Customer Reviews

Kaleidoscope

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Kaleidoscope is a most unusual novel in several senses. First, the style is quite unlike the author's most famous work, the stories about Mrs. Pollifax. Second, Kaleidoscope creates a series based a book first written 25 years ago -- The Clairvoyant Countess. Third, the book doesn't exactly fit any genre I can remember. Fourth, the main appeal of the book is the way that the heroine cares about her neighbors and seeks to help them, far beyond the call of duty or the requests of solving crimes (the traditional focus of crime and mystery books). Fifth, the book is filled with story threads, many of which are linked together in a way that almost defies description. Sixth, although there is nothing really humorous in the book, you will come away feeling remarkably light-hearted. Seventh, the heroine makes progress through psychic powers of the sort that police are reputed to use in many kidnapping cases, yet the stories use this to advance the plot rather than to rest solutions upon it.

So come to this book with an open mind, and expect to be surprised. If you do, I think you will be pleased.

I liked Madame Karistka very much as a character, and would be delighted if Ms. Gilman were to write a long series of books about her. She has a heart as big as her mind is sharp, which is an unusual combination in a novel these days.

The basic story line is that Madame Karitska has psychic powers that primarily manifest themselves as psychometry ("devination of facts concerning an object or its owner through contact with or to the object") or clairvoyance ("to perceive matter beyond the range of normal perception"). She has fallen on hard times economically and lives in a poor neighborhood where crime is a problem. Through her friendship with Detective Lieutenant Pruden, she is called into cases and able to draw upon the police as allies to solve problems that she uncovers. She prefers to use her powers to add information about the past and the present, rather then the future. She wants people to make their own futures. Her occupation is giving "readings" for whatever the client is willing or able to pay. These readings introduce her to unusual mysteries and strange characters, which add spice and intrigue to the novel.

Does your neighborhood have someone like Madame Karitska who tries to help people solve their problems? If not, what could you do to fill that role?

Help build positive connections wherever you see the potential for them!

I actually bought this book new in a hardcover. Dorothy Gilman is one of my favorite authors. Aside from the fact that it just wasn't long enough, I enjoyed dipping into the life of Countess Karitska again. I loved the format of many little stories tucked into the main tale.

I had written to Dorothy Gilman years ago asking for another countess story. She replied that she had been working on one. The wait (25 years) was almost worth it. My preference would have been 25 stories about the countess but it was a delightful story. I devoured it in one sitting. I've loaned it out already but will read it again when it is returned.

Psychic Madame Karitska uses her psychometry (ability to learn about a person by touching something that they owned or held) to help the police and her clients. A wide range of people from all walks of life find their way into her storefront office and Karitska gives them all coffee, tea, or chocolate, then deals with their problems as best she can. Although not all results are positive, Karitska manages to help her clients avoid a wide range of far worse fates.

Author Dorothy Gilman offers a kaleidoscope of human life as a wide range of clients bring their problems to Karitska. Through Karitska, most learn about themselves rather than about their supposed questions--and that, of course, is the point.

Gilman's writing is simplistic. KALEIDOSCOPE is approachable by young readers and may seem somewhat too simple for adult readers. Still, the novel has its rewards and, in many ways, Karitska is a charming character.

Been waiting a long time for the sequel. It's finally here, and it doesn't disappoint. Much like the first, the Countessa is involved with many different people - and their stories always converge at some point.

If you loved the Mrs. Pollifax books, you will also fall in love with the Countessa.

I gave it a four because my personal favorites, Incident at Badamya and Caravan are the two that rate fives.

I found this sequel to the Clairvoyant Countess rather grim and lacking in the charm of the original. Although set in present-day, the novel is written as though the events of the older book happened within the past year or so. The characters are much less engaging than in the original, pale imitations of themselves, and although most of the original cast appear, there are also new characters who are seem significant but are lacking depth or explanation--Mme. Karitska appears to have some history with Daniel but he hadn't been mentioned at all in the first book, set just a year or so earlier.
What I miss most in this book is Mme. Karitska's spiritual perspective. She seems too much of this world, too grounded in the reality of the daily grind, with a background of cults and terrorism. Where is the Mme. Karitska who said a lost kitten can have cosmic significance?
I assume the title is taken from a comment she made to Pruden in the original novel, about how your perspective would change like a kaleidoscope picture if only you would let it. I didn't like the perspective this kaleidoscope offers.

I have long awaited the next book about Madame Karitska. Although this book is not as in-depth into the Spiritual world and psychic powers as The Clairvoyant Countess, it still rates a four.

The book introduces many new and interesting characters that could possibly lead into several more books, hopefully, in the series.

Please write another very soon, Ms. Gilman - your fans anxiously await the next Madame Karitska novel.

This recent novel is a sequel to "The Clairvoyant Countess", written in the 60s.
Both books are pleasant, easy reads that are still fascinating, with great characters and situations. The author has a gift for writing simply yet creating wonderful people. The psychic Madame K. resolves several problems, several of which end up being related, yet the book flows well and doesn't feel disjointed. It was a bit difficult for me to remember some of the characters from the first book, so I'd recommend reading that first, even though eventually all is explained. I would love to read more about her.

I loved it! I am so glad that after all the years, a sequel was written to the Clairvoyant Countess. It is so nice to read a book with warm, loving characters overcoming evil in a terrible world. I just desperately hope that Dorothy Gilman will write a sequel NOW!!! (Pretty please Dorothy?)

This is a sequel to the Clairvoyant Countess and as much fun to read. Although it will stand on its own, I do recommend reading CC first, as this continues characters introduced in CC.

Fun and undemanding, this sequel to the Clarivoyant Countess is definitely "lite" reading, but enjoyable if you disengage your sense of disbelief before starting. Some inconsistencies with the first story annoyed me, (in Kaleidoscope Madam Karitska explains why she does not have and will not get a phone, yet in the first book she does have a phone. And how does one make appointments in this day and age without one?)

Don't expect a great literary experience, but it's not an unpleasant way to spend some time. I recommend it for "waiting reading": suitable for airports, doctors' offices, etc.