A Tale Of Two Women. Review on Other Side Of Midnight, The - Sidney Sheldon

Exams over, nothing to do . . . . gone visiting the newest supermarket in the city, and purchased this book on a friend’s recommendation. And after finishing it, I’m not regretting!!!!!!

My previous experience with Sydney Sheldon was very limited; in fact, I had read only one book by him before this one -- Master Of The Game, two years ago, on the same friend’s recommendation. And that was a total spellbinder. This book, although not as exciting, definitely falls in the same prestigious league - a fast paced, intriguing tale with a fascinating climax.

The whole narrative is filled with sudden, unpredictable twists as it follows the journey of two women, Catherine Alexander and Noelle Page, from their birth to . . . . . well, to the most significant happenings of their lives. And throughout this journey you will encounter characters that are totally believable and mightily interesting. All the characters are different than one another in their words and actions and way of thinking -- having their own identities. You will feel like you actually know them.

Catherine is frustrated by her looks and really hates her mirror. Her adolescence is portrayed especially well. Scenes like where she thinks there must be a law against being a virgin in Washington when she finds out that the FBI is investigating her, and where she goes out of her way to invite a boy for a night with her, are simply hilarious.

Noelle Page is totally different; a woman betrayed by her father (who sold her to the highest bidder), betrayed by her boyfriend (an American Pilot who spends a few nights with her and then goes off to war and forgets all about the “young, eager girl”); a woman determined to fight back. She uses her beauty and brains to attain great success, from being a smalltime model to becoming a world famous movie star. Her hatred and courage - especially in the scenes with the German Gestapo Officers, will make you bite your nails.

And their lives are controlled by a Greek Tycoon, Constantine Demeris, who is probably the richest and the most influential man alive and has a surprisingly complex mind. He can make or break a man in an instant, and is not afraid to wield the power he holds in his hands.

The story starts in a courtroom -- that is the Prologue -- and gives you a glimpse of the main characters. The rest of the book introduces them one by one, and I was fascinated every time a character was introduced who was mentioned in the prologue. I went back to the beginning, read about the character there and tried to guess what is going to happen next, and failed.

The only thing I find a little bit offending is the description of the lovemaking scenes. The necessity of bed scenes in a novel like this is understandable, and no doubts they help forward the storyline, but I felt that the description could have been a little less graphic.

So, time for conclusion. Definitely it is one of the most gripping books I have read, and has a powerful narrative and entrancing storyline. I won’t say un-putdownable, because I finished it over a span of one and a half weeks. But I must confess, whenever I got free time during those days, I felt attracted to this book.

At only Rs.140, I find it a total Paisa-Wasool. My advice : read it.