The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan, by Steve Wiley is a fantasy filled with hand-drawn images to illustrate the text. The writing is at once satirical and biographical, about Rich Lyons and his adult version Richard K. Lyons. He works as a vice-president and seems to be a successful businessman. He lives on the edge. He has a family, but continuing his party lifestyle is more important; he even considers suicide by falling ice from a city building. The story is reminiscent of a combination of the "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland". Richard remembers his youthful, fantastical night with Francesca and the Lavender Line. These memories triggered by a fall and encouraged with magic, help Rich to rediscover his life and family. Throughout the story we learn about Chicago's history and the magic that lives in the city. The descriptions and details of the story provide a quirky tale of possibilities. After a happy life, Rich once again meets Francesca and the story has a positive end. ( )

I really found this book hard work, although it appeared to be an ordinary novel with 'chapters' this isn't the case.
I like fantasy/sci fi/magic, but this was so weird and somehow nonsensical that I gave up!
Sorry, not a book for me! ( )

I really enjoyed this collection of little fairy tales. It was like listening in the hall to someone reading aloud to children in an odd but not unkind alternate universe. And the illustrations were charming. People who like a little magic in a story will enjoy this book. ( )

This is a wonderfully whimsical and fun fantasy story. At times I, like Rich, found myself a bit confused about the events, but I really enjoyed being along for the ride. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a break from the routine drudgery of life. ( )

Richard Lyons is a successful businessman in Chicago, a vice-president of something or other. He makes a lot of money ordering people around and then spends it on alcohol. Even though Richard has a successful career, a wife and a son-he is not happy and begins to wish his life away by means of falling icicles. Richard has forgotten his childhood when he was just Rich, when he played Ghosts in the Graveyard and caught the uncatchable girl, Francesca Finnegan and was introduced to the magic of Chicago.

This fairytale is very much for adults, adults who have forgotten how to have fun and invite magic and mystery into their life. When Richard is introduced, he is very much like many of the adults that I know, climbing up in their career ladder, but unhappy in their private lives. I did not like Richard very much at this point. However, Richard then meets a young woman on the street who takes him back to the past. Once Richard began to go back, I loved every second of his journey with Francesca Finnegan into the Fairytale Chicago. Much like any other fairytale, the fairytales that Rich witnesses strive to explain events and other things that don't seem to have an explanation at the time. Francesca's fairy tales explain the Great Chicago fire, the strange turns in weather, the colored L trains, even the secret mermaid statue. I'm sure I would have appreciated the stories even more if I had any significant ties to Chicago, but anyone familiar with the major traits of the city should understand. Francesca was absolutely magical, practical, logical and humorous all at once reminding both Rich's character and the reader the beauty of childhood.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )