Leftover Dreams

by Charlotte Vale Allen

When her sister Faye's dreams of marrying her childhood sweetheart are cut short by a violent rape and a botched abortion, Louise Parker flees to London, where she discovers the truth about her sister's tragedy.
Spanning two continents and three generations, Leftover Dreams is a gripping, old-fashioned page-turner. The author takes readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride no one will wnat to stop before its emotionally-draining, thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

Genres: Fiction

674 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 1992

About the author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer and in cabaret revues until she emigrated to the United States in 1966.

Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.

Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.

One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.

In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."

A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Kait Vanderlaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Who would’ve thought an obscure, almost 700 page book from 20 years ago that I picked up at a free little library would be this good?! This is a long one but such a captivating and heartbreaking story of two teenage sisters and making sense of tragedy. Highly recommend!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Vale Allen is underrated. I found this on my shelf and reread it. Just as good as I remember. Tried finding more of her books, not easy. So glad I ran across this. Makes me look forward to rereading her others.

[Samantha Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1940s Toronto, Canada, this novel follows two young girls through their coming of age. Faye and Louise Parker instantly make you cheer for the thoughts and dreams of every character they meet. A simple story of two sisters surviving an abusive mother that evolves into a novel questioning mental health and the fallout it creates. I suspect that Maggie (the mother) actually suffered from Schizophrenia. A later character is sent off to a nut house mansion that uses shock therapy as treatment for an eccentric, depressed late teen. I loved how it opened your eyes to the fact that mental health was something that was kept behind closed doors in those times. People simply did not understand. Faye and Louise are characters I will never forget. The author easily draws you into their stories over many years with numerous different characters. What happens to people's leftover dreams? The dreams they never had a chance to reach? The following quote from the novel hits the nail on the mark for the theme of this story:

"Concentrate on what you want; don't worry about what you think other people might expect of you. It's such a waste, trying to anticipate what other people might expect. The truth is, they're too busy worrying about themselves most of the time to think about anyone else."

[Isabel Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recuerdo la historia de estas dos hermanas, aunq no recuerdo sus nombres pero sí recuerdo q no me gustó el final. Ambas niñas han tenido q pasar una infancia patética, al lado de una madre amargada e irresponsable. Quedan huérfanas - lo cual fue más bien una liberación - y cuando parece q les va a empezar a ir bien, las cosas se tuercen. La mayor tuvo un novio desde jovencita, con quien tuvo sus primeras experiencias sexuales; pero nunca pudieron tener relaciones sexuales completas xq a ella le dolía. Luego va un bandido del barrio y la viola y ella queda embarazada. Aterrorizada xq nadie se entere, se practica un aborto y termina muriendo. Le echan la culpa al novio, q no tuvo nada q ver pero q termina rompiendo con toda su familia.
La niña menor queda marcada por todo lo q pasó con su madre, primero, y con su hermana después. Recuerdo q no tiene suerte en el amor e incluso termina liada con un hombre casado, q parece buena gente pero q por alguna razón no se termina de divorciar.
Al final se descubre todo lo de la hermana mayor, el culpable recibe su castigo, y el inocente es absuelto de culpa y penal pero el desenlace no me supo a "happyly ever after" del todo, xq la historia con el casado tampoco terminó como debería.
No encontré mucha referencia de este libro en Google, y parece estar descatalogado. No me sorprende. No ha sido la gran cosa.

[Vickie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story of survival, loss and love. It's a story about family and about tragedy. Thru it all the author weaves a wonderful story of courage and strength.
The characters are real with relatable thoughts and feelings.
This is a must read.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faye and Louise struggle to thrive under a bitter, irrational mother.

[Sarah Fassnacht · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written I was hooked by the first page I couldn’t put it down someone needs to make a movie of this

[Zandrazone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a GREAT story. You feel as if you are there in person going through time. It’s sad and happy and suspenseful. I loved this book

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins in the Toronto of the 1950's, where you could still swim at Sunnyside Beach and most women stayed home to raise their families. We meet two unforgettable sisters, Faye and Louise Parker, who against all odds, survive the abuse of their angry and embittered mother, Maggie. But their lives are tragically altered when shy and sensitive Faye is the victim of a brutal and violent act.

Suddenly, the normally ebullient Louise, is thrown into turmoil. On the brink of adulthood, she escapes to London, England to heal her wounds and follows her nebulous dreams.

Myself, having been born and raised in Toronto thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I knew all the places mentioned in the book and felt as though I was a part of the story.

I've read alot of books in my life so far and must say this particular novel, at 589 pages, is a story I'll never forget. The characters are well developed, the story flowed immensely well, it was extremely well written and is an unbelievably powerful novel.

My hat goes off to Charlotte Vale Allen on this one!!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is described as an old-fashioned page turner and I whole heartily agree. I was caught up in the story and characters immediately. A bitter single disillusioned mother to two young daughters intent on taking out everything that has gone wrong in her life on her offspring sets the stage for the sisters progression into life and love.
The story has some very disturbing characters, some very warm and affectionate characters, and some very wise and practical characters.... all the people who make up our lives and what we become.
I was so taken with this writers manner of writing (detailed but not boring), straight forward without confusion, and with depth that the reader can readily associate. I will definitely go out of my way
to read more from this author.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own two copes of this book znd have read it three times. This is my all time favorite book.

[Caylee Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book!!

[Greta High · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 14 and it was my very favorite book for a really long time. I read and re-read it many times in my mid-teens. Would like to reread it now and see if it's still a favorite.

[Karen Woellert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. The author keeps you guessing and I like that. Crazy things happen...