The Daydreamer

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A huge let down - Rated
After having read and thoroughly enjoyed many of Ian Mcewans books I was massively disappointed by the poor quality and often patronizing and condescending nature of his writing in 'The daydreamer'. To compare this to Dahls work is blasphemous at best and I deeply implore you not to believe the hype that this book has been subjected to and instead to purchase one of his deservedly admired novels such as 'atonement'.

The Daydreamer - Rated
Amazing book. Not your average children's story! I have read this to several classes of 10-11 year old children and they never fail to go 'Wow' as the incredible stories unfold. For example, when Peter has his arm pulled from its socket by 'The Bad Doll' or when he unzips the skin from his pet cat. The quality of the decsription, characterisation and imagination on display here make this a great book for Year 6 children. It also includes many links to topics such as growing up and bullying.

McEwan's laundry list? - Rated
Ian McEwan, the 'master clockmaker of novelists,' has finally let me down. Having read all his books (four of them twice), I left this one to last because of its characterisation as a children's book. Part of what I love about McEwan is the darkness he portrays so effortlessly. His characters inhabit a menacing world where something wicked *always* this way comes. Many times that darkness is so twisted and disturbing it leaves me feeling unsettled for days. I didn't think any of this could possibly happen in a so-called 'children's book,' but the blurbs and quotes on the book comparing it to Roald Dahl convinced me that it wasn't just a frivolous romp and that I should give it a go.

Well, there are fleeting glimpses of his stunning prose here, but the majority of the book is so simplistic as to be insulting. The tone comes off as patronising and the writing feels dumbed-down. This is McEwan self-censored beyond recognition. Granted, this IS a book aimed at children first and foremost, so perhaps I'm being overly sensitive. But I couldn't help but feel cheated by the promise that adults wouldn't feel talked down to.

By way of contrast, I personally didn't care for 'Saturday,' but McEwan's writing is so exquisite that it didn't matter. I remember saying at the time that he could publish his laundry list and I'd eagerly devour every word. I suppose that's been tested now.

i luv it! - Rated
I just borrowed the book this year and i luv it! Really interesting life of Peter, a daydreamer who thinks that life is all a dream and you only wake up when you die...

seven surreal stories - Rated
This book contains seven surreal stories about a boy aged ten, called Peter. My favourite chapter is The Baby where Peter daydreams his baby cousin and himself swop bodies. I like the fact that you are never sure if it is Kate's magic wand that caused the swop or if it was Kenneth. I was pleased that Peter learnt his lesson being a baby and wasn't nasty to Kenneth any more because he knew what it felt like being a baby.