Pieces Of Dreams [Import] [Unbound]

Charlotte Vale Allen (Author)

Product Details

• Unbound: 325 pages
• Publisher: Seal (May 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 077042046X
• ISBN-13: 978-0770420468
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Charlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer until she emigrated to the US in 1966. She sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print. Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but it wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published. One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 39 books, Ms. Allen's work has been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The mother of an adult daughter and grandmother of twins, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book I've Read Multiple Times, October 10, 2011

By 

Courtney Birst "I read. I write. I run." (East Coast, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pieces of Dreams (Paperback)

It's rare for me to read a book more than once, however Pieces of Dreams is a book I've read about six times and I've loved it every single time.

Caley's life is altered when a car accident sends her flying through the windshield, face first. Disfigured, she struggles to live any sort of life and falls into a feeling of depression and hopelessness. She decides to drive her car across the country with the plan of committing suicide when she reaches the coast.

In parallel, Martin's life is dominated by his alcoholism. His wife can take no more and she takes their twin boys and leaves for England. Martin comes to his senses and finally stops drinking in an effort to win back his family however things don't go as planned.

Soon Caley and Martin's lives collide, though in a soft, pleasant sort of way. One that almost sneaks up on you - he is an artist and he's mesmerized by her disfigured face, though not in a freakish sort of way. They become friends and then, without realizing it, fall in love.

The story is wonderful and every time I read I feel connected to the characters and the story. Excellent read!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite!, June 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pieces of Dreams (Paperback)

This is a novel so grounded in painful, yet humorous, reality that it is positively gripping. Following the separate paths of Caley Burrell and Martin Maddox, the reader travels along with the two central characters, waiting for that moment when their paths intersect. And when they do, the physically shattered Caley and the recovering alcoholic Martin are funny and touching and tentative. This is a book about losses and about the possibility of small gains; it's about how fate will send you flying through the windowshield of a car, causing you to become horribly disfigured; it's about how an alcoholic can lose everyone he loves, regain them, get sober, and, even then, having done everything right, suffer unthinkable losses. That these two unlikely people find each other is surprising, and wonderful, and completely believable. A lovely, thoughtful book that delves far below the surface to find what is really important, really valuable, in human interchange. Don't miss this! It's a gem.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Special, July 13, 2003

By 

Anne Johnson (Statesville, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pieces of Dreams (Paperback)

This is my 15th of Ms. Charlotte's 37 (?) wonderful novel's and I plan to get through them all as she is a wonderful author. I hope she does a sequel of this one, especially Martin who is the most wonderful man in Literature. He is sooo sweet and lovable. I wonder how Ms. Vale Allen thinks up all her various plots and stories??? I only wish I had her talent.