Sidney Sheldon (1917–2007)

No one really ever wrote a more entertaining romantic potboiler than Sidney Sheldon, and The Sands of Time is one of his best. It has loads of color and atmosphere, and characters you root for. Each divergent story-line is as interesting as the last, Sheldon's tremendous gift for storytelling on grand display here.

You won't forget nuns -- though not all are actually nuns -- Lucia, Teresa, Graciela or Megan, nor will you forget the wonderfully colorful portrait of Spain and its conflicts of show more the period when this was written. Like a lot of Sheldon's work, it is soapy but not so much so that we lose interest. In fact, that's actually part of its charm.

Anyone who remembers watching The Other Side of Midnight, then grabbing a copy of the book, knows how much fun it can be to read the master of melodrama. Sheldon's never going to make anyone forget Remarque's Three Comrades, but for sheer entertainment, you can't beat The Sands of Time. If you've got a few days at the beach, you won't be sorry you took this with you. show less

Set in 1970s Spain, this novel explores the fate of four nuns caught in the ongoing Basque guerrilla war to recover the autonomy they had gained under the Republic and lost under Franco. When Jaime Miro, a renowned Basque leader and revolutionary figure, is rumored to be hiding in the Cistercian Convent, Colonel Acoca from the military police orders a raid. Finding that Miro was not there, Acoca unleashes his anger on the nuns, resulting in some being raped and murdered, while the others are show more taken hostage. Fortunately, four nuns—Lucia, Teresa, Graciela, and Megan—manage to escape. Lost and frightened in the remote countryside, they eventually join Jaime and his small band of revolutionaries.

The narrative shifts between past and present, revealing each nun’s backstory as they are thrust into a world from which they have long been protected, forcing them to confront their new reality: fleeing from the police for a cause they scarcely understand. However, not all are entirely innocent. Lucia is revealed to be the ruthless daughter of a powerful mafia boss hiding in the convent after committing murder. Graciela, who entered the convent at fourteen, becomes intrigued by the danger and begins to question her faith. Megan, a nun for fifteen years, discovers a flair for drama and faces a past she cannot escape. Teresa, the oldest of the group, struggles to cope with the chaos and suffers a tragic fate.

Engaging and well-crafted, the story features a tense cat-and-mouse game between Jaime’s group and the police. Meanwhile, the evolving relationships within the revolutionary group and among the nuns add depth. The author also offers a brief history of Spain and its ongoing revolution, which persists today, intertwined with themes of faith and a touch of romance—making for a highly entertaining read. show less

70s peak Sheldon writing a different type of story.

Our main protagonists are Toby and Jill, two run of the mill folks coming from humble beginnings giving it a go trying to make it in Hollywood. Toby makes it first and becomes and asshole the more popular he gets. Jill struggles longer, and when she does make it is so embittered at all the bad shit she endured to get there she's out to bust balls and have her revenge. Then these two damaged people meet and start a relationship. What could show more possibly go wrong?

If you like Sheldon, you'll dig this one. show less

This was my first Sidney Sheldon book, and from my experience, it's the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. I was very surprised by the level of storytelling in these pages. It has many of the clichés of a typical romance novel but so much more depth of character and a more powerful story than I had any right to expect. With strong characters you come to love, twists and turns, big reveals, and a finale that left me absolutely stunned and stuck with me for years after show more reading, this isn't your typical romance story. It's an emotional rollercoaster all the way through. show less