New York im Jahr 2020: Danielle Ashley Kohan, eine New Yorker Anwältin, führt mit David Rosen eine glückliche Beziehung. Doch nach dem Heiratsantrag, den sie annimmt, hat Dannie einen komischen, sehr realistischen Traum: Es ist das Jahr 2025 und sie ist mit einem anderen Mann zusammen. Kann es soweit kommen? Was hat das Ganze zu bedeuten?

„In fünf Jahren“ ist ein Roman von Rebecca Serle.

Meine Meinung:
Der Roman besteht aus 41 Kapiteln mit einer angenehmen Länge. Er endet mit einem Epilog. Die Handlung umfasst fünf Jahre, wobei es mehrere Zeitsprünge gibt. Der Aufbau ist recht simpel, funktioniert aber sehr gut.

Erzählt wird im Präsens in der Ich-Perspektive aus der Sicht von Dannie. Der Schreibstil ist einfach und schnörkellos, aber passt gut zur Geschichte. Auch in sprachlicher Hinsicht ist der Roman unauffällig.

Protagonistin Dannie ist eine sympathische und realitätsnahe Figur. Ihre Gedanken und Gefühle kommen prima zum Ausdruck. Ich habe ihre Geschichte gerne verfolgt. Auch die übrigen Charaktere sind nicht zu klischeehaft.

Inhaltlich hat mich der Roman nicht enttäuscht. Ich mag keine typischen Liebesgeschichten und habe auf eine Lovestory der anderen Art gehofft, wie mir das Marketing zu diesem Buch versprochen hat. Dieser Erwartung wird der Roman gerecht, denn er hält Überraschungen und unerwartete Wendungen bereit.

Auf rund 300 Seiten ist die Geschichte zudem kurzweilig und unterhaltsam. Emotional konnte mich der Roman mehrfach berühren.

Die reduzierte Gestaltung der deutschen Ausgabe spricht mich sehr an. Der prägnante englischsprachige Originaltitel („In five years“) wurde erfreulicherweise wortgetreu übersetzt.

Mein Fazit:
Wer eine klassische Liebesgeschichte mit viel Wohlfühlatmosphäre sucht, wird mit dem Roman von Rebecca Serle eher nicht glücklich. Für alle anderen ist „In fünf Jahren“ jedoch definitiv einen genaueren Blick wert.

As I’ve grown older, I realize how my perspective has changed, especially when I read different genres and consider which character I am relating to the most. When I read Middle Grade fiction, there is still a tiny part of me that unabashedly relates to the main character, despite what my appearance would lead you to believe. In Rebecca Stead’s newest book, I am acutely aware of being a parent, and in awe of the kindness, empathy, and generosity she has given to her characters. The “list” provides a brilliant device for Bea to work through the lows and highs of divorce and new beginnings. Stead, with her sharp, moving and compelling writing, shows all of us how to approach a complicated life with grace and humor.

I picked this up at a used book shop during our aborted Christmas travels; having spent time in the Lake District, specifically, the towns of Windermere, Bowness, and Ableside that this story is set in, it appealed to me instantly.

Alas, it was no more than a drab average.  The characters didn't know what they wanted to be: the MC tells an inspector at the beginning she's moved to Windermere after her divorce, that she was childless and insisted that there were "compensations".  By the end of the book she's barely coping with the stillborn birth she had 2 years before.  Coping and repression are likely, of course, but they aren't part of of the narrative, so the reader is left with no grasp of this MC.  The Inspector is either attractive and friendly or greasy-haired and antagonistic.  The MC's mother is supposed to be a hippy, but acts more like a criminal attorney; I never once got the impression she liked her daughter.  The bride of the story is either flaky, naive and needs to be protected, or a headstrong woman who is the only one that can steer her much older husband's life.  Flip-flop.

The elements of the plot were interesting, but the plot itself wasn't anything special.  The motivation was pathetic and unbelievable, given the characters, and the murderer pretty obvious after about half-way.  

The setting was what I'd hoped for, at least.  My memories of the Lake District are still vivid, and I loved the area, so 're-visiting' it through the book kept me picking it back up.  This is the first in a series all set here, and while weak, not so bad that should I come across another one at a used book shop, I'd probably pick it up.

I gave Goodbye Stranger another chance after enjoying Stead's newest book The List of Things That Will Not Change. I managed to finish it this time and there were parts that I enjoyed (Stead writes friendships very well). Overall though I just don't think it's her best work, and I still found it less enjoyable than her other books.

Children's Fiction ~

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark

Review by: Bluninja29

Opening Thoughts:

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a collection of stories based off the TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2003 TV series.) It has 11 Short Stories all based off episodes from the TV show. with more view points that we didn't get to see in the show. One of the Short stories im are gonna look at is about Count Dooku.

Story:

Count Dooku was surprised attacked by the Republic.

Presentation:

I do like how these are in the characters point of view like Count Dooku. I also like how all the stories are based off the show. What I didn't like is how these are short stories, but it is a nitpick so I won't get crazy over it. I honestly liked this book.

If you are a star wars nerd or want to give your kid a star wars book to read. then this is the book for you!

4/5