HONOR THYSELF
Author: Danielle Steel ISBN: 9780385340243 3/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: DELACORTE
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Carole Barber has come to Paris, with its rain-slick slate roofs and winding streets, to work on her novel—and to find herself after a lifetime in the spotlight. A legend of film and stage, Carole has set a standard of beauty and grace, devoting herself to her family and causes around the world. But on this cool November evening, as her taxi speeds into a tunnel just past the Louvre, a fiery instant of terror shatters hundreds of lives—and leaves Carole alone, unconscious and unidentified in a Paris emergency room.
At the Ritz, they wonder where their famous, incognito guest has gone. From California to London, Carole’s friends and family begin to make inquiries. Then comes a moment of shock as they all realize that Carole is far from home and fighting for her life.
In the days that follow, the paparazzi swarm. A mysterious stranger, a man famous in his own realm, quietly visits the hospital to see the woman he once loved and never forgot. Carole’s two grown children rush to her bedside, waiting and praying—until the miraculous begins to happen.…But as a woman who the whole world knows slowly awakens, she knows nothing of herself. Every detail must be pieced back together—from a childhood in rural Mississippi to the early days of her career, from the unintentional hurt inflicted on her daughter to a fifteen year-old secret love affair that went tragically wrong. But for Carole an extraordinary opportunity has arisen in a life-threatening crisis: a second chance to count her blessings, heal wounded hearts, recapture lost love… and to live a life that will truly honor others—beginning with herself. |
RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: 
HONOR THYSELF by Danielle Steel is a gripping story of loss, renewal and self-discovery. Carole Barber is in Paris to write a novel, but on a rainy night she suffers a tragic accident. She lives, but just barely. A respirator, a coma, and then, a gradual return to life make Carole’s journey torturous. Perhaps the hardest part is the loss of memory she suffers. She must rebuild not only her body, but her memories.
I loved this book. It is Danielle Steel at her best, with strong, heartwarming characters, smooth, rich dialogue and a plot that is both realistic and extraordinary. I loved watching Carole reassess her life, piece by piece. She has been gifted with a new chance to value the things that are most important to her. She begins by taking care of herself, then moves out to honoring those she loves. By the end of the novel, Carole Barber is at a point in her life that fills the reader with warmth and hope. Why hope? Because if this character can come through what she’s forced to endure and emerge to find herself in a better place, than there is hope, not just for Carole, but for everyone.
Kay James |