Dreaming of a Stranger

This book would probably fall into the "chick lit" category, but I don't consider it to be as mindless as some books of that genre can be. The writing is excellent, and contains that great Irish wit. Dreaming of a Stranger is really a look into over a decade of the main character Jane's life. You watch her go through her first job and apartment, date, marry, give birth, etc. The author allows you to catch a glimpse of a "real" persons life: sometimes happy, sometimes frustrating or sad. Jane feels genuine and I found myself rooting for her throughout - even when I was shaking my head in annoyance at some of her decisions. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy chick lit, or glimpses into somewhat ordinary lives.

A very good and easy read. Not as good as some of her other books but still interesting and I found it hard to put the book down. Maybe could have been a bit more character development but good none the less.

"Dreaming of a Stranger" was my first Sheila O'Flanagan book. I loved it! She writes in the same vein as Cathy Kelly, and I'm thrilled that I've found another great author to read.

I must admit that Shelia O'Flanagan is a fantastic author. I wanted to give four and a half stars, because some parts were relatively slow. I must emphasize that the storyline is nothing fancy or deep. As a matter of fact "Dreaming of a stranger" is a pleasant book about ordinary characters. The story starts in 1981 and goes to 1994 with a song name (selections from top songs lists) regarding each chapter. You will find pieces from real lives, however they are not trivia, just the reality... Great friendship, love, marriage, motherhood, betrayal, divorce and again finding true love... Sounds boring but astonishingly well-written. Another example showing that Irish writes it better! It was an excellent read, and I enjoyed it all the way through. Well worth the time, I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future!