Granny Dan

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Patrice Donnell, Lewis Arlt

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.

Great story

one of my most favorite books of all time! It's like stepping into a russian fairytale.

Nice Tale from a Sad time in Hustory

The story was nice and short. Almost to short, as wanting the characters stories to continue. Reminds me of Jack and Rose from the titanic..

Wonderful Love Story

I wish the story had a happier ending and Nicolai had joined her in Vermont.

Still mind blowing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Amazing story line.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Granny Dan. She was amazing after everything

What about Patrice Donnell and Lewis Arlt ’s performance did you like?

Wonderful job

Who was the most memorable character of Granny Dan and why?

The doctor cause of what he had to endure and how it all ended

Any additional comments?

I still cannot get the book out of my head and it's been a week. It was memorable. Now every book before or after cannot bet it.

Very slow and repetitive

I disliked that it was the same plot over and over. How many times could a ballet dancer lose her ability dance. I kept thinking - again??? I love Danielle Steele books but this once went nowhere.