To be completely honest, I am not sure why this book is so popular. It is very well written but the plot is not what I would call compelling. It took me a little while to get into it but once I did I was entertained well enough.

Now, characters. I liked Jamie at first and was looking forward to his development from a naive young man to whatever he was to become but was a little disappointed that he turned out to be so bitter. I understand how he became so, I just felt there could have been a little more depth to him.
Margaret was incredibly naive and I cannot comprehend why someone would continuously pine after someone who clearly did not want her. Again, I get her reasons for chasing Jamie but really, how could you truly love someone who treats you that way?
I hated Kate. I hated everything about her. All she cares about is the company and doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. I mean, she destroyed her sons dreams just to fulfill her own fantasy. She is exactly like her parents; mostly like her father because of her cold-heartedness and business strategy. But she had a lot of her mother in her because of the way she would not love anyone else but David.
Tony, on the other hand, I liked reading about his life. I found myself aching for him to succeed and be happy. Even once he started making decisions solely to anger Kate, I was cheering for him. I really felt bad for him.
Finally, there's Eve and Alexandra. I though it was a bit of an odd addition to the novel. Of course, the novel had to continue for a while yet after what happened to Tony but with how much I enjoyed Tony's part of the book, I found the twins to be a step down from that.

Overall I would that if you want a page-turning book that will keep you up until long past your bedtime, don't pick up this one. Save Master of the Game for when you just want to read something that you can come and go leisurely. I found it to be a stormy night, curled up with a blanket kind of novel.

I read this book a long time ago and I reread it out of curiosity.

This book is like reading a Korean makjang drama except that the main focus is on a Caucasian family and not a Korean one. It's intense, zany and the characters range from being questionable to rather unlikable, but they are unlikable in an entertaining way.

There's corruption, capitalism, greed and power struggles told in four stories throughout a century of Jamie McGregor's legacy.

The main villain shifts from Jamie to Kate and she is trying her best to be the big bad final boss villain of the story by ruining many more lives than her father ever did. When she raises her granddaughters Eve and Alexandra, it's pretty much Kate vs Eve on who is the baddest of them all.

It's quite a good read. I'd give it a 4/5. It's not a perfect score because I kind of hoped that Alexandra would do more in the story and not be there to be the constant victim of Eve's schemes.

This is Sydney Sheldon at his best! Loved every bit of it! Although I did find it predictable at a couple of places, the rest of it kept me guessing :p

kate blackwell…. what a woman

lots of twists and turns that i didn’t predict but the author described things really weirdly. easy and somewhat enjoyable read

This book is insane. This book left me wide-eyed with my jaw gaping.

I had an aneurism about a month ago when I realized I didn't have a copy of this book anymore. I found it at a thrift store last week and nearly weeped with happy.

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This and "If Tomorrow Comes". I cannot pick an all-time favorite Sheldon book out of the two.

This man wrote like I want to someday.

See my review of If Tomorrow Comes for the story of receiving these books from my grandfather at a very young age, and falling in love with them, hard.

These two books really did set me up for failure where Sheldon was concerned. None of the other books by him that I've read have come even close to capturing this magic. I quit trying after a few, so I wonder if he has any other treasures buried in there.

This book is even better than I remembered. It's apparently been longer since I read this one than I had If Tomorrow Comes, so there were even a few surprises I had forgotten about. Kate Blackwell is brilliant, and cunning. She's manipulative, and spoiled, and head strong. And she's everything I ever wanted to be when I grew up.

When the world starting talking about blood diamonds, and the horrible things happening in South Africa, I realized I already knew from reading this book. Diamonds have never held much sway with me, because of this book. Pretty to look at, not worth owning.

Sheldon writes like I want to write. There's no two ways around it. Clever, and cunning, and so many twists you get knocked onto your ass. Kindness is rewarded, treachery is punished, vengeance. is. had. And it's oh, so satisfying.

After re-reading both of these, it's still really hard to pick a favorite between the two. But If Tomorrow Comes is imminently more re-readable, so I'm pretty sure this one falls to number two. A comfortable number two.