to fall in between

[Offroad]

Please, dear teachers and friends...

Could you help me to understand this sentence in bold?

Like most first-time authors, I was filled with hope and despair upon the book’s publication-hope that the book might
succeed beyond my youthful dreams, despair that I had failed to say anything worth saying. The reality fell somewhere
in between. The reviews were mildly favorable. People actually showed up at the readings my publisher arranged. The
sales were underwhelming. And, after a few months, I went on with the business of my life, certain that my career as an
author would be short-lived, but glad to have survived the process with my dignity more or less intact.
Dreams from my father - Barack Obama.

The 'between' troubles me.


Thanks.

[engee30]

Please, dear teachers and friends...

Could you help me to understand this sentence in bold?

The 'between' troubles me.


Thanks.

The reviews of the book were neither bad nor good.

[Offroad]

The reviews of the book were neither bad nor good.

his words:

Just as that spate of publicity prompted my publisher’s interest a decade ago, so has this fresh round of news clippings
encouraged the book’s re-publication. For the first time in many years, I’ve pulled out a copy and read a few chapters
to see how much my voice may have changed over time. I confess to wincing every so often at a poorly chosen word, a
mangled sentence, an expression of emotion that seems indulgent or overly practiced. I have the urge to cut the book by
fifty pages or so, possessed as I am with a keener appreciation for brevity. I cannot honestly say, however, that the
voice in this book is not mine-that I would tell the story much differently today than I did ten years ago, even if certain
passages have proven to be inconvenient politically, the grist for pundit commentary and opposition research.

So, he was still working on this book.

[Barb_D]

I don't understand that "between" to refer to the reviews falling between good and bad, but to rather the actual outcome after the book was published. It fell between succeeding beyond his wildest dreams, and failing completely. It enjoyed modest success.

{not a teacher]

[engee30]

I don't understand that "between" to refer to the reviews falling between good and bad, but to rather the actual outcome after the book was published. It fell between succeeding beyond his wildest dreams, and failing completely. It enjoyed modest success.

{not a teacher]

I would have thought it's the reviews that can tell the author of a book whether it is a success or a flop.

[Barb_D]

Not at all. Things the critics think are marginal writing with a decent story may sell like crazy, and things the critics praise as elegant prose may have little actual appeal to the mass audience in terms of sales.

Obama didn't say he feared what the critics would have to say; he didn't say he hoped they would praise it to the heavens but feared they would pan it. He said he hoped the book itself would succeed beyond his dreams or people would find he had nothing worthwhile to say. It's THAT reality that fell somewhere in between.

[Offroad]

clear, crystal

Thank you all.

[BobK]

To reinforce what Barb D said:

Context: 'I was filled with hope and despair ... The reality fell somewhere
in between'

Analysis: despair <......in between......> hope.


Don't try to understand where the 'between' fits in; 'in between' is an adverb phrase that means 'in [the gap] between [one thing and another, previously mentioned]'.

b

[Offroad]

To reinforce what Barb D said:

Context: 'I was filled with hope and despair ... The reality fell somewhere
in between'

Analysis: despair <......in between......> hope.


Don't try to understand where the 'between' fits in; 'in between' is an adverb phrase that means 'in [the gap] between [one thing and another, previously mentioned]'.

b

Alright, Bob, thank you.