- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Anchor Books; Reprint edition (Jan 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385498055
- ISBN-13: 978-0385498050
- Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 1.2 x 20.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,003,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Daydreamer (Red Fox Older Fiction)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
Illustrated by Anthony Browne, The Daydreamer takes the reader out of reality and into the dream world of 10 year old Peter Fortune.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
From the inexhaustible imagination of Ian McEwan--a master of contemporary fiction and author of the Booker Prize-winning national bestseller Amsterdam--an enchanting work of fiction that appeals equally to children and adults.
First published in England as a children's book, The Daydreamer marks a delightful foray by one of our greatest novelists into a new fictional domain. In these seven exquisitely interlinked episodes, the grown-up protagonist Peter Fortune reveals the secret journeys, metamorphoses, and adventures of his childhood. Living somewhere between dream and reality, Peter experiences fantastical transformations: he swaps bodies with the wise old family cat; exchanges existences with a cranky infant; encounters a very bad doll who has come to life and is out for revenge; and rummages through a kitchen drawer filled with useless objects to discover some not-so-useless cream that actually makes people vanish. Finally, he wakes up as an eleven-year-old inside a grown-up body and embarks on the truly fantastic adventure of falling in love. Moving, dreamlike, and extraordinary, The Daydreamer marks yet another imaginative departure for Ian McEwan, and one that adds new breadth to his body of work.
First published in England as a children's book, The Daydreamer marks a delightful foray by one of our greatest novelists into a new fictional domain. In these seven exquisitely interlinked episodes, the grown-up protagonist Peter Fortune reveals the secret journeys, metamorphoses, and adventures of his childhood. Living somewhere between dream and reality, Peter experiences fantastical transformations: he swaps bodies with the wise old family cat; exchanges existences with a cranky infant; encounters a very bad doll who has come to life and is out for revenge; and rummages through a kitchen drawer filled with useless objects to discover some not-so-useless cream that actually makes people vanish. Finally, he wakes up as an eleven-year-old inside a grown-up body and embarks on the truly fantastic adventure of falling in love. Moving, dreamlike, and extraordinary, The Daydreamer marks yet another imaginative departure for Ian McEwan, and one that adds new breadth to his body of work.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ian McEwan's vision is usually dark and uncomfortable although true to his subject. In The Daydreamer a brighter light is shining. The main character is a young boy who daydreams. His fantasies are the adventures in this book. In them McEwan tenderly deals with ideas of being someone else, of changing beyond recognition - of growing up. The stories all have depth and are amusing and well told. Many have a lingering sadness, as when Peter changes bodies with the cat for a day before it dies. There is always hope though and death is just another adventure. McEwan's goal was to produce a book that children and adults would enjoy and he has done so. The Daydreamer is a perfect book for sharing and discussing and has contain ideas for both adults and children to ponder.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this one whilst downloading old music from my childhood days and had a lovely trip back in time, almost drifting off to the rainy English days spent at home reading Roal Dahl on my bed as a child. The storytelling style reminded me a lot of Dahl, and coming from a self confessed childhood Dahl obsessive, that's a pretty major compliment. The stories are short, slightly twisted, and reminded me exactly what it was I so enjoyed about reading back then. This is one book I'll be popping the post to my ten year old godson.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is like the creepy stories you find in Roald Dahl's 'Kiss, Kiss', or 'Tales of the Unexpected'. My favourite is the story of the Bad Doll, as you leave it wondering who is the doll, and who is the boy. Every story is weird, and every story leaves you wondering whether it really happened.
I think this book is good for readers aged 9-13. However, some of it can be a bit babyish - the bit about Gwen and teddy bears is a bit much for the kids aged 13, and a bit yucky really. So give the last chapter a miss! But older kids will read it because it's disturbing, surreal and weird, all the same.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Coming back to it very often
Really enjoyable. I like coming back toindividual stories in between bigger reads. Recommended, especially for adults who have forgotten how to use their immagination! :)
Published 10 months ago by K. Grabowska
The Daydreamer
I read this book for a book club, where we had to read anything by Ian McEwan. I'd heard his novels were "heavy" and so far we'd read pretty dreary novels in the book club, but I... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Virginia
The Daydreamer
am a huge fan of the author and have a high regard for his exquisite use of the English Language.
His heavyweights eg Atonement and Amsterdam are nearer my normal read... Read more
His heavyweights eg Atonement and Amsterdam are nearer my normal read... Read more
Published 13 months ago by G. W. Overton
Daydream?
This could be a collection of short stories but each story is called a chapter and tells about Peter. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jan Dierckx
Surreal and Spellbinding
The Daydreamer is actually Peter Fortune a young boy who though people might see as quite and a little bit subdued, dull and distant is actually a boy who has such an over active... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Simon Savidge Reads
The DayDreamer
This book is an excellent read for 10 years upwards. Adults should definitely read it as it gives a very good insight into a young boys imaginary world. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2009 by Mrs. Jennifer Page
The Daydreamer, Ian McEwan
A beautiful, magical collection of thought provoking short stories. My seven year old loved them, and I really enjoyed reading them to him. Read more
Published on 20 April 2009 by Petra Guy
Couldn't Put It Down!
My son who is 10 read this book recently and I was amazed. Normally it is a little bit of an effort to get him to read, although his reading age has been assessed as 14 - due to... Read more
Published on 15 April 2009 by Susannah Blake
Perfect for young and old
This is a versatile,ingenuous,sometimes jaded book. It is basically a compilation of stories that tell the tale of Peter,a soft and thoughtful wool gatherer who dreams of many... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by Miss N Boland
Something different
After being initially surprised and disappointed by this book, I wasn't aware of the subject or style before purchasing, I grew to like it, eventually thoroughly enjoyed reading it... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2008 by Redeye
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