I selected \\n  Sins of the Fathers\\n by Susan Howatch as my next read from my bowl of TBR titles and was excited to continue where I had left off!

This novel is the second installment in the Van Zale duology, preceded by The Rich Are Different. In Sins of the Father, we pick up in the next generation, with Cornelius filling Paul’s role. Vicky van Zale, Cornelius’ daughter, is the heart of the story and the pawn used in turn by father, husband, and her lovers.

The first section centers around Sam Keller, who was once a seemingly attractive character but turned out to be a Nazi. I was rather bored and disgusted during this part. There was a lot of rehashing of events from the first book, which was okay, but then came this strange turn where Cornelius wanted Sam to marry his daughter. Things did get more interesting at the end when Cornelius decided to have an affair with Sam’s girlfriend. If your best friend won’t marry your daughter, why not sleep with the woman he wants to marry? It definitely reminded me of what I loved about Howatch’s books in the first place.

The second section caught my attention. It focuses on Alicia and reveals that Sam and Vicky have already been married. I would have liked to see more interaction between them before this happened, but it’s okay. Alicia opposed the marriage as she wanted Vicky to marry her son, Sebastian, like in some strange scenario imagined by V.C. Andrews. I was a bit frustrated as this section alluded to an inappropriate encounter between Sebastian and Vicky that caused family discord but didn’t give specifics. Alicia reminded me of Sylvia from The Rich Are Different. She finds herself in a marriage with Cornelius where she stops having sex with him, but once he has a consistent relationship with his mistress, she wants him again, which is odd. Cornelius seems kind of dweeby and not particularly interesting except for his Machiavellian streak. I was frustrated that Alicia’s section ended just as it was getting good!

Section three follows Cornelius and starts with Vicky in the hospital after giving birth. We learn that Cornelius is still seeing Teresa regularly. Alicia has never heard him say “fuck” and Teresa has never seen his testicles due to his insecurity. I found these ideas a bit ludicrous, but whatever. He wonders if his niece is a virgin at her wedding to his stepson. The highlight for me was when Cornelius was confronted by Elfrida with the knowledge that he drove Steve to his death in The Rich Are Different. Sam dies at the end of this section, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his last conversation with Cornelius about his inability to use condoms consistently with Cornelius’ daughter.

The fourth section was fun as I really got to know Sebastian, who takes center stage. He’s a slimy character. He marries the daughter of the man his mother is sleeping with only to leave her for the daughter of the man his mother is married to. I felt bad for his poor wife. He ends up divorced as he gets Vicky pregnant, even though she doesn’t really like sex and was basically coerced into their first encounter. The baby dies, which is very sad. Vicky realizes she’s falling into the same trap as with Sam and leaves him, which made me proud.

The fifth section focuses on Scott, Steve’s son. He’s unusual, doesn’t connect with his body, and discusses himself in the third person. He goes on a cruise where he has sexual issues with a school teacher and then meets another woman who turns out to be Vicky! They have sex, which doesn’t make much sense as they’re cousins, but it was still kind of thrilling and hilarious. They end things and Scott is sent to Europe.

Vicky’s section finally arrives, and by this point, I had come to despise her. She’s little more than a paper doll used by the male characters. I’m surprised Cornelius didn’t have some sort of sexual desire for her too. Even as I learned more from her perspective, I still didn’t like her. Eventually, she gets engaged to Scott, but he gets drunk and scares her. He commits suicide when Cornelius ruins his life. I was proud of Vicky for turning her back on her father. Cornelius ends up alone, which feels appropriate.

This was the pulpy melodrama I needed to warm my soul in the cold winter, even if it wasn’t as impressive as some of Howatch’s other novels.

‘I’ve now reached the point where I don’t hate anyone. Hatred makes things worse. Hatred stops one coming to terms with all the horror and grief. And one must come to terms with it. Somehow.’

Sometimes, I truly had enough of those people in the story. At times, it bordered on being a bit too much like a soap opera. Now and again, the descriptions of 'big banker's tools' and the discussions about philosophers were overwhelming. However, it was still a fascinating reading experience.

How could parents endure to labour for years, to sacrifice themselves so that their children should have nothing but the best, and to discover in the end that it had all been for so little, for a quick visit on national holidays and a few hours spent in front of the television set in a silence neither side knew how to break?

Parenthood is indeed one of the hardest jobs. It's truly sad how many people seem to get it wrong. Even though they almost never get fired from this role, they do sometimes face harsh consequences.

‘Oh, it was just a game,’ I said to the first psychiatrist, ‘just a way of making me feel better because I missed my boys so much.’ ‘No, it wasn’t a game,’ I said to the second psychiatrist. ‘It was real, they were all real, I knew what they looked like, and then suddenly one day they were gone and I didn’t know – still don’t know – how to bear the loss, I still miss them so much, whenever I think of them I can’t endure their nonexistence

Could you miss the children you never had? Is the grief truly real? These are questions that this passage brings to mind.

We have the three As instead: allies, aides and acquaintances. Or in other words: those we barter with, those we buy and those we acknowledge because it suits us to do so

How many people actually live like this? It's really a sad state of affairs.

Hypocrisy saves one’s sanity. It’s the shield you hide behind when the truth is too terrible to face

I didn't initially think this way, but as I read it, it seems so true. It makes one wonder about the role of hypocrisy in our lives.

‘Fact number two: all women basically want to be wives and mothers—’
‘No, honey, they don’t. Sorry, but they just don’t. My fifty per cent of the human race isn’t a bunch of identical plastic dolls. We’re human beings and we’re all different and – incredible though this may seem to you – we don’t all want the same thing’

This book had a lot to say about women's rights. It shows how much thinking about women is still very narrowed, untrue and unfair. It's a powerful statement that makes us reflect on our society's views of women.

Of all the great empires the world has known, ours will be the shortest. Two hundred years of chasing the Godalmighty Dollar, and what do we produce? The A-Bomb and I Love Lucy.

There were also quite a lot of harsh words about American culture in this book. It makes us think about the values and priorities of our society and what we have achieved or failed to achieve.

I didn't know much about Augustus and his daughter, so the plot was new and interesting to me. Especially the ending. [By the way, I am now skimming the history of them, and I see that Susan Howatch did an excellent job of rewriting it for the world two thousand years later.]

Summarizing, it was a gripping historical fiction, written by a very educated author. It's definitely worth giving a try. However, considering what I wrote at the beginning about sometimes having enough of the revenge and power struggles, and comparing it to two other books by Howatch, I give it 4 stars. Yet, again, compared to most pieces of the genre, it is more like a 5-star novel.

You’re all cut off and sewn up

[Additionally, I learned about American primitive art. There is something very compelling about these paintings. And I loved the scenes and conversations with Vicky's children. They were truly priceless! A pity there were so few of them.]

I truly adored this book. It was one of those rare gems that remained etched in my memory throughout the years.

From the moment I picked it up, I was captivated by its engaging storyline and well-developed characters. The author's writing style was so vivid and descriptive that it brought the story to life in my mind.

As I delved deeper into the book, I found myself becoming emotionally invested in the characters' lives and fortunes. Their joys and sorrows felt so real to me that I couldn't help but be moved by their experiences.

Even after I finished reading the book, it continued to linger in my thoughts. I would often find myself reflecting on the lessons I had learned from it and the impact it had had on me.

This book will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will cherish it for a long time to come.

A truly great book, one that had me completely enthralled and amazed up until the very end. For the most part, it was an absolute page-turner, filled with excitement, mystery, and engaging characters. I was on the verge of giving it a full five stars. However, as the story reached its conclusion, things took a turn that I found rather predictable and overly melodramatic. It was a bit of a letdown after such a thrilling build-up.

Despite this disappointment with the ending, I still highly recommend the Van Zale duology. This particular book is the second in the series, and I would strongly suggest reading The Rich Are Different first. By doing so, you will be able to fully understand and appreciate the depth and complexity of the story in this second installment. It will enhance your overall reading experience and allow you to get the most out of this captivating series.

The Rich are Different

The rich indeed seem to be a breed apart. They have access to a world of luxury and opportunities that the average person can only dream of. Their lifestyles are often characterized by extravagance and opulence. They can afford the finest clothes, the most expensive cars, and the most exclusive vacations. However, being rich also comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. The rich have to manage their wealth carefully to ensure its long-term sustainability. They also face the pressure of maintaining their social status and reputation. Moreover, they are often the target of envy and criticism from others. Despite these difficulties, the rich continue to pursue their goals and enjoy the benefits of their wealth. They are constantly looking for new ways to invest their money and increase their net worth. In conclusion, while the rich may be different in many ways, they are also human beings with their own hopes, dreams, and fears.

Own. (Thank goodness)

What an amazing book this is! It is truly the best one I have read this year. The story is so captivating and the characters are so well-developed that I just couldn't put it down. I am really looking forward to writing a more thorough review later. I need some time to think about all the details and aspects of the book that made it so great. There are so many things to consider, such as the plot, the writing style, the themes, and the overall impact of the book. I want to make sure that I do justice to this wonderful piece of literature. So, for now, I will just continue to think and let my thoughts marinate before I sit down to write my review.

This is a sequel to The Rich Are Different but not quite as good.

The time period it presents wasn't as interesting as that of the original. It seemed to lack the unique charm and historical context that made the first one so captivating.

Moreover, the characters in this sequel were not as likable. They didn't have the same depth and complexity that would draw the readers in and make them care about their fates.

Perhaps the author was trying to take a different approach, but unfortunately, it didn't quite work. The story felt a bit flat and unengaging compared to its predecessor.

Overall, while it may still have some redeeming qualities, this sequel fails to live up to the standards set by The Rich Are Different. It leaves the readers longing for more of what made the original so great.

Sort of an evil pleasure read.

The time span ranges from the '50s to the 80's.

It features high-powered businessmen, trophy wives, cut-throat ambition, jet set travel, and lots and lots of the psychology of human behavior and morals.

If we change the setting from investment banking to advertising, it becomes an extended version of "Mad Men".

However, it's quite strange that every book I read lately reminds me of the upcoming presidency.

Perhaps there are some underlying themes or parallels that I'm unconsciously picking up on.

Maybe the cut-throat ambition and power struggles in the books are similar to what we see in the political arena.

Or perhaps the complex psychology of the characters and their moral dilemmas mirror the decisions and choices that politicians have to make.

Whatever the reason, it's an interesting phenomenon that makes me think about the connections between literature and real life.

I have now read multiple works by Susan Howatch, and I have adored every single one of them.

This particular book was also highly entertaining. However, I managed to figure out all the plot twists, which made me feel a bit sad.

But then again, if it took me reading 10 of her books before I could start to understand her plot structures and patterns, it just goes to show that she is an incredibly amazing writer.

(Or perhaps I'm a slow learner! - Both possibilities could very well be true!)

Her stories are so rich and complex that it takes multiple readings to fully appreciate all the nuances and details.

Even though I was able to anticipate the plot twists in this book, I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey and the characters she created.

Susan Howatch has a true talent for bringing her stories to life and captivating her readers from beginning to end.

I truly love Susan Howatch stories.

However, this particular one had its moments when it got a bit tedious. There were sections where the plot seemed to drag on a little too long, and it required some extra effort on my part to stay engaged.

Nevertheless, despite those few drawbacks, it was still a good summer read. The story had its own charm and managed to keep my interest for the most part.

The characters were well-developed, and the setting was vividly described, which added to the overall appeal.

It was the kind of book that you could pick up on a lazy summer afternoon and lose yourself in for a while.

Even though it wasn't perfect, I would still recommend it to fans of Susan Howatch or anyone looking for an engaging summer read.

I've never felt so profoundly sad by a book in my entire life!

It was an experience like no other. The emotions it evoked were so intense and palpable that it felt as if it wasn't just a fictional story but a reflection of the real world.

I tried with all my might to convince myself that it was just a book, a creation of someone's imagination. But deep down, I couldn't help but think that maybe there was more to it.

The world we live in can be incredibly cruel, and perhaps this book was a stark reminder of that harsh reality. It made me question everything and left me with a heavy heart.

Even now, as I write this, the impact of that book still lingers within me, and I don't think I'll ever forget the way it made me feel.

Another Susan Howatch book, that I adored when I read it.

Her books always had a certain charm that kept me hooked from the very first page. The more pages the better her books were, as they allowed for a more in-depth exploration of the characters and their complex relationships.

Howatch has a remarkable ability to create vivid and believable worlds, filled with richly drawn characters who come to life on the page. Each of her books is a unique and engaging story, full of drama, passion, and intrigue.

Whether it's a historical novel or a contemporary tale, Howatch's writing always manages to capture the essence of the human experience. I can't wait to pick up another one of her books and lose myself in her wonderful world once again.