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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I received a copy of this unexpectedly, and wasn't sure it was for me. However, I admit to judging far too soon.
This period piece is a wonderfully fresh idea for teenagers - in the wake of Suffragette (the film), this is a well-timed novel, the first YA book I know of that looks at the women campaigning for the vote in early 1900s Oregon. And it combines suffrage with something very popular at the time (as well as now): hypnotism.
Olivia has only her father, who insists on strict lady-like behaviour if she is to marry well. But she dreams of independence, a voice and a future not constrained by marriage or men's rules. Secretly a suffragette, she is one night invited onto a theatre stage as assistant to a visiting hypnotist. Her suggestibility gives her father a cruel idea - to will her unfeminine thoughts out of her.
The hypnotism has a strange side-effect though - Olivia is able to see other people as they truly are, not the prim ladies and gentlemen they appear to be. And the hypnotist himself may not be truly happy in forcing Olivia's mind into a mould either...
The stories interplay, the hypnotism and female emancipation quite well, they certainly come together in the end. I very much liked Henry the young hypnotist, but of course, Olivia is the favourite. One does wonder just how anachronistic she really is, I hope young women really were spirited and brave enough to stand up to society and family for what they knew to be right.
There are some quite funny scenes involving the hypnotism, and I would have liked to have seen more of Henry's shows, it played a role less central than the suffrage. You get a good enough feel for the period (it is 1900), especially through the wonderful photographs dotted at the start of some chapters showing real women seeking the vote, dentists' equipment (Olivia's father's occupation), glimpses of the staid society on the brink of change, alongside period quotes.
It is wrapped up quite conveniently and quickly, but I loved the idea of combining a story about females thinking outside the norm with a mental technique to 'normalise' them to society. Quite a thought to have. I hope it wasn't tried in reality.
An unusual but stimulating topic for a YA book, I want to know what happens next in Olivia's story, and I think a lot of teenagers I know would too, as well as feel quite shocked by how women used to be viewed and treated by their counterparts.
There is suggested lewd behaviour, though nothing graphic, so I would recommend this to over 12s.
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
I received a copy of this unexpectedly, and wasn't sure it was for me. However, I admit to judging far too soon.
This period piece is a wonderfully fresh idea for teenagers - in the wake of Suffragette (the film), this is a well-timed novel, the first YA book I know of that looks at the women campaigning for the vote in early 1900s Oregon. And it combines suffrage with something very popular at the time (as well as now): hypnotism.
Olivia has only her father, who insists on strict lady-like behaviour if she is to marry well. But she dreams of independence, a voice and a future not constrained by marriage or men's rules. Secretly a suffragette, she is one night invited onto a theatre stage as assistant to a visiting hypnotist. Her suggestibility gives her father a cruel idea - to will her unfeminine thoughts out of her.
The hypnotism has a strange side-effect though - Olivia is able to see other people as they truly are, not the prim ladies and gentlemen they appear to be. And the hypnotist himself may not be truly happy in forcing Olivia's mind into a mould either...
The stories interplay, the hypnotism and female emancipation quite well, they certainly come together in the end. I very much liked Henry the young hypnotist, but of course, Olivia is the favourite. One does wonder just how anachronistic she really is, I hope young women really were spirited and brave enough to stand up to society and family for what they knew to be right.
There are some quite funny scenes involving the hypnotism, and I would have liked to have seen more of Henry's shows, it played a role less central than the suffrage. You get a good enough feel for the period (it is 1900), especially through the wonderful photographs dotted at the start of some chapters showing real women seeking the vote, dentists' equipment (Olivia's father's occupation), glimpses of the staid society on the brink of change, alongside period quotes.
It is wrapped up quite conveniently and quickly, but I loved the idea of combining a story about females thinking outside the norm with a mental technique to 'normalise' them to society. Quite a thought to have. I hope it wasn't tried in reality.
An unusual but stimulating topic for a YA book, I want to know what happens next in Olivia's story, and I think a lot of teenagers I know would too, as well as feel quite shocked by how women used to be viewed and treated by their counterparts.
There is suggested lewd behaviour, though nothing graphic, so I would recommend this to over 12s.
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
halynah's review
4.0
Very well-written, but I'm disappointed with the ending. Still - an excellent historical fiction specimen.
skyeshark1's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Dysphoria, Xenophobia, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
4saradouglas's review
4.0
Wow, what a nice book!! I enjoyed every bit of it. I really haven't seen that many YA novels set in this time period and I think my students (particularly but not exclusively) the female ones would do well in reading this! It's very empowering and really makes you appreciate how hard the suffragists worked and the level of animosity they had to face. Loved the Dracula references, the atmosphere, Henri's "animal magnetism" ha ha, Frannie, the bicycling... everything. Definitely want to start pushing this book more!
doritobabe's review
3.0
Meh.
I picked this up because I was craving an Edwardian-paranormal-romance and this seemed to be the closest I could get. I've been suffering from terrible readers block lately, so am attempting to find and read things that I am craving as soon as I am craving them.
I swear I read Cat Winters' other book and was just as underwhelmed by it. WHile The Cure for Dreaming is an interesting concept, it doesn't quite deliver.
In sumation: the novel follows 17 year old Olivia Mead, budding suffragist in 1900s Oregon as she attempts to define her agency and reclaim a new identify for herself, like much of the young women of the time. Her father is a very abusive man who, ironically, is a dentist and hires a travelling hypnotist to "Cleanse" Olivia of her "rebellion". Of course, nothing goes quite to plan, Olivia and the hypnotist, Henry, find a way to make things work in their favor to a happy-ending very similar to how [b:The Awakening|58345|The Awakening|Kate Chopin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170507247l/58345._SY75_.jpg|1970518] ended (if I remember correctly... was this done on purpose Ms. Winters'??).
Fast, light fluffy read. Ultimately, Winters is coming up with fun ideas for YA novels but doesn't seem to deliver fully. For me, this novel really missed something because of its deniability; it seems to me a story that is a bit to fantastic and unrealized (lack of chemistry, irrational situations). That being said, it is something for the modern reader as it speaks a lot to the women's rights movements of the time and details some great indicators of abuse to watch out for.
I picked this up because I was craving an Edwardian-paranormal-romance and this seemed to be the closest I could get. I've been suffering from terrible readers block lately, so am attempting to find and read things that I am craving as soon as I am craving them.
I swear I read Cat Winters' other book and was just as underwhelmed by it. WHile The Cure for Dreaming is an interesting concept, it doesn't quite deliver.
In sumation: the novel follows 17 year old Olivia Mead, budding suffragist in 1900s Oregon as she attempts to define her agency and reclaim a new identify for herself, like much of the young women of the time. Her father is a very abusive man who, ironically, is a dentist and hires a travelling hypnotist to "Cleanse" Olivia of her "rebellion". Of course, nothing goes quite to plan, Olivia and the hypnotist, Henry, find a way to make things work in their favor to a happy-ending very similar to how [b:The Awakening|58345|The Awakening|Kate Chopin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170507247l/58345._SY75_.jpg|1970518] ended (if I remember correctly... was this done on purpose Ms. Winters'??).
Fast, light fluffy read. Ultimately, Winters is coming up with fun ideas for YA novels but doesn't seem to deliver fully. For me, this novel really missed something because of its deniability; it seems to me a story that is a bit to fantastic and unrealized (lack of chemistry, irrational situations). That being said, it is something for the modern reader as it speaks a lot to the women's rights movements of the time and details some great indicators of abuse to watch out for.
herringboneshoeshine's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
redinteeth's review
2.0
Cool idea, but execution was too heavy-handed, and nothing ever went wrong. There was no antagonist.
lindsaysc310's review
4.0
One of many books I didn't finish. But I really liked what I did read! Just got another, more interesting book delivered and I jumped to that instead.