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aelliott207's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book wasn't what i expected from reading the blurb, but it was very interesting and I would recommend it.
kerryelise's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anauhiram's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lollybee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was an unusual and interesting story about synesthesia.
Alice is eight years old when she notices that everyone has colours emanating from them. She doesn't like seeing the brightness of the colours or having people touch her in case their colours leak into her, resulting in her always wearing sunglasses and gloves.
Alice has to come to terms with her ability to read people and how it affects her experiences of the world around her if she is to live a fulfilling life.
Alice is eight years old when she notices that everyone has colours emanating from them. She doesn't like seeing the brightness of the colours or having people touch her in case their colours leak into her, resulting in her always wearing sunglasses and gloves.
Alice has to come to terms with her ability to read people and how it affects her experiences of the world around her if she is to live a fulfilling life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
la9702's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blovessummer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
roelia's review against another edition
4.0
“I have had a life-long relationship with colours. Enduring them, accepting them, surrendering to them.”
“In a Thousand Different Ways” is a stunning and colourful story, mesmerizing and memorable.
The main protagonist is Alice Kelly, and she’s got an extraordinary gift (or curse, I guess). She suffers from a rare neurological condition, called “synethesia”. This condition basically means that she can “see” and sense the emotions, mood and intentions of others as associated with colour. This means that that she is highly sensitive and has an almost superhuman empathy with others.
The condition first manifests when she is eight years old. Having to deal with the constant distraction and emotional overload, unable to escape the feelings of others, and to understand her own, Alice is struggling to navigate life.
“I'm not the only person in the world to have the skillset that I have. No, there are others who are afflicted with the same poison, only unlike me or society in general, others don't view it as freakishly weird or the poisonous curse that I see it as.”
Struggling to understand this, and being in a dysfunctional family, the first chapters were difficult to read, as the anxiety, trauma and tension of Alice as pre-teen and teenager is palpable. She has a tough time at school as she tends to get severe headaches and migraine, and is hypersensitive to bright light, while also detesting the physical touch of those around her. This small girl resorts to wearing sunglasses and gloves, making her stand out even more. As a result, she ends up in a school for teenagers with behavioural problems.
To add to her anxiety, she has got a rocky relationship with her self-centered and uncaring mother, who simply doesn’t understand (or even try to understand) what Alice is living through. She’s got to brothers as well, the eldest, Hugh, is desperately trying to escape their circumstances (while trying to “save” Alice), and Ollie, who seems to be caught in a downward spiral of petty crime, feeding of their mother’s negative energy.
The central theme is the power and burden of empathy, highlighted in the human condition to the extreme. How does that shape our relationship with ourselves and others? With Alice experiencing the full range of emotions, including delight, grief, hope, anguish, love and hatred I was reminded of how much we do deal with on a daily basis. She feels and senses people’s darkest thoughts, sincere secrets, most deceitful lies, worst fears and deepest regrets. This also presents her with some ethical and moral dilemmas.
This is a captivating and poignant portrait, taking the reader on a journey as Alice is struggling to find her own voice and identity.
“We don't want to be shielded from everything in life, Alice. Some things must be experienced, some people we must experience. The gloves, the mask, the glasses - you have been telling people to stay away, instead of figuring out how to be among them.”
Her “gift” becomes a way of managing her relationships with others – keeping herself and others around her safe. So, what happens when she meets someone who’s colours she can’t see?
I found Alice a complex and sympathetic character, beguiling – with an endearing nature. I wanted to shelter and protect her at all costs!
“There's panic over climate change. Earth is in crisis but it seems to me that no one is paying attention to the crisis of our souls. No units to measure all the holes that are appearing in each of us.”
The author creates a realistic world, with diverse and authentic characters – showcasing the true beauty and intricacy of human emotions. The story is unique, touching, deeply emotional and inspiring. It stayed with me long after I wiped the last tears.
“I have had a life-long relationship with colours. Enduring them, confronting them, accepting them, surrendering to them. Our bodies act as a prism in the light and all the colours shine through us like an ever-changing light show. At times I felt like I was trapped in a prism prison, but light gets through the cracks. I learned to find the cracks that became my connections to outside. I have seen and felt them all; all the shades, tones and variations of every colour in the spectrum.”
The story is told in leaps in time though, so just to be cognisant of the fact, as some may find it a bit strange and disruptive. Cecelia Ahern is a masterful storyteller, and this is my first book by this author. From what I understand, this is slightly different from her others. I am keen to learn more! Her way of creating emotion and empathy, as well as the impressive amount of research that probably went into this, was astounding.
And, last but definitively not least, I adored Naomi and Hugh!
With thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
“In a Thousand Different Ways” is a stunning and colourful story, mesmerizing and memorable.
The main protagonist is Alice Kelly, and she’s got an extraordinary gift (or curse, I guess). She suffers from a rare neurological condition, called “synethesia”. This condition basically means that she can “see” and sense the emotions, mood and intentions of others as associated with colour. This means that that she is highly sensitive and has an almost superhuman empathy with others.
The condition first manifests when she is eight years old. Having to deal with the constant distraction and emotional overload, unable to escape the feelings of others, and to understand her own, Alice is struggling to navigate life.
“I'm not the only person in the world to have the skillset that I have. No, there are others who are afflicted with the same poison, only unlike me or society in general, others don't view it as freakishly weird or the poisonous curse that I see it as.”
Struggling to understand this, and being in a dysfunctional family, the first chapters were difficult to read, as the anxiety, trauma and tension of Alice as pre-teen and teenager is palpable. She has a tough time at school as she tends to get severe headaches and migraine, and is hypersensitive to bright light, while also detesting the physical touch of those around her. This small girl resorts to wearing sunglasses and gloves, making her stand out even more. As a result, she ends up in a school for teenagers with behavioural problems.
To add to her anxiety, she has got a rocky relationship with her self-centered and uncaring mother, who simply doesn’t understand (or even try to understand) what Alice is living through. She’s got to brothers as well, the eldest, Hugh, is desperately trying to escape their circumstances (while trying to “save” Alice), and Ollie, who seems to be caught in a downward spiral of petty crime, feeding of their mother’s negative energy.
The central theme is the power and burden of empathy, highlighted in the human condition to the extreme. How does that shape our relationship with ourselves and others? With Alice experiencing the full range of emotions, including delight, grief, hope, anguish, love and hatred I was reminded of how much we do deal with on a daily basis. She feels and senses people’s darkest thoughts, sincere secrets, most deceitful lies, worst fears and deepest regrets. This also presents her with some ethical and moral dilemmas.
This is a captivating and poignant portrait, taking the reader on a journey as Alice is struggling to find her own voice and identity.
“We don't want to be shielded from everything in life, Alice. Some things must be experienced, some people we must experience. The gloves, the mask, the glasses - you have been telling people to stay away, instead of figuring out how to be among them.”
Her “gift” becomes a way of managing her relationships with others – keeping herself and others around her safe. So, what happens when she meets someone who’s colours she can’t see?
I found Alice a complex and sympathetic character, beguiling – with an endearing nature. I wanted to shelter and protect her at all costs!
“There's panic over climate change. Earth is in crisis but it seems to me that no one is paying attention to the crisis of our souls. No units to measure all the holes that are appearing in each of us.”
The author creates a realistic world, with diverse and authentic characters – showcasing the true beauty and intricacy of human emotions. The story is unique, touching, deeply emotional and inspiring. It stayed with me long after I wiped the last tears.
“I have had a life-long relationship with colours. Enduring them, confronting them, accepting them, surrendering to them. Our bodies act as a prism in the light and all the colours shine through us like an ever-changing light show. At times I felt like I was trapped in a prism prison, but light gets through the cracks. I learned to find the cracks that became my connections to outside. I have seen and felt them all; all the shades, tones and variations of every colour in the spectrum.”
The story is told in leaps in time though, so just to be cognisant of the fact, as some may find it a bit strange and disruptive. Cecelia Ahern is a masterful storyteller, and this is my first book by this author. From what I understand, this is slightly different from her others. I am keen to learn more! Her way of creating emotion and empathy, as well as the impressive amount of research that probably went into this, was astounding.
And, last but definitively not least, I adored Naomi and Hugh!
With thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
maxbaddeley1976's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0