A great example of escapist literature, “Amazing Grace†by Danielle Steel can be compared to “Sweet and Low†because it sweetens a reader’s casual life, but leaves a bitter taste afterward.
Warning: thoughtful readers, stay away. Formula fiction lovers only. These people will enjoy the novel immensely, as it is full with over-dramatized emotions, over-idealized characters and an inevitable happy ending for everyone except for the “bad guys†and you. The only thing you get out of the book is having something to do in your leisure time. If that is what you are looking for, this is the perfect choice for a couple of winter evenings in an armchair with a snuggie.
Indeed, the first thing that draws the reader into the book is the setting. All the action takes place in San Francisco during a major earthquake. The natural disaster, of course, ends up being life-changing for several important characters. The author refers back to the earthquake that affected San Francisco in 1906, as the catastrophe she describes occurs on its 100th anniversary. An interesting aspect of the book is the reaction of the local administration. A shelter is organized in Presidio and many people volunteer to help the injured. There is no electricity; cell phones do not function, and there is no way to leave the city, as major bridges have been severely damage and it is not yet safe for planes to land there.
What an unfortunate situation, especially if you have just transferred 60 million dollars to your bank account hoping to get investors and you know that if the amount will not be sent back within two days, you are likely to go to jail for a long time.
Other people have problems as well. Seth Sloane and his wife Sarah their marriage and happy life is ruined by the earthquake, for other characters, it is a change for better. As all the effort is put into dealing with the disaster, two women, Melanie Free and sister Maggie Kent, discover their true callings. For Melanie, who is an amazing singer, helping people is something she always wanted to do and she happily volunteers to take care of the injured, while Maggie, who is a nun, finds love in the middle of the catastrophe.
However, no matter how good the setting is, the development of the characters is pretty weak and unnatural. For example, when Sarah finds out that her husband committed a major financial fraud, the only thing on her mind is that she didn’t know her husband well, or to be exact, that she had no idea how dishonest he was. With two kids, no job and unclear future, this should not be the thing to worry about the most. Also, when Maggie faces a conflict between her being a nun and falling in love, the happy ending is unbelievable.
Out of all characters, Melanie seems to be the closest to reality. She is in her late teens, and she is very naïve and simple. Despite the fact that her mother pushes her to pursue her career, she is not thrilled to be famous. The earthquake is eye-opening for her. She discovers that her boyfriend is a bad guy when she sees him drinking all the time and finally finds him in bed with her best friend. Fortunately, while being a volunteer, she meets a good-hearted guy who is, of course, neither rich nor famous, and is disapproved by Melanie’s mother.
As the relationship between Melanie and her new boyfriend develops, there are lots of kisses here and there, which adds some romance to the novel. Hence, romance fans, here is a piece for you as well.
However, romance is not the most important in this book. A lot of attention is given to such virtues as giving, honesty and loving. The author shows that there are a lot of people who are ready to help others without getting something in return, and there are also plenty of villains who take advantage of the goody-goodies. Unfortunately, in real life there is no clear division, and a person who does good deeds may be nasty or unfair towards others. For that reason, “Amazing Grace†is annoying because it’s so clearly black and white.
Whereas the morals are irritating, the plot is quite interesting, and the readers can’t stop following the chain of events. They rush to find out what happens with the characters in the end, and the novel is an easy read, as it flows perfectly. A quick reader may finish the book in a day or two depending on the time allowance.
But the major problem is: will he or she remember the morals that don’t exist in the real world? There are no perfect people amongst us, so do we want to see them in books because they make us dream and believe that there is justice in the world? Except for newly discovered castles in the air, there is nothing one can carry away from the book, and therefore “Amazing Grace†is meaningless for a thoughtful reader.
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