What do you think?
Rate this book
Diving Through Clouds
Kate Fitzgerald's spirit hovers above her hospital bed, looking down on her lifeless body. She finds herself far from extinguished but rather in some sort of limbo. She travels freely back and forth into the lives of those she left behind - her cold unloving husband, William; his lover, Veronica; her best friend, Veronica (yes, you guessed it); her estranged daughter, Celia; and her adorable French grandson, Matt. His first words to her are "Bonjour, Grand-mere Kate. Are you a fantome?"
323 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 1957
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 15, 2008
I liked this book; different viewpoint coming from main character, who is deceased but remains on earth and can see what and effect what is going on in the lives of those she leaves behind. Fun read. Also, makes you think you don't want to leaves this world regretting how you lived.
Read
August 3, 2010Quick and charming. Too bad the main character couldn't have enjoyed life as much as the 'between' time.
April 4, 2014
Spiritual? holy? Mystical? Supernatural? Maybe.
Katherine Fitzgerald is a ghost. And she is here to set things right. Her loveless marriage to her husband William, her daughter Celia who left the house when she was eighteen, her grandson Matt who was born as an accident and other things gone haywire has brought her here.
Kate realizes that she can help make everyone's lives better by indirectly steering her grandson to set things right. Soon, she's on a mission to undo the wrongs she has ever done, to undo the mistakes and set everything back to its pristine form.
She is determined to keep her family happy and nothing can stop her. With a bit of divine help and her own unarguable initiatives, she finally begins to bind the family together. Will she able to help remove the barriers and turn this hell into a loving family or is this yet another futile attempt to wish for what she always wanted? Only time will tell.
Katherine Fitzgerald is a ghost. And she is here to set things right. Her loveless marriage to her husband William, her daughter Celia who left the house when she was eighteen, her grandson Matt who was born as an accident and other things gone haywire has brought her here.
Kate realizes that she can help make everyone's lives better by indirectly steering her grandson to set things right. Soon, she's on a mission to undo the wrongs she has ever done, to undo the mistakes and set everything back to its pristine form.
She is determined to keep her family happy and nothing can stop her. With a bit of divine help and her own unarguable initiatives, she finally begins to bind the family together. Will she able to help remove the barriers and turn this hell into a loving family or is this yet another futile attempt to wish for what she always wanted? Only time will tell.
August 22, 2008
This was an enjoyable book which dealt with death and reconnecting a family after that death. I found it cute and quirky and charming all at the same time.
June 21, 2010
An interesting perspective on afterlife. One has to stay around to complete the business of one's life. In this case it is Kate, who has just died of cancer. She has been married for 20 year to William, an author, who has never loved her. They have not even slept in the same bed for 10 years! Their only child left 8 years ago when her father insisted she re-take her senior year so that she could go to university. Celia wanted to study music, and William refused to let her. Kate finds out shortly after she dies that her best friend, Veronica, has been having an affair with her husband for 10 years! She also finds out that her daughter is living in France, and has a six-yar-old son, Matt.
Matt is the only person who can see her. (Although animals and birds can too.) Kate must reconcile her broken family before she can go on the the next stage. It turns out that she has been a door mat for her husband's worst impulses, and slowly, she and Matt turn these people towards each other. At the end of the story, Celia and Matt have moved back home, Veronica, Celia and William have reconciled, and Celia is going to fall in love with Milo, who as her lover, was the one bright spot in Kate's later years.
A sweet story. The character's are believable and the plot is clever.
Matt is the only person who can see her. (Although animals and birds can too.) Kate must reconcile her broken family before she can go on the the next stage. It turns out that she has been a door mat for her husband's worst impulses, and slowly, she and Matt turn these people towards each other. At the end of the story, Celia and Matt have moved back home, Veronica, Celia and William have reconciled, and Celia is going to fall in love with Milo, who as her lover, was the one bright spot in Kate's later years.
A sweet story. The character's are believable and the plot is clever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2010
Very touching: A woman learns about reconciliation through understanding people from a non-selfish perspective... of course this is not easy. Set in Great Britain & France
February 17, 2013
Loved this....! She's dead but not gone, interesting point of view!
March 21, 2013
This is one of the best books I have ever read, really enjoyed it. A supernatural feel with romance and love. A make you think book also , loved it . One of my treasures .
February 24, 2009
Different but pretty good to read.
May 4, 2022
Foi uma boa promessa, pena que não se cumpriu.
A maioria dos autores gosta de pegar temas sensacionalistas porque é fácil fazer o leitor sentir empatia pela história, pelos personagens... na minha opinião, esses deveriam ser os primeiros a irem para o paredão quando a revolução triunfasse! É óbvio agora que eu sempre caio nessas, mas essa daqui foi uma surpresa.
O enredo é sobre uma mulher idosa que morre de câncer, mas termina ficando na Terra – como um anjo ou um fantasma – para ajudar a família que já enfrentava diversos problemas de relacionamento. Conhece essa história? Eu também.
Mas a autora consegue um bom trabalho inicial mostrando os sentimentos dos personagens, tanto os bons quanto os ruins, e faz um ótimo exemplo de como podemos ser mesquinhos quando somos magoados. Nesse ponto, dá para bater palmas sobre as reações da protagonista ao perceber o que sua família está pensando após sua morte.
Essa descrição de sentimentos e as reações que provocam é um ponto forte no livro e se mantém pela história inteira. Infelizmente, em alguns pontos, a narrativa se desequilibra, especialmente após a metade quando os acontecimentos começam a tomar rumo para um final feliz.
Quero deixar claro que o problema não é o final feliz, mas sim a forma como tudo foi resolvido às pressas para que ele ocorresse.
Sem qualquer explicação de como, Kate, a fantasma, desenvolve poderosos poderes sobrenaturais. Ainda, com a ajuda de seu neto de apenas sete anos e com sérios problemas emocionais, consegue através meia dúzia de conversas absolutamente sem significado com ele, modificar seu comportamento e convencer a família a se reunir.
Ou seja, a descrição de sentimentos é boa, mas a coerência de atos e fatos não bate. Os personagens não têm desenvolvimento suficiente para que os acontecimentos se passassem dessa forma. É como ler uma história em que faltaram trechos.
A maioria dos autores gosta de pegar temas sensacionalistas porque é fácil fazer o leitor sentir empatia pela história, pelos personagens... na minha opinião, esses deveriam ser os primeiros a irem para o paredão quando a revolução triunfasse! É óbvio agora que eu sempre caio nessas, mas essa daqui foi uma surpresa.
O enredo é sobre uma mulher idosa que morre de câncer, mas termina ficando na Terra – como um anjo ou um fantasma – para ajudar a família que já enfrentava diversos problemas de relacionamento. Conhece essa história? Eu também.
Mas a autora consegue um bom trabalho inicial mostrando os sentimentos dos personagens, tanto os bons quanto os ruins, e faz um ótimo exemplo de como podemos ser mesquinhos quando somos magoados. Nesse ponto, dá para bater palmas sobre as reações da protagonista ao perceber o que sua família está pensando após sua morte.
Essa descrição de sentimentos e as reações que provocam é um ponto forte no livro e se mantém pela história inteira. Infelizmente, em alguns pontos, a narrativa se desequilibra, especialmente após a metade quando os acontecimentos começam a tomar rumo para um final feliz.
Quero deixar claro que o problema não é o final feliz, mas sim a forma como tudo foi resolvido às pressas para que ele ocorresse.
Sem qualquer explicação de como, Kate, a fantasma, desenvolve poderosos poderes sobrenaturais. Ainda, com a ajuda de seu neto de apenas sete anos e com sérios problemas emocionais, consegue através meia dúzia de conversas absolutamente sem significado com ele, modificar seu comportamento e convencer a família a se reunir.
Ou seja, a descrição de sentimentos é boa, mas a coerência de atos e fatos não bate. Os personagens não têm desenvolvimento suficiente para que os acontecimentos se passassem dessa forma. É como ler uma história em que faltaram trechos.
November 11, 2024
De las peores y más grandes porquerías que he leído en toda mi vida. Es una historia de total inmoralidad y mezquindad dónde la infidelidad se justifica y hasta se hace apología de ella. ¿El hombre que se acostó con la madre ahora se acostará con la hija?. ¿La traición de la amistad es justificable? Una hija que se aleja de su familia por nimiedades totales, el egoísmo y la estupidez, son la constante aquí. ¿Como pueden olvidar algunas personas a su familia? No hay ninguna profundidad en esta lectura, hay superficialidad, mezquindad y sobre todo, total Inhumanidad. Si quieres leer sobre apologías a la traición a la lealtad, la amistad y una banalización del amor pierde minutos de tu vida leyendo esta soberana merde.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
3.5/5 STARS! This was so good, but kind of broke my heart too. It’s about life not being what you thought it would be & death being better than what you wanted. It’s emotional but funny & relatable too. I really enjoyed this! All of the characters are human & drive you nuts but it’s also one on forgiveness & letting go. Life isn’t perfect, you just do the best you can. This really makes you love guardian angels even more.
July 28, 2025
This novel was so well-written that I couldn't put it down! It had many twists and turns, and at times, it took a bit of imagination to make it believable. However. the end justified all that, and it was a truly good read.
The only disappointment was in the brief explanation about the dog. That made me sad. I would have awarded 5 stars if that had ended differently.
The only disappointment was in the brief explanation about the dog. That made me sad. I would have awarded 5 stars if that had ended differently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2017
As Kate is dying she has an out of body experience and visits friends and family.
April 8, 2020
Kate Fitzgerald... all she needed was love.... damn... this story is a little soft and touches your heart... all we need in this world is love... Nichola Lindsay needs applause ❤ xxxx
April 27, 2020
Predictable and sentimental Cick Lit
September 16, 2020
I have to confess I read the condensed version by Reader’s Digest. Sweet story that served as brain candy during a particularly intense pandemic week.
May 21, 2021
Beautifully written, a feel good story.
March 22, 2023
Solo voy a decir, amo a Milo. Con todo mi ser.
December 18, 2015
This is the story of a very pathetic dead woman (aka ghost) trying to get her broken up family together. That's putting the story line in very plain words, but that's not the case here.
The story seems very familiar, but the writing style and the emotions the characters go through are expressed in an amazing way where they blend in with the reader's own thoughts. That's the best thing about this book. The fact that I'm in the thriller and mystery phase right now didn't help in liking this book.
But this book does have some amazing things worth mentioning. It's written in a way where the characters undergo such a beautiful transformation to the good, starting from scraps. There are thoughts that apply to every single human being out there who takes so much pain and keeps it bottled up within themselves. There are lessons that might be useful for people to understand and help forgive others in their discovery of the story called life.
Therefore this book is one of the nice, soothing and happy book of this year.
The story seems very familiar, but the writing style and the emotions the characters go through are expressed in an amazing way where they blend in with the reader's own thoughts. That's the best thing about this book. The fact that I'm in the thriller and mystery phase right now didn't help in liking this book.
But this book does have some amazing things worth mentioning. It's written in a way where the characters undergo such a beautiful transformation to the good, starting from scraps. There are thoughts that apply to every single human being out there who takes so much pain and keeps it bottled up within themselves. There are lessons that might be useful for people to understand and help forgive others in their discovery of the story called life.
Therefore this book is one of the nice, soothing and happy book of this year.
June 21, 2013
A escrita está bastante bem adaptada ao estilo literário e, no final, a história faz-nos pensar que nunca é tarde para mudarmos e nos redimirmos. Não houve uma personagem que permanecesse inalterada ao longo do livro e muito se deve à presença do fantasma de Kate, a personagem principal que morre logo no primeiro capítulo e que se torna um espírito que tenta reunir a família.
O grande problema deste livro passa pelo facto de haverem demasiados factos que não são explicados, como, por exemplo, o facto de Matt, o neto de Kate, ser a única pessoa que a vê. Além disso, o final é bastante previsível. Este tipo de livros, sobre pessoas que permanecem em espírito depois da morte e olham pela vida dos seus, não faz muito o meu estilo e, talvez por isso, não me tenha cativado como penso que pode ter cativado muita gente. Para quem gostar de finais felizes, aqui tem mais um.
O grande problema deste livro passa pelo facto de haverem demasiados factos que não são explicados, como, por exemplo, o facto de Matt, o neto de Kate, ser a única pessoa que a vê. Além disso, o final é bastante previsível. Este tipo de livros, sobre pessoas que permanecem em espírito depois da morte e olham pela vida dos seus, não faz muito o meu estilo e, talvez por isso, não me tenha cativado como penso que pode ter cativado muita gente. Para quem gostar de finais felizes, aqui tem mais um.
June 24, 2016
I find this story to be really sweet and heart wrenching at the same time.
June 20, 2014
I thought the summary of the book sounded kind of lame... I've never enjoyed books that have anything to do with angels and ghosts and whatnot, BUT I enjoyed this one. I was interested in the story throughout, and I felt sorry for the Kate plenty of times. I kept wishing the ending would be vengeful just as the main character felt it should be when she first saw her life, but my feelings change (like that of the main character's) as the story developed. I really enjoyed the book, but I don't see myself reading it again
September 26, 2007
It took me a while to get into it, but I ended up liking this book. The character of William reminded me so much of my dad that I could swear he was modeled after him. Because of this, I didn't believe the complete transformation that took place in him because I can't imagine my dad changing that much. Still, because that character felt so familiar, I was drawn into the book and by the end I couldn't put it down.
August 21, 2008
This was a rough read. It was hard to invest in the characters until the last quarter of the book, the flow was stuttered, and the plot was forced. Too much of the book's "magic" was convenient, and it made me roll my eyes. I've yet to read it, but I wonder if this is a knockoff of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones."
July 9, 2009
Although I enjoyed this book I didn't rate it that high because I probably wouldn't read it again. It was about a woman who died from cancer and her "ghost" tried find out what had gone wrong in her miserable life and pull her family together. Although I like learning about ghosts and that type of thing the story was all too familiar and I really didn't want anything to do with that part of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2016
Just finished this! I'm sitting on my couch, a windstorm happening outside, and I'm sobbing at this beautifully done story! I had planned on doing a blog post on this but I'm afraid I might not be able to, so I'm doing it here.
I absolutely adored this condensed version, will have to find a full copy!
I absolutely adored this condensed version, will have to find a full copy!
April 29, 2013
I totally enjoyed reading this book. It was funny, it was sweet! Loved the characters........I wasn't really plannin' on reading this book but I just opened the first page and ended up finishing it! I liked it A LOT! :)
October 30, 2013
what a great library shelf find. This delightful book shows a woman who dies in her 50's and how she works from a state of limbo to help her estranged child, awkward grandson and adulterous husband to reconcile and create a family
March 24, 2014
Interesting read with main character narrating after she had died. Are there things we only discover after our deaths? Love her form of retaliation against kids bullying her grandson. I would recommend it as a light book to read when you don't want something heavy to think hard about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews