When I started, I didn't know what to expect. The only thing I knew was that a friend of mine is obsessed with Sidney Sheldon's writings.

This is the first book I've read from this author. And I wasn't disappointed. Sidney Sheldon had a talent for story telling. Yes, the story kept me at the edge of my seat. Took me two days, almost three, to finish this. Which was good considering how hard I've been trying to finish other books lately. However, I wouldn't go as far as categorizing this as a thriller. A drama, maybe?

Loved it. 4 stars ;-)

I read a lot of non-fiction, and occasionally I need an escapist break. I've been trying and trying current "thrillers" which I keep finding to be derivative, badly written tripe. Why not try some older stuff that is unabashedly trashy? Books by these authors, like Sheldon and Harold Robbins, Irving Wallace, were all over the place when I was young but I was not allowed to read them, now I'm a grownup (technically) I can. And yes, this book was utterly, completely ridiculous but I did enjoy it. In fact, near the end when we find out a shocking thing

Spoiler

David's sister wasn't raped, he caught her having consensual sex with the Mexican gardener, stabs the poor man to death and has his sister committed to an insane asylum FOR LIFE. Now is that more sexist than racist, or more racist than sexist? Is it a draw? Had I not been overcome with laughter I might have decided

I actually shrieked and got a good five minute laugh out of it. Just great. Since these books were supposed to be "racy" there is a lot of sexual content meant to shock, I think, but it's all seems rather juvenile/crude now. Overall, very silly, but fun.

Twists and turns in the story good one to read

different

I borrow this book from a friend of mine. I was curious even though it’s an old book.


When I started reading this book, I was so confused. At first I thought the prologue had nothing to do with the whole story so it was weird for me to read it. And then I started the first part. It was amazing that in one book, a character’s whole life was in it. From the story of its parents, down to when he was still a baby and then growing up and then finally, the adult part. This book is something that I have never read before.


The main hero of the story is Toby Temple. I was laughing the whole time I was reading the part about Toby’s parents. I was actually wondering if the genre of this book is comedy instead of romance. It was a long story but it was worth reading. The book is about Toby’s journey into becoming the best actor in whole Hollywood. While I was reading this, I realized how hard a life of a growing star could be. Toby was a dreamer. He dreamt to be a superstar and became one. Although there are parts about him that I do not like. He doesn’t want to learn from anyone. He doesn’t want to be told what’s the right thing to do because he feels like he already knows He doesn’t accept corrections and sometimes criticism because for him, he’s always right. He’s a powerful actor in the book. No one messes with him because he can do everything to ruin you. But, even though Toby is the way he is, I admire him. Like I said, he’s a dreamer. And when he dreams, he will do anything to reach his dream. He could actually be an inspiration to people. I’ve learned a lot to Toby.



The heroine is Josephine Czinski or later known as Jill Castle. I like Josephine when she was still the Josephine from Odessa, Texas. Her love story with David Kenyon was actually romantic. Though after the part where she went out of Texas and went to Hollywood to become an actress, I didn’t like her then. She changed a lot just like what she actually want. She killed Josephine Czinski and reborn as Jill Castle. She became desperate in becoming an actress that she doesn’t use her brain anymore but her body instead. She’s a dreamer like Toby but she doesn’t have the wittiness and cunningness of Toby. She don’t analyze things, she just do it. I’m pretty sure if she just thought her plan through, a proper plan that is, she wouldn’t to give her body just to have a couple of scenes in a movie. Sure she’s attractive but she came out desperate to me. Hell bent to become a superstar but didn’t think thoroughly a magnificent plan. Meh.

I like the part where the prologue and the last chapter connects. At first, I thought the prologue isn’t needed but when I read the last chapter, I was so amazed. Like I’ve seriously never read a prologue and an end chapter connect like that. This is the first time. I know that the prologue of a story is the reason why there is a story in the first place. So sometimes I don’t get why there are other books that their prologue sound like a small prequel of the whole book. Old books have real magic.

The whole book was a good one. I’ve learned a lot of things in this book about show business. It’s not as easy as what people see in the monitor or magazines. It’s really hard especially when you’re just starting to become an official actress to a certain production. I’ve learned long ago never to judge a person according to its looks and life status. And now I know that you shouldn’t judge actors and actresses too. Because they may have an amazing life in front of a camera, they do have a very dark and ugly past behind it.


I would recommend this book to adults though. Because I think adults could understand and relate more to this book than young teens. But hey, if you want to read this then go ahead. It’s good, I’m telling ya.

A reread after what seems to be 11 or 12 years ago. A Stranger in the Mirror was one of my favourite Sheldon. Bumping it down to 3 stars now. This has got to be one of the most depressing books I've read.