Review: Perfectly titled and very well-written, but...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 7, 2013
I truly truly wanted to like this book. It is so sincere and sweet and well-written and yet I felt something was missing. The reviews for Fantasyland, both here and on Good Reads, are positively glowing and I can see why readers would like it. The fact that I can't like it more when so many others do makes me think it's more a problem with me than the book. If I had read this when I was a teenager or even in my 20s I think I would have gone gaga for it. But, for me, the title says it all: Fantasyland. It's too perfect. It needs more conflict, more grittiness, more reality.If you're looking for a great escape, however, something to take your mind off things or a great way to spend a rainy day Fantasyland is definitely worth reading, especially if you can get past the sugary flashbacks in the beginning with Sandi's dad going on in true old school Disney fashion about all your dreams coming true if only you believe and have the courage. Fantasyland may get way too sentimental at times, but it definitely has an earnestness to it that is quite appealing.