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A review by bethreadsandnaps
The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. Set in the early 1960s, Kitty is a bookstore owner with her friend Frieda. Close with her parents, she enjoys a peaceful life although her business isn't going well. While sleeping one night, she enters an alternate reality where she has a husband and children although she has separated from her business partner and friend Frieda. Going forth between these two different lives, Kitty/Katharyn realizes that there's no such thing as a "perfect" life.
I connected with the main character, as she's quiet and unassuming--one of those who is perfectly fine fading into the background. The novel is a bit disorienting because you're not really sure what's going on sometimes. While the backdrop is the 1960s and explored a small amount of race issues (minority as her housekeeper in her suburban life), it only very lightly touched on feminism. It also could have focused more on Kitty's inner dialogue. The way it was written implied passivity--to her character, to the story, everything.
I found it a compelling read despite some minor problems.
I connected with the main character, as she's quiet and unassuming--one of those who is perfectly fine fading into the background. The novel is a bit disorienting because you're not really sure what's going on sometimes. While the backdrop is the 1960s and explored a small amount of race issues (minority as her housekeeper in her suburban life), it only very lightly touched on feminism. It also could have focused more on Kitty's inner dialogue. The way it was written implied passivity--to her character, to the story, everything.
I found it a compelling read despite some minor problems.