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40th out of 45 books
—
93 voters
Outside Wonderland
by
Lorna Jane Cook (Goodreads Author)
Alice, Griffin, and Dinah Stenen's mother and father died tragically when they were quite young. The loss haunts theminto adulthood. Alice is astage actress in New York who can't commit to a relationship. When she meets Ian she's smitten, but suspects it's Ian's four-year-old son that really captivates her. Griffin and his longtime partner are settled into a contented dome...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by St. Martin's Griffin
(first published March 1st 2011)
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Nov 09, 2011
Elizabeth
added it
In the book Outside Wonderland, by Lorna Jane Cook, the three main characters Alice,Griffin and Dinah are all at significant points in their lives. At very young ages, Dinah being only 18 months, their mother passes away suddenly and Alice is left to be the "mother figure" until her grandmother steps in to help. When Dinah is around 8 years old their father also passes away and they are sent to go live with their grandmother. Alice is now older and a beloved actress who cannot make a commitment...more
I won this book on a Goodreads Giveaway.
This book deals with three adults who are living their lives 20 years after their parents died. The eldest, Alice, is an actress who doesn't really care for commitment. The son, Griffin, is a gay man who is at-odds with his partner of 11 years. And the youngest, Dinah, is a woman who is constantly trying to find herself, but knows that she doesn't like to be alone.
I found myself really enjoying this book and the characters in it. They were likable and the...more
This book deals with three adults who are living their lives 20 years after their parents died. The eldest, Alice, is an actress who doesn't really care for commitment. The son, Griffin, is a gay man who is at-odds with his partner of 11 years. And the youngest, Dinah, is a woman who is constantly trying to find herself, but knows that she doesn't like to be alone.
I found myself really enjoying this book and the characters in it. They were likable and the...more
I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway, and I was reluctant to review it at all because I knew my words would be less than favorable. However, I would also not want to be responsible for someone reading this book on my say-so, and couldn't tell anything but the truth.
And the truth is that this novel is not good. The characters are more like caricatures, loosely defined and with little development. I'm supposed to feel invested in their lives and their pain, but...more
And the truth is that this novel is not good. The characters are more like caricatures, loosely defined and with little development. I'm supposed to feel invested in their lives and their pain, but...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I won this book from goodreads.
I didn't dislike this book. It was a quick read and I found the characters to be likable. I especially liked Dinah. I just wish they were developed more. I felt I was often told what they were made of and why they made the choices they made. I would have like to have drawn my own conclusions by making my discoveries from their choices and dialogue. I also thought a few of the outcomes were a bit too picture perfect and predictable. It was charming to have the musin...more
I didn't dislike this book. It was a quick read and I found the characters to be likable. I especially liked Dinah. I just wish they were developed more. I felt I was often told what they were made of and why they made the choices they made. I would have like to have drawn my own conclusions by making my discoveries from their choices and dialogue. I also thought a few of the outcomes were a bit too picture perfect and predictable. It was charming to have the musin...more
Won this advance readers edition through Goodreads.
This is the story of three orphaned siblings who endure the death of both their parents at relatively young ages and were raised by their paternal grandmother. The story follows their adult lives and the challenges they face in their relationships and ultimate growth. At the end of each chapter the parents offer their commentary on their children's lives as they watch from Heaven (or some other grand place not specifically labeled).
I think this...more
This is the story of three orphaned siblings who endure the death of both their parents at relatively young ages and were raised by their paternal grandmother. The story follows their adult lives and the challenges they face in their relationships and ultimate growth. At the end of each chapter the parents offer their commentary on their children's lives as they watch from Heaven (or some other grand place not specifically labeled).
I think this...more
The narrative had some strength and there were some lovely pages, but overall I never really connected with the characters. At first, as an orphan myself, I thought the writer might be trying to portray the isolation many orphans feel and the years it takes to get beyond that desolation, but no, in the end I don't think she ever thought of that idea at all.
The idea of the parents commentary from the great beyond (or "here") was appealing to me at first, but as another reviewer noted, it did fee...more
The idea of the parents commentary from the great beyond (or "here") was appealing to me at first, but as another reviewer noted, it did fee...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved this book! It was like an old sweater, soft and warm. I loved the idea of Here, and the parents still checking in on their kids long after they have been able to really do anything for them. I loved how the mother and father agreed that the kids were making mistakes and that it was OK, and how they stopped worrying about the mistakes their kids were and would make because in the end, they didn't really matter that much. As someone who is constant worrier it is heavenly (pun intended) to...more
Thank you Goodreads for letting me read an advanced readers copy of this book!
I really, really enjoyed it. We all question death and what could happen to us after we leave this earth. This book described the "after life" in such a warm, peaceful way that it was almost whimsical. It should have been cheesy, but it wasn't. Just heartfelt and reassuring.
The characters in the book were well written and I was so anxious for everything to turn out ok for them. I really felt like they grew as I was r...more
I really, really enjoyed it. We all question death and what could happen to us after we leave this earth. This book described the "after life" in such a warm, peaceful way that it was almost whimsical. It should have been cheesy, but it wasn't. Just heartfelt and reassuring.
The characters in the book were well written and I was so anxious for everything to turn out ok for them. I really felt like they grew as I was r...more
I finally finished the book. It took me awhile to get into the story line.
The story is about 3 children who lose their mother and then they lose their father and are raised by their grandmother. Now the story is following each of them during their lives, while their parents are watching from the great beyond.
As the story progressed I found some of the characters growing on me. The 2 children are Alice, Griffin and Dinah. Their mother died when the youngest Dinah was about a year old. Then the fa...more
The story is about 3 children who lose their mother and then they lose their father and are raised by their grandmother. Now the story is following each of them during their lives, while their parents are watching from the great beyond.
As the story progressed I found some of the characters growing on me. The 2 children are Alice, Griffin and Dinah. Their mother died when the youngest Dinah was about a year old. Then the fa...more
I appreciate receiving this from GoodReads. Unfortunately I would not recommend this book. The dialogue is trite, the characters whiny and the story lines predictable and boring.
The premise of the story is that the characters' dead parents watch on as three adult children struggle through life, from heaven. It is unnecessary and adds nothing to the book. At the end of each chapter the parents vaguely reflect on the issues their children are having. It does nothing to strengthen the book.
Also, a...more
The premise of the story is that the characters' dead parents watch on as three adult children struggle through life, from heaven. It is unnecessary and adds nothing to the book. At the end of each chapter the parents vaguely reflect on the issues their children are having. It does nothing to strengthen the book.
Also, a...more
Outside Wonderland has given me a warm glow. I would give this book more stars if it were possible. Life happens and days pass. Everyone struggles with something/someone, but life is what we make of it and how we move forward. This book highlights this with the wonderfully warm characters of Eve, Griffin and Dinah. The brother and sisters lost their mother in an accident when they were very young and then their father when they were a little older. They seem to struggle with finding themselves a...more
This is a book about three siblings that lose both parents well before adulthood. Their paternal grandmother raises the children.
The eldest, Alice, is an actress in new York. She has difficulty committing herself in a serious relationship. Griffin lives in Chicago with his husband. They have been together for nine years, but are having a conflict over whether to adopt or not. Dinah is the baby of the family. She is careful and shrewd in her life choices, so everyoneis shocked when she announces...more
The eldest, Alice, is an actress in new York. She has difficulty committing herself in a serious relationship. Griffin lives in Chicago with his husband. They have been together for nine years, but are having a conflict over whether to adopt or not. Dinah is the baby of the family. She is careful and shrewd in her life choices, so everyoneis shocked when she announces...more
Won a free copy from the Bookbrowse First Impressions program. Can't wait for it to get here!
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Siblings Alice, Griffin, and Dinah, named for characters out of "Alice in Wonderland" lose first their mother in a freak accident, then their father. We get a small glimpse of them in their younger days before the story fast forwards to the adult siblings. All appear successful on the surface, but are struggli...more
************************************************************************************************
Siblings Alice, Griffin, and Dinah, named for characters out of "Alice in Wonderland" lose first their mother in a freak accident, then their father. We get a small glimpse of them in their younger days before the story fast forwards to the adult siblings. All appear successful on the surface, but are struggli...more
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I really did not know what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book. When I finished reading it, I was left feeling content and at peace with the world.
The parents of Alice, Griffin, and Dinah both die when the children are all quite young. They reside in an afterlife similar to Heaven, but one which is simply referred to as "Here" (as opposed to "There"--the land of the living). Twenty years after their deaths, the parents watch thei...more
The parents of Alice, Griffin, and Dinah both die when the children are all quite young. They reside in an afterlife similar to Heaven, but one which is simply referred to as "Here" (as opposed to "There"--the land of the living). Twenty years after their deaths, the parents watch thei...more
I won this Advance Reader's Edition book in a giveaway. It was great! I didn't want to put it down once I started it. The characters were people I know and situations that we all find ourselves in at some point in life. I enjoyed the deceased parents talking from Here about what was going on in the lives of their children as they watched. Many people believe that the deceased watch us from above and care about our lives. The glimpse into what Cook thinks Here is like was also interesting: the an...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I won this book in a giveaway a while back under my former account.
I absolutely loved this book. I found it refreshing in a way. The characters were so diverse, which I really enjoy. For me, the characters are the most important part of a book. They should have depth and be intersting. I want to feel a connection to the characters, and that's exactly what Cook did in her writing. When I finished the book I was actually quite sad because I felt like I wouldn't be able to find such an enjoyable b...more
I absolutely loved this book. I found it refreshing in a way. The characters were so diverse, which I really enjoy. For me, the characters are the most important part of a book. They should have depth and be intersting. I want to feel a connection to the characters, and that's exactly what Cook did in her writing. When I finished the book I was actually quite sad because I felt like I wouldn't be able to find such an enjoyable b...more
This was one of those books that I really wasn't sure about whether I wanted to finish it throughout the whole thing. It wasn't that the book was terrible by any means, but lately I have just been interested in other genres. I did finish it and am glad I did. It really was a good little story. I love reading about family and loved reading about these three siblings coming together when they really need each other.
The characters were all different, which I like. I also found it quite interesting...more
The characters were all different, which I like. I also found it quite interesting...more
A very quick read. Was wishing that the characters were developed a bit more.
Alice, Griffin, and Dinah are all on different paths 20 years after the passing of their mother and not long after their mother's passing, they lose their father. They are not as close and not much of a family at this point in their lives. While they grow up their parents are able to catch glimpses of their life only to wonder what would have been if they could have spent more time with their children. Only to realize...more
Alice, Griffin, and Dinah are all on different paths 20 years after the passing of their mother and not long after their mother's passing, they lose their father. They are not as close and not much of a family at this point in their lives. While they grow up their parents are able to catch glimpses of their life only to wonder what would have been if they could have spent more time with their children. Only to realize...more
I adored this book. It was a wonderful story of three siblings, Alice, Griffin and Dinah, figuring out their place in life without the guidance of their parents. Their mother died in a freak accident when they were young children. Years later, tragedy strikes again and their dad dies of a heartache. Lovingly raised by grandma, the we meet these characters again as adults. Unbeknownst to the three siblings, they are tenderly watched by their parents from Heaven or Here as it is referred to.
Each...more
Each...more
I won a copy of this book on Goodreads Firstreads.
This is the story of three orphaned siblings who suffer the death of both their parents at young ages and were raised by their paternal grandmother. The book takes place about twenty years after Alice, Griffin and Dinah lose their parents. Alice, the oldest, works as a Broadway actress in New York City. She struggles with her fear of commitment when she begins to date a single father who recently moved into her building. Griffin works as a chef...more
This is the story of three orphaned siblings who suffer the death of both their parents at young ages and were raised by their paternal grandmother. The book takes place about twenty years after Alice, Griffin and Dinah lose their parents. Alice, the oldest, works as a Broadway actress in New York City. She struggles with her fear of commitment when she begins to date a single father who recently moved into her building. Griffin works as a chef...more
"I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads."
I'll let you read the synopsis to get a feel for the premise OR you can avoid the chance of spoilers and and dive right in. Mostly I really liked this book and suggest you read it, too.
PROS:
The characters are flawed, but all struggle through their trials and grow, coming out better in the end. I think the growth in the characters is the strong point of this novel. I've read so many YA series lately in which the main characters fail...more
I'll let you read the synopsis to get a feel for the premise OR you can avoid the chance of spoilers and and dive right in. Mostly I really liked this book and suggest you read it, too.
PROS:
The characters are flawed, but all struggle through their trials and grow, coming out better in the end. I think the growth in the characters is the strong point of this novel. I've read so many YA series lately in which the main characters fail...more
I won this book as an ARC from Goodreads.
In general, I enjoyed this book. I don't agree with the majority of the reviews up so far about loving Dinah more than the other siblings--I was actually more interested in Alice and Griffin and found Dinah quite trite. Nonetheless, the book as a whole is fairly well-written and moves along quickly.
The story is about 3 siblings--Alice, Griffin, and DInah--who, for the past 20ish years, have been living life without their parents, both of whom have died....more
In general, I enjoyed this book. I don't agree with the majority of the reviews up so far about loving Dinah more than the other siblings--I was actually more interested in Alice and Griffin and found Dinah quite trite. Nonetheless, the book as a whole is fairly well-written and moves along quickly.
The story is about 3 siblings--Alice, Griffin, and DInah--who, for the past 20ish years, have been living life without their parents, both of whom have died....more
3.5 stars
I received this from Goodreads giveaways. I thought this book was a fast, enjoyable read. I found all the characters likable, though I'm not in agreement with the majority of reviewers who felt closest to Dinah. I didn't dislike her, but I liked her least of the three siblings.
The book takes place about twenty years after Alice, Griffin and Dinah lose their parents. The parents look down on their children from heaven and watch as they all try to overcome their fears and struggles in the...more
I received this from Goodreads giveaways. I thought this book was a fast, enjoyable read. I found all the characters likable, though I'm not in agreement with the majority of reviewers who felt closest to Dinah. I didn't dislike her, but I liked her least of the three siblings.
The book takes place about twenty years after Alice, Griffin and Dinah lose their parents. The parents look down on their children from heaven and watch as they all try to overcome their fears and struggles in the...more
A GoodReads first reads ARC...
Overall I like this book. Alice, Griffin and Dinah are siblings who lose their mother, then a few years later their father and are raised by their grandmother. Fast forward to adulthood. Each sibling continues to struggle with being orphaned in different ways. Meanwhile the parents watch their children from Heaven. I got into the characters and their lives. I found their struggles to be honest and believable rather than over the top as somtimes happens in books.
I d...more
Overall I like this book. Alice, Griffin and Dinah are siblings who lose their mother, then a few years later their father and are raised by their grandmother. Fast forward to adulthood. Each sibling continues to struggle with being orphaned in different ways. Meanwhile the parents watch their children from Heaven. I got into the characters and their lives. I found their struggles to be honest and believable rather than over the top as somtimes happens in books.
I d...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
As a recent winner who received a copy of this book. I was quite interested in reading this book. I've never heard of this author but after reading this book. I'll be on the lookout for more of her work. Easy to read, and quite entertaining. I could easily relate to the characters and get the sense of where each one were coming from. I'd recommed this book to anyone looking for an adventure! Thank-You Goodreads for giving me the chance to go on such a ride!
I received this book from a Goodreads contest and it is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Ms. Cook is a detailed, interesting and talented storyteller and she immediately got me involved within the lives of the characters and the situations they were in. Her writing style was addictive and I finished this book in two days - I couldn't put it down. If you're looking for a great book to start off the new year, then Outside Wonderland is for you.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Sisterhood of the...: Outside Wonderland, by Lorna Jane Cook | 5 | 10 | May 03, 2013 04:22pm |
Lorna Jane Cook was born in Redwood City, California, and grew up in Michigan. She graduated from college with a B.A. in social work, and embarked on a career path from Michigan to Philadelphia and Washington D.C., working at at runaway shelter;a group home for teenage girls; an emergency services program; and on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant. Finally, she turned to novel-writing, an obv...more
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“Even if the decisions one made on a given day seemed crazy, it helped to think that all things happened for a mysterious reason.”
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Nov 15, 2011 09:02pm