Echoes

Publisher's Summary

For the Wittgenstein family, the summer of 1915 was a time of both prosperity and unease, as the guns of war sound in the distance. But for eldest daughter Beata, it was also a summer of awakening. By glimmering Lake Geneva, the quiet Jewish beauty met a young French officer and fell in love. Knowing that her parents would never accept her marriage to a Catholic, Beata followed her heart anyway. As the two built a new life together, Beata's past would stay with her, and when Europe faces war once again, Beata must watch in horror as Hitler's terror threatens her family, even her daughter Amadea, who has taken on the vows of a Carmelite nun.

As family and friends are swept away without a trace, Amadea is forced into hiding. Thus begins a harrowing journey of survival, first in the Nazi death camps and then as she escapes into the heart of the French resistance and finds a renewed sense of purpose. In the darkest moments of fear, Amadea will feel her mother's loving strength as the voices of lost loved ones echo powerfully in her heart. Amadea will meet an extraordinary man, British secret agent Rupert Montgomery, who will help her discover her place in an unbreakable chain between generations...between her lost family and her future.

From the elegant rituals of Europe's prewar aristocracy to the brutal desperation of Germany's death camps, Danielle Steel draws us into a vanished world, weaving an intricate tapestry of a mother's love, a daughter's courage, and the unwavering faith that sustained them, even in history's darkest hour.

Bonus Feature: Fine Things by Danielle Steel, narrated by Richard Thomas
When Bernie Fine met 5-year-old Jane O'Reilly and her mother, Liz, he thought he had found love to last a lifetime. But when Liz is stricken with cancer shortly after the birth of their first child, time becomes painfully short. Bernie meets his fate with courage and humor, and learns some of life's hard but precious lessons as he does.

©2004 Danielle Steel (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Great Story, Great Narrator

This is an gripping story, start to finish. The story is rich with detail and description about the times and attitudes of the time. Simon Prebble's narration is wonderful. The voices are really welldone and give you the voice of each character. I'll not only buy more Danielle Steele books but stories narrated by Simon Prebble.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Echoes is an awesome reminder of our past!

Would you consider the audio edition of Echoes to be better than the print version?

I would imagine the print version would be just as good as the audio version and very hard to put down!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Behtta - a woman with class and dignity yet knows how to take a change. She knew how to love and be faithful to those she loved - no matter what.

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Simon Prebble was a great narrator - I didn't have one favorite as he was able to do a great job on all the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried in the middle due to sadness and cried for joy at the end. A wonderful feel-good kind of cry.

Any additional comments?

A wonderful story of the Holocaust and the victims it targeted - no matter how small or far. This story will leave the reader wanting more...in a good way!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Excellent

I have read hundreds of Danielle Steel books, this one was different, I really loved it!! The reader was really, really good. At first I wasn't sure because he had a accent and I was worried about understanding him well, It was no problem, he kept me intrigued the entire time!! I highly recommend this book!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Complete

This listen was complete for me. It is a saga that emcompasses family, romance, sacrifice, history, religion, tolerance, intolerance and so much more. The characters are very well developed. Keep in mind that it is a work of fiction and sometimes situations in the book have convenient and unrealistic outcomes, however it is still entertaining and interesting. Occasionaly Steel's books are light and can be a bit shallow for my taste, however this one was not one of those. It brought out emotion and had me looking forward to my walks so I could listen some more. I feel comfortable recommending this choice.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

My Best Audible Book So Far

I absolutely loved this one. I have not read Danielle Steel in years because I found her novels too predictable. This one was absolutely marvelous. There was not one slow minute in the book, I could not wait to drive somewhere, go to the gym, or clean my house so that I could listen to it.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

This has Everything

A book with a beginning a middle and an end full of human interest wonderfully narrated and a very good story transports you back in time and entertains as well.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Probably the best of Danielle Steel

This is, by far, our favorite Danielle Steel. In my opinion, she did a great job of developing characters with real depth. We listened to the book on a two day car trip. The story was so compelling that we actually stayed in the car at our destination to finish one of the chapters. My husband enjoyed it as much as I did!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I love it!!!

Great book.. I read it and listen this book...Fine Things is a very romantic book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

echoes

A wonderful Danielle Steele book that even my husband will enjoy. Not her typical book by any means.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Sorry, I really didn't like this book.

This book is incredibly shallow, and incredibly depressing. Virtually every character comes to a horrible end.

The writing has no depth, and is terribly repetitive.

This is the first negative review I've written in over 14 months of audible membership 'reading' at least 4 books a month.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

wonderful story

I love Danielle Steele. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed them all. The story was brilliant, I cried lots.

Loved it, gripped right from start

I loved this book. It gripped me right from the beginning & couldn’t put it down.

Brilliant

Was gripped from the Beginning, one of the best books I have listened to for a long time.

excellent story couldn't get to the last chapter

couldn't put the story down . excellent story line .kept me in suspense. Well read too