Reviews

The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin

icarryhearts_'s review against another edition

3.0

This was interesting enough, but the timeline was confusing and the jumping around between times and places almost made me put it down for good.

For most if the book, at least the first half, I had no idea what the plot was even supposed to be about. All of the descriptions of characters seemed vague and their relationships were confusing to say the least. A lot of this had to do with the flashbacks and flash forward... (Is that a thing?) so I wasn't spent more time trying to figure out why people were together 5 years later than paying attention to what was going on. I think a continuous timeline would have helped that.

Overall, an interesting premise, but lacking in clarity and follow through.

I received a free copy of this book for review from NetGalley.

eferguson's review

3.0

I had high hopes for this book after reading The Immortalists and my close friend Hallie enjoying this book. I kept waiting for this book to pick up — and when it did, I loved it. But that tipping point wasn’t until ~50 pages towards the end. I appreciated the story and the twist, but I wished for more movement. That being said, the prose and foreshadowing was unarguably beautiful.

estherreadsbooks's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

kpetranek's review

I think Sylvie’s dreamworld bleeds into more of her life than meets the eye. You know in dreams when something illogical happens, but it makes perfect sense while you’re there? Little details stuck out to me as tiny hints; Brittingham Park is miles closer to the University than it is to Sylvie & Gabe’s house and not in their neighborhood (also not necessarily on the way but it is noticeable in passing), I know it’s a throwaway moment of dialogue just to serve the banter, but the author is a Madisonian and I feel strongly that’s not an accident or flub!! Same with seeing the Sun Prairie fireworks from that angle on Lake Monona or driving from Atwood neighborhood “past Middleton, past Janesville” that is an insane route you’d never drive on purpose, so how much of it was really real? PLEASE I HOPE THIS ISN’T COMING ACROSS LIKE IM NITPICKING LOCAL GEOGRAPHY LOL, I just live right here and I feel like these are intentional choices (I’ve never been to California nor Martha’s Vineyard and cannot discern whether those locations are likewise depicted in similarly dreamlike disreality)!!! Anyway that’s cool. I like reading about SASY. RIP, Chocolaterian (mentioned, not by name, and dearly missed)

carrieannthelibrarian's review

2.0

So slooooooow. I finally got to part II and you know what? I don't care. Nothing is happening. Wow, she disagrees with her boss and cleans the attic. I can't believe I'm hiding the review because of that sentence. Maybe I'll finish this, but I'm not invested in the story at all.

galactica774's review

informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

estherr's review

slow-paced

2.5

jasperisarock's review against another edition

3.75

I read this when I had covid and it got rid of my intrusive thoughts for reasons unrelated to the plot of the book itself. This book is well-written, intriguing, and more than a tad unhinged.

lizzylovesbooks's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

meowzik's review against another edition

3.0

If I'm being completely honest, I only picked up this book because of the title. I'm glad I did though, because it was a solid, albeit slow, read. Worth the read anyway.