I’m happy it’s Friday, but I’m also happy I’m starting to feel a little bit more motivated. The slow summer has had me lagging lately — I’m not going to get into the details — but I finally feel like I’ve created a good little to do list to keep me busy until work starts to pick back up for me in the fall.
Read: You can expect tons of fun stuff coming here!
Anyway, let’s jump right into the latest read from Blanche’s Book Club, because I’ve had it on my list for awhile: “The Dreamers” by Karen Thompson Walker. Here’s the scoop:
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?
This is the second book I’ve read from Walker (check out my review of her other book, “The Age of Miracles”) and right off the bat, the description of this book reminded me of something I’d read before, but honestly I still can’t put my finger on it.
It’s a little dystopian in a way, but I think that’s just Walker’s style. The book was a little more grim than I expected, but it’s definitely something that gets you thinking outside the box.
Was it my favorite? No, but I’m glad I read it.
The next book Blanche’s Book Club will be Reading is “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.
Meanwhile, have you seen the preview for “The Goldfinch”?!? I read the book four or five years ago, and I knew it was being made made into a movie, but I didn’t know when and I was SO excited when I saw the preview!
It comes out Sept. 13, soooo not enough time to re-read the book beforehand — I just have to stick with what I remember. But I’m still excited! Have a great weekend everyone!
For more book recommendations, be sure to subscribe to the blog (look to the right) and follow me on GoodReads – where I keep up with my reading lists. Live in the Baton Rouge area? I’m teaching a Blogging Boot Camp this September. If you don’t live in Baton Rouge, you can always schedule a Creative Session with me!
The Bitter Lemon 
One Comment