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12th out of 22 books
—
179 voters
Windmills of the Gods
The tale of a woman's heroism against an unknown terror spanning the whole arena of international intrigue.
Paperback, 419 pages
Published
1994
by HarperCollins
(first published January 1st 1987)
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23rd out of 108 books
—
184 voters
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It could have been 5 stars but I found the beginning somewhat slow-paced. But the story, as a whole, was good.
I would like to talk about some of the characters...
Edward. What happened to him was heartbreaking. An innocent party that took the "fall" for the benefit of others.
Groza. Below was what happened to him/his family...
"Scenes of his wife and his daughter being raped seared through his brain. It was a gang rape, and the laughing soldiers went from the woman to the child, their pants pulled...more
I would like to talk about some of the characters...
Edward. What happened to him was heartbreaking. An innocent party that took the "fall" for the benefit of others.
Groza. Below was what happened to him/his family...
"Scenes of his wife and his daughter being raped seared through his brain. It was a gang rape, and the laughing soldiers went from the woman to the child, their pants pulled...more
By Sidney Sheldon. Grade: B
It all began with an astounding call from the White House. One minute Mary Ashley, Kansas housewife and political science teacher, was chatting over dinner with her family; the next minute the President of the United States was asking her to become the new ambassador to Romania!
That call changes everything for Mary Ashley. She becomes an instant celebrity, hounded ‘by the press, courted by politicians. Finally Mary arrives in exotic Bucharest to take up her duties, con...more
It all began with an astounding call from the White House. One minute Mary Ashley, Kansas housewife and political science teacher, was chatting over dinner with her family; the next minute the President of the United States was asking her to become the new ambassador to Romania!
That call changes everything for Mary Ashley. She becomes an instant celebrity, hounded ‘by the press, courted by politicians. Finally Mary arrives in exotic Bucharest to take up her duties, con...more
This is actually my favorite SS book. It wasn't as dynamic or surprising as the other books he have written but there is something in it that draws you. This book felt so different from the other books he had written. I mean different. Like isolated LOL. Anyway teh plot is great! kinda ordinary compared to some of his works that went extreme (in a great wayh) but as gripping as the others
I thnk the fact that the pro and the man never kissed or made love increased the excitement. I was waiting fo...more
I thnk the fact that the pro and the man never kissed or made love increased the excitement. I was waiting fo...more
How a story is presented in the beginning, middle, & end is an essential factor that keeps the readers of into pages. Sidney Sheldon did it well on his Windmills of the Gods, & successfully placed a strong ingredient that surprises readers every now & then. The pacing is perfect. The plot is excellent. The story itself is well-researched. Windmills of the Gods is one of the greatest suspense stories I've had read, and Sidney Sheldon succeeded in hooking me up with such a breath-takin...more
The main story is about the struggling Mary Ashley as she becomes the ambassador to Romania.
Full with intriguing conflicts and conspiracies, Windmills of The Gods is really tense on its every page. There are moments when I scream to my own head 'Don't tell him!' and lots of moments guessing who-is-who and, of course, who-is-the-real-bad-guy. Great plot, unpredictable ending, also nice experience reading about international affair and iron curtain country. So many build-up characters to support t...more
Full with intriguing conflicts and conspiracies, Windmills of The Gods is really tense on its every page. There are moments when I scream to my own head 'Don't tell him!' and lots of moments guessing who-is-who and, of course, who-is-the-real-bad-guy. Great plot, unpredictable ending, also nice experience reading about international affair and iron curtain country. So many build-up characters to support t...more
This shortish novel was a pretty speedy easy read. The plot was Ok in parts but other partts just did not ring true - I just cannot imagine that an American Ambassador to Communist Rumania would have been allowed to walk unescorted through the streets of Bucharest, surely sercet service agents would have been close by. Consequently the whole premis of the staged abduction was flawed. I liked the complexity of people involved the secret society manipulating things behind the scene, and its contin...more
I have never liked Sidney Sheldon before. But after reading her novels consecutively, i learned to appreciate her works at full blast. She's an easy to understand writer. No highfalutin words, no overdescriptions, just fitted for an average reader. i also liked how she made WOMEN heroes of her novels and how she leaves her readers at awe and question: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER? that we wish there's a part 2 of that novel.
Likewise, i loved how she connected her stories. very relevant, very current, som...more
Likewise, i loved how she connected her stories. very relevant, very current, som...more
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Oct 14, 2011
Linda
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all my friends at Goodreads and otherwise
Recommended to Linda by:
no one
Sidney Sheldon is a favorite author. Here the heroine's perfect life is crusshed when her doctor husband is killed in a car crash which was not accidental though to all appeararances it was accidental. Though she had refused an ambassadorship in a small Euro-Asian country before her husband's death, she now takes the position unwittingly putting the lives of her children and her own life in mortal danger. I never knew the 'enemy.' Everyone looked suspect to me. Someone wants her dead for reasons...more
Although Mary Ashley isn't my favourite Sheldon heroine (that spot always goes to Jennifer), Windmills of the Gods is my favourite Sheldon book!
Fast paced though it is, it has a gripping story at its heart that keeps the reader on their chair's edge until the end. For once the phrase 'a page turner' comes true.
Mary Ashley, a university professor in Kansas, is appointed ambassador to Romania, which had only recently ameliorated its relations with the West. She refuses the appointment at first on...more
Fast paced though it is, it has a gripping story at its heart that keeps the reader on their chair's edge until the end. For once the phrase 'a page turner' comes true.
Mary Ashley, a university professor in Kansas, is appointed ambassador to Romania, which had only recently ameliorated its relations with the West. She refuses the appointment at first on...more
The characters in this book are compelling and keep you on your toes.
One thing I didn't like about this book though, is it seemed to constantly jump all over the place. Not that it was hard to keep track of everything though.
I was quite surprised at the end when Mike turned out to be the good guy! That caught me completely off guard. I was truly hoping Stanton would be the man he had been portrayed as, also, but that wasn't the case, either! Everyone in this book wasn't who they seemed to be!
I...more
One thing I didn't like about this book though, is it seemed to constantly jump all over the place. Not that it was hard to keep track of everything though.
I was quite surprised at the end when Mike turned out to be the good guy! That caught me completely off guard. I was truly hoping Stanton would be the man he had been portrayed as, also, but that wasn't the case, either! Everyone in this book wasn't who they seemed to be!
I...more
Mary Ashley, a university professor in Kansas, is appointed ambassador to Romania, which had only recently ameliorated its relations with the West. Mary receives much acclaim and over night she becomes one of the most famous and influential people in the world. However, she finds herself in the middle of a treacherous web of conspiracy and corrupt power, and many parties are after her, including one of the most powerful assassins in the world. Even the reader does not know who Mary should trust...more
this read is exceptional!not to mention that it's a sensation.I love everything from start to finish.I got hooked up with Sheldon's works because this specific masterpiece.The story was well written and the twists are super cool.I like the feeling that I get eager and excited to know what's going to happen next.Behind each character, there is this perfect introduction and connection to the whole plot.Sidney Sheldon is SUPERB!And even when Im already finished reading this book, i still read it ag...more
I really liked the book. At first, the book was slow paced, but it was acceptable & convincing, since the writer had to explain some things to those who has no idea about politics (like me). It was a really awesome book. I really like the plot, it was complex, with lots and lots of twists and turns. And just when u try to figure it out who's culprit, a very desirable twist can change the wits, which I loved the most. The plot kept changing until it thickens so much that a reader has to go th...more
I think I just forgot how to spell the word OSM (as in the impression saying how you were extremely impressed and inspired with great admiration to something, apprehension/ def: extremely good; excellent) because this book is more than just OSM. *crying, tears of joy* lol. :))
Anyway, setting that emotion and the feeling that my mind-has-been-"Sheldonized" aside (hahaha). Windmills of the Gods is a 1987 thriller novel written by my all-time favorite American writer (shall I say his name uh-gain?...more
Anyway, setting that emotion and the feeling that my mind-has-been-"Sheldonized" aside (hahaha). Windmills of the Gods is a 1987 thriller novel written by my all-time favorite American writer (shall I say his name uh-gain?...more
I like the action in this book. There is enough twist and turns to get the reader wondering who is the villain and who is the true hero.
Normally I am not interested in politics, especially American. But since most of the action took place in Eastern Block country. I found the intrigues and manipulations quite interesting. I grew up in a communist country and could relate to the long lines at the shops, their overall lack of hope and bleakness. It brought back lots of unpleasant memories from my...more
Normally I am not interested in politics, especially American. But since most of the action took place in Eastern Block country. I found the intrigues and manipulations quite interesting. I grew up in a communist country and could relate to the long lines at the shops, their overall lack of hope and bleakness. It brought back lots of unpleasant memories from my...more
Feb 28, 2012
Graceann
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
trashy-fiction
Sidney Sheldon is like comfort food for me. I get intrigue, I get a fair bit of romance and I get entertainment.
In this outing, the story is that of 1980s, Cold-War Romania. Naive Kansas professor Mary Ashley has been tapped to be the new ambassador as part of the President's ambitious people-to-people program. How can she bring her Midwestern aesthetic to the hard world of international politics?
Windmills of the Gods is very of it's time with regard to life behind the Iron Curtain. That was a...more
In this outing, the story is that of 1980s, Cold-War Romania. Naive Kansas professor Mary Ashley has been tapped to be the new ambassador as part of the President's ambitious people-to-people program. How can she bring her Midwestern aesthetic to the hard world of international politics?
Windmills of the Gods is very of it's time with regard to life behind the Iron Curtain. That was a...more
Jan 06, 2008
Princesz Princesz
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone!!!
Shelves:
sidney-sheldon
Sidney is an awesome author and this book is no exception...... this book, like many of his others, are centred on a woman....... her losses, her emotions, her career, her success........ it's just an all rounder of a woman's life..... dramatic i'd admit..... but i guess he captures the dramatic period of a woman's life and its just superb!!! Mary's love for her husband was so evident..... her loneliness through the empty nights were so well portrayed that my heart just went out to that lady.......more
An engaging read that has a well thought out plot which is so complex you tend to go wrong every time you try to guess it.Your average Sidney Sheldon creation.
Not very sensous,not very enthralling,not very humourous not very very....a bit of this and a bit of that,but still i liked it.Very difficult to classify the book,still it had the endings of a crime investigation story.
The last chapters were the most intersting,the climax having a lot of unexpected twits and turns.
I liked the last sentence...more
Not very sensous,not very enthralling,not very humourous not very very....a bit of this and a bit of that,but still i liked it.Very difficult to classify the book,still it had the endings of a crime investigation story.
The last chapters were the most intersting,the climax having a lot of unexpected twits and turns.
I liked the last sentence...more
A wonderfully written book that keeps keeps you engrossed from the start to the very end .The number of turns this book makes keeps you guessing in the who dunnit style.Women empowerment all the way .Some times the realisation hits you hard .One good advice don't flip pages because the very trivial details will solve the murder and the Conversations are beautifully linked to not reveal too much but reveal as much as needed .The dinners and parties always have some thing happening .The ambassador...more
Original rating- 1.5/5
If truth be said, I did not quite like the novel. It was slow-paced and lacked in the thrill I was expecting. I loved the poem in the beginning of the book which added into my expectations from the book which do not come out to be fulfilled in the end. and most importantly, I did not feel connected with the characters and I did not get to know anything particular about them. it was a mush-mash of a story with certain plot holes.
If truth be said, I did not quite like the novel. It was slow-paced and lacked in the thrill I was expecting. I loved the poem in the beginning of the book which added into my expectations from the book which do not come out to be fulfilled in the end. and most importantly, I did not feel connected with the characters and I did not get to know anything particular about them. it was a mush-mash of a story with certain plot holes.
The story of a mother from Kansas City who is a college professor who ends up becoming the Ambassador to Romania with a whole lot of international intrigue thrown in. One of my friends lent me this book some time ago. I had started reading it, but got bogged down in the initial portion of the book. I finally picked it up again and it just started to get really interesting during the last third of the book. It was really funny too. Go figure.
This book is about a woman from America who is selected to go abroad to work in a foreign embassy, but when she refuses, measures are taken to remove each obstruction from the goal of the American government, who want her in the position, regardless of the cost. Why? To portray her and her family as the 'Ultimate American Family' But there's another reason why SHE is the only woman for the job...
This had the potential to be a good book. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I was bored a lot of the time and...more
This had the potential to be a good book. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I was bored a lot of the time and...more
“A touch of a button could mean the end of the world as we know it”
Sidney Sheldon – your books are just classy.
I was reading & reading nonstop to find out the end of this story.
-When all the threatening starts coming to Mary & her children once she chosen & takes as the American Ambassador to Romania- she finds it very difficult to trust anyone- Just making you all believe that we are all victims in this world.
Sidney Sheldon – your books are just classy.
I was reading & reading nonstop to find out the end of this story.
-When all the threatening starts coming to Mary & her children once she chosen & takes as the American Ambassador to Romania- she finds it very difficult to trust anyone- Just making you all believe that we are all victims in this world.
My second Sheldon fave. The story of Mary Ashley, an ordinary housewife turned to an ambassadress of USA to Romania. There's this society which uses codenames from Greek myths (like Zeus, Athena, Apollo) that threatens Ashley and her children. But she must do her job. A wild chase with this assassin named Angel. I loved her! LOL. And it's so shocking in the end knowing the real persons behind the gods codenames.
How a story is presented in the beginning, middle, & end is an essential factor that keeps the readers of into pages. Sidney Sheldon did it well on his Windmills of the Gods, & successfully placed a strong ingredient that surprises readers every now & then. The pacing is perfect. The plot is excellent. The story itself is well-researched. Windmills of the Gods is one of the greatest suspense stories I've had read, and Sidney Sheldon succeeded in hooking me up with such a breath-takin...more
One hell of a book! Conspiracies within conspiracies! Extremely Thrilling. A straight 5 for this book!
Getting added to my best books list!!! :)
The author has put exorbitant work to find out how assassins function, how ambassadors function and has brought it all in this page turner! I couldn't stop grinning when I came across the twists in the plot!
Getting added to my best books list!!! :)
The author has put exorbitant work to find out how assassins function, how ambassadors function and has brought it all in this page turner! I couldn't stop grinning when I came across the twists in the plot!
This one is a superb thriller.It was again an Undercover work.I was spellbound by the story lines.
speaks about the transition of a school teacher into an ambassador.Sydney Sheldon limns the many facets of a woman.
Liked the shocking twists and revelations that Sheldon created in this book.Of cousre,this is a good read!!!
speaks about the transition of a school teacher into an ambassador.Sydney Sheldon limns the many facets of a woman.
Liked the shocking twists and revelations that Sheldon created in this book.Of cousre,this is a good read!!!
This was interesting, sad and a bit of someones wish at the same tym. But believe me no lady wishes for his husband to get killed and also for fear of their lives. but never liked how it ended. The bad guys are leaders from big countries and they were njever caught. What! But the assisin being an ugly lady from Brasil. Tudo bom!
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One of the paciest climaxes I have ever read. Windmills of the God portrays the typical brilliance,suspense and excitement of Sheldon's novels. Each character had its own aura with a definitive personality of its own.Sheldon makes you look out every nook and corner of every paragraph for clues.He is definitely the Unrivaled Master Storyteller.Its one of those thrillers which you will never regret shelling out your money for!!I shall adorn this one in my shelf.
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Was an American writer who won awards in three careers—a Broadway playwright, a Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist. His TV works spanned a 20-year period during which he created I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-84), and The Patty Duke Show (1963-66), but it was not until after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Gam...more
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