Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
167th out of 674 books
—
1,009 voters
Shining Through
by
Susan Isaacs (Goodreads Author)
It's 1940 and Linda Voss, legal secretary extraordinaire, has a secret. She's head over heels in love with her boss, John Berringer, the pride of the Ivy League. Not that she even has a chance--he'd never take a second look at a German-Jewish girl from Queens who spends her time taking care of her faded beauty of a mother and following bulletins on the war in Europe. For L...more
Paperback, 464 pages
Published
July 3rd 2000
by HarperTorch
(first published 1988)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,749)
What happens when Cinderella gets her prince? More than you'd think, in this wonderful WWII historical novel -- part romance, part spy thriller -- by Susan Isaacs, one of my favorite writers (this is her only historical; her others are contemporary).
Linda Voss is a thirtyish, half-Jewish secretary in a New York law firm, madly in love with her boss, John Berringer, who's married to Nan Leland, the daughter of Edward Leland, a senior partner in the law firm. When Nan leaves John for another man,...more
Linda Voss is a thirtyish, half-Jewish secretary in a New York law firm, madly in love with her boss, John Berringer, who's married to Nan Leland, the daughter of Edward Leland, a senior partner in the law firm. When Nan leaves John for another man,...more
Compromising Positions was Susan Isaacs' first novel. She's since written many since then. All of them are entertaining. A couple have been made into pretty bad movies. My favorites are Compromising Positions, Close Relations, Almost Paradise, and Shining Through, which is really worth reading. It's interesting and entertaining and contains one of the best opening paragraphs (3 paragraphs to be exact) that I've ever read. I've quoted them below.
In 1940, when I was thirty-one and an old maid, wh...more
In 1940, when I was thirty-one and an old maid, wh...more
Set in the 1940s, this novel shows us the divide in the business world of women's role as secretaries and companions and the men's role as lawyers and thinkers. Women aren't given much credit for an ability to think. The main character, Linda Voss, breaks through that mold, obsessed with the rise of Hitler and making perspicacious conclusions about his impact on Europe and the world. But none of the women want to listen to that (they are more interested in gossip and fashion) and the men won't l...more
If I have to know where my book is all the time I rate it a 5. Because the personality of the main character is quite unique, I didn't know what she was going to do next. I suppose some of the story line is somewhat predictable but I was so entranced in reading the words right in front of me I really didn't speculate the course of what was to come.
I enjoy books set in WWII. For all it's hideous nature, it was a time that found ordinary people thinking about how they could aid the war effort. Esp...more
I enjoy books set in WWII. For all it's hideous nature, it was a time that found ordinary people thinking about how they could aid the war effort. Esp...more
Not a horrible read once I got about 50 or so pages into it, but up until then I was pretty bored. Ultimately I guess I didn't really care that much for the heroine, nor her voice as narrator.
I felt like the book had an identity crisis. At first you just see a fairly smart girl with a hopeless crush, then you wade through a foolish office romance, then you take a deeper look into romantic and familial relationships, then suddenly you're reading an adventure/spy novel, and finally it turns out it...more
I felt like the book had an identity crisis. At first you just see a fairly smart girl with a hopeless crush, then you wade through a foolish office romance, then you take a deeper look into romantic and familial relationships, then suddenly you're reading an adventure/spy novel, and finally it turns out it...more
First and foremost, this is a romance novel. So if those aren't your cup of tea, skip it. Having said that, romance novels are not my cup of tea, and yet I really enjoyed this one. It was very slow for the first two thirds, but I found myself enjoying the character development and the dialogue. The last third was spy thriller, but still fun. And the relationships felt truthful and funny and real. Oh, and the sex was not graphic, which I also appreciated. I don't think I'd read another one of her...more
Oh, what a book, and oh, what a heroine. There's nobody quite like Linda; a Jewish-German secretary from Queens with a foul mouth, a wry sense of humor, and enough steel in her spine to build a bridge cable. Linda works for movie-star-handsome Wall Street lawyer John, fantasizing about her boss by day and taking care of her alcoholic mother by night, as Hitler rises in Europe. A passionate love affair and an unplanned pregnancy lead to a marriage proposal from John, but this fairy tale doesn't e...more
The story is narrated by Linda Voss, a sassy and smart secretary from Queens who works for a top Wall Street law firm. She falls madly in love with her boss, John Berringer, and after his divorce, becomes his next conquest. Through John, she meets Ed Leland, a lawyer who also works in counterintelligence. When the U.S. becomes involved in the war, Linda is compelled to do everything she can to help, partly due to the fact that she is half Jewish, so she takes a job as Ed's secretarial translator...more
This is one of the most boring books I've ever read! The movie, however, is soooo much better and one of my favorites. I saw the movie first and then decided to read the book and I'm glad I did because if I'd read the book first, I probably would have never seen the movie. It was like the director read the book. liked the premise of the book but had to totally rewrite the script to make the movie much more interesting. I highly recommend the movie! The book -- not so much!
Feb 27, 2009
Deb
added it
Nazis, spys, trains, romance, suspense. What more need I say? This book was good! And I loved the movie. when they play "I'll be seeing you" and Melanie Griffith sees Michael Douglas with another woman. She didn't act like it didn't bother her, she was just honest and had tears in her eyes. It brings to mind that quote from "Sound of Music" There's nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him. Don't know if it's true, but it ought to be.
I've read this several times, seen the movie , and have this on tape. The movie is good, but doesn't follow the book. The absolute best book and audio book ever.
You won't believe how good Stockard Channing is as the book's reader for the audio book. She's witty and snappy, just like the main character in the book.
Melanie Griffith was so wrong for the part it was unbelievable. She has a baby voice, which couldn't be further from the author's wishes.
You won't believe how good Stockard Channing is as the book's reader for the audio book. She's witty and snappy, just like the main character in the book.
Melanie Griffith was so wrong for the part it was unbelievable. She has a baby voice, which couldn't be further from the author's wishes.
I've always enjoyed Susan Isaacs' contemporary writing, so I figured a historical novel by one of my favorite authors would be a sure thing. And it almost was... there but for lack of a good editor. This book would be better if it were shorter; it reads at times (especially early on) like a first draft, with many ideas repeated in different ways. But it's a good story, and a fascinating inside look at intelligence during WWII.
I have to be in the mood for an Isaacs read- I really enjoyed this book [it was actually a reread for me] so I must of been in the mood. Had a 4 hour train ride and this kept me entertained the whole time. Easy reading with a good plot- I like the WWII stories, you can really appreciate how technology has changed since then. Will be able to pass this one on to my mom-in-law.
Linda Voss, a secretary falls in love with her boss, John Berringer. He turns out to be a wonderful looking man but has no character. Even so, she continues to love him. The story takes place in the late 1930's just before the start of World War II. Their life together takes many interesting twists and Linda is the one who turns out to have a lot of character.
This is a beautifully-written novel with an interesting premise. It isn't my favorite Susan Isaacs book (that honor belongs to "Anywhere I Hang My Hat") but it's a good one. The story is kind of outlandish, but not totally implausible. Ms. Isaacs often puts unlikeable characters in her stories (a brave move) and she's got a few in here. But the main character is very likeable, and extremely brave. If you're a WWII buff, or like recent historical fiction, you'd probably enjoy this story.
GREAT READ. This is the story of a bilingual German-English secretary in New York at the outbreak of WWII. She was in love with her boss, "a cliche with a #2 pencil." She ends up in Berlin as a cook/spy in a high-placed Nazi's house. You will stand up and cheer at the climax of the book. I'd read the phone book is Susan Isaacs wrote it.
I started reading this book when I was a teenager, and I have read it every couple of years since then. I like Susan Isaacs's sense of humor, but this is my favorite of her stories because of the historical slant (it's set during WWII). Smart and determined main character and some of the best dialogue I've ever read.
Suspenseful tale of a surprising spy in World War II who goes to Germany trying to obtain information as she speaks fluent German. I really love this novel and have read it quite a few times as it always draws me in. Susan Isaacs usually writes deterctive stories in present day, but this one is her best effort.
I hadn't read Susan Isaacs since the '80s (or was it the '70s)with Compromising Positions, which was also a good movie. I found this 1988 book, set before and during WWII highly entertaining. It's mostly concerned with the growth of the heroine from love-sick secretary to gutsy, independent, spy. Witty writing.
This is another classic case where I watched the mover before I read the book. Nevertheless, I liked both. I liked reading Susan Isaacs novel and I liked watching Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith on screen. Although the movie did digress from the book, they were still both enjoyable happenings.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is a re-read - spies, World War II, and NYC - some of my favorite things! Of course, the movie version was disappointingly horrible, so trust me when I say skip the movie and read the book. I am now digging out all my WWII-themed books to re-read!
Although she writes very well and I enjoyed many of her observations, I prefer the plot line and romance in the movie more than the book. It had less heart than I was anticipating and I never worked up any feelings for the characters.
I picked this up at the library because Maureen Corrigan said on one of her Terry Gross reviews that is is a book that makes her happy. It's not making me happy - the main character isn't particularly likeable, the prose keeps contradicting itself, and the plot is kind of odd. For some reason, I'm still reading, though.
This was a sassy, suspenseful book blending romance with a little espionage. Susan Isaacs gives us a look at "every day" life in the U.S. and Germany during World War II, while steadily ramping up the suspense.
For my birthday I decided to sit down and read one of my favorite books... it's not the best story, not the best writing, just a perfect thriller and love story with a great heroine... I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Loved this book! Interesting look into life of 1930s law secretaries and classes of people at that time. Only reason I didnt give it 5 stars was it gets SLOW about 3/4 thru. Amazing ending!!
Aug 11, 2011
Tracy Fleming-Swehla
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction
Very well written. Fictitious account of Linda Voss, secretary, going underground during wartime Germany to divulge enemy secrets to the OSS and undermine Hilter's efforts. Great story.
Entertaining although grittier and not as witty and light as her typical book. But then, it was about WWII, so that's not surprising. Still, well worth a read.
An excellent novel told from the perspective of a German woman during the second world war. Gripping, intense and filled with nuance. I highly recommend this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Susan Isaacs is a recipient of the Writers for Writers Award and the John Steinbeck Award. She serves as chairman of the board of Poets & Writers and is a past president of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of the National Book Critics Circle, The Creative Coalition, PEN, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the International Association of Crime Writers, and the Ada...more
More about Susan Isaacs...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Jan 29, 2012 09:14pm