Honoring Danielle Steel’s writing process, I’ll start with the characters from the novel Upside Down. Ardith Law, 62, is an Oscar-winning actor. She lives in Bel Air. Morgan Walker, 38, is Ardith’s only child and a successful plastic surgeon in NYC. Morgan is still angry that Ardith ignored her in favor of her career. Josh Gray, 41, is a talented, but struggling actor. Josh was assigned to be Ardith’s assistant. Ben Ryan, 63, is a very successful TV newsperson, who met Morgan when his doctor was unavailable. Unsurprisingly, these two upside-down couples fall in love and live happily ever after.
The best-selling author attributes her popularity to being able to write honestly about “the things that hurt us or scare us” while always giving her characters “safe harbor” and her readers “a sense of hope.” (Harvard Business Review) I start thinking of the different twists and characters, and it snowballs. Eventually, I hand write an outline. (Harvard Business Review)
The book deals with the conflict between career and parenting. Ardith chose her career over parenting her daughter Morgan. Morgan chooses her career over marriage and children. Morgan’s father, director John Walker, died in a helicopter crash while cheating on Morgan’s mother. Ardith did not remarry. When the book opens, Ardith is living with her tiny white toy poodle, Oscar, a B-list actor, William West, 78, and Benicia, her housekeeper. Josh Gray enters the household when William leaves for England for a movie.
The book places much emphasis on appearance (Morgan: Her heels were high, her skirt was short, and her legs looked terrific), sex (Morgan again: the best sex she’d ever had. Ardith: Everything they hadn’t let themselves feel for each other took over, and it felt like fireworks lighting up the sky when they came), and the trappings of wealth (hotels, restaurants, cars, clothes, etc.).
No one wants kids in this book. (Josh: I don’t want some twenty-five-year-old girl(friend), or kids. I’ve never wanted kids. I’m a kid myself. I want to be a kid with you,” he said, and she laughed and gave him a shove).
Ben Ryan is a narcissist. When someone does him a big favor, he barely says thank you and forgets about the favor, but most of the characters are self-obsessed.
There is a subplot about women victimizing men.
The book ends with a flurry of cliches (Everything about the trip was perfect, and they were sad to leave) and so many superlatives (Ardith was the finest actress he had ever seen, and a remarkable human being. She was truly the love of his life, and he felt honored to be with her.)
A safe read.
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cats Press books and book recommendations.
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