, art, or who enjoy historical fiction. "
— Jennifer, 6/16/2011 -
" good book. hadn't read Danille Steel in quite some time. "
— Gail, 6/12/2011 -
" Loved reading about fixing up an old house in this book "
— Dragonfly, 5/24/2011 -
" Bad language throughout, and the plot was only ok. "
— Jaylene, 5/12/2011 -
" Danielle Steel's 66th bestselling novel is the story of a young woman's dream, and an old man's gift, and everything that happens between.Beautiful story. "
— Sue, 5/9/2011 -
" It's been years since I've read a Danielle Steele book. I used to read her books all the time. But I'm sorry I picked this one up. It was so predictable and the writing was so repetitive. "
— Shonna, 2/17/2011 -
" Fast, perdictable reading, but always entertaining "
— Deborah, 1/10/2011 -
" Snooze. I read this book for lack of anything else to read. I don't understand how Steel is so popular, I found this book predictable, a waste of time, and Steel's writing very trite. "
— Crystal, 11/22/2010 -
" It was sweet, easy read for the road trip to Savannah. Typical Danielle Steel, I had not read one in a very long time. "
— Joanne, 11/5/2010 -
" This is the worst book in the history of mankind. I want 4 hours of my life back. "
— Jennifer, 9/8/2010 -
" Another rather idealistic/surreal novel by Steel but one to get lost in and have to keep reading until you finish. How she keeps putting out more novels is beyond me. I guess its like musicians who continue to create music. Have needed to read lighter fare and enjoyed The House. "
— Barbara, 6/22/2010 -
" Second book I've read from Danielle Steel. I loved reading about the house itself and I would recommend it. It's cool to see how things come together at the end. OH and it's always good to see the girl get rid of her loser boyfriend. "
— Asako, 6/16/2010 -
" I thought I would try this one because it was free. But I gave up about half way through. It was predictable (as predicted) contrived and down right annoying. <br/>Why this woman has sold so many books is a mystery to me. Yuck! "
— Hayley, 6/8/2010
About Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include many acclaimed novels. She is also author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
About Erik Singer
Erik Singer’s theatrical credits include the title role in The Hostage (off Broadway), A Life in the Theatre, Greetings!, and national tours of Othello and The Taming of the Shrew. He has also appeared on All My Children and As the World Turns, and was the voice of Vincent van Gogh in the A&E Biography about Van Gogh and Gauguin. His audiobook narration has twice won him the AudioFile Earphones Award.