Odea Donahue has been able to travel through people’s dreams since she was six years old. Her mother taught her the three rules of walking: Never interfere. Never be seen. Never walk the same person’s dream more than once. Dea has never questioned her mother, not about the rules, not about the clocks or the mirrors, not about moving from place to place to be one step ahead of the unseen monsters that Dea’s mother is certain are right behind them.
Then a mysterious new boy, Connor, comes to town and Dea finally starts to feel normal. As Connor breaks down the walls that she’s had up for so long, he gets closer to learning her secret. For the first time she wonders if that’s so bad. But when Dea breaks the rules, the boundary between worlds begins to deteriorate. How can she know what’s real and what’s not?
Then a mysterious new boy, Connor, comes to town and Dea finally starts to feel normal. As Connor breaks down the walls that she’s had up for so long, he gets closer to learning her secret. For the first time she wonders if that’s so bad. But when Dea breaks the rules, the boundary between worlds begins to deteriorate. How can she know what’s real and what’s not?
Review...
What an interesting and different read. Dream walker. Lots of secrets. Lots of intertwined plot lines. It had me trying to figure things out and coming up empty. What's real? What's a dream? Good stuff.
This one's in third persona and it's not my favorite. But the good news is that I ended up feeling connected to the characters anyway. I think the mystery of this read is increased by the third person writing style.
I liked Dea and Connor. Dea's always been the strange one no matter where her mother moves her to. She only fits in with the other castaways from high school. That aspect of her personality makes her relatable to anyone who's ever felt like they don't belong. Then she has this secret that's almost as powerful as Harry Potter's was. And her secret takes her on a journey. One that's full of monsters and hard choices but one that helps her help a friend and figure out who she is. I enjoyed that.
I liked Connor a lot. His secret is less mysterious though the real story doesn't really come out till the end. I loved that he gravitated towards the misfits. That he accepted Dea for who she was. That he was honest and real with her. I loved that he stuck by her even when things were weird. He's a great guy.
I wonder about the ending. It is an ending but it could be more. I wouldn't mind if it was more.
This is something different. Something that gets you thinking. It's also something sweet. I enjoyed it.
TOUR SCHEDULE:
9/23 - Stuck In Books: Top 10
9/25 - Paperback Princess: Top 10
Robert L. Anderson grew up in Brooklyn and graduated college in 2004 with a degree in philosophy. Since then, he has lived in five states and twelve countries, and on three continents. Dreamland is his first novel. He is represented by literary agent Stephen Barbara.
DREAMLAND – Stuck
In Books Top 10
Top 10 topic -
Traveling through dreams may be tricky but what about actual travel. Top
10 fictional places to visit?
1) Hogwarts (Harry
Potter): Wouldn’t it be nice to finally be excited about school? Though I guess
if you’ve grown up with magic your entire life like Ron did the magic of magic
kind of wears off on you. Did that make sense? I think it made sense.
2) The Kingdom of
Norta (Red Queen): I know the kingdom’s divide between Reds and Silvers sucks
for the Reds, but how awesome would it be to be a Silver with telekinesis or
telepathy? Pretty awesome.
3) The Capitol (The
Hunger Games): If I were a Career who grew up in District One I would love a
shot to enter the Arena. I’m not excited about killing other people, but I am
an adrenaline junkie and the Games absolutely keep you running and
second-guessing who to trust.
4) Westeros (A Game of Thrones): THERE BE DRAGONS! THERE BE KHALEESI!
4) Westeros (A Game of Thrones): THERE BE DRAGONS! THERE BE KHALEESI!
5) Ravka (Shadow and
Bone): The Grisha have extraordinary powers and get to eat extraordinary food.
I’m sold.
6) Andy’s Room (Toy Story): THIS is where the magic happens—childhood toys coming to life when humans aren’t around? I wouldn’t ever have to worry about book sales or deadlines, only if Buzz and Woody are fighting again.
6) Andy’s Room (Toy Story): THIS is where the magic happens—childhood toys coming to life when humans aren’t around? I wouldn’t ever have to worry about book sales or deadlines, only if Buzz and Woody are fighting again.
7) Jurassic Park
(Jurassic Park): I know people shouldn’t voluntarily hang out with dinosaurs,
but assuming all the Velociraptors are where they’re supposed to be it should
be fun times.
8) The Shire (Lord
of the Rings): BRB, I’m going to go be one with the Hobbits. It’s peaceful and
idyllic and zero chaos and there will be plenty delicious food to eat. I’m
sensing a theme in this post…I’m also sensing a hunger in my stomach.
9) Anglia (The Witch
Hunter): I would love to team up with Elizabeth Warren, Anglia’s best Witch
Hunter, in her breathtaking missions and attend these enchanting parties in
forests.
10) Halo Nations
(Halo, video game): Gear me up in Spartan armor and I’ll hop into the nearest
Ghost vessel and run down some Elites. I’m a proud nerd.
Giveaway...
I have one finished copy of Dreamland to give away!
US/Canada only
Sponsored by HarperCollins
Sounds like an okay read but that it could have been more. Hate when that happens.
ReplyDeleteIt was good. I enjoyed it.
DeleteSometimes I remember my dreams when I wake up, but I normal forget within a hour or so!
ReplyDeleteI tend to remember my dreams but sometimes I wake in the middle of a dream and it is that dream that is the most difficult to recall.
ReplyDeleteI do actually! I even started a blog to write them on, but then I haven't had time to go blog about it lately.
ReplyDeleteI remember some of the weirdest dreams I've ever had, and I can have some funky ones! But usually I only remember a haze when I wake up and forget it all in a few min.
ReplyDeleteI never remember my dreams. =(
ReplyDeleteTypically, yes.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this on Val, despite being in 3rd person pespective. I like the sound of Connor and Dea.
ReplyDeleteNaomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
Sometimes. This morning I had a dream that I was trying to put drops in my eyes but I couldn't get them in, in part because I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough. Then I started to wake up, but when I tried to open my eyes I couldn't keep them open, so I knew it wasn't time to wake up yet so I went back to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI remember some of my dreams, usually the ones that were frustrating! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I do. Specially when they are weird, I would remember bits and pieces here and there.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do remember dreams. I also avoid eating certain foods at night, before bed. I find, that if I eat potatoes before bed, I have vivid dreams. Mostly nightmares.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes. When I do for the most part they are very strange and nonsensical.
ReplyDeleteMary G Loki
I remember at least one of my dreams every night. I have always had super vivid dreams, but of course, they are also utterly strange. I had an ex that used to dream about his job EVERY night and talk about it in his sleep. He would remember them the next morning, and tell me about them in excruciatingly dull detail. So, though my dreams are sometimes scary or too intense, at least I don't re-live a boring job every night in my sleep!
ReplyDeleteI never remember my dreams! Sometimes I remember a feeling, like that I was scared or happy in a dream, but the details are always fuzzy!
ReplyDeleteCarolina M on rafflecopter
Yes I sometimes remember my dreams.
ReplyDeleteAlisha Sienkiel in rafflecopter