Danielle Steel – Bungalow 2

I always said that I would never read a Danielle Steel book and made it to 44 without reading one.  Back in the early 90’s I had a married friend who wanted  a relationship like those depicted in Danielle Steel books and left her husband on that quest.  I was very wary of this.  I know a guy in his late 30’s who is still single and living with his parents.  He watches a whole heap of porn.  I saw him and my female friend as being similar in a way, she wanted what I perceived to be unrealistic romance, he has unrealistic expectations of another sort.

Being a bit of a literary snob I had Danielle Steel labelled and shunned without opening a book, feeling that if I did I would be on a slippery slope to Barbara Cartland (who I haven’t read either).

Between serious reading my light entertainment was crime novels and sometimes fantasy books (before they became so annoyingly fashionable).  There is something less embarrassing about reading them.  After many years I tired of crime novels and their formula to a degree until I discovered Deon Meyer (but that’s another blog for another day).

On a holiday a few years ago my sister in law lent me a Katie Fforde which I enjoyed and decided that Chick lit is great light reading.  I’ve discovered quite a few authors and enjoy the genre now.  The formula is generally predictable.  Girl meets Guy very often they do not get along at first.  They fall in love or lust.  There’s a crisis which separates them.  They get back together and live happily ever after.  Throw in an airport scene and it’s the same formula as most romantic comedy movies.

I was expecting the same from Bungalow 2, but I was wrong (again).  I read the book in 24 hours, it was a good read.  She did not follow formula which I liked.  The writing was more natural and real than I expected.  I had expected cheesy heaving bosom, bodice ripping “love” scenes but was pleasantly surprised.

I will be looking for more of her books soon to add to my escapist list.  Just don’t make me read a Barbara Cartland I have to hang onto a few prejudices.