Reviews

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

goldenas's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

julieannhummingbird's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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

sarah25samir's review against another edition

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4.0

“I think suddenly about what it means to grow old. It means that all those that you loved as a youth become nothing but photographs on a wall, words in a story, memories in a heart.”

أول ما لفت نظري حول تلك الرواية هو العنوان
فتوقعت انني سوف اقرأ رواية عن المكتبات والكتب ما يشبة Bookshop
ثم قرأت مراجعة استاذة نيرة الجميلة لاجد كلام مختلف عما توقعته
لأقرر أخيرا ان ابدأ في قرائتها

في نصفها الاول كانت الفكرة الأساسية التي خطرت علي بالي هو قصة Sliding Doors
description

تلك القصه التي تتمحور حول ثانية واحدة وان الفرق في حياة كامله كان بسبب تلك الثانية
ولكن كانت المفاجأة ان القصة لا تشبة شيئا اعرفه ابدا
هي قصة "كاثي" او "كاثرين" علي حسب الحياة التي تعيشها

فـ"كاثي" هي بائعة الكتب تمتلك مكتبة صغيره في أحد الاحياء الميتة اكلينيكيا
تعاني من مشاكل في العمل وديون كثيرة وارباح شبه منعدمة

اما عن "كاثرين" فهي زوجة "لارس" الزوج المثالي تماما والابناء الثلاثة التوائم

ننتقل بين العالمين عند ذهابها للنوم في كل مره او هذا ما نتوقعة بديهيا في البداية عن طريق وصفها لظهورها في كل حياة من الاثنتين
Spoiler لنجدنا امام رواية عن مريضه نفسيا ليس الا او هذا ما استنتجته في النهاية
كانت تهرب من حياتها المليئة بظروف جديدة عليها تسبب لها ضغوط نفسيه لتذهب لحياة اخري فارغة تماما تصيبني انا باحباط كبير
ابنها "مايكل" المصاب بالتوحد وانفصالها التام عن صديقة عمرها "فريدا" ووفاة والديها في حادثة طائرة اثناء عودتهما من رحلة في هونولولو
لتهرب الي تلك الحياة القميئة الفارغة والتي تفضلها للاسف حيث يموت لارس قبل ان تتعرف عليه وبالتالي لا تنفصل عن صديقتها ولا تنجب ابنها المصاب بالتوحد ولا تفقد والديها .. لديها كل هؤلاء لكن حياة تسبب الاكتئاب لأمثالي


فلكل من يتوقع قراءة رواية عن الكتب والمكتبات او ما يشبة You've got mail
اقول لهم Good Luck next time
فتلك الرواية عن شئ مختلف تماما تماما تماما غير ذكر كتاب هنا او هناك لا يمت بصلة للأحداث

ولكن في النهاية احببتها واحببت حياتها مع زوجها وابنائها واحببت النهاية جدا ايضا

tbim's review against another edition

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4.0

Could easily fit in Speculative Fiction section.

karissakate's review against another edition

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4.0

Accurate Rating: 3.5 Stars
I liked this book more than I typically do books of this genre. I haven't read much of that era and I enjoyed that more than I thought, and really enjoyed the Denver aspects being familiar with the areas in the story. Looking back on it, I want to give it 3 stars, but I was always anxious to get to read it so I'm giving it the 4.

teresadennis's review against another edition

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4.0

An easy read. Interesting premise that kept me wondering up to the end. Liked that both realities had their big bad problems. Would recommend to friends.

roaming_rachael's review against another edition

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5.0

ONE OF MY NEW TOP FAVORITE BOOKS. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN

A dream within a dream. This book had me held suspended between two realities for Katherine/Kitty. By the near end I did not know what was real and what was imagined. Not quite a love story, not quite a thriller... this book held a genre all its own for me and held my interest throughout the ENTIRE novel. I loved the characters and how the book drew you in deeper and deeper into them and then plunged you away like they could be strangers. Such an interesting concept, I have never read a book like this before. With the two different worlds you may think that things could become confusing, but the author did an INCREDIBLE job at keeping everything in line. This is definitely is added to my favorite books of all time list.

bjetka's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

wiseowl33's review against another edition

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3.0

Loved that it took place very close to where I have lived in the past. But struggled with the premise. It was a bit hard to swallow. I must be too literal. But enjoyable.

jodyladuemcgrath's review against another edition

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3.0

Bittersweet. The book is about a woman named Kitty who lives another life in her dreams where she is Katharyn. It is one of those books where one decision could have lead to a different path. Or is it? This book had many layers, and presented some twists (which were blatantly obvious). It was well written and engaging, but at the same time predictable. It was a good read though.