This is such a cute book! ( )

I really enjoyed the soft, dreamlike quality of the illustrations! I honestly thought Lucian would wake up at any moment and realize that everything had happened while he'd been sleeping, especially after he said his dreams "stayed with him, and became memories, and those dream-memories became, in Lucian's mind, almost as real as his real memories, which he worried were fading." I was a little disappointed when the story continued and we realize that he's definitely awake and just having a very unrealistic experience.

I liked the concept of faraway things and wish that aspect of the book had been expanded on. It was something Lucian shared with his father - a connection that continued even after his death (this is an assumption, since we're not actually told what happened to his father) - and I wanted to know more about the various objects he's found and collected on the beach. We see a few items around his room, but we can only assume those are things he's found and not been given over time. I wanted to explore Lucian's relationship with his father, and what faraway things meant to them both. Unfortunately, we only see Lucian find the cutlass and what happens afterwards. Do people still carry cutlasses?

I don't think this book was "a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go," because Lucian doesn't really have time to form an attachment to the cutlass. Everything happens really quickly, and if the synopsis meant that Lucian would learn to let go of the loss of his father (still an assumption), then that wasn't really portrayed or explained well either. Lucian should give back something that doesn't belong to him, whether it's a faraway thing or not. The captain didn't have to trade him anything for it, since it was his property to begin with. The blurb just makes you think this book is deeper than it actually is, because it really only addresses surface-level feelings.

I had to suspend my disbelief for this one to work, and I would've preferred a more realistic spin on the story. I think the author had a chance to explore a child's emotions regarding the loss of a parent, but we stick to light topics and mostly unbelievable occurrences. As a mother, I would not let my child play with a sword (or any sharp object) they discovered on the beach. It's incredibly dangerous, and Lucian misjudging a swing and chopping off a sleeve only proves my point. (I have no idea how he managed to cut his sleeve all the way off without removing his arm in the process.) If he had hidden the cutlass from his mother, that's one thing, but he showed it to her and she seemed perfectly fine with him having it.

Additionally, Lucian talks to strangers - even gets into his rowboat and boards their ship - all without telling his mother or getting her permission. My kids know they're not supposed to talk to strangers without me being there, and they are definitely not allowed to go anywhere with them. I think this aspect of the story should've been handled better, because it could give children the wrong idea.

Also, I don't think a lighthouse would be allowed to exist without a light. Don't they have to function so ships don't crash or get stuck? I'm not up-to-date on how lighthouses work, but I feel like they're there for a reason, which makes Lucian's "trade" seem like a waste. Would it have even worked?

Faraway Things was a quick read for me, but definitely more of a bedtime story. Eggers isn't stingy with his words, which makes for a longer children's book than most, so it might take them a while if they're reading it themselves. Murphy's illustrations are still my favorite part of the book, and I will definitely look for more of her work in the future. Parts of the story were problematic, but if you can suspend your disbelief and explain to your children what not to do, it's an okay read. (★★★☆☆)

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