Book Review: Maggie's Dream
By Elizabeth Suggs
Maggie’s Dream by Leslie Tall Manning uses magical realism to explore the world of a woman struggling during World War II.
I really fell in love with Maggie’s character. She has her own thoughts and desires that I feel a personal attachment to. And while I dislike many of the other characters who ordered Maggie around, I remind myself the timing in which the novel takes place. Women didn’t have as much freedom as we do now. Women were expected to act a certain way and be certain things, even if it didn’t make them happy.
This story, while fictional, plays on some real problems during the period. I became a part of Maggie in this story—her struggles and her triumphs became my own.
Manning is a lovely writer, and her story is one of those rare gems that must be thought about for days afterward to really get the full effect.
Here are some of my favorite lines:
Sand that was soft and warm, like flour she used for baking in her kitchen—a kitchen that seemed as far away as the edge of the solar system.
As they shimmied back and forth, the floor slid away from her feet. The walls melted into each other, then into nothing.
If you enjoy historical women’s fiction, I highly recommend this story!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com