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Escaping Dreamland
Largely set in New York City in the early years of the 20th century, the novel follows the exploits of three writers working to create children's series (think Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys).Robert Parrish s childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series the Tremendous Trio.
Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.
Robert s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children s books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.
The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children s series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.
Robert s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children s books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.
The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children s series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
129 people are currently reading
3568 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Lovett
29 books1,069 followersI was born in Winston-Salem, NC and grew up as the child of an English professor. We spent our summers in the rural North Carolina mountains, so I felt an early affinity for the countryside. I was educated at Summit School, Woodberry Forest School (VA), and Davidson College (NC) and in 1984 went into the antiquarian book business with my first wife, Stephanie. About the same time I began to seriously collect books and other materials relating to Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
When I left the book business in the early 90s, I continued to be a book collector, and now have a large (and growing) collection of rare (and not so rare) books and artifacts connected to Lewis Carroll and his world.
In 1997 I received my MFA in Writing from Vermont College (now Vermont College of Fine Arts). During my work on this degree I researched and wrote Love, Ruth, a book about my mother, Ruth Candler Lovett, who died when I was two years old. Maya Angelou called the book “tender, sensitive, and true.”
After completing my MFA, I traveled with my wife, Janice, and daughter, Jordan, to England where we lived for six months in Kingham, Oxfordshire. We immersed ourselves in the culture and made lifelong friends. Ten years later, we purchased the cottage we had rented in 1997 and renovated it. My wife and I now spend about 6–8 weeks a year in Kingham, and have traveled extensively throughout the UK.
In 2001, my wife was hired to oversee the third grade drama program at Summit School. Bemoaning the dearth of good material, she asked if I would write a play. Thus began my career as a children’s playwright. For eleven years, as Writer-in-Residence, I wrote plays for third graders and for eighth and ninth graders. Nineteen of my plays have been published and have proved extremely popular and have seen over 3500 productions in all fifty states and more than 20 foreign countries.
During all my years as a writer, I have worked on writing fiction. I wrote my first novel-length manuscript in the early 1990s and, with luck, it will never see the light of day, but it did prove to me that I could write a book-length work of fiction. In 2008, my novel The Program, about an evil weight loss clinic, was published by the micro-press Pearlsong Press, which later published my YA novel The Fat Lady Sings.
But my big break-through as a writer came when I put together two of my passions—rare books and the English countryside—to write The Bookman’s Tale. It was a New York Times bestseller, a Barnes and Noble Recommends selection, and has been translated into several foreign languages. Parade Magazine called the book “[A] delightful tale of love and bibliophilia.”
My next novel, First Impressions, is another literary adventure, this one starring Jane Austen. People Magazine called it “a delightful novel that weaves together a modern love story and a literary mystery involving Jane Austen.”
2015 was a busy year for me, being the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I curated a major exhibition called Alice Live! at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. I spoke at the international gathering of Carroll enthusiasts in New York and wrote the introduction to the new Penguin Books edition of Alice. 2016 also saw the publication of my Christmas book, The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge, which USA Today called “[a] clever, merry, and, yes, convincingly Dickensian reimagining of this Victorian tale.”
My new novel, The Lost Book of the Grail, will be published on February 28, 2017. Set in an English cathedral library, and reaching through centuries of English history, it tells the story of bibliophile and Holy Grail enthusiast Arthur Prescott as he works to uncover a centuries-old secret about the cathedral’s history.
None of this could have happened without the support and love of my wonderful wife, Janice, and my fabulous children, Jimmy and Jordan.
When I left the book business in the early 90s, I continued to be a book collector, and now have a large (and growing) collection of rare (and not so rare) books and artifacts connected to Lewis Carroll and his world.
In 1997 I received my MFA in Writing from Vermont College (now Vermont College of Fine Arts). During my work on this degree I researched and wrote Love, Ruth, a book about my mother, Ruth Candler Lovett, who died when I was two years old. Maya Angelou called the book “tender, sensitive, and true.”
After completing my MFA, I traveled with my wife, Janice, and daughter, Jordan, to England where we lived for six months in Kingham, Oxfordshire. We immersed ourselves in the culture and made lifelong friends. Ten years later, we purchased the cottage we had rented in 1997 and renovated it. My wife and I now spend about 6–8 weeks a year in Kingham, and have traveled extensively throughout the UK.
In 2001, my wife was hired to oversee the third grade drama program at Summit School. Bemoaning the dearth of good material, she asked if I would write a play. Thus began my career as a children’s playwright. For eleven years, as Writer-in-Residence, I wrote plays for third graders and for eighth and ninth graders. Nineteen of my plays have been published and have proved extremely popular and have seen over 3500 productions in all fifty states and more than 20 foreign countries.
During all my years as a writer, I have worked on writing fiction. I wrote my first novel-length manuscript in the early 1990s and, with luck, it will never see the light of day, but it did prove to me that I could write a book-length work of fiction. In 2008, my novel The Program, about an evil weight loss clinic, was published by the micro-press Pearlsong Press, which later published my YA novel The Fat Lady Sings.
But my big break-through as a writer came when I put together two of my passions—rare books and the English countryside—to write The Bookman’s Tale. It was a New York Times bestseller, a Barnes and Noble Recommends selection, and has been translated into several foreign languages. Parade Magazine called the book “[A] delightful tale of love and bibliophilia.”
My next novel, First Impressions, is another literary adventure, this one starring Jane Austen. People Magazine called it “a delightful novel that weaves together a modern love story and a literary mystery involving Jane Austen.”
2015 was a busy year for me, being the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I curated a major exhibition called Alice Live! at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. I spoke at the international gathering of Carroll enthusiasts in New York and wrote the introduction to the new Penguin Books edition of Alice. 2016 also saw the publication of my Christmas book, The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge, which USA Today called “[a] clever, merry, and, yes, convincingly Dickensian reimagining of this Victorian tale.”
My new novel, The Lost Book of the Grail, will be published on February 28, 2017. Set in an English cathedral library, and reaching through centuries of English history, it tells the story of bibliophile and Holy Grail enthusiast Arthur Prescott as he works to uncover a centuries-old secret about the cathedral’s history.
None of this could have happened without the support and love of my wonderful wife, Janice, and my fabulous children, Jimmy and Jordan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
January 18, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the dual nature of the story and the interesting characters we spent time with in each era. On the other hand, the emotional growth and epiphanies of the characters felt forced and a little hamhanded from the author; every time there was a pivotal conversation, a character has an immediate deep emotional understanding of the consequences of their actions. If felt like their emotional processing was very sped up and that the author was forcing the themes and insights down my throat rather than letting me discover it myself. On the third hand, the city of New York and the way it changed from the early 20th to the early 21st century was fun to read about. But at times this novel felt like Ragtime-light, with every famous historical figure and event having a bearing on the plot. On the fifth hand, it was great learning about the early history of kids adventure series books (like Tom Swift and the Hardy boys, both of which are still on my shelves). So on the whole an enjoyable, mixed bag.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2020
This book brings four characters, all living in NYC, one in present time, the rest in the early years of the 20th century. What all characters have in common is the love for books and writing the stories themselves. And how books influenced them in their childhoods.
NYC, 2010. Robert Parrish is a novelist. After a few successful publications, now he is struggling with a new inspiration. It is something from the past that gnaws at him. He pulls a box unopened for sixteen years, which contains old books in children’s series. But one book is missing and he goes in search for it.
In 1899, it was difficult for a woman to have her independence. So Magda Hertzenbergers hopes that 1900, the new century will bring new beginnings. Magda works for a publisher, answering the fan mail.
Thomas De Peyster, born into privilege, is expected to be a banker, but he craves the freedom he sees in characters in the stories he reads. He becomes a reporter.
Eugene Pinkney’s family comes from Jewish ancestors, but they do not practice the religion nor do they talk about it. Which on the other hand, only fuels Eugene’s curiosity. In childhood, he is drawn to scientific books. His fascination with achievements of Thomas Edison leads him to a job for Tesla. Now, someone is trying to convince him to write a story, instead of what he is used to - writing scientific articles.
As the story begins, it brings all those characters separately. So the puzzle is spread. 10% or 15% to the story, when I hoped those characters would start coming together. They don’t and it’s mentioned in the story that you would think on one particular day all those characters mingling in NYC would come together, but they don’t. So this is done on purpose. It takes probably another 15% to see some connection slowly forming among those characters.
There is certainly uniqueness to the way the story is written and it may resonate with other readers, but personally I wished for a better cohesion. The best I can describe it is - when one connection was happening, then at least two more pieces of puzzle were added and that’s when I was becoming more and more disconnected from the interesting characters. Because that’s what kept me reading the characters.
As much as I love books and found the premise interesting, in reality all being about books and writing them turn out to be a bit too much.
P.S. If you’re not familiar with this author, I highly recommend First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen. Loved this one.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
NYC, 2010. Robert Parrish is a novelist. After a few successful publications, now he is struggling with a new inspiration. It is something from the past that gnaws at him. He pulls a box unopened for sixteen years, which contains old books in children’s series. But one book is missing and he goes in search for it.
In 1899, it was difficult for a woman to have her independence. So Magda Hertzenbergers hopes that 1900, the new century will bring new beginnings. Magda works for a publisher, answering the fan mail.
Thomas De Peyster, born into privilege, is expected to be a banker, but he craves the freedom he sees in characters in the stories he reads. He becomes a reporter.
Eugene Pinkney’s family comes from Jewish ancestors, but they do not practice the religion nor do they talk about it. Which on the other hand, only fuels Eugene’s curiosity. In childhood, he is drawn to scientific books. His fascination with achievements of Thomas Edison leads him to a job for Tesla. Now, someone is trying to convince him to write a story, instead of what he is used to - writing scientific articles.
As the story begins, it brings all those characters separately. So the puzzle is spread. 10% or 15% to the story, when I hoped those characters would start coming together. They don’t and it’s mentioned in the story that you would think on one particular day all those characters mingling in NYC would come together, but they don’t. So this is done on purpose. It takes probably another 15% to see some connection slowly forming among those characters.
There is certainly uniqueness to the way the story is written and it may resonate with other readers, but personally I wished for a better cohesion. The best I can describe it is - when one connection was happening, then at least two more pieces of puzzle were added and that’s when I was becoming more and more disconnected from the interesting characters. Because that’s what kept me reading the characters.
As much as I love books and found the premise interesting, in reality all being about books and writing them turn out to be a bit too much.
P.S. If you’re not familiar with this author, I highly recommend First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen. Loved this one.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2020
Escaping Dreamland takes us back to New York City during the Gilded Age. It’s 1906 and three people from very different backgrounds find themselves writing a series of children’s books (such as The Hardy Boys). Magda, Tom, and Gene wrote their own books and then banded together for a series called The Tremendous Trio. They each used pseudonyms which was particularly helpful for Magda who was only able to write as a man.
These books had a significant impact on present-day Robert Parrish. They are his main connection to his father as they bonded over reading them and spent time exploring NYC seeking the books’ locations. Robert has published a successful book, but his life has stalled as he becomes obsessed with learning why the books from The Tremendous Trio abruptly stopped publishing.
Through dual timelines, we learn the back stories of each of the writers. I found each of their stories to be interesting and touching. The stories get a little disjointed but stick with it. Each writer finds themselves in the middle of historical events, and they interact with a wide array of noted figures. Magda’s immigrant life was changed by the General Slocum disaster of 1904; Tom escaped from his charmed life where family portraits were painted by John Singer Sargent and his mother planned for him to marry a Vanderbilt. Gene, with a talent for science, was present when Harry Thaw shot and killed Stanford White on the rooftop garden of the original Madison Square Garden. Together they spend a magical day at Coney Island’s Dreamland, which would soon be destroyed by a fire. If this period interests you, check out Escaping Dreamland where you’ll be immersed in New York City history, which remains “the greatest city in the world.”
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing, and author Charles Lovett for a copy of this enjoyable book in advance of its publication.
Rated 3.75 stars rounded up.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
These books had a significant impact on present-day Robert Parrish. They are his main connection to his father as they bonded over reading them and spent time exploring NYC seeking the books’ locations. Robert has published a successful book, but his life has stalled as he becomes obsessed with learning why the books from The Tremendous Trio abruptly stopped publishing.
Through dual timelines, we learn the back stories of each of the writers. I found each of their stories to be interesting and touching. The stories get a little disjointed but stick with it. Each writer finds themselves in the middle of historical events, and they interact with a wide array of noted figures. Magda’s immigrant life was changed by the General Slocum disaster of 1904; Tom escaped from his charmed life where family portraits were painted by John Singer Sargent and his mother planned for him to marry a Vanderbilt. Gene, with a talent for science, was present when Harry Thaw shot and killed Stanford White on the rooftop garden of the original Madison Square Garden. Together they spend a magical day at Coney Island’s Dreamland, which would soon be destroyed by a fire. If this period interests you, check out Escaping Dreamland where you’ll be immersed in New York City history, which remains “the greatest city in the world.”
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing, and author Charles Lovett for a copy of this enjoyable book in advance of its publication.
Rated 3.75 stars rounded up.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
July 9, 2020
I have read and enjoyed all of Charlie Lovett's previous novels, and based on the plot premise I thought that this book would be just as magical.
However, I found that the structure of the book was disjointed, making for a frustrating reading experience and preventing me from really getting to know any of the characters in a meaningful way. Because I felt that my understanding of the characters and their motivations was so superficial, I could not understand or empathize with their motivations. Robert, the character living in the present day, was in my opinion the most unlikable of the bunch, although I will say that as he very slowly grew through the arc of his search for the lost book (something I grew to feel was a very much recycled but not as well executed plot from First Impressions and Holy Grail) and ended up not quite as grating as at the very start.
Lovett is an excellent writer, and his ability to make literary research exciting is what makes his writing so beloved by so many bookish people. I just feel like he tried to cobble together a very disparate group of people under the structure of a tale that moved back and forth in time in an effort to weave their tales together in a way that led us to a glowing crescendo, but instead left the reader rather bewildered and in my case ... disappointed.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced copy free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
However, I found that the structure of the book was disjointed, making for a frustrating reading experience and preventing me from really getting to know any of the characters in a meaningful way. Because I felt that my understanding of the characters and their motivations was so superficial, I could not understand or empathize with their motivations. Robert, the character living in the present day, was in my opinion the most unlikable of the bunch, although I will say that as he very slowly grew through the arc of his search for the lost book (something I grew to feel was a very much recycled but not as well executed plot from First Impressions and Holy Grail) and ended up not quite as grating as at the very start.
Lovett is an excellent writer, and his ability to make literary research exciting is what makes his writing so beloved by so many bookish people. I just feel like he tried to cobble together a very disparate group of people under the structure of a tale that moved back and forth in time in an effort to weave their tales together in a way that led us to a glowing crescendo, but instead left the reader rather bewildered and in my case ... disappointed.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced copy free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
December 4, 2020
I received an audio copy of this book from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This time of year, all I want to do is cozy up with a book that’s going to suck me in and keep me distracted from the cold. And there’s nothing cozier in my opinion than a literary mystery. Any time a book or an author takes centerstage in a plot, I’m excited. That excitement often leaves me disappointed, as I tend to expect too much of these books for some reason. But sometimes I get my hands on a book that delivers. Escaping Dreamland is one such book. This is the first Charlie Lovett novel I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be my last.
I loved the dual timeline here. In 2010, we are slowly learning the story of an author, and what a lost children’s adventure series from the 1900s meant to him, his father, and his grandfather. In the early 1900s, we meet the three authors behind this series and see how their lives became intertwined. While the 2010 timeline was plenty interesting, and is where the mystery element of the novel came in, the historical portions of the book were what kept drawing me back to the story.
The historical half of Escaping Dreamland was transportive and believable and captivating. The level of legwork and research that goes into a story like this is astounding, and it was evident that Lovett cut no corners in this regard. From what I gather, this degree of meticulous research is present in every single one of his novels, which is both respectable and very exciting. I loved learning about the publishing world of the early 1900s, especially as it dealt with children’s fiction. Learning more about how these famous series came to be was fascinating, though I must confess that the fictional series at the center of Lovett’s novel sound much more multifaceted and unique than Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.
While Escaping Dreamland was very interesting, I can’t say it was exactly enthralling. Even when important things were happening, I felt very little tension from the story. This is in large part why I’m not giving it a full five star rating. I think this is in large part due to Lovett’s style, which has a gentle quality to it, though I can’t say that for sure without having ever read any of his other work. While I was never on the edge of my seat, I was always deeply invested. And when you’re on the hunt for something comforting, that’s not necessarily a bad reading experience to have.
I very much enjoyed my time in Escaping Dreamland. There were certain sections that dragged, and others that felt rushed. But, for the most part, this was a fun, entertaining reading experience with the added bonus of introducing me to a new author whose backlog I’m excited to explore. If you’re an audio reader, Mike Lenz does a great job narrating the audiobook. And if you’re a fan of books about books, historical fiction, and mysteries, I think you’re going to love this story.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
This time of year, all I want to do is cozy up with a book that’s going to suck me in and keep me distracted from the cold. And there’s nothing cozier in my opinion than a literary mystery. Any time a book or an author takes centerstage in a plot, I’m excited. That excitement often leaves me disappointed, as I tend to expect too much of these books for some reason. But sometimes I get my hands on a book that delivers. Escaping Dreamland is one such book. This is the first Charlie Lovett novel I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be my last.
I loved the dual timeline here. In 2010, we are slowly learning the story of an author, and what a lost children’s adventure series from the 1900s meant to him, his father, and his grandfather. In the early 1900s, we meet the three authors behind this series and see how their lives became intertwined. While the 2010 timeline was plenty interesting, and is where the mystery element of the novel came in, the historical portions of the book were what kept drawing me back to the story.
The historical half of Escaping Dreamland was transportive and believable and captivating. The level of legwork and research that goes into a story like this is astounding, and it was evident that Lovett cut no corners in this regard. From what I gather, this degree of meticulous research is present in every single one of his novels, which is both respectable and very exciting. I loved learning about the publishing world of the early 1900s, especially as it dealt with children’s fiction. Learning more about how these famous series came to be was fascinating, though I must confess that the fictional series at the center of Lovett’s novel sound much more multifaceted and unique than Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.
While Escaping Dreamland was very interesting, I can’t say it was exactly enthralling. Even when important things were happening, I felt very little tension from the story. This is in large part why I’m not giving it a full five star rating. I think this is in large part due to Lovett’s style, which has a gentle quality to it, though I can’t say that for sure without having ever read any of his other work. While I was never on the edge of my seat, I was always deeply invested. And when you’re on the hunt for something comforting, that’s not necessarily a bad reading experience to have.
I very much enjoyed my time in Escaping Dreamland. There were certain sections that dragged, and others that felt rushed. But, for the most part, this was a fun, entertaining reading experience with the added bonus of introducing me to a new author whose backlog I’m excited to explore. If you’re an audio reader, Mike Lenz does a great job narrating the audiobook. And if you’re a fan of books about books, historical fiction, and mysteries, I think you’re going to love this story.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
September 27, 2020
I expected Escaping Dreamland to be an escape from reality. However, it didn't create the mysterious and nostalgic atmosphere I was hoping for. It wasn't nearly as exciting as I had hoped. Still, there are aspects of this book I enjoyed, making it a modest read.
Our protagonist, Robert, is a writer living in New York City. His relationship with his girlfriend begins falls apart after the success of his first novel. He then goes on a journey to explore the history of the books that shaped his childhood. At the same time, the reader goes on a journey to explore the beginnings of Robert's favourite authors: Thomas, Magda and Eugene.
I like the way the chapters bounce between Robert and the trio of authors, but it took a while for the story to get going. I found myself constantly waiting for something to happen which meant the original enthusiasm for this book died out. Additionally, the book felt unnecessarily long. There were a lot of details and even whole chapters that didn't move the narrative along. And the pace slowed dramatically in some places. The suspense dipped, especially when it came to the history of the authors. As a result, I was tempted to skip some moments.
The most endearing element of Escaping Dreamland is the literary adventure the story provides. Lovett splendidly builds a historical timelines that's quite fun to dive into. I like how the characters were developed, specifically the Tremendous Trio. The reader has the opportunity to discover multiple lives at once, which is an entertaining and interesting concept.
As it took a while for the connection between the characters to become clear, I wasn't as engaged when the book reached its peak. The only push to keep reader was the author's enjoyable style of writing, which is classically articulate with a chatty feel. Another frustration is the secret keeping. Robert's relationship is failing because he is distant and keeping secrets from Rebecca, his girlfriend. I imagined the secret to be something life-changing, but the drama was lacking in that respect.
Although I enjoy books about the magic of books, the protagonist was childish and irritating. He earned plenty of eye rolls and little sympathy. In my opinion, the best thing about the book are the tales of the Tremendous Trio. The premise of Escaping Dreamland is exciting and thrilling, but sadly, the overall story fell short.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
Our protagonist, Robert, is a writer living in New York City. His relationship with his girlfriend begins falls apart after the success of his first novel. He then goes on a journey to explore the history of the books that shaped his childhood. At the same time, the reader goes on a journey to explore the beginnings of Robert's favourite authors: Thomas, Magda and Eugene.
I like the way the chapters bounce between Robert and the trio of authors, but it took a while for the story to get going. I found myself constantly waiting for something to happen which meant the original enthusiasm for this book died out. Additionally, the book felt unnecessarily long. There were a lot of details and even whole chapters that didn't move the narrative along. And the pace slowed dramatically in some places. The suspense dipped, especially when it came to the history of the authors. As a result, I was tempted to skip some moments.
The most endearing element of Escaping Dreamland is the literary adventure the story provides. Lovett splendidly builds a historical timelines that's quite fun to dive into. I like how the characters were developed, specifically the Tremendous Trio. The reader has the opportunity to discover multiple lives at once, which is an entertaining and interesting concept.
As it took a while for the connection between the characters to become clear, I wasn't as engaged when the book reached its peak. The only push to keep reader was the author's enjoyable style of writing, which is classically articulate with a chatty feel. Another frustration is the secret keeping. Robert's relationship is failing because he is distant and keeping secrets from Rebecca, his girlfriend. I imagined the secret to be something life-changing, but the drama was lacking in that respect.
Although I enjoy books about the magic of books, the protagonist was childish and irritating. He earned plenty of eye rolls and little sympathy. In my opinion, the best thing about the book are the tales of the Tremendous Trio. The premise of Escaping Dreamland is exciting and thrilling, but sadly, the overall story fell short.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
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July 23, 2020Escaping Dreamland is an absolute delight. Charlie Lovett takes readers on a lively literary adventure that spans a century, cleverly weaving historical moments into a mystery about a forgotten children’s book series. A celebration of both literature and New York City, the novel serves as a poignant reminder of how stories shape us and how, ultimately, they can save us.
March 19, 2021
Unfortunately, Escaping Dreamland didn't work for me like Lovett's other novels have. Robert, the main character in the contemporary storyline was peevish and stunted like the others have been, but Lovett withheld information about him for waaaaaay too long, making me unable to sympathize with him. The historical plotline centered around a love triangle, ugh. At least Lovett did his research regarding early 20th century NYC, syndicated/ghostwritten children's series, and the headiness of the era. Yet, he hated on corsets via his one major female character while barely mentioning the suffragette movement (I guess she was too busy with the love triangle). Lovett did the bare minimum with one (1) paragraph dedicated to the racism of this genre/era, but he could have written a really revolutionary story that pushed the boundaries, and he didn't.
Overall, I'm just disappointed. The usual comfort and suspense that I find in Lovett's novels just wasn't there for me in this one. The Lost Book of the Grail was one of my light reading favorites from last year, and The Bookman's Tale was solid wish fulfillment fare. At the end, I was rather glad to escape Dreamland. I'm still excited to read First Impressions but will weigh any future Lovett publications more carefully.
Content warnings: lots of mentions/descriptions of disasters, including fires, earthquakes, et c. Sexual assault, assorted violence, and some non-explicit (cringe-inducing) sex scenes.
Overall, I'm just disappointed. The usual comfort and suspense that I find in Lovett's novels just wasn't there for me in this one. The Lost Book of the Grail was one of my light reading favorites from last year, and The Bookman's Tale was solid wish fulfillment fare. At the end, I was rather glad to escape Dreamland. I'm still excited to read First Impressions but will weigh any future Lovett publications more carefully.
Content warnings: lots of mentions/descriptions of disasters, including fires, earthquakes, et c. Sexual assault, assorted violence, and some non-explicit (cringe-inducing) sex scenes.
October 7, 2020
With an outstanding sense of place, Escaping Dreamland captures early 2oth century Manhattan while whisking the reader on a fantastic literary adventure. I learned a little about the amusement park, Dreamland on Coney Island. A largely forgotten book series for children called The Tremendous Trio (think Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys or Tom Swift) sets writer Robert Parrish on a journey to reconnect with the books that shaped his childhood. What results is a literary mystery revealed in two timelines a century apart. I found myself immersed in the splendor of NYC, but what most resonated with me is the notion that the our childhood reading, even the books considered low brow, can shape our futures and imaginations in unexpected ways.
February 28, 2021
While I didn't love the current storyline - mostly because the main character frustrated me, I really enjoyed the turn-of-the-century (20th) New York storyline and of the art of ghostwriting books.
dnf
September 6, 2020I am sorry to say i dnfed this book. Not because IT was s bad story. But there were too many names to keep track of.
September 19, 2020
Charlie Lovett knows how to find literary topics that I can't resist. From book collecting in The Bookman's Tale to Jane Austen in First Impressions to the Holy Grail in The Lost Book of the Grail (my favorite), this man has put a stranglehold on my imagination and my attention. In Escaping Dreamland, he's done it again.
Probably the best thing Lovett has done is to bring back many wonderful memories of the books I loved as a child. A favorite scene in the book is the one in which Parrish visits an elderly collector who tells him about saving his ten-cent allowance for five weeks so that his father would take him to Brentano's Bookstore on Fifth Avenue so he could buy the latest book in his favorite series. I learned so much fascinating history about children's serial fiction in Escaping Dreamland that I'm tempted to make time to read some again. Lovett weaves one memorable scene after another into his story: the San Francisco earthquake, John Singer Sargent painting a portrait, the General Slocum disaster, visiting Dreamland on Coney Island... He brings Gilded Age America (and in particular, New York City) to life, and if you're the type of reader who is concerned about the appearance of historical characters in a work of fiction, read Lovett's notes at the end of the book.
All the characters in the book except Parrish's girlfriend Rebecca have demons to fight. Only Robert's demon is left unspoken until the end, but it's rather easy to deduce. If there's one thing I don't particularly like about Escaping Dreamland, it is the "magic box" at the end, but at least the entirety of the lives of the three characters from the earlier timeline is not served up to Parrish on a silver platter. Readers know more than he does, and I like that.
I'm looking forward to Lovett's next book. It's not often that you find an author who knows how to get a grip on both your heart and your mind, and Charlie Lovett is one of those writers for me. If you're a fan, you've got a treat in store. If you've never heard of him before, I highly recommend this man's books. He knows how to tell a tale.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley.)
Probably the best thing Lovett has done is to bring back many wonderful memories of the books I loved as a child. A favorite scene in the book is the one in which Parrish visits an elderly collector who tells him about saving his ten-cent allowance for five weeks so that his father would take him to Brentano's Bookstore on Fifth Avenue so he could buy the latest book in his favorite series. I learned so much fascinating history about children's serial fiction in Escaping Dreamland that I'm tempted to make time to read some again. Lovett weaves one memorable scene after another into his story: the San Francisco earthquake, John Singer Sargent painting a portrait, the General Slocum disaster, visiting Dreamland on Coney Island... He brings Gilded Age America (and in particular, New York City) to life, and if you're the type of reader who is concerned about the appearance of historical characters in a work of fiction, read Lovett's notes at the end of the book.
All the characters in the book except Parrish's girlfriend Rebecca have demons to fight. Only Robert's demon is left unspoken until the end, but it's rather easy to deduce. If there's one thing I don't particularly like about Escaping Dreamland, it is the "magic box" at the end, but at least the entirety of the lives of the three characters from the earlier timeline is not served up to Parrish on a silver platter. Readers know more than he does, and I like that.
I'm looking forward to Lovett's next book. It's not often that you find an author who knows how to get a grip on both your heart and your mind, and Charlie Lovett is one of those writers for me. If you're a fan, you've got a treat in store. If you've never heard of him before, I highly recommend this man's books. He knows how to tell a tale.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley.)
December 8, 2023
Masterfully written. A book about the all-encompassing power of books, stories, and words. I learned much about the publishing world -- and loved it. Plus learned some other historical tidbits too. The author truly did a ton of research to piece this novel together.
The reasons why I gave this book 2 stars is due to the language found in the book (thankfully it was infrequent), and due to the allusions to mature content.
The reasons why I gave this book 2 stars is due to the language found in the book (thankfully it was infrequent), and due to the allusions to mature content.
December 25, 2020
A beautiful, sweeping story about love, friendship, forgiveness, and the power of reading a book.
This is a dual timeline saga that connects its characters from each timeline far better than most books in this format.
Our contemporaryish protagonist Robert isn’t quite as compelling as the early 20th century trio whose books had so much impact on his life, but his story marries well with theirs and functions successfully as a narrative device for helping their tale to unfold.
For anyone who loves early 20th century history or the history of forgotten/lost books, this novel is a dream. Lovett has done an exceptional job of using real historical events and figures to shape the goings-on in the lives of his fictional authors Magda, Tom, and Gene.
In both timelines, Lovett shows us so many ways in which books shape our lives, change them for the better, open doors for us, and comfort our souls. This is especially relevant in the first timeline, where the characters are brought together by books, precipitating an almost buddy comedy feel that warmed my cold, cold heart.
The earlier timeline has a heartbreaking element to it as well, though not as much so as the second timeline. Though the sadness in each was well-rendered, I do wish all of Lovett’s otherwise flawless books didn’t always carry such a crushingly depressing element. This is about preference, not quality of content, as I realize many readers love a good heartbreaking tragedy.
Regardless of where you stand on that issue, Lovett has written a gorgeous piece of historical fiction here and a must for anyone who believes in the incredible power of reading and books.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a dual timeline saga that connects its characters from each timeline far better than most books in this format.
Our contemporaryish protagonist Robert isn’t quite as compelling as the early 20th century trio whose books had so much impact on his life, but his story marries well with theirs and functions successfully as a narrative device for helping their tale to unfold.
For anyone who loves early 20th century history or the history of forgotten/lost books, this novel is a dream. Lovett has done an exceptional job of using real historical events and figures to shape the goings-on in the lives of his fictional authors Magda, Tom, and Gene.
In both timelines, Lovett shows us so many ways in which books shape our lives, change them for the better, open doors for us, and comfort our souls. This is especially relevant in the first timeline, where the characters are brought together by books, precipitating an almost buddy comedy feel that warmed my cold, cold heart.
The earlier timeline has a heartbreaking element to it as well, though not as much so as the second timeline. Though the sadness in each was well-rendered, I do wish all of Lovett’s otherwise flawless books didn’t always carry such a crushingly depressing element. This is about preference, not quality of content, as I realize many readers love a good heartbreaking tragedy.
Regardless of where you stand on that issue, Lovett has written a gorgeous piece of historical fiction here and a must for anyone who believes in the incredible power of reading and books.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 6, 2020
3.5*
“Nothing left to do but cash the checks and start planning the next books in the series,” said Magda. “Tomorrow’s Saturday,” said Gene. “I think we should celebrate.” “How?” said Magda. “It’s the last weekend of the season at Coney Island,” said Tom. “Let’s go to Dreamland.”
Charlie Lovett certainly tackles interesting topics in his books and once again he shines a light into an array of fascinating topics with his latest offering. Everything from the New York of bygone days, to significant historical events, to the publishing of children’s literature - all interwoven and told through some interesting character stories.
Told in two timelines, Charlie investigates who were the Tremendous Trio and why they stopped writing children’s literature at the turn of the 20th century. The modern day tale is harder to get into, the main character being rather depressed but determined in his search to discover answers. However, the stories of Magda, Tom and Gene prove far more interesting from the early 1900s. While the characters are fictitious, the settings and events were factual and definitely provide the lure for reading this book. Their lives and relationships form the backdrop to very real settings that were remarkably portrayed.
“It’s so lovely to have a day that is just about today. No worries from the past, no thoughts of the future. Just today.”
Herein is what I found to be the highlight of this book. The General Slocum disaster of 1904 that forever changed Magda’s life; the San Francisco earthquake that haunted Tom and the ever alluring and magical Coney Island’s Dreamland (pre and post fire) to name but a few. If you are at all interested in some of these key historical events (the first one I had never heard of and it was horrific upon Googling!) then you will appreciate Charlie immersing you in some rich New York city history.
‘If the summer of 1911 had proved anything it was that, no matter how much everyone had forgiven everyone else, they could never really escape Dreamland.’
At times the book does go slow and although modern day Robert’s anxiety is draining, the cause and in fact, all the revelations for the leads in the concluding pages make complete and satisfying sense. The revelations of much loved children’s series such as Hardy Boys etc will have lovers of these antiquated books in reading heaven. The publishing history is very enlightening.
Overall, the relationships of the three historical leads as they begin writing series books and their shared adventures is most entertaining. Combine that with Charlie narrating so many key historic events and it makes for some very interesting reading.
‘... the circus felt like a fantastical version of New York itself - everything happening at once, with never a moment to catch one’s breath.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
“Nothing left to do but cash the checks and start planning the next books in the series,” said Magda. “Tomorrow’s Saturday,” said Gene. “I think we should celebrate.” “How?” said Magda. “It’s the last weekend of the season at Coney Island,” said Tom. “Let’s go to Dreamland.”
Charlie Lovett certainly tackles interesting topics in his books and once again he shines a light into an array of fascinating topics with his latest offering. Everything from the New York of bygone days, to significant historical events, to the publishing of children’s literature - all interwoven and told through some interesting character stories.
Told in two timelines, Charlie investigates who were the Tremendous Trio and why they stopped writing children’s literature at the turn of the 20th century. The modern day tale is harder to get into, the main character being rather depressed but determined in his search to discover answers. However, the stories of Magda, Tom and Gene prove far more interesting from the early 1900s. While the characters are fictitious, the settings and events were factual and definitely provide the lure for reading this book. Their lives and relationships form the backdrop to very real settings that were remarkably portrayed.
“It’s so lovely to have a day that is just about today. No worries from the past, no thoughts of the future. Just today.”
Herein is what I found to be the highlight of this book. The General Slocum disaster of 1904 that forever changed Magda’s life; the San Francisco earthquake that haunted Tom and the ever alluring and magical Coney Island’s Dreamland (pre and post fire) to name but a few. If you are at all interested in some of these key historical events (the first one I had never heard of and it was horrific upon Googling!) then you will appreciate Charlie immersing you in some rich New York city history.
‘If the summer of 1911 had proved anything it was that, no matter how much everyone had forgiven everyone else, they could never really escape Dreamland.’
At times the book does go slow and although modern day Robert’s anxiety is draining, the cause and in fact, all the revelations for the leads in the concluding pages make complete and satisfying sense. The revelations of much loved children’s series such as Hardy Boys etc will have lovers of these antiquated books in reading heaven. The publishing history is very enlightening.
Overall, the relationships of the three historical leads as they begin writing series books and their shared adventures is most entertaining. Combine that with Charlie narrating so many key historic events and it makes for some very interesting reading.
‘... the circus felt like a fantastical version of New York itself - everything happening at once, with never a moment to catch one’s breath.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
December 26, 2023
I love a book that draws me in by checking off several boxes of my interest. In the case of Escaping Dreamland, we have: ✅ a book about books ✅ parallel narratives ✅ a literary mystery ✅ childhood serial novels á la Nancy Drew ✅ a local author ✅ inclusion of actual historical events and people
Robert is a newly-published popular author who is terrified that the contemporary literary world will discover that his inspiration for becoming a writer comes from an early 1900s series of novels originally owned by his grandfather. The youth adventure books not only entranced young Robert, but they also served as a way to bond with his father. As an adult, Robert begins to look for information about the authors but discovers there is surprisingly little about them...and surprisingly few people who have even heard of them. As Robert chases down every lead he can find across NYC, he is forced to confront his secret shame in his love for the books and the real reason for it. Simultaneously, we get the story of three unlikely friends in turn-of-the-century New York and their path to ghostwriting the adventure stories Robert is investigating.
I will admit to feeling some confusion over why loving children's books as an actual child was such a huge source of shame for Robert, but by the end of the book, it's clear the serial novels are merely a symptom for a larger, long-buried trauma. Although the inclusion true historical events and people was a little heavy-handed at times, I appreciated the context in the parallel storyline.
Robert is a newly-published popular author who is terrified that the contemporary literary world will discover that his inspiration for becoming a writer comes from an early 1900s series of novels originally owned by his grandfather. The youth adventure books not only entranced young Robert, but they also served as a way to bond with his father. As an adult, Robert begins to look for information about the authors but discovers there is surprisingly little about them...and surprisingly few people who have even heard of them. As Robert chases down every lead he can find across NYC, he is forced to confront his secret shame in his love for the books and the real reason for it. Simultaneously, we get the story of three unlikely friends in turn-of-the-century New York and their path to ghostwriting the adventure stories Robert is investigating.
I will admit to feeling some confusion over why loving children's books as an actual child was such a huge source of shame for Robert, but by the end of the book, it's clear the serial novels are merely a symptom for a larger, long-buried trauma. Although the inclusion true historical events and people was a little heavy-handed at times, I appreciated the context in the parallel storyline.
October 9, 2020
I really enjoyed listening to this story. The narrator was perfect for this story. In my opinion the story started out a little slow and I was confused about the different characters. I feel it took a little longer than I would have liked to have the story become clear how it was all connected. But I was intrigued by the story line and why Robert had issues and the pace did pick up. I loved the fact that it was a book about books and reading. My favorite was the references to "The Princess Bride:. I am a history lover so I enjoyed the history of Dreamland and just the way of life in the 1920s. I learned new information. I think the characters were well developed and that you truly got to know them. I also loved the mystery of the Tremendous Trio. I couldn't wait for Robert to find out what happened. I' listened on my way to and from work and would drive slower so I could listen longer. I felt like I was in NYC with the characters. He truly brought the story to life for me. Definitely a movie in my head book!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for a free audio book (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for a free audio book (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
September 14, 2020
I was completely caught up and transported to New York City in the late 1800s and early 1900s in this story of adventure, friendship, heartbreak, and mystery. You can clearly feel the amount of care that the author put into researching this book so that it felt authentic to the time period and surroundings.
I love that children's adventure book series were the driving force behind this story, the meaningful connection between a son and his father, and the source of the mysteries. Who wrote these books? Why did they stop? Why is the memory of those books and the connection to his father so painful that Robert will not admit to having loved them? Is he willing to sacrifice his relationship to keep his secrets?
You will learn the answers to those questions and many more on this enchanting journey. I highly recommend this book. Once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down!
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
I love that children's adventure book series were the driving force behind this story, the meaningful connection between a son and his father, and the source of the mysteries. Who wrote these books? Why did they stop? Why is the memory of those books and the connection to his father so painful that Robert will not admit to having loved them? Is he willing to sacrifice his relationship to keep his secrets?
You will learn the answers to those questions and many more on this enchanting journey. I highly recommend this book. Once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down!
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 18, 2020
This book was wonderful, and Magda, Tom, and Gene grew very dear to me over the pages. I read most of the Hardy Boys books when I was 8 and 9, before moving on to adult books at 10. I left them behind kind of like Robert Parrish did, but this book brought back the exhilaration I felt when I first started to escape into series books like those and books in general.
One weakness of the book was the length of time the author waited to tell the story of how Robbie's father died. It was not foreshadowed well at all and seemed totally anticlimactic when it finally came to light. I thought for almost the whole book that the big secret was how deep Robert was into the child hero genre. I don't understand why this weakness was allowed to remain in a book that was obviously well edited and lovingly produced.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the feelings of exhilaration the book sent me back to so much I'm giving it 4 stars.
One weakness of the book was the length of time the author waited to tell the story of how Robbie's father died. It was not foreshadowed well at all and seemed totally anticlimactic when it finally came to light. I thought for almost the whole book that the big secret was how deep Robert was into the child hero genre. I don't understand why this weakness was allowed to remain in a book that was obviously well edited and lovingly produced.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the feelings of exhilaration the book sent me back to so much I'm giving it 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2022
I have read a few other Charlie Lovett novels and very much enjoyed them but I have mixed feelings about Escaping Dreamland. The premise immediately hooked me - a mystery surrounding a syndicated children's series. When I was much younger, I would have told you that the Nancy Drew mysteries were my favorite and I owned all 56 yellow hardbacks (and then found a blue hardback in an antique store which led me to start collecting those and even better if they had dustjackets, but I digress...). So I was excited to read about this mystery surrounding a fictional syndicated children's series but the mystery just kind of fell flat for me. I found myself not caring for any of the four main characters. The one character set in the present day was driven by something bad happening in his past and when the tragedy was finally revealed it just felt anticlimactic. The other three characters were set in the early 1900s but I felt they acted and spoke like 21st century people. There were parts I enjoyed - learning more about New York during the early 1900s and all the book talk, but overall, it was just kind of a sad book.
October 21, 2021
DNF Read approximately 20%
I have read other books by Lovett and, for the most part, enjoyed them. This was not the case with this book, for several reasons.
First the viewpoints. There were, in my view, way too many. Also, the plot moved from one to another with little cohesion or reasoning. One page would be one view, turn the page another view and so on. It made the book very choppy and hard to keep track of.
Secondly, and this ties into the multiple view, you really could not form a relationship with any of the characters. There were just fleeting glimpses, and they all seemed so dull and uninteresting. None of them had any spark, or sparked an interest, at least in my view.
It could have improved but I was too bored to really care.
I have read other books by Lovett and, for the most part, enjoyed them. This was not the case with this book, for several reasons.
First the viewpoints. There were, in my view, way too many. Also, the plot moved from one to another with little cohesion or reasoning. One page would be one view, turn the page another view and so on. It made the book very choppy and hard to keep track of.
Secondly, and this ties into the multiple view, you really could not form a relationship with any of the characters. There were just fleeting glimpses, and they all seemed so dull and uninteresting. None of them had any spark, or sparked an interest, at least in my view.
It could have improved but I was too bored to really care.
August 25, 2020
This book make me think quite a bit. There were many aspects of this book that I didn't know anything about, so I learned several things. Charlie Lovett did an amazing job doing research and it really showed. I don't know much about New York City, so the descriptions of the city were great. I didn't know about the Slocum disaster, so that was something new I learned. I was hooked with the storyline. The book has a modern day story line and a story line in the past with 3 characters. By the end of the book, I was happy I had the opportunity to read it. I would like to read other books by Charlie Lovett.
March 11, 2021
This is a good book for a vacation or a time when you can keep reading it regularly. When I first got it, I kept putting it down and returning to it a few days or weeks later, and would forget details from the various narratives. It takes a long time for the disjointed stories to converge, so patience and memory are required. But it is a love letter to New York City and to children's mass-market literature, as well as a meditation on the fragile nature of human connections, so the reader will be rewarded for perseverance.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 24, 2022
This book struck a different tone than the other books I've read by Charlie Lovett.
Definitely more serious, and also very considered. I liked the way he developed his characters, and made sure their stories were complete, while living some things to his readers' imagination.
I thought Lovett handled the stories of Magda, Tom and especially Gene with deep sensitivity and
portrayed them in a sympathetic and dignified light.
I was touched and humbled yet again by his prose and how he interjects meaning and
love for books in everything I have ever read of his. Excellent work ! I enjoyed it and didn't want the book to end.
Definitely more serious, and also very considered. I liked the way he developed his characters, and made sure their stories were complete, while living some things to his readers' imagination.
I thought Lovett handled the stories of Magda, Tom and especially Gene with deep sensitivity and
portrayed them in a sympathetic and dignified light.
I was touched and humbled yet again by his prose and how he interjects meaning and
love for books in everything I have ever read of his. Excellent work ! I enjoyed it and didn't want the book to end.
December 21, 2022
My first Charlie Lovett book, thanks to "What Should I Read Next? podcast! I loved this book!!! Mr. Lovett is not penning literary works of art, ok, but the writing is excellent, the story flows and the topic, books, well, who would not LOVE that!
Blending present day with the past, he weaves a beautiful connection between two generations of authors in a lyrical New York City setting. Dotted with profound historical events in the city and the world, the connection begins to come together for the protagonist(s) and the reader, creating a exciting experience for the reader as it all comes together. A page turner.
I will now read ALL of Charlie Lovett's books.
Blending present day with the past, he weaves a beautiful connection between two generations of authors in a lyrical New York City setting. Dotted with profound historical events in the city and the world, the connection begins to come together for the protagonist(s) and the reader, creating a exciting experience for the reader as it all comes together. A page turner.
I will now read ALL of Charlie Lovett's books.
July 28, 2020
The stories of 1 current day author and 3 authors from a century earlier intertwine in the publishing business. Their lives and their work, their relationships and struggles, draw the reader along as we try to discover how they are connected. Through little known and well known tragedies the story transports the reader back through the years to New York City in the early 1900s. By the end, I was so invested in the lives of the 4 main characters that I felt as if I'd known them forever. I was rooting for them to succeed in their various endeavors and found I did not want to put this book down.
September 11, 2020
This one took me awhile to get into. The narration is good but I was struggling to get into the storyline. We jump between one character in more modern days and three from around 1900. I love that books and writing play such a big part of the story but I wish I'd actually liked some of the characters more. They're not unlikable so much as I just didn't connect with any of them. The New York history was really interesting though.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2021
Oh, dear. I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book. And I kept on with it until I got to the 67% mark. And then I gave up. I realized that I really wasn’t connecting with the characters, nor did I care much one way or the other about their problems. As a kid, I was a fan of the sorts of books this novel dives into, but even that wasn’t enough to hold my interest. Not when there are a gazillion other books on my Kindle.
May 12, 2021
Even though I have lost some of my ability to focus on books that take even a little effort, I stuck with this one and was glad I did. As historical fiction, it was so well researched that it felt real to me.
May 24, 2021
I love a book about books. Charlie Lovett has again struck the right balance between the past and present, keeping both stories moving and packing so much into these 330-ish pages. I didn‘t find this to be as funny as his other novels but his building on historical events was once again, spot on.
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