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a_petro's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
runkysaurus's review against another edition
5.0
This book is mesmerizing (sorry I couldn't help it ;) ). This isn't the type of book I would generally choose; but it came highly recommended to me, so I decided to give it a shot. The basic idea of the story is that a young suffragette's father decides to have her hypnotized in an effort to cure her of her radical ideas. However, the hypnotist slightly alters the wording so that the girl instead is able to see the world as it really is. The change in perspective of course is horrifying at first as she suddenly sees vampires, disappearing vapors of people, and other rather shocking sites. My favorite part about this book is that it captured the anti-suffragette mindset, that was common at the turn of the century, in such a unique way. Not only does the story help to show how much these women had to overcome in order to secure the vote for women, but it also in many ways mirrors the anti-feminist mindset that is still common in our modern society. The plot so beautifully interweaves historical details throughout, that it might just make the reader want to go and pick up a few books about the great lengths suffragettes went to in order to secure the vote. And perhaps it will make you think twice about missing the chance to vote in the future. But the message of the book is also beautifully intertwined with the plot of the story, which is a great read in it's own right. My friend warned me that once I started reading this book I wouldn't be able to put it down, and she was right. I highly recommend it.
missmayathornton's review against another edition
4.0
video review here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yens301wbjk&t=1597s
I really enjoyed this novel. It was a very interesting tale about women’s suffrage and men asserting dominance over women. I think that there were some historical inaccuracies but over all I thought it was a good book. I think it reads fairly quickly. I loved the relationship between Henry and Olivia. I wish I could see that develop more but I’m glad that the book didn’t end with her becoming dependent on him. It was beautiful and realistic and interesting. I love that the book used non human traits to show who was good or bad in the world. Good read!
I really enjoyed this novel. It was a very interesting tale about women’s suffrage and men asserting dominance over women. I think that there were some historical inaccuracies but over all I thought it was a good book. I think it reads fairly quickly. I loved the relationship between Henry and Olivia. I wish I could see that develop more but I’m glad that the book didn’t end with her becoming dependent on him. It was beautiful and realistic and interesting. I love that the book used non human traits to show who was good or bad in the world. Good read!
gessyssis's review against another edition
Meh best saai, het hele ‘oeh patriarchy is bad and men are monsters’ thema is too on the nose. Tell us smth we don’t know already pls
its_cold_'s review against another edition
4.0
i loved this!! the settings were so vivid i felt like i was there, and there was some beautiful imagery. i think there were a few historical inaccuracies but overall it was really good :) i loved Henry and Olivia sm.
i might check out the author’s other books too <3
i might check out the author’s other books too <3
burningupasun's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I want to write this review while it's still fresh in my mind, but at the same time my brain is pretty much like this right now:
Just imagine I'm holding a book instead of a paper and you've pretty much got it.
So. Okay. Wow. Okay. HERE WE GO.
The Cure for Dreaming is, according to it's summary, a book about a girl whose father wants to use hypnotism to 'cure' her 'rebellious' thoughts. On a micro level, yes, this is a book about Olivia, a girl in 1900, a burgeoning suffragist with a controlling, 'traditional' father, who tries to use hypnotism to control his daughter, only for the hypnotist and his methods to awaken not only her dreams and her true sensibilities, but the ability she had within her to see the truth of the world. On this macro level, this is sort of a 'coming of age' story, mixed with an enchanting hint of the supernatural that shows in Olivia's ability to see 'visions' of the world as it is; women who are oppressed fading before her eyes, horrible men and women appearing as monsters in her eyes. There is a love story, but it isn't the focus of the book. This book is, on a micro level anyway, about Olivia and her fight to get to start on her own journey.
On a macro level, however, this story is about society, I think. It's about patriarchy, and how it's attempts to stifle women can only cause them to fight back harder. It's without a doubt a feminist book with a very feminist message and gosh, did I love it. Honestly. This book was intense at points and hard to stomach, especially when it came to the things her father tried to have done to stifle her, but it was worth that suffering in the end to see how it all turned out.
Absolutely amazing book.
Just imagine I'm holding a book instead of a paper and you've pretty much got it.
So. Okay. Wow. Okay. HERE WE GO.
The Cure for Dreaming is, according to it's summary, a book about a girl whose father wants to use hypnotism to 'cure' her 'rebellious' thoughts. On a micro level, yes, this is a book about Olivia, a girl in 1900, a burgeoning suffragist with a controlling, 'traditional' father, who tries to use hypnotism to control his daughter, only for the hypnotist and his methods to awaken not only her dreams and her true sensibilities, but the ability she had within her to see the truth of the world. On this macro level, this is sort of a 'coming of age' story, mixed with an enchanting hint of the supernatural that shows in Olivia's ability to see 'visions' of the world as it is; women who are oppressed fading before her eyes, horrible men and women appearing as monsters in her eyes. There is a love story, but it isn't the focus of the book. This book is, on a micro level anyway, about Olivia and her fight to get to start on her own journey.
On a macro level, however, this story is about society, I think. It's about patriarchy, and how it's attempts to stifle women can only cause them to fight back harder. It's without a doubt a feminist book with a very feminist message and gosh, did I love it. Honestly. This book was intense at points and hard to stomach, especially when it came to the things her father tried to have done to stifle her, but it was worth that suffering in the end to see how it all turned out.
Absolutely amazing book.
chocaholicmuggle's review against another edition
5.0
No other book has made me feel so outraged, indignant, and angry.
Don't ever let anyone make you feel inferior to them. Don't let anyone tell you you "don't need to be burdened with impossible dreams".
It's better to dream and to fail than to never try at all.
Don't ever let anyone make you feel inferior to them. Don't let anyone tell you you "don't need to be burdened with impossible dreams".
It's better to dream and to fail than to never try at all.
mickeymooze's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
On her 17th birthday (fatefully October 31, 1900), Olivia's friends treat her to a hypnotist show, where she is chosen to go up on stage to demonstrate Henri Reverie's mesmerizing skills. Her mother ran off with the theatre when the girl was 4, and Olivia's father, an overly-enthusiastic dentist, is ever-vigilant for signs that Olivia is displaying unbecoming independence. He has his hands full, for the suffragists are in full force in Oregon, trying to get women the vote as they have in Idaho. As Olivia begins voicing her own opinions more, her father hires Henri to hypnotize his daughter into a state where she will not show anger or disagree with the men in her life. Instead, all she can utter when frustrated is "All is well"-- where, clearly, it is not. Her father's actions set off a series of events in which Olivia gets to know Henri (born Henry) better and becomes more determined than ever to speak her own mind and help other women do the same. Wonderful historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural. Turn of the century handbills, cartoons, and photographs captioned at the beginnings of chapters complement the story nicely.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
amyhungerford's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot begin to describe how much I love Cat Winters.
This is just as beautiful, atmospheric, and addicting as In the Shadow of Blackbirds. I cannot understand why Cat Winters doesn't get more attention. Her books deserve it.
This is just as beautiful, atmospheric, and addicting as In the Shadow of Blackbirds. I cannot understand why Cat Winters doesn't get more attention. Her books deserve it.