jessica’s review of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird > Likes and Comments
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I, too, love this trope for that exact reason you mentioned, Jessica! It’s inspiring to see someone go through so much grief from losing someone they dearly loved, only to come out a stronger and better person because of it.
Jessica — I was hoping this would be better than her last novel. We shall see. I love the cover. — mo✌️
for those of us who aren't romance readers, I wouldn't mind the nitpicking. Im afraid to even touch a romance novel where the lucky woman has a chance to find her love back from the dead.
cassie - i agree! i feel like its a really impactful trope if used correctly!
monica - i liked this about the same as her first novel. no better, no worse. but i do hope its better for you!
amy - oh, thats not what happens in this one. the MC dreams shes back with her dead husband and the story is divided into 'sleep' and 'awake' chapters. the overall message is (view spoiler)
jessica wrote: "cassie - i agree! i feel like its a really impactful trope if used correctly!
monica - i liked this about the same as her first novel. no better, no worse. but i do hope its better for you!
amy -..."Thanks Jessica. Now I know its not for me :)
I like the way Freddie is handled. I’m the beginning of grief, she can only remember the good. As she heals, she starts to see the reality of life as it is and her own world doesn’t seem like such a stark contrast anymore.
I'm interested to know what you didn't like about how Freddie's character was handled in the end.
I took the change in Freddie as her subconscious adjusting him to let her move on. It was sad, but the whole thing was sad. If he never changed she’d never want to stop “visiting” or move on.
Gee I just finished this and thought I wish I could discuss this with someone! Yea it took a bit to get to her happy ending! I really enjoyed it tho!
I too agree with Jessica’s review. I loved the book but felt like Freddie’s change was thrown at me. Almost unexpected, but I do see why it had to happen that way.
I feel that Freddie didn't change. It was more that Lydia had changed due to navigating the grief of losing him. She had grown more independent, and saw him differently because she was different. It was very bittersweet to me, but felt very real. I appreciated it.
Does Freddie become a cheater or major jerk? Because I'm afraid it's headed that way and it makes me not want to finish it.
willaful wrote: "Does Freddie become a cheater or major jerk? Because I'm afraid it's headed that way and it makes me not want to finish it."
No, more like Lydia grows as a result of losing him and it is no longer comfortable to live in the fantasy
Now I understand. Thanks for Dakota’s explanation. I couldn’t grasp how he was disappointing me so. Situation used still might be a tad over the top, but I don’t know that work world either.
****Possible Spoiler***I understand why people wouldn’t like it but I thought it was realistic. People change and grow and unfortunately sometimes they grow apart, especially when a couple is together for a long time like Freddie and Lydia. Plus it helped Lydia see that the fantasy world wasn’t where she needed to be so she could tell fantasy Freddie goodbye and move on with her life in the real world.
I just finished reading the book and I actually liked the fact that Freddie’s character changed. Actually, It’s not Freddie that changed but Lydia’s mindset. Her grieving changed her and she started to see things she didn’t see before. It was always hinted that Freddie couldn’t say no to his boss, and that he valued work sometimes over his love life. Lydia didn’t mind before because she was reckless and naive, thinking they had forever together. After losing him, she realized that every moment might be the last and she wasn’t willing to dare take it for granted again. So what’s really changed is her perception of him and not the character itself. I feel like her sleeping life was a universe her subconscious created to help her go through her grief, and no matter how much she hated it at first, the changes that occurred within her started to anchor in her unconsciousness, that’s why her vision of Freddie changed. It was realistic.
I think Freddie’s change was at least in part her acknowledging something she already knew IRL—and either ignored because she loved him or failed to initially acknowledge after he died. After he died she at first only focused on how wonderful he was.
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Cassie
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Mar 07, 2020 09:20AM
I, too, love this trope for that exact reason you mentioned, Jessica! It’s inspiring to see someone go through so much grief from losing someone they dearly loved, only to come out a stronger and better person because of it.
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Jessica — I was hoping this would be better than her last novel. We shall see. I love the cover. — mo✌️
for those of us who aren't romance readers, I wouldn't mind the nitpicking. Im afraid to even touch a romance novel where the lucky woman has a chance to find her love back from the dead.
cassie - i agree! i feel like its a really impactful trope if used correctly!monica - i liked this about the same as her first novel. no better, no worse. but i do hope its better for you!
amy - oh, thats not what happens in this one. the MC dreams shes back with her dead husband and the story is divided into 'sleep' and 'awake' chapters. the overall message is (view spoiler)
jessica wrote: "cassie - i agree! i feel like its a really impactful trope if used correctly!monica - i liked this about the same as her first novel. no better, no worse. but i do hope its better for you!
amy -..."Thanks Jessica. Now I know its not for me :)
I like the way Freddie is handled. I’m the beginning of grief, she can only remember the good. As she heals, she starts to see the reality of life as it is and her own world doesn’t seem like such a stark contrast anymore.
I'm interested to know what you didn't like about how Freddie's character was handled in the end.
I took the change in Freddie as her subconscious adjusting him to let her move on. It was sad, but the whole thing was sad. If he never changed she’d never want to stop “visiting” or move on.
Gee I just finished this and thought I wish I could discuss this with someone! Yea it took a bit to get to her happy ending! I really enjoyed it tho!
I too agree with Jessica’s review. I loved the book but felt like Freddie’s change was thrown at me. Almost unexpected, but I do see why it had to happen that way.
I feel that Freddie didn't change. It was more that Lydia had changed due to navigating the grief of losing him. She had grown more independent, and saw him differently because she was different. It was very bittersweet to me, but felt very real. I appreciated it.
Does Freddie become a cheater or major jerk? Because I'm afraid it's headed that way and it makes me not want to finish it.
willaful wrote: "Does Freddie become a cheater or major jerk? Because I'm afraid it's headed that way and it makes me not want to finish it."No, more like Lydia grows as a result of losing him and it is no longer comfortable to live in the fantasy
Now I understand. Thanks for Dakota’s explanation. I couldn’t grasp how he was disappointing me so. Situation used still might be a tad over the top, but I don’t know that work world either.
****Possible Spoiler***I understand why people wouldn’t like it but I thought it was realistic. People change and grow and unfortunately sometimes they grow apart, especially when a couple is together for a long time like Freddie and Lydia. Plus it helped Lydia see that the fantasy world wasn’t where she needed to be so she could tell fantasy Freddie goodbye and move on with her life in the real world.
I just finished reading the book and I actually liked the fact that Freddie’s character changed. Actually, It’s not Freddie that changed but Lydia’s mindset. Her grieving changed her and she started to see things she didn’t see before. It was always hinted that Freddie couldn’t say no to his boss, and that he valued work sometimes over his love life. Lydia didn’t mind before because she was reckless and naive, thinking they had forever together. After losing him, she realized that every moment might be the last and she wasn’t willing to dare take it for granted again. So what’s really changed is her perception of him and not the character itself. I feel like her sleeping life was a universe her subconscious created to help her go through her grief, and no matter how much she hated it at first, the changes that occurred within her started to anchor in her unconsciousness, that’s why her vision of Freddie changed. It was realistic.
I think Freddie’s change was at least in part her acknowledging something she already knew IRL—and either ignored because she loved him or failed to initially acknowledge after he died. After he died she at first only focused on how wonderful he was.