The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George
Random House Audio - 2019
Fiction - Literary
Audiobook
Narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury
Fiction - Literary
Audiobook
Narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury
10 Hours, 11 Minutes
The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George is a stunning story told from the the spaces between life and death, dreams and memory, past and present, and regret and redemption.
The book follows three main characters. Henri, Sam, and Eddie. Each having their own story, yet each being very much part of each-other's.
Henri, is a former war correspondent who has never been able to make the right decisions, and lives with his regrets. Sam is his estranged son. He is a Mensa candidate and a synesthete, experiencing the world quite differently than most people, and with greater sensitivity. Eddie is a woman who was once rejected by Henri. She has moved on but she has yet to deal with the feelings she still has for him.
When Sam's school is holding a father-son event, he invites Henri to attend. On the way to reunite with Sam, Henri has a horrible accident. Badly injured and in a deep coma, he is admitted to a neurological facility with a questionable prognosis.
Sam starts skipping classes to visit with Henri, and it is while visiting that he meets Eddie. The two continue to visit daily, and bond over their mutual concern for Henri.
While Henri lingers in a coma, these three people all confront their own lives in the strange ethereal space where life and death, dreams and reality, and past and present meet. The threads of their lives beautifully woven into each other, swirling around and intersecting, each finding meaning in and from each other.
I really struggled with writing my synopsis for this review. To say too little risked making the story sound uninteresting, to say too much could spoil the beauty and magic of experiencing this story oneself. While this story did not come across as a complicated read, it did have a subtle complexity.
George's prose was breathtaking. The story evoked a mystical and ethereal feel that paired perfectly with the exploration of feelings of grief, regret, forgiveness and hope; of realizing our lives are not self-contained even if we may, at times, feel isolated.
This story was narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury. Each performing with clarity and pleasing tone, as well as performing with emotion appropriate to the story. Having a full cast of course makes it easier to follow a story such as this - told from multiple points of view.
Emotionally rich and poignant, The Book Of Dreams is a beautiful and moving story that will stay with a reader long after finishing.
The book follows three main characters. Henri, Sam, and Eddie. Each having their own story, yet each being very much part of each-other's.
Henri, is a former war correspondent who has never been able to make the right decisions, and lives with his regrets. Sam is his estranged son. He is a Mensa candidate and a synesthete, experiencing the world quite differently than most people, and with greater sensitivity. Eddie is a woman who was once rejected by Henri. She has moved on but she has yet to deal with the feelings she still has for him.
When Sam's school is holding a father-son event, he invites Henri to attend. On the way to reunite with Sam, Henri has a horrible accident. Badly injured and in a deep coma, he is admitted to a neurological facility with a questionable prognosis.
Sam starts skipping classes to visit with Henri, and it is while visiting that he meets Eddie. The two continue to visit daily, and bond over their mutual concern for Henri.
While Henri lingers in a coma, these three people all confront their own lives in the strange ethereal space where life and death, dreams and reality, and past and present meet. The threads of their lives beautifully woven into each other, swirling around and intersecting, each finding meaning in and from each other.
I really struggled with writing my synopsis for this review. To say too little risked making the story sound uninteresting, to say too much could spoil the beauty and magic of experiencing this story oneself. While this story did not come across as a complicated read, it did have a subtle complexity.
George's prose was breathtaking. The story evoked a mystical and ethereal feel that paired perfectly with the exploration of feelings of grief, regret, forgiveness and hope; of realizing our lives are not self-contained even if we may, at times, feel isolated.
This story was narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury. Each performing with clarity and pleasing tone, as well as performing with emotion appropriate to the story. Having a full cast of course makes it easier to follow a story such as this - told from multiple points of view.
Emotionally rich and poignant, The Book Of Dreams is a beautiful and moving story that will stay with a reader long after finishing.
Happy Reading,
Christine
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