From the inexhaustible imagination of Ian McEwan--a master of contemporary fiction and author of the Booker Prize-winning national bestseller Am...
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Feb 04, 2009
Frances
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In the preface to The Daydreamer Ian McEwan asks if we adults really mean it when we say we like children’s literature or are we merely “speaking up for, and keeping the lines open to, our lost, nearly forgotten selves?” Mind you when he wrote this it was before the whole Harry Potter phenomenon – and there were plenty of adults who enjoyed curling up with that series. Still, the appeal to adults of Harry Potter might have been as much about the finely constructed plot and suspenseful narrative
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Jun 05, 2010
Cat
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I wish I had read this edition with the cat on the cover! McEwan writes spare, playful, and meditative prose in this book for children and for adults meditating on what it means to be a child and what it means to lose childhood but not to lose imagination. Each chapter centers on the relationship between the solitary child and other people and creatures. I like that solitude, perception, and imaginative leaps cause the child to bridge the gap between himself and others. Instead of suspecting
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Jan 27, 2012
Giulia
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Ognuno di noi ad un certo punto della propria infanzia si dice che resterà per tutta la vita, per sempre, un po’ bambino. Io me lo sono ripromesso mille volte. Perché osservavo la vita dei grandi, e non mi sembrava tanto bella. Poi, manco a dirlo, si diventa grandi, e dell’infanzia ci restano solo qualche orsacchiotto spelacchiato in soffitta, qualche polaroid ingiallita, le scarpine che la nonna ci aveva sferruzzato per proteggerci dal freddo invernale e.. e la promessa di lasciare dentro di no
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Sep 20, 2011
Emily
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I always find it hard to generalise about a whole book of short stories...so I thought I’d break it down into stories whilst they are fresh in my mind!
The Dolls:
Somehow towards the end of this story I managed to produce goose bumps and have a little shudder! I've always found dolls a little spooky at the best of times...especially those with missing limbs etc and this story pushed some buttons allowing me to get a little spooked! The good news is it all comes good in th More...
Feb 28, 2011
Elsje
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Van een van de boekgrrls kreeg ik The daydreamer van Ian McEwan. Dit boek is bedoeld voor zowel kinderen als volwassenen, zo belooft de blurb. En wat mij betreft is die belofte waargemaakt.
Allereerst is het in een aantrekkelijke tweekleurendruk uitgegeven, blauw met zwart. Die kon ik zo snel niet vinden op Goodreads, maar ik heb 'm wel op mijn blog staan: http://elsjelas.blogspot.com/2006/08/ian... Ten tweede zijn de verhalen geschreven vanuit de volwassen Peter, terugkijkend op zijn d More...
Allereerst is het in een aantrekkelijke tweekleurendruk uitgegeven, blauw met zwart. Die kon ik zo snel niet vinden op Goodreads, maar ik heb 'm wel op mijn blog staan: http://elsjelas.blogspot.com/2006/08/ian... Ten tweede zijn de verhalen geschreven vanuit de volwassen Peter, terugkijkend op zijn d More...
May 08, 2009
Guy
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“The Cat”, een verhaal waarin de tienjarige Peter en zijn kat van gedaante wisselen, had haast van Roald Dahl kunnen zijn. Het bewandelt diezelfde fijne grens tussen opmerkelijke verbeelding, humor en donkerheid. De toon wordt eigenlijk aangehouden doorheen de zeven gelinkte verhalen in The Daydreamer. In zijn inleiding, waarin McEwan had om God weet wat voor reden nodig acht om zijn beslissing om een kinderboek te schrijven te verdedigen, suggereert hij dat volwassenen eigenlijk niet echt van k
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May 13, 2011
I sogni sono un combustibile che permette alla nostra vita di ardere, come fiamma viva. Lo sa bene Peter Fortune, un bambino di dieci anni, che è in grado di trasfigurare la banalità e la noia con la dote dell’immaginazione fantastica. Ecco, allora, Peter che, stanco del disordine di casa, fa sparire l’intera famiglia con la magica pomata Svanilina: basta una spalmatina e… Puff! Tutti dissolti. Ecco, ancora, Peter entrare nel corpo del gatto domestico o aggredito dalla terribile Cattiva, una bam
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Mar 14, 2011
Sara
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You know how they say don't judge a book by its cover? This book says quite the opposite. I LAVVV IT!! (Btw, my book had a different cover).
This book expands my wildest imagination. It makes me believe in the quote "If you can imagine it, then it's real." The book has seven short stories about a ten year old called Peter. He is weird, or at least that's what everyone thinks about him. He is only different in the sense that he daydreams a lot. He daydreams to the limit that whateve More...
This book expands my wildest imagination. It makes me believe in the quote "If you can imagine it, then it's real." The book has seven short stories about a ten year old called Peter. He is weird, or at least that's what everyone thinks about him. He is only different in the sense that he daydreams a lot. He daydreams to the limit that whateve More...
Feb 22, 2011
Parry
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Strange, sweet, and fantastic. And with illustrations from the wonderfully weird Anthony Browne, to boot. Peter Fortune is a dreamer who finds himself in incredible situations - such as in the body of his 17 year old cat, taking part in a showdown on a garden wall with the tomcat next door. Or being in possession of a jar of vanishing cream to make his family disappear. Or unwittingly the cause of an uprising from a community of doll babies.
I'd recommend it to my friends, and to kids a More...
I'd recommend it to my friends, and to kids a More...
Nov 20, 2010
Julie*Belleville
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Una perla, un libriccino che racchiude tutto ciò che sa essere McEwan: fantasioso, originalissimo, tenero, illuminante e dolcissimo. Qui non ci sono i risvolti folli o strazianti presenti negli altri libri suoi che ho letto. Peter e Kate mi mancano un sacco. Tra i racconti-sogni di Peter, mi rimarrà sempre impresso quello in cui il vecchio gatto William si fa aprire una cernierina nel corpo e aprendo quella di Peter si scambiano pelle per una giornata. Tutt'altro che banale il risvolto, commoven
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May 24, 2009
Tamsin
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This may well be the strangest children's book ever, but I adore it and would force it upon my children. It's slightly creepy and frankly they refused to let me read them the story about the dolls that come to life and threaten to kill the children. Buy hey, plod on and keep reading because while that story may not be your cup of tea, there will definitely be another one in the collection which will speak to you. And the writing is so far above your typical children's book. It was a sheer de
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Oct 29, 2008
Nancy
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This is a versatile,ingenuous,sometimes jaded book. It is basically a compilation of stories that tell the tale of Peter,a soft and thoughtful wool gatherer who dreams of many adventures. It's illusory and enchating, an easy read for all ages with magnetic prose and a good amount of alluring escapades.
Looking down through the fur,and parting it with the tips of his fingers,he saw that he had opened up a small slit in the cat's skin. It was as if he were holding the handle of a zip. More...
Looking down through the fur,and parting it with the tips of his fingers,he saw that he had opened up a small slit in the cat's skin. It was as if he were holding the handle of a zip. More...
Oct 01, 2008
Linden
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Ever revisit an old book-friend and find the luster is gone? That is definitely not the case with McEwan's The Daydreamer. Yesterday, after a day which included the euthanasia of an elderly pet, I took The Daydreamer home for the second time, in hopes of putting the world right again.
This collection of short stories is centered on Peter, a ten-year-old who has an imagination which, at times, can rule him. In school, at home, with his younger sister, petting his cat, thinking abou More...
This collection of short stories is centered on Peter, a ten-year-old who has an imagination which, at times, can rule him. In school, at home, with his younger sister, petting his cat, thinking abou More...
Sep 15, 2010
Ms. Viscome
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Another teacher recommended this book to me. I was reluctant to read it because I don't usually enjoy short stories, but this reads more like a book. Some of the chapters would be inappropriate for 5th graders (I might skip chapters 1 & 7, maybe even 2 depending on how sensitive the group is- not violent or explicit in any way, but might be a little bit mature). I am going to read this to my class as a read aloud. I can't wait to see if they enjoy it!
Jan 19, 2008
Eunice
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there are so few children in books that i have become enamored with; Peter, the protagonist of this book, is at the top. in fact, most of the characters have this adorable quality that redeems whatever faults they might have, from the bully to the one-armed, one-legged doll.
adorable and Ian McEwan together in one sentence would seem oxymoronic but it truly does apply. his ability to simmer suspense in the dark corners of his stories and create psychologically true characters is stil More...
adorable and Ian McEwan together in one sentence would seem oxymoronic but it truly does apply. his ability to simmer suspense in the dark corners of his stories and create psychologically true characters is stil More...
Jan 28, 2010
Emily
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So nice and so different from everything I've read by him! Yetr I do prefer his other works -Atonement and On Chesil Beach, especially-, I found this totally imaginative and beautiful. The only thing that didn't convinced me was that it was way too simple -yes, it's supposed to be for kids whatsoever, but I would've like some of the McEwan style here. I also liked it was from the child's POV, though I did not quite like there were some "morals" at the end. Anyway, my favourite stories
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Jul 07, 2011
Tess
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This book tells the imaginary adventures of Peter Fortune, a boy who's constantly daydreaming. After a short introduction there are 7 daydreams in the form of shortstories, some of them rather bizarre. It reads a bit like Kafka or Murakami for children, only much lighter and without losing depth. It's a nice collection and especially people who like to daydream themselves will have no trouble identifying with Peter.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
Nov 30, 2009
Julie
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Ian McEwan is no Roald Dahl, but this is a fun book. If I had a kid maybe 8 years or older, I'd read it to her. As it is, I liked thinking about the things you could do if you switched bodies with your cat, or what might happen if your dolls came to life -- something I was always watching for as a little girl. I will probably use the stories in my middle school writing workshops somehow.
Apr 13, 2009
Ariethia
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What I love about this book is that it is so full of imagination. At times, I find it disturbing (like the one about the thief..I really thought the neighbor was the thief!). My favorite story in this book, is the one about the bully. It really got me thinking about how people probably act the way they are not because they want to, but because the environment put them in that position :-)
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Aug 19, 2008
Cecily
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A collection of related stories/chapters, telling incidents from the life of a boy of 10 - 11. Peter is a daydreamer and thus the boundaries between fact and fiction are often intriguingly blurred. But 3 of the seven stories are body-swaps and you guess the gist of the one called “Vanishing Cream” from its title, so although the characters are quite good and the storytelling somewhat original, the stories themselves are not. The one called “The Bully” would work well as a standalone piece and co
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Aug 13, 2011
Evi
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In one word: Brilliant!! Ok, Ian McEwan is no Roald Dahl, but I'm sure kids will love these stories just as much like they love Matilda. I especially loved the meaning behind the different stories which is, according to me, "never judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes". Ian McEwan is a genius in my eyes and I love his work. This book, of course, is a bit different from his usual work because it's really about fantasy and imagination, but that doesn't mean it's not as
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Aug 25, 2010
Bailey
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Not so much a novel as a collection of short episodes describing 10-year old Peter Fortune's daydreams. My favorite line: "The following morning Peter Fortune woke from troubled dreams to find himself transformed into a giant person, an adult."
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Oct 04, 2011
Joan
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Who knew Ian McEwan wrote children's stories? Not as dilemmaress as his adult books but the short chapters offer an interesting perspective on the world and those who live in it...whether it be a boy, a cat or a doll.
Jun 06, 2011
Chiara
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nice and dreamy stories, for children and grown-ups who really like to daydream!
He felt nimble and weightless as he skimmed across the sand. I'm about to take off, he thought. Was he daydreaming, or was he flying?
He felt nimble and weightless as he skimmed across the sand. I'm about to take off, he thought. Was he daydreaming, or was he flying?
Jan 09, 2010
David
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This is an interesting book. It's an attempt to appeal to both young and old readers, and I think it's relatively successful. It just didn't have the depth that I require from a great work for adults, though.
Nov 12, 2011
Margaret
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A charming little read. Very much about standing in the shoes (or body) of someone or something else. Playfully written, but always with McEwan's elegant style.
Jan 16, 2009
Kate
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This book was very, very, very odd! Half the time I didn't know what was happening! Though oddly enough, I still recommend this book.
Jul 26, 2011
Christina
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I thought it was really cute and there were times where I actually laughed out loud. My favorite story was the cat, and also the grown-up.
Apr 22, 2009
Karen
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My first McEwan novel. His prose is crystalline and lovely. I ran out to get The Innocent about 5 minutes after I finished this.
Apr 11, 2011
Linda
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Such a sweet book. I didn't love every chapter, but so many of them were charming and insightful. I thought about it for days.
