Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker and available from Random House on January 15, 2019!
My Thoughts:
The Dreamers is a different sort of read for me, and I’m grateful I read it. The premise? A disease is affecting a college town causing unstoppable sleep and vividly strange dreams.
It all starts at a university in Southern California when a student, Kara, falls asleep and no one can rouse her, not her roommate, Mei, and not even the doctors at the hospital. That event is then followed by another student, and then another, and then the town is sieged with panic by this unknown and perplexing illness.
At first no one knows why this is happening. Are the students playing a prank? With the doctors finding no known medical cause, just what could be going on? I personally cannot imagine how scared I would feel in that situation.
Karen Thompson Walker’s writing is stunning, and I found my emotions all over the place while reading. At times, I was panicked and forlorn, like the townspeople and students. Other times I was emotional over the effects of this disease on the community and individuals within it. There was palpable tension, and again, that frightfulness. Not in the horror kind of way, but in that unknown, insidious, completely out-of-your-control kind of way. The exploration of dreams versus reality was also captivating.
The Dreamers is all about the characters and their raw and authentic emotions. I was so completely transfixed I felt like I was a resident of the town, too. I found The Dreamers a memorable, thought-provoking, insightful, and frightening page-turner. This book spans genres, including eerily tense suspense, light science fiction, and dystopian; all on a backdrop of a glorious character study. Loved it!
Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A mesmerizing novel about a college town transformed by a strange illness that locks victims in a perpetual sleep and triggers life-altering dreams—by the bestselling author of The Age of Miracles, for fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go.
In an isolated college town in the hills of Southern California, a freshman girl stumbles into her dorm room, falls asleep—and doesn’t wake up. She sleeps through the morning, into the evening. Her roommate, Mei, cannot rouse her. Neither can the paramedics who carry her away, nor the perplexed doctors at the hospital. Then a second girl falls asleep, and then another, and panic takes hold of the college and spreads to the town. As the number of cases multiplies, classes are canceled, and stores begin to run out of supplies. A quarantine is established. The National Guard is summoned.
Mei, an outsider in the cliquish hierarchy of dorm life, finds herself thrust together with an eccentric, idealistic classmate. Two visiting professors try to protect their newborn baby as the once-quiet streets descend into chaos. A father succumbs to the illness, leaving his daughters to fend for themselves. And at the hospital, a new life grows within a college girl, unbeknownst to her—even as she sleeps. A psychiatrist, summoned from Los Angeles, attempts to make sense of the illness as it spreads through the town. Those infected are displaying unusual levels of brain activity, more than has ever been recorded. They are dreaming heightened dreams—but of what?
Written in gorgeous prose, The Dreamers is a breathtaking novel that startles and provokes, about the possibilities contained within a human life—in our waking days and, perhaps even more, in our dreams.
Have you read The Dreamers, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Fantastic review! I have an ARC of this and can’t wait to read it!
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Thank you, Nicki! I had the hardest time writing this review because I didn’t want to give the story away, and it’s so different from what I normally read. I really loved it, and I hope you do too!
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You did a great job!
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Great review! A different read for me too! It came to me at just the right time when I needed something to shake things up a bit…I enjoyed it! 👍
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I’m so happy you enjoyed it, too, Carol! It felt good to mix things up. I LOVED your review, too. It’s the best when a book like this hits us at the right time. ♥️
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Just finished this one and I loved it. Won’t get to write a review until I get back from Christmas vacation. Merry Christmas, Jennifer! Terrific review!
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Thank you, Marialyce! It was a challenging review for me to write, but I adored this book. How special when we can connect to something this different from our normal genres? What a talented author. Merry Christmas to you, too, Marialyce! I hope you are having a wonderful time on your vacation!
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Wow! I’d just made the decision to take a pass on reviewing this audiobook and here you serve up a stunning review of this title, Jennifer. Geez🥰 Guess I’ll be adding this to my shelf because I cannot ignore that you loved this.
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Thanks, Jonetta, and I’m sorry! 😂 Everyone seems to be loving this one, and it speaks to the author’s talent because it’s such a different read for many of us. I was blown away! I hope you get a chance to read or listen to it. ♥️
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Ooooh what is this book? I loved the sound of it… Jennifer I need this book… Looks like a medical thriller. Me want this… 😂 😂 Girl, my book budget… Fab review
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😂 It does have a touch of medical thriller to it, Shalini! Thank you! It was such a great read and really surprised me. I hope you get a chance to read it! ♥️
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It is on my TBR… Amazon wish list😂😂
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Awesome review, Jennifer. I have not this sci fi and added to my tbr list. Have a terrific Thursday! ❤️📚🌹
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Thanks, Virginia! I hope you enjoy it, too, and happy Thursday! 💗 xoxo
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Oooh sounds interesting and set in my backyard!
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It was so good, Jaymi, and yes, you would love the setting! ♥️
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Awesome review Jen! Happy Thursday! Do you have cake coma today?🎂🤗💕
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Thanks, Sus! I only ate one piece so now I can’t wait to have more! 😂 It’s SO good! Happy Thursday to you! ♥️
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I read her last book, The Age of Miracles, and loved it. I’ve been curious about her follow up. Sounds like something I would enjoy immensely! Thanks for the review, Jennifer😁
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Thanks, Tammy! I was hoping you would see this review, and I was wondering if you were familiar with this author! I am definitely reading The Age of Miracles now. I think you would enjoy this one.
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I’ve seen this one around. It looks good. Great review!! Looks like one my wife and I might like.
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Thanks, Paul! I was thinking this might be up your alley, too. I hope you and your wife enjoy it if you can work fit it in.
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This sounds scary because it could happen all too easily! Great review, Jennifer.
Happy holidays!
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Thanks, Jacquie! It does seem like something that could really happen, and I’ve learned since reading that there is an unexplained sleeping sickness documented in some parts of the world. 😬
Happy Holidays to you, too, my friend! Your family is so lucky to be treated to your delicious foods and family traditions. ♥️
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My aunt had a sleeping sickness. She’d fall asleep in the middle of a sentence, then wake up a few minutes later and carry on as though nothing happened!
Us kids thought it was funny, but looking back in it now I can see how dangerous it could be.
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I’m sure it was hard on her and could definitely be dangerous. I think that was probably narcolepsy? I had a professor in college who had it, and he would fall asleep in the middle of a lecture and then wake back up shortly later. This is way off the path of the story, but he was the father or stepfather (?) to one of the Sex and the City actresses!
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Wow, how cool is that? Even better if they popped in for a visit 🙂
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Wow, you make me want to read this one! I hope they have some kind of resolution / understanding at the end. That would be the only reason I can think I wouldn’t like it. Great review! Anne – Books of My Heart
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Thanks, Anne! I really loved this one! I don’t want to give anything away, but check out other review on Goodreads if you can. Almost all of my friends have loved this book, but I did see one who was dissatisfied with the ending and how things played out, so that may be a concern. I was happy with how it ended. ♥️
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This does sound like an excellent book! 🙂 A wonderful review, as always, Jennifer!
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Thank you, Chrissi! It was such a unique and wonderful read!
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I didn’t realise that Karen Thompson Walker had a new book out but it sounds fab. I adored The Age of Miracles so I think this new one is going to be a must read for me. Fab review 🙂
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Thank you so much, Hayley! I am going to have to read The Age of Miracles now. It seems to have so many fans, including you. I hope you love this one, too, when you get around to it.
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A great review, Jennifer. I haven’t come across this one – and I probably would have given it a pass, because it sounds a bit like a horror tale, which I don’t do. But you have snagged my interest with your vivid description:). Thank you!
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Thank you, Sarah! I don’t think it’s horror, but I should probably brush up on the definition. It’s definitely not gory, but I was anxious for the characters. I was really surprised by how unique and beautiful this was.
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What an interesting premise! I love these kind of suspense/terror reads that could take place in the real world.
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Sounds great! I do think I may have a mild dose of that illness already… 😉 I like the way it made you scared without actually being horror – clearly very effective writing!
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Thanks, FF! Yes, that’s the perfect way to put it about being scary but not horror. This one made me super anxious and felt so real! I’m sorry you are already afflicted by the illness, and I hope you are able to finish all your holiday preparations in its “wake!” 😉 Happy Holidays, my friend!
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Excellent review, Jennifer! I’d never heard of this one, but it sounds fab! I’ll be adding it! 🙂 I hope you have a great Friday. xoxo ♥
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Thanks, Steph! I can imagine you loving this one! Several of our GR friends have read and loved it and I heard about it through them. Happy Friday! ♥️ xoxo
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You’re very welcome! I’m sure that I would and it’s added to my TBR! The reviews on GR look great. 🙂 Have a great weekend! xoxo ♥
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This book looks so fascinating! Wonderful review!
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Thanks, Berit! I had so much fun with it!
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What a terrifying and fascinating premise for a book!!! Great review, Jennifer!! 💕
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Thanks, Mack! It was a wonderful read, and I’m so grateful I branched out! ♥️
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Oh, i almost didn’t recognize this book! This cover is super pretty. Much better than the one on amazon UK. I have this on my watchlist for a while now. Sounds very intriguing and something different to what i would normally read, but at the same time eerie and dreamy too, which is something i enjoy in books.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much!
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Thank you, Norrie! Yes, I just saw the UK cover today, and it was quite different. The US cover has kind of an 80s neon feel, which is fun. I could see you enjoying this, and I’m definitely interested in what you think if you decide to read it. Yes, it definitely has a dreamy quality to it, ethereal. Beautiful writing too. ♥️
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Fantastic review Jenni! I remember reading The Age Of Miracles by this author and really enjoying it so looking forward to checking out this one! 🤗
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Thanks, Beth! I could see you absolutely loving this one, and I’m grateful to hear what you thought of The Age of Miracles because I definitely need to read that one. I hope you’ve been having a great week and that you are feeling well. ♥️
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Fantastic review Jennifer! I have an eARC of this so I’m looking forward to reading this. My one worry was that it sounded a little similar to Stephen and Owen King’s Sleeping Beauties, but it sounds like this isn’t an issue.
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Thanks, Kim! Oh, I haven’t read that one, but I think that would be more true horror? I’ll be interested to see how you think they compare and I may need to check that one out too.
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It’s definitely more in the horror genre. I love to see different takes on a theme.☺️
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So awesome that this was such a memorable, thought provoking book. The characters sound amazing as well! Brilliant review!
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Thank you! This one really surprised me. It was like nothing else I’ve experienced, and I absolutely loved that about it.
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Great review and I am glad you liked it more than I did!
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Thank you, Kaleena! I’m coming over to check out your review!
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I just love how every book has a reader, and the things I didn’t like worked for you! I agree the writing is poetic, though!
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Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
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Thank you, China!
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BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR JENNIFER, CHINA
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Thanks so much, China! I wish the same for you! ♥️
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Wow! This story sounds so unique and sucks you in immediately… adding to my ever-growing TBR list, Jennifer! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
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Thank you, LP! It was so, so good! Such an unusual read for me, and I think it made me love it even more! I had a wonderful Christmas and hope you did too!
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