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Symphony of Dreams
Most of us ache for the opportunity to shine at the gift we're born with. Symphony Weber wants to give hers back. As an overweight kid, she longs to be like everybody else, so when the dreams about the stranger begin, she keeps them to herself. However, her growing intuitive abilities are not so easy to hide. Symphony discovers she must share knowledge, give warnings, and take on responsibilities that further complicate her life. Soon, her secret leaks. As a teenager, she stumbles over a way to make herself more normal. But there is a price. Years later, when a childhood nightmare returns to collect, she must fight to regain the gift she has always considered a curse.
340 pages, Paperback
First published February 29, 2012
9 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Rogan
10 books31 followersThere were five kids in my family and lots of noise. I learned early on that if I woke up in the middle of the night, I’d better take advantage of the silence. I’d write under the hall light until my eyes were heavy with sleep. Back then, I had a lot to say about how I wanted things to be. Like many writers, I wrote what I couldn’t bring myself to say aloud.
Once I discovered eavesdropping, I was amazed. I realized characters are everywhere. I’m one, you’re one, the jerk you just broke up with, the girl next door with Down’s syndrome, that boy in sixth grade who blushed every time his name was called, the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. And we all have our stories and our problems and our own way of looking at the world. And we all have the ability to touch someone else. We are never really alone.
As a fiction writer, I get to fabricate everybody’s history, try to see from different points of view. But I always do my best to understand who each character is and what made them the way they are. I believe that’s why people talk about my characters after they’ve finished reading the story.
I write novels, plays, poems, essays, short stories, do a bit of acting, and am a self-proclaimed doodle-ist.
Once I discovered eavesdropping, I was amazed. I realized characters are everywhere. I’m one, you’re one, the jerk you just broke up with, the girl next door with Down’s syndrome, that boy in sixth grade who blushed every time his name was called, the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. And we all have our stories and our problems and our own way of looking at the world. And we all have the ability to touch someone else. We are never really alone.
As a fiction writer, I get to fabricate everybody’s history, try to see from different points of view. But I always do my best to understand who each character is and what made them the way they are. I believe that’s why people talk about my characters after they’ve finished reading the story.
I write novels, plays, poems, essays, short stories, do a bit of acting, and am a self-proclaimed doodle-ist.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 15, 2012
Just finished the book. It is one of those few and splendid novels you can get lost in. I finished the whole thing in a day and a half. I loved that it started when Symphony was a little girl and took us through her agonizing school years into adulthood and motherhood. Ms. Rogan tells an honest story. Whether you are too chubby for current tastes or too tall or too black, the pain is the same when you get singled out and bullied for something you cannot help. This is a polished, suspenseful yet loving tale with people you can care about.
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March 13, 2022I wrote this book and I love it.
July 27, 2012
Symphony of Dreams is a compelling story, drawing the reader ever deeper into the "gift" of Symphony Weber and the twists and turns of her life. Rogan is excellent at portraying the sub-teen and teen characters, fully rounding them out with hopes, fears and motivations. The family dynamic of the Weber household will likely be familiar to many, the mildly dysfunctional "warts and all" family that is more the norm than the Donna Reed family. Watching Symphony struggle with her family, her body image, her friends and her gift inspires sympathy and support. The surprising last act is a nail-biter. Great story, one that stays with you long after the book is closed.
April 26, 2023
I sailed through this book. I loved the characters and the depiction of the American South. The plot was well-developed with plenty of suspense. I recommended it highly.
January 15, 2013
Symphony of Dreams
I enjoyed the pace of this book. It starts slow and descriptive as we get to know Symphony and her family. I was gently pulled into the story and swept along as the tension and the pace increased. When the time would jump ahead several months, I often wished I could have kept in touch with the characters. I wanted to know what was happening with Symphony. But short of making the book hundreds of pages long, that just wasn’t possible.
This is a well written story with believable characters that you can truly care about, or in some case dislike, in real life situations. Too real for those whose differences from others has made them the target of bullying.
The author wove a memorable and exciting story of growing up in a family with its share of problems and ultimately acceptance, while showing both sides of the bullying issue, its consequences, and a touch of paranormal thrown in to add to the mix!
The final chapters are fast paced and exciting, building tension to a satisfying climax.
I am looking forward to the next book from this Author.
I enjoyed the pace of this book. It starts slow and descriptive as we get to know Symphony and her family. I was gently pulled into the story and swept along as the tension and the pace increased. When the time would jump ahead several months, I often wished I could have kept in touch with the characters. I wanted to know what was happening with Symphony. But short of making the book hundreds of pages long, that just wasn’t possible.
This is a well written story with believable characters that you can truly care about, or in some case dislike, in real life situations. Too real for those whose differences from others has made them the target of bullying.
The author wove a memorable and exciting story of growing up in a family with its share of problems and ultimately acceptance, while showing both sides of the bullying issue, its consequences, and a touch of paranormal thrown in to add to the mix!
The final chapters are fast paced and exciting, building tension to a satisfying climax.
I am looking forward to the next book from this Author.
March 28, 2013
Symphony of Dreams is such a wonderful name for this book.
It describes everything felt when reading it and still feel when thinking of it-
a rich velvety feeling that wraps around you, that flows through you
like the warmth of whiskey at the first swallow.
It makes you feel good, then sad, glad, then angry, happy, rejected, and broken-hearted.
In all this it keeps you wondering, expecting, hoping, and praying
for everything to turn out right.
The mood, the story, the flow of this character-rich story, sucks you completely in,
like a beautifully played symphony.
Set in the South, a young girl has an unseen gift of prophetic dreams.
The mystery of the story is woven around these dreams.
She also has a grandmother who understands, counsels, and protects her.
Thank God for grandmothers.
This young girl captures our hearts and takes us with her, through a hard childhood
and into a tumultuous adulthood, in a true to life story of broken hearts and new love.
Cindy- Keep on writing. We loved Symphony of Dreams. Ruth and Bob Harris.
It describes everything felt when reading it and still feel when thinking of it-
a rich velvety feeling that wraps around you, that flows through you
like the warmth of whiskey at the first swallow.
It makes you feel good, then sad, glad, then angry, happy, rejected, and broken-hearted.
In all this it keeps you wondering, expecting, hoping, and praying
for everything to turn out right.
The mood, the story, the flow of this character-rich story, sucks you completely in,
like a beautifully played symphony.
Set in the South, a young girl has an unseen gift of prophetic dreams.
The mystery of the story is woven around these dreams.
She also has a grandmother who understands, counsels, and protects her.
Thank God for grandmothers.
This young girl captures our hearts and takes us with her, through a hard childhood
and into a tumultuous adulthood, in a true to life story of broken hearts and new love.
Cindy- Keep on writing. We loved Symphony of Dreams. Ruth and Bob Harris.
July 19, 2021
Like any young girl, Symphony Weber longs to fit in with her classmates and make a few friends. Her stressful home situation causes her to turn to food for comfort, and the kids at school find it easy to make jokes about Symphony “Weigh Big.”
Symphony’s dreams give her information about the future, a gift that could help her popularity. But when the wrong student finds out, the term “Witchy” is added to her moniker. Her few friends do their best to protect her, but Symphony still knows more about personal family issues and criminal activities than she should. The pressure of handling these adult issues while being tormented at school is too much for one young girl. She is desperate to get rid of her horrible gift, but what price will she have to pay to be free?
My Full-length OnlineBookClub review: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
I received a review copy from OnlineBookClub.org
My opinions are my own.
Symphony’s dreams give her information about the future, a gift that could help her popularity. But when the wrong student finds out, the term “Witchy” is added to her moniker. Her few friends do their best to protect her, but Symphony still knows more about personal family issues and criminal activities than she should. The pressure of handling these adult issues while being tormented at school is too much for one young girl. She is desperate to get rid of her horrible gift, but what price will she have to pay to be free?
My Full-length OnlineBookClub review: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
I received a review copy from OnlineBookClub.org
My opinions are my own.
July 1, 2019
This book got me from beginning to the end. Hard to put it down.
Great book, hard to put down! I got into this book from the beginning till the very end! Also read Switch by Cynthia Rogan, also great book.
Great book, hard to put down! I got into this book from the beginning till the very end! Also read Switch by Cynthia Rogan, also great book.
March 23, 2017
A fascinating tale that was as captivating as it was surprising!
December 19, 2023
Where is Choral and why??? Symphony can see things, and no one believes her??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
January 21, 2022
Do yourself a favor, READ THIS BOOK! I star in this book and I LOVE IT so much so that I am re-reading to make sure I didn't miss a jot or tiddle!
Symphony is born with this wonderful/horrifying/nightmare-causing gift. It seems that her elder sister must have a little bit of empathy, because she seems to have a nightmare at the same time... and needs the comforting presence of her kid sister... What a bond! Unfortunately, however, Daniele either can't grasp or won't understand what kinds of trauma Symphony endures until it's almost too late.
The characters are real... they are spectacularly crafted into very real members of your life... they survive very real life experiences and in the end, they are able to come together as a singular, cohesive family. You get so caught up in all that goes on, you don't want to let it go, especially not to go to sleep or work !).
In summary, an excellent read!
Symphony is born with this wonderful/horrifying/nightmare-causing gift. It seems that her elder sister must have a little bit of empathy, because she seems to have a nightmare at the same time... and needs the comforting presence of her kid sister... What a bond! Unfortunately, however, Daniele either can't grasp or won't understand what kinds of trauma Symphony endures until it's almost too late.
The characters are real... they are spectacularly crafted into very real members of your life... they survive very real life experiences and in the end, they are able to come together as a singular, cohesive family. You get so caught up in all that goes on, you don't want to let it go, especially not to go to sleep or work !).
In summary, an excellent read!
January 5, 2013
I picked this up at the library. It was ok. The main character, Symphony, is born with the gift of seeing the future. She supresses the gift and lives her life and then has to un-suppress it for the good of the world.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews