Undreamed by Paul Western-Pittard

Published by Paul Western-Pittard -Sept 2012)

Review by Helen Jackson. 

Undreamed is a dark psychological thriller that tells the tale of Alice, a woman trapped between reality and a dream.

The question becomes: who is it that she’s really waking?

I had a few things planned for the day I started this, but once I read the first few pages, I had to put them on hold, because I couldn’t put it down. Literally. I started it in the morning, and other than eating and a pathetic attempt at cleaning the flat (for a viewing, oops), I read it until I finished it. It’s brilliant.

Each of Alice’s lives are so real you switch, with her, believing one, then the other, then back to the first is real. There’s so much detail in each, how could either be just a dream? Was this in fact some kind of fantasy/sci-fi novel where they are both real, but connected somehow? Or was one really a dream? Or could they both be a dream?

The story is told alternating chapter by chapter between New York Alice and Australian Alice. They’re told first person, present tense, which I love, because it means the read goes on the same path as the narrator. With each chapter, I changed who I hoped was real and who was a dream.

As the book progressed, I kept trying to guess what was going on, with crazy, out there ideas. None competed with the truth, which slowly, slowly comes to Alice.

The truth is chilling, but brilliant, and makes everything make sense. I’m tempted to read it again, knowing the truth, to see if there are hints throughout.

It’s brilliant. Honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and I’ve read some books I’ve really, really enjoyed. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.