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ziagouel's review against another edition
2.0
Oddechovka se zajímavým nápadem a ne tak zajímavým provedením. 2.5*
purplesky02's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure how to rate this book. The premise--that Kitty/Katharyn is living one life in waking life and another life in a dream life is great. I was so excited when I read the synopsis, it had so much promise. It was the execution that faltered for me. I kept waiting for more to happen, but then nothing did. There is a lot of wondering if her life, with three children and a loving husband as Katharyn, is real, compared to her life as a single bookshop owner Kitty.
The first half of the book I was thinking that this was a 4 or 5 star book. But then we have the ending. Her real life is actually Katharyn. She had been simply daydreaming, wondering what her life had been like had she not gotten together with Lars. There's nothing more interesting involved. Meh.
So I liked the idea, but it could've been a way better book.
Spoiler
The first half of the book I was thinking that this was a 4 or 5 star book. But then we have the ending. Her real life is actually Katharyn. She had been simply daydreaming, wondering what her life had been like had she not gotten together with Lars. There's nothing more interesting involved. Meh.
So I liked the idea, but it could've been a way better book.
jen52's review
2.0
Maybe I'm not being fair. After all, the story was told well and I wanted to keep reading until the end. But maybe that's because once I saw where it was going I had to convince myself it really wasn't going there. Kitty/Kathryn is naive and so was I to think that the book would live up to its description.
And I know the 60s were another time, but did people really treat autistic children that way? It's awful.
I was really hoping, since the blurb was so unclear, the book would end in a more creative way. The outcome is just so predictable and boring. I really believed it was going to end better.
And I know the 60s were another time, but did people really treat autistic children that way? It's awful.
I was really hoping, since the blurb was so unclear, the book would end in a more creative way. The outcome is just so predictable and boring. I really believed it was going to end better.
sydinreallife's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book, but it was just too boring. I almost didn't make it through - the only reason I kept going was to help meet my reading challenge.
I didn't like Kitty/Katharyn or relate to her in any way. I found the prejudices difficult to look past, and they didn't add any historical context to the novel.
In the end, I felt awful - not for Kitty/Katharyn but for those around her... Which is not how I like to think of protagonists, and that really detracted from the story for me.
I didn't like Kitty/Katharyn or relate to her in any way. I found the prejudices difficult to look past, and they didn't add any historical context to the novel.
In the end, I felt awful - not for Kitty/Katharyn but for those around her... Which is not how I like to think of protagonists, and that really detracted from the story for me.
annies1's review against another edition
3.0
Well I loved the concept and the first 2/3 of the book really held my attention. But as i neared the climax and resolution I found the book tedious and trying. Cassandra Campbell did a good job of narrating but not the best I've heard her do. The idea for the book is truly intriguing but she just took too many pages to demonstrate the idea, in my opinion.
soliteyah's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Held my interest, but I didn't really love the resolution, and the writing was occasionally a little clunky.
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, well-developed characters and a story that keeps you thinking long after the last page. Who hasn't wondered what life would be like if things had gone down a different path? Highly recommend!!
ordinarypickle's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
smfrazer's review against another edition
3.0
If you liked The Family Man plot, or would enjoy a fun 1960s Denver setting, then I'd recommend it. Otherwise, it's not the best.
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
5.0
This book explores what happens when real dreams, dreams that are so incredibly tangible, start becoming commonplace in a person's life. Kitty (Katharyn) starts to dream of a life totally different from the one she is living, but with nods to reality. As she drifts between the real world and her dream world, insights and questions grow.
This is a difficult concept to do well, but Swanson pulls it off masterfully. I did not want to stop reading this book because both the dream world and the real world had me completely engaged. The writing and characterization is great, the working of the mystery surrounding this trickled in with precision. I quite simply adored this book.
This is a difficult concept to do well, but Swanson pulls it off masterfully. I did not want to stop reading this book because both the dream world and the real world had me completely engaged. The writing and characterization is great, the working of the mystery surrounding this trickled in with precision. I quite simply adored this book.