A Long Long Sleep
By Anna Sheehan
Hardcover, 342 pages
Candlewick Press, August 2011
Summary:
It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone-- and her future full of peril.
Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose-- hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire-- is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes-- or be left without any future at all.
Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose-- hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire-- is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes-- or be left without any future at all.
Pricky's Review
4 Stars on Goodreads (Read in January 2012)
I kept telling my co-conspirator reviewer (Robot) she should read this so I thought I should re-post my Goodreads review here for everyone who might also be interested:
I almost didn't make it to the end. Half-way through, I almost tossed it aside. Half-way through, I had to tell myself to just keep on going and finish. To tell you the truth, it lulled me to sleep a couple of times.
It wasn't that the writing was dull, it was just a slow...long...trek to uncover the truth behind Rose's sleep.
Found in a futuristic anti-aging tube in the basement of a wealthy condominium, Rose awakens after more than 60 years asleep. She finds herself suddenly thrust into the public eye as THE HEIR to a powerful interplanetary company. But as she tries to make sense of the present, there are still some unexplained memories in her past she must confront.
Rose is one of those characters that you have to look beyond the surface to see the complexities beneath. Initially, I found her to be quite plain and spineless. Sorry for the pun, but really, she's a fish out of water. Here she is 60 years later, a complete stranger in a new world, and not a single complaint or peep is heard. I wasn't sure where this story was going...because, like I said, I was just trudging along...
But by the end, everything made sense, and it took that long, slow climb to finally reveal WHO Rose truly is, was, and will become.
It's a story of a broken soul who eventually finds herself.
It wasn't that the writing was dull, it was just a slow...long...trek to uncover the truth behind Rose's sleep.
Found in a futuristic anti-aging tube in the basement of a wealthy condominium, Rose awakens after more than 60 years asleep. She finds herself suddenly thrust into the public eye as THE HEIR to a powerful interplanetary company. But as she tries to make sense of the present, there are still some unexplained memories in her past she must confront.
Rose is one of those characters that you have to look beyond the surface to see the complexities beneath. Initially, I found her to be quite plain and spineless. Sorry for the pun, but really, she's a fish out of water. Here she is 60 years later, a complete stranger in a new world, and not a single complaint or peep is heard. I wasn't sure where this story was going...because, like I said, I was just trudging along...
But by the end, everything made sense, and it took that long, slow climb to finally reveal WHO Rose truly is, was, and will become.
It's a story of a broken soul who eventually finds herself.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTAIN SPOILERS!
Unlike the fairy tale (Sleeping Beauty) and refreshingly so, the story does not have the typical "HAPPILY EVER AFTER ENDING," and the PRINCE doesn't sweep her away to happiness. But it does however give a deep and thought provoking look into the life of a scared little girl abused by her parents who still has the will to LIVE ON.
My only complaints to the story are:
1. I wanted a more "futuristic" quality to it: more unique technology and less forced slang.
2. Some scenes seemed unrealistic: when she gets her fingers badly burned, how is it that she's still able to draw?
3. And while the ending provided resolution, it was still sad. But that's not really a criticism but more of me just wanting a "happy ending.":)
4. The addition of the missing brother and sister seemed a out of place and unnecessary.
My only complaints to the story are:
1. I wanted a more "futuristic" quality to it: more unique technology and less forced slang.
2. Some scenes seemed unrealistic: when she gets her fingers badly burned, how is it that she's still able to draw?
3. And while the ending provided resolution, it was still sad. But that's not really a criticism but more of me just wanting a "happy ending.":)
4. The addition of the missing brother and sister seemed a out of place and unnecessary.
SPOILERS OVER.
But overall, after I closed the book, its story still haunted me into the next day...and even months later, so that's always a good thing. I think this book would make a good book club book as there's a lot to discuss, especially about what is considered "abuse." It is definitely sllllooooow going but if you can keep on it, I think it's a worthwhile/interesting read.
Rated to Read: Between a Maybe and a Yes
No comments:
Post a Comment