Rating: 
Summary: Literary comfort food
Review: "Shining Through" is one of those wonderful books that owes it appeal to its fairy tale-like plot. The editorial reviews call it a modern Cinderella story, but I've always read it as an "ugly duckling to swan" tale. Unappreciated by her Ivy League cad of a husband (who only married her because he had to), a part-Jewish working class girl goes undercover in Nazi German. The heroine's true worth shines through, and, after the requisite suspense and plot twists, she gets her Prince Charming. This book may not be great literature, but it's a satisfying read. Like an earlier reviewer said, it's one of those books to keep around and reread from time to time. For any reader who has felt downtrodden and/or underappreciated (and who hasn't) "Shining Through" is indeed literary comfort food.
Rating:
Summary: Literary comfort food
Review: "Shining Through" is one of those wonderful books that owes it appeal to its fairy tale-like plot. The editorial reviews call it a modern Cinderella story, but I've always read it as an "ugly duckling to swan" tale. Unappreciated by her Ivy League cad of a husband (who only married her because he had to), a part-Jewish working class girl goes undercover in Nazi German. The heroine's true worth shines through, and, after the requisite suspense and plot twists, she gets her Prince Charming. This book may not be great literature, but it's a satisfying read. Like an earlier reviewer said, it's one of those books to keep around and reread from time to time. For any reader who has felt downtrodden and/or underappreciated (and who hasn't) "Shining Through" is indeed literary comfort food.
Rating: 
Summary: A good summer read
Review: A fun read with suspense, love, and betrayal. The heroine evolves to trust herself and use her wits as a spy in Nazi Germany. Great ending!
Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: I bought this book after reading the enthusiastic reviews on amazon, but soon after beginning to go through it I learned the hard truth: it broke the number one rule for characterization. That rule states that the writer doesn't have to say how a character is, but rather let the reader deduce this from his/her actions and his/her dialogue. Well, at the beginning of this novel we are repeatedly told by the narrator that John, her boss, is gorgeous. We know little else about him appart from the fact that Linda, the narrator and main character, says that he is perfect: handsome, rich, intelligent and cultivated ...she says. Some ten pages later on she also tells us how she fell in love with him because she saw that he was beautiful inside ...she says. But never, at least up to page 50, is he given the opportunity to speak or, indeed, are we given the opportunity to see through his actions and own words his personality. Of course the narrator (Linda) goes on to do the same with all the other characters, constantly telling us what to think of them. Really, I don't want to be told WHAT to think of a character, I want to be SHOWN how the character is and then decide by myself...And I have so many other books to read that may just follow this important rule that I had to drop this one.
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book!
Review: I have attempted some other Susan Isaacs books and was disappointed, so it may be surprising that this book has a constant place on my "frequently read" bookshelf. Rather than discuss the plotline (I think the editorial review does that succinctly enough), let me try to convey to you the experience of actually reading the book.The singlemost outstanding feature of this book is the screaming reality with which Isaacs develops characters. One reviewer was apparently upset that the narrator felt too little sympathy for the Germans (and described her boss, rather than "showing" what he was like). These details actually contribute greatly to my love of the book, as the editorializing narrator (Linda Voss) demonstrates her own personality through the way in which she communicates. She only describes her boss as "perfect"? Exactly--she's blinded by her feelings. Not sympathetic towards the Germans? Of course not--the character is an extremely cynical, stubborn woman who is working for the U.S. Government during the war. Perhaps, then, the best feature of the narration is the consistency which Isaacs employs; assuming that you are able to recognize literary tricks, you should have no problem differentiating between Linda's views and the facts of her world. As for the plot itself, despite frequent rereading, this book keeps me spellbound from the first chapter until the last. At times, the plot twists are truly surprising; other times, the story is unsurprising but told saucily enough to hold my interest all the way through. As aforementioned, the narrator is such a compelling character that one gets the feeling of just listening to her chatter her way through the pages. I enjoy this book in one straight read; it helps maintain the feeling of Linda Voss, storyteller (as opposed to Susan Isaacs, author). In short, then:
1. Linda Voss is THE most compelling narrator/character I have ever read.
2. The writing is consistent and precise.
3. The plot is interesting enough to be worthy of the gorgeous characterization. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book!
Review: I have attempted some other Susan Isaacs books and was disappointed, so it may be surprising that this book has a constant place on my "frequently read" bookshelf. Rather than discuss the plotline (I think the editorial review does that succinctly enough), let me try to convey to you the experience of actually reading the book. The singlemost outstanding feature of this book is the screaming reality with which Isaacs develops characters. One reviewer was apparently upset that the narrator felt too little sympathy for the Germans (and described her boss, rather than "showing" what he was like). These details actually contribute greatly to my love of the book, as the editorializing narrator (Linda Voss) demonstrates her own personality through the way in which she communicates. She only describes her boss as "perfect"? Exactly--she's blinded by her feelings. Not sympathetic towards the Germans? Of course not--the character is an extremely cynical, stubborn woman who is working for the U.S. Government during the war. Perhaps, then, the best feature of the narration is the consistency which Isaacs employs; assuming that you are able to recognize literary tricks, you should have no problem differentiating between Linda's views and the facts of her world. As for the plot itself, despite frequent rereading, this book keeps me spellbound from the first chapter until the last. At times, the plot twists are truly surprising; other times, the story is unsurprising but told saucily enough to hold my interest all the way through. As aforementioned, the narrator is such a compelling character that one gets the feeling of just listening to her chatter her way through the pages. I enjoy this book in one straight read; it helps maintain the feeling of Linda Voss, storyteller (as opposed to Susan Isaacs, author). In short, then:
1. Linda Voss is THE most compelling narrator/character I have ever read.
2. The writing is consistent and precise.
3. The plot is interesting enough to be worthy of the gorgeous characterization. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst book ever written makes worst movie ever made
Review: Just for the record, the film version of "Shining Through" starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith, swept the Razzie Awards the year it was released. The Razzies are, of course, the Oscar awards for worst movie of the year. If memory serves, this got worst Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and script. The film follows the novel pretty faithfully except for the creation of a sympathetic German officer played by Liam Neeson who is absent from the book. Which brings us to the problem of the book: it's vile. Linda Voss has zero sympathy for the German people suffering under the Nazi regime. What a heroine -- there's even a paragraph where she feels moderate pity for the suffering of orphaned German kids and old people made homeless by the Allied bombing but shrugs it off saying "they had it coming." This book and "The Unlikely Spy" probably go hand in hand for most inexplicable bestseller based on one of the worst periods of human history.
Rating:
Summary: Here's a Cinderella story with a surprise.
Review: Linda Vos is a secretary to Wall Street's Dreamboat international lawyer John Berringer, with whom she is secretly and hopelessly in love. What chance does a poor girl from Queens have with a handsome, popular Ivy Leaguer? None at all, it would seem. However, circumstances lead to their marriage and both become undercover agents for the COI (later OSS) as WWII floods Europe. Linda, sympathetic to the plight of victims of Naziism, volunteers for a dangerous mission in Berlin where events lead her into heroic action. The picture of daily life in wartime Germany is especially interesting as is Isaacs's portrayal of the American espionage organization and the people who manned it. Susan Isaacs is never dull. Each book she writes is entirely different from the others as she challenges herself to grow as a writer. She never disappoints her readers as she leads them through adventurous stories in colorful settings with fascinating characters. SHINING THROUGH is a dynamic reading experience.
Rating: 
Summary: A Witty Cinderella Romance And Spy-Thriller = A Great Read!
Review: Linda Voss, our heroine in "Shining Through," is a smart, savvy, sassy gal from a shabby neighborhood in Queens, NY, & a proud graduate of Grover Cleveland High School. She is also partially Jewish. Having been raised with her paternal grandmother, a Jewess who longed to return to her beloved Berlin, Linda speaks German like a Berliner. This is crucial to the plot. Though quite lovely, Linda is still single at 31, because she had yet to meet a man she loved enough to marry. She works, by day, as the bilingual secretary for gorgeous, super-smart Yale lawyer, John Berringer. By night, Linda fantasizes of romance with her boss, the Wall Street Lawyer. But can a high school grad, from a lower-middle class Queens neighborhood, find happiness with a handsome Ivy League professional, and live the life of a blue-blooded, to-the-manor-born lady? Linda's other primary extracurricular activity, besides John watching, is her voracious interest in Germany's war with Europe and the Jewish People. Susan Isaacs juxtaposes, with much wit, Linda's banal commentaries about her everyday existence with the earthshaking events that are unfolding worldwide. "On the last normal day, Hitler sent endless cables to his generals, Mussolini had several recorded temper tantrums, Neville Chamberlain took a long silent walk, and the secretaries of Blair, VanderGraff and Wadley ate lunch." And, while arguing with a friend, "What's the percentage in turning to mush under a little pressure? Like that British boob who gave away Czechoslovakia." Ms. Isaacs chronicles Linda's rapid ascent from lonely secretary with a crush to Cinderella-wife, married to the man of her dreams, with humor and style. Or is she...married to the man of her dreams? Life moves on and so does the War. Linda and her new husband, Mr. Berringer, move to Washington, as he becomes involved in the workings of the infant OSS. The now, Mrs. Berringer, also goes to work for the OSS, as her language skills are needed even more than her secretarial skills. The fact that she easily passes FBI scrutiny doesn't hurt her employment opportunities either. She becomes the secretary of the head of the Organization, an older man she respects and admires. And for the first time in her life, she is truly intellectually stimulated, as she finally gets an opportunity to work against the Nazis - even though it's from behind a desk in Washington. As the international tension increases, so does the tension in Linda's marriage. Ms. Isaacs develops Linda's character well, allowing the reader to see her emotional growth, along with a growing cynicism and a determination to wean herself away from a destructive relationship. When she makes her decision to enter Germany and spy for Washington, she is a far different woman than the one we met originally, although the potential was noticeably there. And her observations about espionage inside Germany are insightful and fascinating. This is the story of a woman's great courage under dire circumstances. It is also a surprisingly beautiful love
story. A wonderful read! I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Isaacs At Her Best and Set During WWII
Review: My parents met and married during this era so it has always been one that fascinated me. Also, it is one of the few times in the USA when its citizens were wholly united on an issue: fighting and winning WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is an exciting era to read about Americans. I was surprised to discover Isaacs writing a historical when she had started out with a contemporary romance-mystery in "Compromising Positions," a novel which has much been copied by other authors. I've read most of Issacs' novels but "Shining Through" stands out from the rest, probably because Isaacs is "painting" on a bigger canvas. We start out with our heroine in the Washington DC area in her role as a legal secretary. She is the usual funny, Jewish, attractive heroine that is Isaacs' trademark, along with the heroine's having flaws that make her realistic. What sets this heroine really apart though is that she also speaks flawless German and thus is one of the few women who can be sent undercover as a spy to Nazi Germany. That she is Jewish and undertakes this is extraordinary. This is also a love story and can be enjoyed for that aspect as well. I'd have to say that this novel and "Lily White" remain my favorites of this author. Unfortunately, her recent "Red, White and Blue" is the novel of hers I've liked least. I couldn't even finish it because Isaacs got so carried away with familial past history. "Shining Through" was also made into a good but not great movie with Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith. So having a great book and a good movie of the same work to choose from, I'd recommend you read the book before seeing the movie.
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