Review: A real tour de force
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 24, 2013
I read Full Circle largely because I'd read its prequel, Dream On, and very much enjoyed it, and wanted to know what happened to the characters I'd come to know and like.  Lovable, indecisive, hard-working Dave, glamorous, sexy but essentially decent Ariel, clueless-but-charming Melodie and kind, cuddly Janice.  Having said that, Full Circle is very much a standalone book, and it makes complete sense even if you haven't read Dream On.However this book is different from its predecessor, in that the stakes are higher, the characters are that bit older, and the reader has the feeling 'this is it', 'we're coming to the crunch', and whatever happens now is how the characters' lives are going to be forever, they're not youngsters anymore.  The young hopefuls of Dream On, with their seemingly hopeless aims and aspirations are now hardened people staring at the cold hard underside of being forty, with barrow loads of failed dreams and disappointments behind them, yet still possessing those precious sparks of hope that burn within them.I particularly liked how the concept of alcoholism is tackled (I won't go into details as it'll spoil the book) but the grim reality of the ephemera and hopelessness of an alcoholic's life has lifted this book from being a good entertaining read into something of a tour de force, along the lines of Rose Tremaine at her best.  Other interesting side angles and quirks of life are examined too: the confusions that can complicate unrequited, unrealised homosexuality, the importance of fidelity in a relationship, the pointlessness of loveless sex, endless wrong assumptions that we all make about one another that prevent us finding happiness, and above all else, the true grit of those that fail, but get up and have another go: everyone loves a 'trier' and all these people keep going in the face of adversity, chasing a dream but never losing sight of reality.And yes, it's fair to reveal that there is a happy ending, but I can't say what it is without spoiling things.Dream On was an excellent book, but this is equally good, yet in many ways more thoughtful, and cerebral, in keeping with the life and times of Ms Tyler's characters who've all realised that the time for dithering is done, and now they have to make the best they can of their triumphs, talents and weaknesses, just as in life.  It's a heart-warming, enjoyable, satisfying read, with a thoughtful edge that I particularly enjoyed. You can't sum it up as 'chick lit', romance, or a family yarn, or even a 'rags to riches'.  It's got a little bit of all those things. But, best of all, it's a real page turner.