Rating: 
Summary: A Kinder, Gentler Mystery
Review: I loved this book! I read the criticism from other readers and I understand what they mean about the book being rather simplistic, maybe not the most suspensful ever written. I am a big fan of all kinds of mysteries from English cozies to the most hard-core serial killer books. No, this book may not be for everyone but sometimes you need a break from the "heavy" stuff and this was sort of innocent and magical. Yes, she wrapped up story lines extremely quickly but here again, sometimes it's nice to not have to read 500 pages for some type of resolution. As far as the characters all being too nice or good to be true maybe they are but wouldn't it be great if more people were that way? I for one am willing to suspend my disbelief. I sure hope she writes more Madame Karitska novels.
Rating:
Summary: Very Lightweight Fun
Review: I rated this book four stars but thought about giving it only three as I read it in about 2 hours one rainy Sunday. This is the second appearance of Madame Karitska, her first being in "The Clairvoyant Countess."
It is more of a series of very short stories with psychic Karitska being the tie that binds them together. Most of the stories are told without a lot of characterization, but that did not distract me too much. For some reason, maybe having read every fiction book that Ms. Gilman has written helped, I was able to color the characters myself and they did not seem so one-dimensional.
I would recommend this book to those fans of Gilman's, especially if they enjoyed the first book from years ago that featured Karitska.
Rating:
Summary: Very Lightweight Fun
Review: I rated this book four stars but thought about giving it only three as I read it in about 2 hours one rainy Sunday. This is the second appearance of Madame Karitska, her first being in "The Clairvoyant Countess."
It is more of a series of very short stories with psychic Karitska being the tie that binds them together. Most of the stories are told without a lot of characterization, but that did not distract me too much. For some reason, maybe having read every fiction book that Ms. Gilman has written helped, I was able to color the characters myself and they did not seem so one-dimensional.
I would recommend this book to those fans of Gilman's, especially if they enjoyed the first book from years ago that featured Karitska.
Rating: 
Summary: Really Zero Stars
Review: I was a long time fan of Dorothy Gilman and her novels until I read this book. It left a bad taste in my mouth as I think it will for all people who have been touched by autism. That any book published in 2002 would blame the parents for causing a medical condition is unbelievable to me. If Ms. Gilman had written that the little boy had AIDS and said it was caused by the wrath of God due to his parents evil behavior, I seriously doubt it would never have been published. Autism is a neurological disorder. Research continues to determine the roles genetics, vaccines and other factors play in causing autism. Ms. Gilman's book not only hurts parents of children with autism by unfairly blaming them for something they did not cause but it hurts children with autism by dismissing their medical problems and creating the impression that there is nothing wrong with them that a little loving parenting wouldn't cure. Ms. Gilman's words hurt me personally and I just can not read any of her books again. It would be a betrayal to my son.
Rating:
Summary: Really Zero Stars
Review: I was a long time fan of Dorothy Gilman and her novels until I read this book. It left a bad taste in my mouth as I think it will for all people who have been touched by autism. That any book published in 2002 would blame the parents for causing a medical condition is unbelievable to me. If Ms. Gilman had written that the little boy had AIDS and said it was caused by the wrath of God due to his parents evil behavior, I seriously doubt it would never have been published. Autism is a neurological disorder. Research continues to determine the roles genetics, vaccines and other factors play in causing autism. Ms. Gilman's book not only hurts parents of children with autism by unfairly blaming them for something they did not cause but it hurts children with autism by dismissing their medical problems and creating the impression that there is nothing wrong with them that a little loving parenting wouldn't cure. Ms. Gilman's words hurt me personally and I just can not read any of her books again. It would be a betrayal to my son.
Rating: 
Summary: The Neighborly Psychic Leads the Way!
Review: Kaleidoscope is a most unusual novel in several senses. First, the style is quite unlike the author's most famous work, the stories about Mrs. Pollifax. Second, Kaleidoscope creates a series based a book first written 25 years ago -- The Clairvoyant Countess. Third, the book doesn't exactly fit any genre I can remember. Fourth, the main appeal of the book is the way that the heroine cares about her neighbors and seeks to help them, far beyond the call of duty or the requests of solving crimes (the traditional focus of crime and mystery books). Fifth, the book is filled with story threads, many of which are linked together in a way that almost defies description. Sixth, although there is nothing really humorous in the book, you will come away feeling remarkably light-hearted. Seventh, the heroine makes progress through psychic powers of the sort that police are reputed to use in many kidnapping cases, yet the stories use this to advance the plot rather than to rest solutions upon it. So come to this book with an open mind, and expect to be surprised. If you do, I think you will be pleased. I liked Madame Karistka very much as a character, and would be delighted if Ms. Gilman were to write a long series of books about her. She has a heart as big as her mind is sharp, which is an unusual combination in a novel these days. The basic story line is that Madame Karitska has psychic powers that primarily manifest themselves as psychometry ("devination of facts concerning an object or its owner through contact with or to the object") or clairvoyance ("to perceive matter beyond the range of normal perception"). She has fallen on hard times economically and lives in a poor neighborhood where crime is a problem. Through her friendship with Detective Lieutenant Pruden, she is called into cases and able to draw upon the police as allies to solve problems that she uncovers. She prefers to use her powers to add information about the past and the present, rather then the future. She wants people to make their own futures. Her occupation is giving "readings" for whatever the client is willing or able to pay. These readings introduce her to unusual mysteries and strange characters, which add spice and intrigue to the novel. Does your neighborhood have someone like Madame Karitska who tries to help people solve their problems? If not, what could you do to fill that role? Help build positive connections wherever you see the potential for them!
Rating: 
Summary: Simplistic writing, interesting psychic story
Review: Psychic Madame Karitska uses her psychometry (ability to learn about a person by touching something that they owned or held) to help the police and her clients. A wide range of people from all walks of life find their way into her storefront office and Karitska gives them all coffee, tea, or chocolate, then deals with their problems as best she can. Although not all results are positive, Karitska manages to help her clients avoid a wide range of far worse fates.
Author Dorothy Gilman offers a kaleidoscope of human life as a wide range of clients bring their problems to Karitska. Through Karitska, most learn about themselves rather than about their supposed questions--and that, of course, is the point. Gilman's writing is simplistic. KALEIDOSCOPE is approachable by young readers and may seem somewhat too simple for adult readers. Still, the novel has its rewards and, in many ways, Karitska is a charming character.
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