Star [Paperback]

The main heroine is despicable. You might argue, why does this deserve a one-star rating? Because whenever I take my time to read the book, I want to sympathize with the characters and *especially* the main character, who I will be following throughout the whole book. Sadly, in Star's case, it is only the contrary that happens.

Theoretically, one who read the book would claim this description is absolutely far-fetched. One would claim she is a tragic heroine with a dark and troubled past, even more so when she is raped by a relation. One would claim she ran into the big world with only herself to survive. If she had any bad points in her character, then the book made sure not to stress on them. The book paints her to be a matryr, like some reviewers have pointed out. This is evident from the moment you turned the first page. We are meant to sympathize and feel with her character, and I'm sure a whole lot did, but for me, it does nothing more than to make me smile and think about Steel's other heroines and whether or not they have made cameos in disguise. Of course, this is only the first few chapters so I am more than willing to give the book a chance to develop her character more.

The book progressed on, and there was nothing remote about her that changed. It takes a likable character to get absorbed into a story like that, and she is no likable character. Her portrayal as the beautiful woman who captured the hearts of everything that moves is exasperating, tenfolds more when the book kept stressing it continuously up to the point when I actually took out my temper on my cat, the poor soul. In this new world she is in, help is delivered readily. I can tell you, from my experience, that there is a fine line between fantasy and reality. But of course, this is a book - anything could happen as the author wishes it to be. It is hard to enjoy the rest of the book when it is revolved around this heroine. I would think staring blankly at a moss-painted wall would offer more enticement than listening to other side characters moan about her smooth beauty. Side characters that have potential to be more but, unfortunately, never explored deeper, I might add. What else is there to say about them, when all they did was play the roles of the heroine's helplers and marvel at her weak frame?

John Grisham's creations are a marvel. Sidney Sheldon's heroines jump into the most unlikely situations, but they are likable. Nora Roberts might be wordy but her leads are tolerable. Nicholas Sparks fall into those categories. Danielle Steel's other books might've been bestsellers, from what I've seen, but reading Star or well, Princess Diaries, I'm sure it's quite evident how I feel about the book.