Customer Reviews

Like Dandelion Dust

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Neither this book's cover nor the copy on the back enthused me to read it. I'm a guy and am drawn most to books that promise some excitement, whether that be through physical action or (preferably) a mind-thumping, heart-racing thriller. So this book sat on my desk for two weeks and I regarded it much as I might have a vulture that was sitting there, rasping, "Read me." I wound up taking it to Boy Scout camp (I was a sponsor) where I ...
read it in one day!! In fact, I almost finished it before lunch.
Now, some people make a determination between writers and storytellers. Those who do so generally praise writers more. I prefer a good storyteller, myself; because good writing--even great writing--doesn't hold my interest if there's no story there. Kingsbury is a simple writer and a GREAT storyteller. (Notice: I didn't say "but a great writer"; to write simply is a gift many writers don't have--and which modern publishing sometimes frowns on.)

The Story
Molly and Jack Campbell have everything. Great house in a fancy neighborhood, high-paying job, and a beautiful little boy named Joey. Things just absolutely couldn't get any better.
Until it's discovered that Joey's birth mother forged the signature of Joey's birth father, so the adoption was a fraud. Joey has never known anyone else as his parents, but suddenly he's being thrust into a volatile household of people he's never met and, especially, a father who doesn't know how to show love without violence.
Molly and Jack begin to explore every option they have for keeping Joey, even some fraud of their own. Hovering around the edges of all this drama is God. Joey believes in Him, Joey's cousins believe in Him, even Molly and Jack claim to believe that there is a god, but will they trust him to work this out? Can they give up their son to save their son?

The Writing
As I stated above, Karen Kingsbury is a great storyteller. After my initial reaction to the cover, discovering what was on the inside was like going to a restaurant that appears to serve only your least favorite food, only to discover they make your favorite dish to perfection.
Like a good meal, I walked away not just satisfied, but happy. I was pleased with how the story had carried me along and how it had been resolved.

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury is a fabulously written story. Jack and Molly Campbell have the perfect life with their adopted son Joey. Until Joey's biological father Rip decides he wants his son back, and the courts agree with him. How far will Jack and Molly go to protect their son from his abusive father? I hadn't read anything by Kingsbury before, and I now sincerely regret that decision. She knows how to craft a story filled with emotion and drama without going into melodrama or stereotypical characters. Her descriptions of characters' actions make each scene come alive in a way few authors can. I was moved to tears at least twice during the book. And while the book has a Christian message, it's never pounded down the reader's throat, but the way God affects each person by the end of the story is profound. This is a deep emotional novel with the message that God is in control, and we need to have the faith of a child to trust him.

I just got done reading this book. I knew that I wouldn't be able to put it down when I started. That's the way it is with all Kingsbury books but I wasn't ready for this one. Wow- it was so great. If you like her books you will love this one and if you've never read a Kingsbury book this is a great place to start. Have plenty of Kleenex ready.

I'm a devoted Karen Kingsbury fan. I've read many of her books and loved them all. All but this one. While it still has her wonderful writing and deep characters, the overall feeling of the book is depressing. It's heavy ... dark. Yes, it has a happy ending, but it's slower than her other books.

Digging deep into the psyche of the characters, she portrays them well, but I found myself skimming and turning pages to get to the action. Will I read another Kingsbury book? You bet. But this one is not a keeper in this reviewer's opinion.

I own every book Karen Kingsbury has written and this one did not disappoint me. Again, Karen has proven to be the best Christian fiction author out there. Like Dandelion Dust contains a powerful message...A must read!

Jack and Molly Campbell adopt newborn Joey whose biological mother Wendy Porter, fearing for the infant's life, forged her abusive husband's signature while he did prison time for beating her up. For the next four years Jack, Molly and Joey live a delightful loving life together in Palm Beach that includes her sister Beth, her brother-in-law Bill and their son Jonah, who is Joey's best friend.

Feeling guilt Wendy informs Rip after his release from prison what she did. He persuades her he has changed and they demand custody of Joey claiming fraud. Social worker Allyson Bower agrees with the Porters and a court rules they have custody. Joey is removed from the nurturing of the Campbells to the Ohio home of the Porters where Wendy sees first hand her mistake as Rip remains an angry raging person. Joey though in fear prays to God just like his cousin taught him and finds comfort with the Lord's presence even in the violent Porter home.

Using complex social issues involving parental rights, Karen Kingsbury provides a deep inspirational family drama with a strong cast of characters whose moral dilemmas seem very real. Readers will appreciate little Joey as he comforts his adopted mom, his biological mom, and even his aunt with his youthful belief that God will take care of him and them. Rip is abusive and violent and obviously bad for his son but despite this angry man, fans who appreciate a well written exciting inspirational tale based on realistic social values and issues will want to read LIKE DANDELION DUST, a sort of religious take on Taking Isaiah.

Harriet Klausner

Let me start by saying this is my first Karen Kingsbury novel. It won't be my last. I found that Karen has an amazing ability to bring the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride. It was equisite the way she made me cry and even the feelings of love, joy and grief that crept up as I read this book.

The writing itself was unobtrusive so that the characters took center stage. It was a dark story with a heavy feel but that did not put me off at all. Life is sometimes dark and I like that Ms. Kingsbury didn't sugar-coat it.

I took mental notes as I read this work and hopefully some of her ability to evoke an emotional response in readers will rub off on me.

I recommend Like Dandelion Dust. From what I've heard this is one of her heavier novels but very well written and absolutely worth a read in my opinion.

Molly and Jack Campbell lead an idyllic life - they enjoy a loving, compassionate marriage; Jack has a great job, they've enjoyed the perks of his business success without being swallowed by the "corporate monster", they drive an Acura SUV, and have a loving son in Joey - a gift from heaven above, an adoption that's allowed them to have everything they've ever wanted in life.

The icing on the cake: they've just moved to Florida to live with Molly's sister and life-long friend Beth and her family. Though Beth has gotten a little "preachy" in the last couple years as she and her husband Bill get more and more serious about their "God Thing", Molly is looking forward to meshing their families - a bright future of walks in the park, weekend picnics and family adventures on the lake.

If only she could get Beth to stop harping about church and an intimate relationship with God and enjoy the ride. After all, they have the best life could possibly give them - what more could God possibly give?

Several states away in Ohio, however, Wendy Porter - abused, victimized birth mother of Joey - trembles in both excitement and fearful anticipation at the release of her husband Rick from prison, after his arrest for assaulting her several years before. She has good reason to be excited: Rick claims to have found "religion", given up the booze, and has taken anger management classes, promising her a whole new world and a brand new Rick.

She has good reason to be fearful, though, for she's hid both her pregnancy and adoption from Rick these past years. What will be his reaction when he realizes she not only kept the truth from him, but forged his name on the adoption papers - what will happen to the "brand new Rick" then?

Along the way, she begins to rethink her decision to give up her only son - what would she do for a chance to have him back in her life again, and at what cost? Her prayers are miraculously answered when a judge renders the adoption invalid, ruling that permanent custody of Joey must revert back to she and Rick.

However - doubt plagues her heart. Has Rick really changed? Will he be a danger to Joey, and is the boy - who loves his adoptive parents fiercely, with utter devotion - truly be better off with them?

And what about the Campbells? They are devastated, their perfect lives destroyed in an instant. No ruling can change the fact that in their hearts, Joey belongs to them.

What will they do? What lengths will they go to keep Joey by their side, how low will they sink before the finally approach the God they've ignored for so long?

Like Dandelion Dust, by Karen Kingsbury, is a well-told, emotional tale that is heart-wrenching, especially for any parent or anyone who has worked in child protective services. Kingsbury pulls all the right strings, and the plot - thought somewhat standard - is one you can't help but be engaged by. It's like an experienced bowler setting up a 7-10 split - a can't miss in the sentimental department.

There are few plot holes in the Campbell's scheme to keep Joey from their birth parents - who themselves faded from the limelight over the course of the novel - and Rick Porter is too firmly placed in the "accepted role" of an alcoholic, abusive husband who is just a bad person, and not someone struggling against terrible inner demons, which would've been a little more interesting and realistic.

Also, while the set-up of the emotional tone is one that can't miss, the "set-up" for the "no matter how good our lives are, we'll need God someday" plot-line is a little too obvious for my tastes. The Campbell's lives are just a little too good, presenting the obvious foil that something "bad" is going to happen to them, making them want to turn to Christ. It works, but there are just tons of Lifetime Channel and Pax movies that read just like this.

Though the ending is somewhat anti-climactic, the writing is good and transcends certain stale plot points. Like Dandelion Dust is a novel best read with tissue box near, and after finishing, the first thing you'll want to do is grab that dear "little one" in your life, give them a big hug, tell them that you love them, and thank God for the big AND small things He's done in your life.

4 out of 5 stars

I've never written a review on here before, but after reading this book i had to. i was going out of town and needed a book for the plane ride, i couldn't get to a book store so i bought this book at kmart. i wasn't expecting it to be great, but i read the reviews here after buying it, and was excited that it might turn out to be a good book. it was TERRIBLE. had i not been stuck on a plane i wouldn't have even finished it. the writing is boring and predictable, it reads like a bad lifetime movie. the way the characters talk is really annoying, they started every sentence with "Right." and it got so irritating! the way the 4 year old boy talked was so grown up that it wasn't believable. I knew what was going to happen at the end of the book from the very beginning, which really ruined it for me. i think the author over-explained and repeated the characters thoughts too much as well. overall it was not a good book, i wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

It is an obvious book, you can see where it is going right away.
The little boy it the story the author tried to make him 'too cute" with a the mispronounced words. The adopted
family and kid were too perfect