Beautiful by Danielle Steel has always been known for her heartwarming and emotional stories. Beautiful,” her 2020 novel, is no exception. The story revolves around four different women from different walks of life, all of whom are searching for something in their lives. The novel explores themes of beauty, aging, love, and finding oneself.
Genres: Contemporary fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Beautiful Plot Summary:
The novel tells the story of four women, all of whom are dealing with different life struggles. The first is a successful model named Paulina who is beginning to feel the effects of aging and the toll it is taking on her career. The second woman, Hallie, is a college student who is trying to find her place in the world. The third is a young, single mother named Mimi who is struggling to make ends meet while raising her son. The fourth and final woman, Elsa, is a middle-aged woman who has dedicated her life to her family and is now starting to feel like she’s lost her identity.
The lives of these four women intersect when they all end up in the same hospital, where they bond over their shared experiences and help each other through their individual struggles. As the story progresses, they each face their own personal challenges and come out stronger on the other side.
Character Analysis:
Paulina is a successful model who is beginning to feel the effects of aging on her career. She is portrayed as a complex character who is struggling to find her place in a world that values youth and beauty above all else.
Hallie is a college student who is trying to find her identity and purpose in life. She is depicted as a free-spirited young woman who is not afraid to speak her mind and follow her heart.
Mimi is a young, single mother who is struggling to make ends meet while raising her son. She is portrayed as a strong and resilient character who is determined to provide a good life for her child, despite the obstacles she faces.
Elsa is a middle-aged woman who has dedicated her life to her family and is now starting to feel like she’s lost her identity. She is portrayed as a sympathetic character who is trying to find her way back to herself and rediscover her passions.
Themes and Symbolism:
One of the major themes of the novel is beauty and aging. The story explores how society values youth and beauty, and how that can affect a person’s self-worth. The four women in the story each struggle with these issues in their own way, and the novel encourages readers to question these societal expectations and embrace their own unique beauty.
Another theme in the novel is the importance of finding oneself. All four women are at different points in their lives, but they all share the desire to find their place in the world and understand who they are. The novel portrays this as an ongoing process that is not always easy, but ultimately rewarding.
The symbolism in the novel is centered around the four women and the hospital where they meet. The hospital is a place of healing and transformation, where the women are able to face their struggles and emerge stronger on the other side.
Writing Style and Pacing:
Danielle Steel’s writing style is smooth and engaging, making the novel easy to read and enjoyable. She excels at creating relatable characters with complex emotions and struggles. The pacing of the story is well-paced, with the plot unfolding at a steady pace and keeping the reader engaged.
Final Thoughts:
“Beautiful” is an uplifting and heartwarming story about the struggles and triumphs of four women. The novel touches on important themes of beauty, aging, and finding oneself, while also offering an engaging plot and relatable characters. Danielle Steel has once again delivered a touching and enjoyable read that is sure to resonate with readers.
Overall, “Beautiful” is an engaging and well-written novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and second chances. It is a classic Danielle Steel novel that will appeal to fans of the author, as well as to those who enjoy heartwarming and emotional stories.
For those who enjoyed “Beautiful,” another novel by Danielle Steel that explores similar themes is “The Wedding Dress.” This book tells the story of four brides who wear the same wedding dress over the course of four different weddings, and how the dress becomes a symbol of hope and happiness in their lives. Like “Beautiful,” “The Wedding Dress” is a touching and heartwarming story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
