A Dream Come True by Jeryn Alise Turner dives into the deep aspects of one of the most important relationships a woman can have; the one with her mother. The setting of this book is Peru, a mecca of spirituality, and involves a time traveler experience. This book portrays the strong spirit of women and the sacred bond and strength that exists when they come together. On their trip to Peru, a mother and daughter take an excursion to the Sacred Valley where they have an honest conversation about their lives. By opening up emotionally, they create a deeper level of trust and commitment. Although fiction, Turner's book summarizes the true dynamics present in many relationships. Filled with timeless advice and written from the daughter's point of view, this book is a must read for all but especially for those who seek to deepen the connections with the important women in their lives.
The author via Booktasters provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
A Dream Come True by Jeryn Alise Turner explores the relationship between a daughter and her mother as they explore Peru. The daughter uses her voice to share their journey with such honesty and integrity revealing the importance of listening and accepting timeless wisdom. Their bond is forever deepened in their life-changing adventure. The mother brilliantly gives her daughter the tools to help her achieve her goals. Although a quick read, take your time and enjoy each and every lesson. A must read for every mother and daughter. A perfect read for any book club as well.
Deep introspection lecture that distills life wisdom delivered with serenity, love and respect. Despite the fictional journey that frames it, it offers dialogues and reflections between mother and daughter, which are a gift for every woman who reads it. ____________ Lectura de profunda introspección que destila sabiduría de vida entregada con serenidad, amor y respeto. A pesar del viaje ficticio que lo enmarca, ofrece diálogos y reflexiones entre madre e hija, que son un regalo para cada mujer que lo lee.
This Happens To Be One Of Those Rare Books That You Don’t Start Only To Finish And Put Back On The Shelf After Rating & Reviewing It Before You Forget All About It Once You Have Moved On To The Next One. Full Credit Goes To The Author JERYN ALISE TURNER For Elevating Her Book To The Next Level That Has Heavy Traces Of It Being Inspired From Her Own Life And Her Deep Connection With Her MoM Across Various Stages Of Her Life And How The Equation Kept Changing Over The Years But Nothing Changed Below The Surface As Far As Their Silent Love & Bonding Went. JERYN ALISE TURNER Walks The Thin Line Between The Twilight Zone Where It’s Almost Impossible To Demarcate The Fiction From The Heavy Shades Of True Life Inspirational ✍️ing. What Starts Of As A Mother Inviting Her Daughter On A Me Time Trip To Peru Has Been Penned So Beautifully That The Reader Almost Aches To Visit This Paradise On Earth, No Sooner Is The Book Read..So Persuasive & Convincing Is The Power Of Her Writing. But That Is Merely The Tip Of The Emotional Iceberg. Once That Begins To Thaw The Book Lands You On An Introspective Platform Where You Suddenly Start To Look At Your Mom In A Fresh Light And Start Understanding A Lot Of Things She Did When & Why She Chose To Do Them. This Book Is Not Just An 👁 Opener Alone But It Actually Opens A Lot Of Windows & A Few Doors To That Are Bound To Leave You Reviewing Your Equation With Your Mom. This Book Is Almost Like A Mirror As It Reflects A Lot Of Things That Generally Go Unnoticed To The Naked Eye. The Silent Conversation That A Daughter Has With Her Mother Opens Her 👀s As She Connects With Her MoM On A Different Level And Starts Connecting With Her Not Only As Her Mom Alone But Also As A Woman And Thus A Lots Of Doubts From The Past Get Removed. This Is Truly Indeed A Captivating Read That Is Bound To Strike A Chord In A Lot Of Daughters & Mother’s Alike As They Can Instantly Relate By Putting Themselves In Their 👠s. This Is One Of Those Books That You’re Bound To Dig Out Fresh Layers & Nuances From Everytime You Pick It Up To Reread And Are Bound To Wonder, “How Come, I Missed This Aspect The Last Time I Read This Book?!!!”
The story is about a mother and daughter who were never close initially but a trip they take to Peru connects them on a spiritual level.
My Take:
I would like to thank the author and booktasters for providing me with a copy of the book for reading and reviewing.
The book started with the narrative of the daughter on how her upbringing was, her relationship with her mom while growing up, her expectations, her desires which remained unfulfilled. The narrative felt very real as if you are peeping into the life of the author herself and not some fictional character.
The book then moves to a trip which her mom proposes to Peru. I expected that the story will now focus on their trip and how they face difficulties in trip to come closer. What I read was completely different though. The story is a conversation between a mother and daughter where the mother enlightens the daughter.
The daughter asks questions and her mother patiently replies to every question she poses. The questions are not personal in nature but on a very deep level. They cover various aspects of an individual’s lives viz, Love, Expectations, Dreams, Patience and so on. The book teaches everyone on how to deal with situations thereby making your life worth with no regrets.
This book is apt for people who wish to read something on leading a good life. The teachings are definitely worth implementing in one’s own life. A great book.
I'm at a loss for words to explain how I felt reading this story. All the advice given from the mother to the daughter I read very carefully and slowly chapter by chapter to let it all sink in. I have a pretty good relationship with my own mother but admittedly not as good as this.
Reading it, I felt like reading it I was a part of this spiritual dream sequence and how I felt a sense of calm after finishing. I felt I learned things about myself as well to better the relationship I have with myself and my insecurities and doubts.
I'm forever grateful that I had a chance to read this amazing story. I'm left with a big sense of calm and understanding and peace. Thank you.
I received a copy of this book through BookTasters. I am providing my honest review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNING: dismissive statement about mental illness, use of a racial slur for Romani people
Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, other than it being set in Peru and addressing relationships between mothers and daughters. While it is fiction, it wound up being more of a self-help book, along the lines of a spiritual version of The Secret.
The first thing I noticed was that when I tried to look up any words on my Kindle, Wikipedia came up only in Dutch. The dictionary function didn’t work at all. I don’t speak Dutch, and this wasn’t an issue with the Kindle, since it didn’t happen for any other books, and persisted even after restarting the device.
Initially, the daughter (neither the mother or daughter is named in the book), discusses a bit about who her mother is in the present day. She then shares a little about her own upbringing. She did a fair bit of comparing her mother, who balanced work with parenting, to a stay at home mom. Without ever stating any of her wants or needs, she expected her mother to just know what she wanted and meet her (wildly unrealistic) demands. While I understand feeling frustrated with having a working mom, expecting homemade rolls (among other improbable demands), made it difficult to find the daughter to be a likable character. This behavior persists into her adult years, when she continues to expect other people to read her mind and meet her emotional needs in all relationships, whether it is with her mother, friends, or in romantic relationships.
The daughter narrates the entire book. I wasn’t sure at first, since after the background is presented, there is a section that started feeling like something out of my marriage and family studies textbook from grad school; but there was one major difference – the textbook was backed up with facts and studies, while this book involved sweeping generalizations about motherhood told from the perspective of a woman with no children.
Once the daughter and her mother arrive in Peru, the story improves. I like the “conversation” they have while the daughter is in her dream state, and how it improves their relationship. The mother is able to provide what the daughter needs, and the daughter is able to absorb the wisdom that the mother imparts to her.
The biggest issue, by far, that I found with the book was this: “Chronic disappointment or depression happens when you accept this emotion as being a part of your life, rather than acknowledging the strength that you possess inside to overcome whatever you face.” Depression is not chronic disappointment. It is a recognized ILLNESS that is caused by a combination of genetic factors and an imbalance in brain chemistry.
Overall, I found my response to this book to be mixed. I think that while some parts had a good message, I don’t think it is as simple as this book made it sound. Not all parts apply to all mother-daughter relationships, and this book made it sound as if it did. The broad generalizations were too much of a stretch for me. While I believe that there are places on Earth that do have a strong spiritual connection for many, there is no one size fits all. This story didn’t resonate strongly with me, and the mental health community always needs more advocates, rather than people who stigmatize a community who is already stigmatized by making statements that aren’t based in fact, making it seem as though they are to blame for illnesses that they did not play a part in getting.
A Dream Come True is a fascinating book. It is also unique. Exploring at great depth the relationship between this mother and daughter, and yet at the same time, offering timeless wisdom to be shared with other mothers and daughters, in the hope their journey will be an easier one.
I quote the author here because I feel this sums up the essence of this book:
"Mothers are not disappointed when daughters choose differently; they just don't want their offspring to know the pain that comes with life -- and since they have lived longer, they know how things work." If mothers could make a deal with the devil to remain in labor throughout the lives of their daughters, they would do so, if it meant their girls would not know pain or suffering. Over time, mothers eventually come around because they realize the relationship is more important than the dispute. Mothers want their daughters to remember what they were taught about forgiveness and apply it to all people -- including themselves."
To me, this sums up the mother and daughter relationship so well. It was difficult to choose a particular quote because there were literally hundreds of different passages that would have also resonated with my beliefs and gave such encouragement. I was delighted reading the interactions between mother and daughter in this book. I feel this book is written in a way that you will read it through once, then go back again and again to find more pearls of wisdom to reflect on and consider. And there are many, many pearls to be found here.
Yes, this is a book about a journey but not just a physical one. It is a spiritual journey and also a soul journey. As I have grown older, I have realized how very important this is.
I highly recommend this book to every mother and every daughter seeking understanding and insight and a closer relationship with each other.
I received a copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review which I have given here. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
Jeryn Turner has used a very unconventional format for her book..She prefaces the book by acknowledging how important her family is in her life. The first chapter describes at length her relationship with her mother and the frustrations she experienced growing up.
The book then takes off on what purports to be a journey with her mother to Peru. In fact the journey is more metaphysical than touristic.
Mother and daughter do travel to Peru, however on the first day of their journey when they arrive at the Sacred Valley, the daughter has an out-of-body experience with her mother. The author is highly conscious of the mystical powers of this destination. She enters into a trance- like state. where she envisages her mother as a young woman, the same age as herself. They 'communicate' about all the aspects of life she has always wanted to discuss with her mother. Each chapter deals with a different topic.
I am in no position to comment on the ideas postulated in this book, either on their merit as counseling tools, or their veracity. I am more interested in the mechanics of the book and the way the ideas are conveyed.
I guess this book would be catagorised as self- help or mindfulness or self-discovery. If that's what you are looking for this conversational format may appeal to you.
Personally if I were interested in a book of this nature I would prefer one where the mother/daughter exchanges were woven into a travel tale like 'The Way', where a father goes on a pilgrimage in Spain 'with' his dead son.
I'm sure the ideas in 'A Dream Come True' are very worthy. I found the format too contrived and artificial. Having said that the style is clear and concise, unpretentious and easy to comprehend.
A mother and daughter take a trip together. One morning “in the mountaintops of Peru in an altered dimension” the daughter finds herself in conversation with a younger version of her mother.
“I am puzzled that my mother would show up in a form that I am not used to seeing. Not a wife. Not a career woman. Not my teacher – but as a young woman. A young woman who I am ashamed to say I don’t really know, since my whole life I have looked at my mom as my protector, the one to call on when I am in need”
I found this so interesting! It’s sometimes hard to imagine your parents as existing before you were born, you forget that they had a life, with dreams and adventures long before they were your mum and dad. It’s important to remember this.
The daughter then realizes that she is the same age as her younger mother, they are both around 18 years old. How fascinating it would be to have a conversation with your mother at the same age as you!
The mother and daughter have an honest conversation about their lives, enabling them to connect and understand each other on a deeper level. I found this a difficult read at times as it made me face some of my own issues regarding my relationship with my mother. I highlighted many passages. This one resounded with me the most:
“Words said in anger are usually the only words remembered. Being quiet is not agreeing to what has been said; being quiet is a tactful tool to understand the other person’s perspective and see why they feel the way they feel”
Wise words.
Thank you Jeryn, for writing such a thoughtful and beautiful book.
The description in the back of the book is a good summary of the work: "On their trip to Peru, a mother and daughter take an excursion to the Sacred Valley where they have an honest conversation about their lives. By opening up emotionally, they create a deeper level of trust and commitment. Although fiction, Turner’s book summarizes the true dynamics present in many relationships." Introduced by a basic plot, and technically fiction, 'A Dream Come True' is essentially a self-help guide in the format of a conversation between a daughter and her mother. Prompted by relational tension, the daughter has many questions and, much to her surprise, her seemingly disconnected mother shares her wisdom based on years of 'mistakes', giving observations like: “We all want to be remembered and feel like our life mattered. What gives us life is our ability to have an impact. Impact: the ability to touch others, leave a positive impression, and influence those around us", “A mistake is a term used when we don’t know or can’t explain why our expectations are not met", and “Love has been misused, under acknowledged, and misunderstood. In its purest form, it isn’t just an emotion but rather the way you allow life to move through you" The insights contained in the book aren't new or original, but the 'story' setting gives it a lighter feel, and improves ease of reading.
What an interesting memoir! I love the author's mother - tough, independent, and kind of wild. Her goals and dreams for her daughter (independence, strength, and responsibility) are the same as the dreams I have for my daughter. Reading the first portion of the book, I really took Jeryn Alise Turner's words of caution to heart: "I think most moms want their daughters to be independent, but my mom’s fixation on this topic skewed my ability to accept help from others. I looked at niceness with cautious eyes, assuming that anyone who extends themselves has ulterior motives. When it came to men, I assumed there was manipulation behind every action, word, or amiable offering."
Back to the book itself, it chronicles in some detail the mother/daughter trip to Peru for her mother's birthday. The reader will learn a lot about Peru and tourism there (especially the value of having a native speaker with you!). Throughout the story, we glimpse some tender moments between the women and a deeper understanding, love, and respect grow between them.
So who is the reader for this book? Well, anyone interested in traveling in Peru. Someone who enjoys a good tender memoir. Someone who is reflecting on mother/daughter relationships. It's not a hard read with a detailed driven plot. It's a real account.
A mother and daughter (protagonists are left unnamed) travel to Peru for the mother's birthday celebration. The story follows their physical and emotional journey through Peru and the mother explains to the daughter many life lessons, one by one.
Review:
Ugh this book is so heartwarming. It was so pure and genuine.
The writing was very detailed. I like to compare Turner's writing as pointillism. She described every single detail in each scene with care.
I love the strong mother-daughter relationship and the lessons the mother gives to the daughter.
This story brings forth the importance of having strong relationships in your life and having a guardian whether they be a relative or a friend, you must have people to help you through life trouble's and just life in general.
If this story doesn't make you want to call your mom or any other relative, I have no idea what will.
Overall I enjoyed this story. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the format of the dialogue. Instead of a normal piece of dialogue such as "This book was so heartwarming," said Hannah, it would say Hannah says to readers, "This book was so heartwarming. That's just my personal preference.
Jeryn Alise Turner has written a page-turner with elements of the best books. Every good book frames a journey or a quest, and A Dream Come True has 4 journeys: a trip to Peru, a changing mother-daughter relationship, a journey to the past, and a journey inside the heart and mind of the main characters.
I was all set to read a travelogue about Peru with a side of mother-daughter angst, but the story quickly changes into a mystical event at one of the most spiritually sacred spaces in the world. But it's not the typical literary ploy of using spirituality and the supernatural to create an other-world quest. Ms. Turner actually allows the relationship to be the main character of the story and the changes between them to be the quest.
I really enjoyed the premise of the story, and more so the route the story took. A slight shade of Carlos Castaneda at times. I hope Jeryn Alise Turner will write more books with spiritual/supernatural themes. I will read everyone of them.
The selection of the book was by chance but as they say there is always a butterfly effect behind the series of events happening and as I kept reading the same, I realised the effect it held.
Every page seemed like a page from the diary of my life whereby the only expression that came in my mind was "Is the author talking about me?" I was forced to take clicks of almost every page where the inner feelings of a daughter were perfectly described.
As one progresses, the author has made sure that every question we keep asking ourselves is answered in such a convincing way that you are left with no other option but to believe it and work according to it. A read that shall connect with not only the daughters but every human soul which is inquisitive enough to know what and why about life, dreams and every little thing that we tend to overlook while just following our set routines and patterns of life.
A must read if you intend on getting a clearer vision of human complex emotions.
The story commences with a daughter peering into her past. While she goes through her childhood shedding light upon the relationship with her mother, while her mother tries to realise her dreams and goals, the expectations she holds for her are far too high. While going through her own transitions of life she gets a call from her mother in her birthday and they decide to go on a trip to Peru. In the beautiful valleys and intricate designs of nature weaving splendid colours, mother and daughter wander into the aspects of their own relationship. This book is a conversation between a mother and daughter where the topics are love, expectations, aspirations, life and happiness.
The writing style of Jeryn is simple and articulate, so that it effervescence the vibes of peering not into fiction but of a personal experience. This book is an enlightening read recommended to one but all.
I found the book dry for my reading taste. The descriptive nature was a bit repetitious for me. Although there were points of interest with the descriptions ie. Peru the content seems,in some ways shallow, and then at some points very deep. I found I had a hard time getting a rhythm, that for me was lacking. Emotionally, the book came across accurately,as one who has a frustrating relationship with a parent. However, it may speak to someone who is closer to a situation with their mother as the main does. I couldn’t keep reading for more then a couple chapters at a time. It could be that I don’t have a relationship to compare to or that I haven’t the patience for such a journey. I wouldn’t recommend the book but I have seen others enjoy.
While in Peru, a mystic experience takes one educated, professional, but insecure woman on a journey of self exploration staged as a conversation with her mother. In a dream state, both women are portrayed as younger women having an open discourse about life choices. Although the concept is interesting, the book is written more as an inner dialogue than as a conversation and leans more toward self-actualization instead of a better understanding between mother and daughter. There is no real conflict (except the daughter's perception of her mother and resulting self perception) and progression is unhampered by opposing opinions. Some may find the book a great introspective read, unfortunately I found it to be wordy and a little tedious near the end.
The book starts off beautifully as it seems interesting and manages to gather my full attention. The way the author describes the mother daughter relationship and also how we view our parents really resonated with me. At a point in my life too I had similar realizations. The alternate reality which she goes through is something which we all really need in reality with our own people. The realization that too are human and can be our greatest source for wisdom and guidance.
What didn't work for me is the narration and the writing style. Like once they get to peru the background just floats through. It feels less of a story. The book has a lot to say but needs better editing.
Thanks Booktasters for allowing me to review this book . A wonderful take by the author who has helped us understand the dynamics of relationships. She has helped us understand the mother-daughter relationship through this book. A daughter's dreams, feelings, disillusionment etc. How the mother and daughter are distant during the daughter's growing up years and a trip to Peru helps them strengthen their bond. The grown-up daughter tends to understand her mother better and the teachings the mother shares with the daughter carry weight. The author's style of explaining things lucidly is a reader's delight. A must-read for mothers and daughters to strengthen their bond. An easy read
This is indeed an enlightening read!! Overall I enjoyed reading the book. It affected me in a positive way. If you are a fan of self-empowering motivational books, you should definitely go for this one. Even if you are not into non-fiction books, this might be the perfect way to get into the genre. With a fictional outline, the book explores the beautiful journey of a mother and daughter who are also strong individuals.
A fictional heart to heart between a mother and daughter. Talking through their lives and different aspects including love, marriage and day to day life.
Although it is fiction you can relate to the conversations going on in the book I think this book is suitable for teens and up and would be very helpful if you want to strengthen your relationship with your mum/ family member.
Beautiful and heartwarming story! Mother and Daughter go on an journey together to Peru but more the journey is between Mother and daughter life lessons and also bonding together as Mother and Daughter.
Even though the mother appeared to be a strong woman, she had also learned a lot from life; and chose on what to focus on when she brought her daughter up. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
“A dream come true” is a short story based on a mother-daughter relationship. It covers several topics from self-love to true accomplishment. The way the author analyses the human interactions depending on the situation, the experience and the individual is captivating. I highlighted a dozen sentences, even entire paragraphs that really caught my attention.
This is a precious book that might help readers interested in self-development. Jeryn Alise Turner is never judgemental, she presents different points of view and open your mind to new perspectives. There are very common things that we know but we somehow have forgotten, and she gently points out these fundamentals notions.
This book takes you on a beautiful journey while getting to know the inner workings of a mother- daughter relationship and the complexity that that adult relationship brings. This book is insightful and motivates the reader to consider her own relationships and history with her mother. A helpful read for anyone wanting to understand the dynamics of one of the most important relationships they will ever have.
A dream come true is a book about a mother daughter relationship. I have found myself in the authors shoes at some point in my life and so I can relate to her feelings towards her mother and their relationship.
As much as I liked the book, it failed to keep me engaged. I wanted to write this review after re-reading it from start to finish but I have been asked repeatedly to write a review of my first impression of this book.
Although I get the whole idea of this book, I feel that mothers and daughters do not communicate that way, topic by topic on a vacation. I think that’s the part which seems to me as unrealistic but overall it’s a good read.