Granny Dan

Written by:
Danielle Steel
Narrated by:
Patrice Donnell , Lewis Arlt

Abridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
34
Narrator
3
Release Date
April 2005
Duration
5 hours 17 minutes
Summary
In my eyes she had always been old, always been mine, always been Granny Dan. But in another time, another place, there had been dancing, people, laughter, love. . . . She had had another life before she came to us, long before she came to me. . . .

She was the cherished grandmother who sang songs in Russian, loved to roller-skate, and spoke little of her past. But when Granny Dan died, all that remained was a box wrapped in brown paper, tied with string. Inside, an old pair of satin toe shoes, a gold locket, and a stack of letters tied with ribbon. It was her legacy, her secret past, waiting to be discovered by the granddaughter who loved her but never really knew her. It was a story waiting to be told. . . .

The year was 1902. A new century was dawning as a motherless young girl arrived at a ballet school in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of seven. By age seventeen, Danina Petroskova had become a great ballerina, a favorite of the Czar and Czarina, who welcomed her into the heart of the Imperial family. But events both near and far away shook the ground upon which she danced. A war, an extraordinary man, and a devastating illness altered the course of her life. And when revolution shattered Russia, Danina Petroskova was forced to make a heartbreaking choice—as the world around her was about to change forever.

Granny Dan is about the magic of history. In it, Danielle Steel reminds us how little we know of those who came before us—and how, if we could only glimpse into their early lives, and see who they once were, there is so much we would understand and learn. For in this extraordinary novel, a simple box, filled with mementos from a grandmother, offers the greatest legacy of all: an unexpected gift of a life transformed, a long-forgotten history of youth and beauty, love and dreams.
Reviews
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Patricia M

I read/listened to this book as a selection for my book club. I used to love Steel's books but stopped because it seemed like she had a set format where she just changed names and such but her stories are always so similar. This book reminded me why I no longer read her books. The book was drawn out and very repetitive. How many times do we need to read how great their love is? It was well narrated, just boring.

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Book worm

Generally Historical fiction is my primary reading choice. In this case, the characters took a long time to develop and it got boring. Didn't finish it.

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Anonymous

Granny Dan started out really good, and then it kind of got drawn out. I was a little bored listening to this book, although the concept was great the delivery wasn't. I have almost recommended every book that I have listened to, but I would not recommend this book.

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Tammy

So far, I haven't read or listened to a Steele book that I haven't loved. This one is no exception. Believable characters, beleivable storyline. Made me want to research the Czar,Czarina, Sarska Seloe and the Russian Revolution! I even loved the male narrator's voice. It enhanced the story instead of taking away from it. SPOILER: If she were my dance teacher and treated me that way, I would have told her to kiss my you know what!

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Angela Jones

This was a captivating story with many belivable characters. I enjoyed the history and the cultural aspects. Would highly recommend.

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Anonymous

Interesting and fine, but nothing special. This is one of my least favorite of her books. I normally find her writing easy to listen to and drive, but this one for me, nothing special. Perfectly fine, but nothing special.

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