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khornstein1's review against another edition
4.0
A fun read especially if Coney Island holds a special place in your heart. More Boardwalk Empire (in its realism) than The Night Circus which other reviewers mention. Lots of good historical detail.
deescribe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, and Murder
kleonard's review against another edition
2.0
A naive young woman from a wealthy family becomes embroiled in murder, set against the backdrop of Coney Island's heyday, workers' rights movements, and women's suffrage. The descriptions of the various amusement parks and their workers was interesting, but the characters were fairly one-dimensional and ultimately the plot was slow and predictable.
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
4.0
Dreamland is a mystery, an exploration of class, and a period piece that immerses readers in the bygone days of New York City. It was fun to explore through Peggy’s eyes the attractions of Coney Island and almost smell and taste the foods sold there, and it was fascinating to contrast the luxurious lives of the rich (even while realizing today most of us have it better in some respects during heat waves because even the rich then didn’t have air conditioning and had to sweat it out with everyone else) with the lives of average workers. The book is excellent historical fiction, and it’s a satisfying mystery as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com:
https://ratedreads.com/dreamland-clean-fiction-book-review/
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com:
https://ratedreads.com/dreamland-clean-fiction-book-review/
rosannelortz's review against another edition
4.0
When Peggy Batternberg's family bids her drop her plebeian job at a bookshop and join them for a summer holiday at the Oriental Hotel, she fumes at the idea. But wealthy Jewish financiers are not used to being denied, and out of consideration for her younger sister's feelings, Peggy bows to the decree. The aristocratic beaches of 1911 New York and the unbridled license of the Coney Island carnivals form the backdrop for the suspenseful drama that unfolds.
Stifled by her family's expectations and by the heat of the New York summer, Peggy supports her sister Lydia's tenuous engagement to playboy Henry Taul with ill grace. Dismayed by the debauchery of her cousins and uncle, she attempts to keep her younger brother Lawrence away from their influence. When she abandons restrictive chaperones to explore the seedy carnival Dreamland on her own, a chance encounter with a Futurist artist named Stefan upends her world. What would it be like to escape her gilded prison and find happiness with a man unafraid to work hard, dream dauntlessly, and love unstintingly?
Daydreams turn into nightmares when three young women are found murdered in the vicinity of the hotel. As the police begin a manhunt, clever Peggy realizes that the women all share some connection to her family, to her world, and to her relationship with Stefan--if only she can discover what before it is too late....
I've clearly been reading too much "fluff" lately because my first thought when cracking open this novel was "Ahhh! Now here at last is some good writing." As usual, Bilyeau's turn of phrase is exquisite. The milieu of the story is far-reaching and immersive (covering everything from unrest in the Balkans to Sigmund Freud's interpretation of dreams). The pacing of the story is slow but suspenseful, unhurried but captivating (except for the ending, which felt rushed and a little unsatisfactory).
The character that I most enjoyed in this book was the protagonist, Peggy. I noticed that some other reviewers felt her personality to be contradictory (how she wanted to be a modern, independent woman but agreed to abandon her job and principles to go on a lavish holiday), but I enjoyed the way that she tempered her desire for independence with her consideration for her sister's happiness. The relationship between Peggy and Lydia was one of my favorite parts of the book, their fierce loyalty to each other as they navigate the strictures of society and family.
As far as secondary characters go, Henry Taul was also well-portrayed, with his manic personality and perplexing desires, but I wish the story had been more finely honed to sharpen the images of the other characters. Ben, Peggy's enigmatic elder cousin, especially needed more time to reveal himself. Supposedly he was a dangerous man, but how? Why? Stefan, the Serbian hot-dog-seller/artist, also felt underdeveloped, and in many ways, completely overshadowed by Peggy. Perhaps the book needed to be longer, or perhaps it needed less time spent on the 1911 atmosphere (a remarkable "character" in and of itself) and more time spent on fleshing out the people.
Dreamland is sure to enchant those who love the glamour and lights of a Great Gatsby-esque world, those who love the clash of classes in a rigidly-tiered society, and those who simply love a good dose of suspense in their historical novels.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Stifled by her family's expectations and by the heat of the New York summer, Peggy supports her sister Lydia's tenuous engagement to playboy Henry Taul with ill grace. Dismayed by the debauchery of her cousins and uncle, she attempts to keep her younger brother Lawrence away from their influence. When she abandons restrictive chaperones to explore the seedy carnival Dreamland on her own, a chance encounter with a Futurist artist named Stefan upends her world. What would it be like to escape her gilded prison and find happiness with a man unafraid to work hard, dream dauntlessly, and love unstintingly?
Daydreams turn into nightmares when three young women are found murdered in the vicinity of the hotel. As the police begin a manhunt, clever Peggy realizes that the women all share some connection to her family, to her world, and to her relationship with Stefan--if only she can discover what before it is too late....
I've clearly been reading too much "fluff" lately because my first thought when cracking open this novel was "Ahhh! Now here at last is some good writing." As usual, Bilyeau's turn of phrase is exquisite. The milieu of the story is far-reaching and immersive (covering everything from unrest in the Balkans to Sigmund Freud's interpretation of dreams). The pacing of the story is slow but suspenseful, unhurried but captivating (except for the ending, which felt rushed and a little unsatisfactory).
The character that I most enjoyed in this book was the protagonist, Peggy. I noticed that some other reviewers felt her personality to be contradictory (how she wanted to be a modern, independent woman but agreed to abandon her job and principles to go on a lavish holiday), but I enjoyed the way that she tempered her desire for independence with her consideration for her sister's happiness. The relationship between Peggy and Lydia was one of my favorite parts of the book, their fierce loyalty to each other as they navigate the strictures of society and family.
As far as secondary characters go, Henry Taul was also well-portrayed, with his manic personality and perplexing desires, but I wish the story had been more finely honed to sharpen the images of the other characters. Ben, Peggy's enigmatic elder cousin, especially needed more time to reveal himself. Supposedly he was a dangerous man, but how? Why? Stefan, the Serbian hot-dog-seller/artist, also felt underdeveloped, and in many ways, completely overshadowed by Peggy. Perhaps the book needed to be longer, or perhaps it needed less time spent on the 1911 atmosphere (a remarkable "character" in and of itself) and more time spent on fleshing out the people.
Dreamland is sure to enchant those who love the glamour and lights of a Great Gatsby-esque world, those who love the clash of classes in a rigidly-tiered society, and those who simply love a good dose of suspense in their historical novels.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
hellsie's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book - fantastic blend of historical fiction and murder mystery. 4 stars because I found the ending a little rushed. I’d without question love to read more of this author’s work.
kellyvandamme's review against another edition
5.0
Hi and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Dreamland! Hugest of thanks to Hannah at Endeavour Media for the most original invitation ever! Did I want a ticket to Dreamland? Well of course I did! I was absolutely thrilled to get an invitation to go to Coney Island! I loved Nancy Bilyeau’s previous book, The Blue, it was one of the books that reminded me that historical fiction can be heaps of fun, so I couldn’t wait to find out what she had in store for me now.
Dreamland takes us to New York City, 1911. One minute, Margaret – Peggy – Batternberg is working in a bookshop, determined to be an independent New Woman, the next she’s schlepped to Coney Island, America’s Playground, “Sodom by the Sea”. Being an heir to one of the richest men in 20th century America isn’t simple, being a female heir even less so.
Peggy is the kind of female protagonist that Nancy Bilyeau does best, like Genevieve in The Blue: independent, tenacious, way ahead of her peers, memorable (that I still remember Genevieve vividly about a year and 200-odd books later is quite telling). Peggy has always been a bit of a black sheep in her family. Too independent, too smart, too wilful. So why does her family insist that she joins them in a hotel on Coney Island for the entire summer? She has no idea, but what she does know is that there is no getting out of it…
Peggy has never been to Coney Island, so she doesn’t really know what to expect, but what she sure didn’t expect was to fall madly in love. Stefan is an artist, a hotdog vendor on the boardwalk, an immigrant, and Peggy falls head over heels, first for his paintings and then for him. Does their relationship border on insta-love? Well yes, a little, but although I usually hate that particular trope, it didn’t bother me in the slightest, as it all flowed so naturally, and I completely understood why Peggy would fall for Stefan. He is entirely different from all the other men in her life, rich men, entitled men, spoiled men, men who treat their wives like commodities and have mistresses on the side. Peggy has lead a sheltered life, she’s been restricted, hemmed in, and Stefan shows her a whole other way of living, the way of a lower class, yet a freer way.
Still, despite this romance, this is not a romance novel. It’s a murder mystery, with women being killed on the beach and Peggy becoming invested in finding the culprit. It’s a family saga, including family drama, secrets, but also love and loyalty; the bond between Peggy and her sister Lydia is a thing of beauty. It’s of course historical fiction, it shows us the upper and lower classes in early 20th century America, women’s rights (or lack thereof), Coney Island in its heyday. So yes, it’s fair to say that there’s a lot going on, but the narrative never gets cluttered. If anything, these multiple storylines make for riveting reading.
Nancy Bilyeau has a very clever way of giving you tons of information without you ever realising it. A little factoid here, an offhand remark there, you might feel like you’re none the wiser, but in fact you are, she’s told you something vital about the setting, or her characters, or some historical fact, slipping it casually into the narrative and all the while you never feel like she’s explained anything. It’s only when you think back that you realise just how much you’ve actually learned.
The writing is extremely vivid, to the point that I almost broke a sweat because of the 2011 heat spell and I had a craving for Coca-Cola, because Peggy, newly introduced to the sugary stuff, has developed quite a fondness for it. I could hear the music, feel the sand between my toes, smell the popcorn and the hotdogs. Reading Dreamland, I had stepped into the Tardis and been transported to early 20th century Coney Island, and it was a glorious trip indeed!
With its heroine to root for and its multitude of storylines and genres, Dreamland ticked all my boxes! Recommended!
Dreamland takes us to New York City, 1911. One minute, Margaret – Peggy – Batternberg is working in a bookshop, determined to be an independent New Woman, the next she’s schlepped to Coney Island, America’s Playground, “Sodom by the Sea”. Being an heir to one of the richest men in 20th century America isn’t simple, being a female heir even less so.
Peggy is the kind of female protagonist that Nancy Bilyeau does best, like Genevieve in The Blue: independent, tenacious, way ahead of her peers, memorable (that I still remember Genevieve vividly about a year and 200-odd books later is quite telling). Peggy has always been a bit of a black sheep in her family. Too independent, too smart, too wilful. So why does her family insist that she joins them in a hotel on Coney Island for the entire summer? She has no idea, but what she does know is that there is no getting out of it…
Peggy has never been to Coney Island, so she doesn’t really know what to expect, but what she sure didn’t expect was to fall madly in love. Stefan is an artist, a hotdog vendor on the boardwalk, an immigrant, and Peggy falls head over heels, first for his paintings and then for him. Does their relationship border on insta-love? Well yes, a little, but although I usually hate that particular trope, it didn’t bother me in the slightest, as it all flowed so naturally, and I completely understood why Peggy would fall for Stefan. He is entirely different from all the other men in her life, rich men, entitled men, spoiled men, men who treat their wives like commodities and have mistresses on the side. Peggy has lead a sheltered life, she’s been restricted, hemmed in, and Stefan shows her a whole other way of living, the way of a lower class, yet a freer way.
Still, despite this romance, this is not a romance novel. It’s a murder mystery, with women being killed on the beach and Peggy becoming invested in finding the culprit. It’s a family saga, including family drama, secrets, but also love and loyalty; the bond between Peggy and her sister Lydia is a thing of beauty. It’s of course historical fiction, it shows us the upper and lower classes in early 20th century America, women’s rights (or lack thereof), Coney Island in its heyday. So yes, it’s fair to say that there’s a lot going on, but the narrative never gets cluttered. If anything, these multiple storylines make for riveting reading.
Nancy Bilyeau has a very clever way of giving you tons of information without you ever realising it. A little factoid here, an offhand remark there, you might feel like you’re none the wiser, but in fact you are, she’s told you something vital about the setting, or her characters, or some historical fact, slipping it casually into the narrative and all the while you never feel like she’s explained anything. It’s only when you think back that you realise just how much you’ve actually learned.
The writing is extremely vivid, to the point that I almost broke a sweat because of the 2011 heat spell and I had a craving for Coca-Cola, because Peggy, newly introduced to the sugary stuff, has developed quite a fondness for it. I could hear the music, feel the sand between my toes, smell the popcorn and the hotdogs. Reading Dreamland, I had stepped into the Tardis and been transported to early 20th century Coney Island, and it was a glorious trip indeed!
With its heroine to root for and its multitude of storylines and genres, Dreamland ticked all my boxes! Recommended!
100pagesaday's review against another edition
5.0
Peggy Batternburg has been graced with being part of one of America's richest families in New York's gilded age. However, Peggy would gladly give up her family's perks to continue her position at the Moonrise Bookstore. When Peggy is unceremoniously taken from the bookstore by the family patriarch, her Uncle David, she is told that the family is summering at the Oriental Hotel and her presence is needed to secure the engagement of her sister Lydia to Henry Taul, notorious playboy and someone who Peggy would rather forget. After arriving to the Oriental, Peggy visits Coney Island and the Dreamland park where she finds artwork by Stefan. Peggy is enraptured with both the artwork and artist. While Peggy is busy with Stefan, a string of murders seems to follow the couple around. When Stefan is suspected, Peggy does everything within her power to find the real killer.
I am a fan of all of Nancy Bilyeau's previous books and I couldn't wait to dive into the world and characters of Dreamland. From the ominous prologue, I was hooked into the mystery of the story. When Peggy enters the scene, I knew that this young woman would be the one to figure everything out. Peggy goes against the grain, especially when it comes to her family's wishes. She is inquisitive, insightful and willing to look deeper into prejudice and bias, especially within herself. I loved the setting of 1911 New York. Through the writing, the Gilded Age came to life-from the richness of the Oriental Hotel to the atmosphere of Coney Island. There was a lot of care taken to recreate Coney Island and Dreamland, especially when it came to the people of Dreamland. Even though we only meet most of the characters of Dreamland briefly, each of is fully realized with a rich background and story. Stefan's story is teased out slowly and through him we see the plight that many immigrants went through at the time. Though Stefan is treated unfairly and accused for simply being from his homeland, he does not lose hope or place blame. The mystery is engaging and complex as Peggy begins to realize that every murder can be traced back to her. Rich with historical detail, excitement, suspense, romance and mystery, Dreamland is an engaging read in a world that I did not want to leave.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I am a fan of all of Nancy Bilyeau's previous books and I couldn't wait to dive into the world and characters of Dreamland. From the ominous prologue, I was hooked into the mystery of the story. When Peggy enters the scene, I knew that this young woman would be the one to figure everything out. Peggy goes against the grain, especially when it comes to her family's wishes. She is inquisitive, insightful and willing to look deeper into prejudice and bias, especially within herself. I loved the setting of 1911 New York. Through the writing, the Gilded Age came to life-from the richness of the Oriental Hotel to the atmosphere of Coney Island. There was a lot of care taken to recreate Coney Island and Dreamland, especially when it came to the people of Dreamland. Even though we only meet most of the characters of Dreamland briefly, each of is fully realized with a rich background and story. Stefan's story is teased out slowly and through him we see the plight that many immigrants went through at the time. Though Stefan is treated unfairly and accused for simply being from his homeland, he does not lose hope or place blame. The mystery is engaging and complex as Peggy begins to realize that every murder can be traced back to her. Rich with historical detail, excitement, suspense, romance and mystery, Dreamland is an engaging read in a world that I did not want to leave.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
jaibee's review against another edition
4.0
A fairly good historical mystery with an interesting socio-political setup, but a fairly predictable ending and I’d have liked more depth into the rich/poor divide imo
3.5 rounded up
3.5 rounded up