February Oprah's Book Club - Dream State

Title: Dream State

Author: Eric Puchner

Publisher: Doubleday Books

@doubledaybooks

Genre: Literary Fiction

{Thank you to @prhaudio for the audiobook! #gifted It’s narrated by MacLeod Andrews, who is a new voice for me, but one I will be adding to my favorites list!}

Short Review: Dream State by Eric Puchner is the latest #oprahsbookclub pick and boy does she know how to pick books to make you think and that garner such wonderful discussions.

“A photo turns ugly things beautiful and beautiful things ugly.”

Dream State is a character driven story focusing on three main characters, their significant others and children. It’s about the simple idea of how everyday decisions can change the whole trajectory of life. It studies deeply flawed characters. (Aren’t we all a little flawed?) How fates can be intertwined. It’s a story of friends, then their children becoming friends.

The story is told non-linear bouncing from present day to significant moments in life. The author zooms a lens on college friendships, marriage, parenthood, death, grief, dementia and addiction. The pacing and style of writing reminded me of Wellness by Nathan Hill and Crossroads by Jonathan Frazen. These type of books make you think while you’re reading them, but even more after you finish them.

One of the characters works in wildlife/national parks, so the book does delve into climate change a little. Not always my cup of tea because it can come across as preachy, but it’s fine in this story.

I got to live for four spectacular years in Montana and I loved traveling back there through these pages!