Journey

by Danielle Steel

Everyone knows Madeleine and Jack Hunter. Maddy is an award-winning TV anchorwoman. Jack is the head of her network. To the world, theirs is a storybook marriage. But behind the doors of their lush Georgetown home a different story emerges.

Maddy has always tried to deny Jack's subtle put-downs, control, and jealousy. She has no bruises, only the daggers of fear, humiliation, and isolation--as powerful as the gun or the fist, the wounds as deep. It seems impossible that a woman the nation idolizes lives in degradation and fear. Maddy's secrets are well kept, even from herself.

Maddy's healing begins when she joins the First Lady's Commission on Violence Against Women. There, she hears eerily familiar stories from terrified wives and girlfriends. And there she comes to know Bill Alexander, a distinguished diplomat. Bill suspects that something is terribly wrong in Maddy's marriage and begs her to open her eyes.

As she takes the first steps toward freedom, a remarkable series of events unfolds... a stranger from Maddy's past reappears... White House headlines bring the nation to a standstill... and a devastating tragedy forces Maddy to realize how much has been taken from her. Faced with the most difficult choice of her life, Maddy finds a strength she never knew she had and a gift that will change her life forever.

With wisdom and compassion, bestselling novelist Danielle Steel reminds us that no one is exempt from the effects of abuse, in its subtlest forms. But at its core, Journey is a book about hope, about change, and about daring to be free.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Adult

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The journey"


I had always been ashamed to read Danielle Steel's novels, because I had been told that they were trash and badly written and when I picked up one at the library the librarian raised an highbrow with contempt.
But now I reached an age in which I decided to read whatever I want without give a thought to what people think and I discovered that I like Danielle Steel and I want to read her, here and there.
I think she writes very well and her books are very compelling and easy to read.
The topic of this one is an abusive marriage, but with a glamorous wrapping.
Maddy is a young, beautiful and brilliant journalist, married to the owner of the network where she works, and they lead a succesful and wealthy life made of parties, dinners at the White House and private jet.
Until the moment when Maddy is asked by the First Lady to join a commission against violence to women and she suddenly realizes that Jack, her husband, is an abusive husband. He never raised an hand at her, his ways are more subtle: he controlls her, makes decisions for her, forbids her to have friends and repeats her that she is nothing without him.
But Maddy doesn't dare to leave him or to talk to anyone of what's going on. Will she ever have the courage to do it?

[AnnaG · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never read a Danielle Steele before and think I will give them a miss in the future. This is a terrible story with two caricatures as lead characters. The narrative keeps bludgeoning the reader over the head with the violence-against-women theme and it rapidly becomes boring, I gave up after about 30 pages of abortion, suicides and wife-beating.

[A Turtles Nest Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review to come)

[Stasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Journey' tells the story of a thirty-something tv news reporter who, on the surface, appears to have it all--the loving husband, the successful career and the best of everything in between. But it's only seven years into her marriage and things begin to slowly but surely fall apart. Little by little Maddie Hunter begins to see, but consequently deny,that her marriage and her husband, are not what she always thought them to be. Her marriage is one in which her husband controls everything with an iron fist, and it doesn't help the situation any more that her husband owns the television station that she is employed with, so technically he runs the show, but unfortunately, it does not stop at work. He carries that attiutude into their marriage.

At first, the abuse started out seemingly innocent, such as making fun of Maddie's humble beginnings. But then it becomes unpretentious as her husband Jack repeatedly puts her down and becomes more threatening and aggressive towards his wife when she dares to challenge him.
Eventually Maddie gets the strength to find her voice, with the support of a new close friend whom is aware of the situation,from a therapist whom she begins consulting with, as well as from a support group for battered women.

What surprised me about this book is that I did not get the type of abuse story that I was expecting, which was physical. But the story goes to show that verbal abuse is just as severe as physical abuse.Additionally, the various series of events surrounding the main plot of the story was very unexpected but also interesting.

I was glad that Maddie was able to leave, although not without consequence, but nevertheless she did so anyway. I was also happy that she and her close friend were considering taking their relationship to the next level at the end of the story.

[Tracy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many Danielle Steel books over the years and this one did not disappoint me. This story follows the life journey of Maddy Beaumont as she faces every kind of imaginable abuse that can be dished out, but ends up finding herself and the greatest loves of her life. It is an in-depth story that is well-paced to keep you turning pages which I really enjoy. If you enjoy great characters and in-depth feelings, this story is for you. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent insight into the mental/emotional abuse in relationships that is often unrecognized and definitely debilitating!
I recommend this book to all!

[Wilma Cardell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kasta. Läste 50 sidor innan jag stängde boken för gott.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's summer, which means I get to read as much trash as I want. That means LOTS of Danielle Steel. I been on a pretty bad Danielle Steel binge as of late.

Journey, hmmm... Well, lets just say it was a real "Journey" hehe...


Sorry, I had to.

That aside, I really appreciated Steel trying raise awareness on domestic abuse and especially on Emotional abuse, which isn't as recognized as much other forms of domestic violence. She definitely did her research and I really love that she's raising awareness by writing on a subject that just isn't talked about enough.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my God my mother-in-law AND father-in-law are insisting I read this simply because I mentioned that one of my employees is in an abusive relationship. I think they even got a little teary eyed when describing it.

It's been sitting face down on my to read pile for a month now. Somehow, I can't quite bring myself to pick it up, though I should be able to finish it in an hour and therefore be quit of it forever.

God help me.

[Carol Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main character Maddy escapes from a violent relationship and then falls in love with a man of power and money who gives her all she could ever want, until one day she realises how he is controlling every part of her life and has cut her off from everyone apart from the people he allows her to see, she then has to work out how to escape from this relationship.

[Gizem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bu romanın yazarıyla Zoya'nın yazarının aynı olması beni hep şaşırtır. :)

[Ashtottara Ashtottara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an existential tale about abuse and how it could happen to anyone, even in the most unsuspicious form. What was more, the victim chose to be in denial about it. Heart rendering yet full of hope that no terrible experience lasts forever.

[Mar✺ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea però bueno, com diu ma uelo: " hi ha que llegir de tot".

[Strawberrytin14 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why Can't there be negative stars for rating?? seriously.. this was the most predictable, boring and any-awful-adjective-for-a-book-you-can-think-of I've ever read. And yes I finished the book, thinking the plot would be more interesting in the middle... But it didn't changed at all.. as it gets deeper and deeper, it becomes more and more predictable. This was the 1st and last book I read from Danielle Steel, I was thinking of reading other of her works. But I'm too scared it would be just the same.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disturbing, yet revealing. Steel brings to light that there are many forms of abuse- and they aren't always found in a trailer park. Abuse comes in all forms and from all places- and Journey certainly highlights that. I was appalled at how Jack treated Maddy, and even more appalled that she stayed and took it for so long. Even though the book ends happy, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone, as it was a complete downer for me. I realize that Steel was trying to make a statement here, and she certainly did that. Hopefully the next one I read of hers will be happier.

[Elena Delos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermosa historia que apela a nuestra autoestima y cómo no dejarnos "poseer" por el otro. La violencia ocurre en todos los estratos económicos pero también ocurre la esperanza y el cambio.

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Primer libro que leo de la autora y no me gusto para nada.
Lo único que sabia de este libro que era feminista, todo bien con ese tema pero leí demasiado episodios machistas que me dio nauseas, por lo tanto el antagonista principal lo aborrezco, Jack Hunter.
El principal personaje de la historia que nos enseña que para maltratar a una mujer no es solo físicamente, sino también de otras maneras, por lo tanto su esposa Maddy Hunter ni tiene la libertad de nada en su vida, su sombra entera —todo el libro— es su marido. También aparecerá otros personajes que no le da mucha relevancia a la historia y que desaparecerán a medida que pasan las páginas, como Greg, compañero de trabajo e intimo amigo de Maddy, —que en paz descanses, es decir, ya no aparece nunca más en todo el libro—.
Sin previo aviso aparece en escena una hija perdida del pasado de la protagonista, —cof, cof, personaje relevante en la historia— que dejará el gusto de ser una parte del libro para nada creíble; en realidad todo el libro me ha dado la sensación abrupta de un cliché, hasta creo que Cincuenta sombras de Grey es más entretenido que esto.
Maddy pudo ser un buen personaje pero la pinta de estúpida desde el principio hasta el fin, una Maddy con coraje y un final feliz en las últimas páginas... no me convence para nada.

[Carlos Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si pudiera evaluarlo con más de 5 ⭐, lo haría. Me dejó la misma sensación que cuando terminé de leer BLUE. Durante el desarrollo de la historia dan ganas de llorar, enojarse y reír, pero tiene un final feliz que la protagonista se lo tenía bien merecido 🥰🥰

[Aneesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painful and beautifully described but a little unrealistic in terms of the experiences

[Debbie Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good 👍

[Sanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working out a difficult topic in the classic Danielle Steel way. If you are meeting this writer for the first time through this book, I would like to clarify her writing style. It's very simple, approachable, I would say feminine, given that Steel pays a lot of attention to the environment, colors (from clothes to furniture), details (like food, wine, etc). It gives the readers a whole atmosphere (both external and inside the characters) so you get the impression that you are inside the novel, watching live events between the characters, feelings they have, even the time outside. ;)
After specifying Danielle Steel's writing style, let's move on to this novel, that doesn't seem like it's her own. It's not the classic love novel her readers are used to. I was primarily intrigued by the description, it was not a classic love story. I was hoping for some intrigue. After reading the first few pages, I immediately fell in love with Maddie, who, despite her difficult life, managed to make her name a brand. "Just when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Madeline Beaumont was a young girl from Tennessee, married to abuser Bobby Jo since she was 18 years old. When he didn't physically attack her with punches, he did it sexually and Maddie had 6 miscarriages by the time she was 20. Some were coincidence, some deliberate. Every day, she became increasingly more trapped in a vicious cycle of violence from which she could see no way out. Until the day she met Jack Hunter, the man who changed her life for the better. With his help, she pulled herself out of the abuser's hell and divorced a year later. She started working for Jack's television station, and after about 2 years after she met him, remarried for him. That's how the name of the public known - Maddie Hunter - began to be built.
She is now 34, Jack 45, and man can say she has made her dreams come true. She is a well-known news ancher on her husband's television station, but she is sympathetic to the viewers and brings the news to their homes daily in her own way. She is grateful to God for her wonderful husband and everything that he gives her - from a private jet to frequent vacations throughout Europe - so what if she had to consent to his strange requests? Like bonding an ovaries because he doesn't want children, that she has no friends because he disapproves them, not celebrating Christmas because he doesn't like it, a constant feeling of isolation, and a fact that she should be grateful for everything he did and what he does for her. These are little things, her concessions to him, given the life she now leads. If she stayed with Billy Joes who knows if she would have survived by now.

Maddie thinks she is leading a normal life (because wealth and fame have a price - loneliness) until Jack himself forces her to join the newly formed First Lady Committee against violence against women for good publicity. Maddie finally realizes when she was on a lecture by psychotherapist (Dr. Flowers) that her Jack is not like he presents himself - he mentally harasses her by constantly belittling, insulting and underestimating her skills and isolating herself from any social contacts he disapproves of, by restriction friends, bans on contacting Maddie directly, having ultimate control over her and her life.
After the initial shock, Maddie confides in former ambassador Bill Alexander, who soon becomes her only friend and support. Typically for Steele, at least one twist and one disaster must happen, but what exactly is it about, I leave it up to you to read.

The novel describes a truly difficult topic of abuse and all its forms with a focus on domestic abuse (domestic violence). It describes the adversity the victim goes through and what he or she encounters, from initially re-examining herself, justifying the actions of the abuser and other participants, if any, understanding whether there is a problem at all, to an internal one-on-one struggle - to leave or stay. Steel gives a very good insight into the victim's feelings and overall internal monologue, but I don't like the impression of a woman's addiction. Let me explain better. She often describes a woman as vulnerable, able to make a decision only with the support of a "stronger" sex (Maddie saves Jack first, then Bill does the same). By doing so, I got the impression that in this novel the writer thinks that a woman cannot help a woman and, even though Maddie eventually turned out to be a strong personality, I felt that Steel presented her more as a woman, unsure of all the insults, but a winner because, despite everything she went through, Maddie remained true to herself, and in some ways, normal.

Quotes:

"Nije nikada zaboravila mnoge prednosti svoga života s Jackom ili na karijeru koju joj je on podario. I znala je da je ono što je govorio bila istina, da je to sve stoga što je gospođa Jacka Huntera. Doslovce je vjerovala u ono što je govorio, bez njega bila bi nitko i ništa. Vjerovanje u to činilo ju je neobično poniznom, što su drugi smatrali nevinim i privlačnim. Nije ništa uzimala zdravo za gotovo i nije imala osjećaj vlastite važnosti, važan je bio samo on. Čak ju je uvjerio da su nagrade koje je osvojila - njegova zasluga."

"Bilo je krajnje ponižavajuće podmetati joj kako je preglupa i neobrazovana da bi razmišljala (...) Primaknuo joj se i u očima mu je mogla vidjeti bijes. Tresla se, ali nije ustuknula. Bilo joj je dosta njegova zlostavljanja, bez obzira na njegova opravdanja."

" - Ne nanosim ti bol. Ti to želiš i voliš.
- Ja volim tebe, ali ne volim način na koji se ponašaš prema meni.
(...)
- Činim to, ti cmizdravo derište, jer se moraš prisjetiti tko je ovdje glavni, čini se da si zaboravila. Ne želim više slušati tvoje prijetnje ili zahtjeve. Ja ću ti reći što želim, kada želim, i ako želim. (...) Imaš sreće što te se uopće udostojim jebati."

"Zlostavljači su vrlo pametni, nevjerojatna je snaga te vrste otvora. Navodi žene da žele još, jer su lijepi trenuci tako slatki. Ali loši trenuci su prilično užasni. To je pomalo poput odvikavanja od droge, ili pušenja, ili bilo koje vrste ovisnosti. Zlostavljanje, koliko grozno bilo, jest ovisnost".

" U ranim danima njihova braka obožavala je odlaziti na zabave s Jackom, no posljednjih mjeseci, kako se pojačavala napetosti između njih, mrzila je izlaziti s njim. Uvijek je bio ljubomoran kad bi je vidio s drugim muškarcima, a kasnije bi je optuživao za nedolično ponašanje. (...)
S Jackom nije bilo nagodbe. Moralo je biti kako on kaže ili nikako. Bila je zatečena saznanjem da to prije nije nikada uočila, jednako tako nije bila svjesna toga koliko je omalovažavao njezine ideje i potrebe i tjerao je da se osjeća ili glupom ili krivom zbog toga. Bilo je to nešto što je godinama bez pogovora prihvaćala. Sada nije bila ni sigurna kako je došlo do promjene, no posljednjih mjeseci, kada je shvatila u kojoj mjeri je on ne poštuje, imala je potrebu boriti se protiv osjećaja ugnjetavanja".

" - Bojim se. Ne želim te izgubiti.
- Za to nema garancija - reče on iskreno. -Tebi je preostalo mnogo više nego meni. Ali mislim da sam u ovom trenutku svoga života shvatio da nije bitno kada ćeš stići, ili kako brzo, bitno je putovanje. Dok god smo zajedno i uspješno putujemo, mislim da je to sve što možemo nadzirati. Nitko od nas nije siguran što se nalazi iza sljedećeg ugla."

[Rosemarie Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on a whim - I remember borrowing it from my Mom years ago and enjoying it then. It popped into my head a couple of days ago and I thought I would grab the Kindle edition and re-read, to see how an older me would respond to the material.

The overriding theme of this book is that of the effects of domestic abuse on women. What I think Steel tries fairly successfully to do is to put across the point that domestic abuse is not just a physical thing. A lot of men and women are abused pathologically by their partners - both as a pre-cursor to physical abuse and as a sole method of torture for their victims.

Considering that this was published back in 1998 - when access to information about psychological and physical domestic abide was much more limited - I think that Steel's topic of choice is a gift to her readership. When considering that quite a lot of Steel's readership were and are women - it's a worthy thing to try and educate them on the potential dangers they might be facing in their own homes, whilst also creating a readable work of fiction.

The writing isn't the best (I had a little chuckle when a male character corrected the impression of the female character, telling her he loved her "as a man" - as opposed to a giraffe??) but Steel's books are always amazingly easy reading. I flew through this in twenty four hours.

More a PSA than a work of fiction, but for Steel fans the strong subject matter alone means this is definitely worth a read.

[Daelith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of DS and 1 star is being generous for this book. The only reason I read it was because a co-work pleaded with me to give DS another try and raved what a wonderful book this was. I made a deal with her to read it if she would read something I chose for her. Well I read it. *sigh* DS still needs to hire a new editor or proof reader or something. Her grammar is horrible. Plus I really, really disliked the fact that the jerk was just going to be turned over to the lawyers. That was not punishment enough.
Thankfully, after getting my co-worker to try some decent books, she now realizes how deprived she's been. At least I've manage to save one. There are so many more out there who need to see the light though.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe books find you at the right moments in your life. This story told me a lot of things I needed to hear but in the most beautiful way. I instantly felt drawn to this book when I found it outside someone’s house in a help yourself box, something inside me knew this book was what I needed. This read did really take me on a journey, through the characters life and also through mine. I will forever be thankful for this book and I recommend it to anyone that feels drawn to it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Christa · Rating 1 out of 5]

sometimes, I cannot put down a go0od Danielle Steele book. Not the case with this book. This book is major league depressing about a women going through her history and cycles of domestic abuse. Depressing more so than her typical books. Had a "happy" ending. The last 1/4 of the book was better than the first 3/4.

[Brandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok/good. I had mixed feelings. I read it in 1 day. Her books do suck you in, but this one was just the same thing over and over again. I'm sure that's how it is for abused women in real life, but it was hard to relate to the main character. I Just thought she was stupid most of the time. The war w/Iraq was a real coincidence in it.

[Wendy Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have taken so long to read this as I have been helping care for my bestie in her final stages of Cancer.
I enjoyed the storyline of this book. It held my interest. It's sad knowing there really are woman out there living with men like this. I hope this book spoke to someone currently in a similar situation, and that it gave them the courage to walk... or run, from it.

[Shelby · Rating 1 out of 5]

people actually READ this crap??

[Paula M · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Not all forms of abuse leave bruises." An eye opener that every woman should read.

[Marcia Lechleitner · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one is exempt from the effects of abuse and Danielle Steele captures that in her novel, Journey.