Nov 13, 2003 12:00 AM
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(Updated Nov 23, 2003 02:48 AM)
What would you do if you worked towards something all through your life and finally when you achieve it you realise that this is not what you wanted?
What would you do if the man you trusted your life with, betrays your trust?
What would you do if the love of your life chooses your friend over you?
What would you do when you realise that even though you are the richest and the most powerful person you still can be manipulated?
What would you do when you realise that there is a very thin line of demarcation between love and hate, that it’s not very difficult to hate the love of your life?
The above are few of the zillion questions that popped up in my mind when I read “The other side of midnight”
Noelle Page is someone who lived in an illusion. When she was a kid her father made her believe that she was a princess. She presumed her father to be the best man to have walked the earth, she adored him, respected him and above all loved him but it was not long before when she realised that she was not a princess on the other hand she was the daughter of a man who did not think twice before selling her for a few bucks.Thus the bubble that Noelle dwelled in bursted with a prick of reality.
After being betrayed by the first man she ever trusted Noelle swore to take advantage of her magnificence to amass all the possible wealth and to become a princess in her own way.To realise this dream Noelle runs away from home.
After coming out of the state of deception which her father had created Noelle now meets Larry Douglas, a pilot by profession blessed with the looks and charm which make women fall for him and men envy him. Not surprisingly Noelle falls in love with Larry who leaves her after promising to walk down the aisle with her. Noelle pregnant with Larry’s child who had the delusion that Larry loved her woke up to reality only to realise that Larry’s betrayal filled her heart with intense odium for the man whom she had once loved. Now Noelle is consumed by a solitary objective of obliterating Larry.
Catherine Alexander is a beauty with sharp brains and an amazing sense of humour, someone who’s past was sans the bright colours of life. She drops out of the college in search of better prospects and ends up working for Bill Fraser, one of the most eligible bachelors around. Eventually Catherine and Bill fall in love with each other but their love doesn’t last long. Catherine meets Larry whom she hates at first sight only to fall in love with him. Catherine and Larry get married. Being a good wife and pleasing Larry becomes Catherine’s sole purpose of life. Will the transformation from Catherine Alexander to Catherine Douglas colour her world happy?
Noelle carefully lives a life based on a strategy which would help her amass all the possible power and wealth. She spends her life manipulating men to help her achieve her dreams and this conniving attribute of Noelle helps her become a successful actress and there upon she progresses to become the mistress of Constantin Demiris – The richest and the most powerful man. Demiris - an instinctive person who has his own way of showing his gratitude and wrath. Noelle finally through Demiris gets back in touch with Larry who works as a pilot for Demiris. What happens when Noelle meets Larry after such a long gap? No amount of imagination will prepare the reader for this meeting of theirs.
After meeting Larry, Noelle goes through a roller coaster of emotions and suddenly her priorities change. Her hatred gives place to her passion and she along with Larry plan to kill Catherine Douglas. Now what happens to Catherine Douglas, Does she escape death or is she punished for making the mistake of falling in love with the wrong person?
The other side of midnight is a cauldron filled with love, hate, anger, passion, lust and revenge. Noelle’s step by step progress towards attaining her goal is very interesting. Not once would you detest this eccentric machinator.
Larry Douglas’ character is projected in such a way that you wouldn’t imprecate him for the kind of womaniser he is. His behaviour is both understandable and justified. He is the kind of guy who would teach you to love and to hate but someone who could never learn the art of emotions. If there was something that Larry could understand it was lust but women around him made the mistake of expecting more from him.
Demiris, you would like him for his astute yet fair method of dealing with people. He can get really mean but you still end up admiring him. His power is so brilliantly shown in the book that you just can’t help but awe at his muscle.
Bill Fraser, this is one guy you would really feel sorry for, Someone who stands by Catherine through the thick and thin not expecting anything in return and yes his expectation were met.
Catherine caught up in a mess for no mistake of hers. Her innocence, her faith in Larry, her desperate attempts to save her marriage make you commiserate with her.
The climax of the story is the best part of the book. Totally unpredictable it gives the story a kind of twist that is beyond the readers’ imagination.
No review can justify this book. You got to read it to realise what emotions can do to you.
Btw keep those comments flowing...I just love them :-)
