Scan barcode
A review by me_alley
Dream State by Eric Puchner
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am very glad that I read this book, but I am very frustrated as I finish it.
The Fable app has a few different ratings system, you not only give a book a rating out of five stars, but you also rate the characters, the research, the setting, and the writing style. For this book, I really love the writing style. Five stars on the writing style and also on the setting.
The title refers to being in a dream like state, but also refers to Montana, where the book is set. The book has a very sweeping timeline, Charlie and Garrett meeting each other in college in the late 90s, to 2004 when Charlie and CeCe are about to be married, and all the way through their children leaning into middle age. It can be a bit difficult to follow where you are chronologically, but I absolutely love this aspect of the book. In just a few paragraphs, you could easily skip 10 years.
My biggest problem with the book is the motivations of the characters. I am fine with having morally gray characters, I do think they are more interesting. It is a very strange scenario to use an enemies to lovers trope where the transition from enemies to lovers takes about a week. Some of the most interesting parts of these story just weren’t mentioned. Cece, in particular, is written as if the author hates women, and this is his view of what a woman is. She’s flighty, lazy, Selfish. Her reasons for doing things are really strange and out of left field. My favorite character, by a mile, is Lana. Cece‘s daughter has a great attitude, is very loyal, and has truly most of the best lines of the book.
There’s an underlying theme of climate change and impending Natural disaster, which makes sense for the setting. My biggest problem was the characters, when I was about 25% of the way through this book, I thought it was going to be a five star read. As time went by I understood the characters less and less and their motivations for doing things.
That said, I don’t think I could say that I don’t recommend this book. This is a strongly written story, and if you like decades-long family drama books, especially one set in Montana, you will probably love this book.
The Fable app has a few different ratings system, you not only give a book a rating out of five stars, but you also rate the characters, the research, the setting, and the writing style. For this book, I really love the writing style. Five stars on the writing style and also on the setting.
The title refers to being in a dream like state, but also refers to Montana, where the book is set. The book has a very sweeping timeline, Charlie and Garrett meeting each other in college in the late 90s, to 2004 when Charlie and CeCe are about to be married, and all the way through their children leaning into middle age. It can be a bit difficult to follow where you are chronologically, but I absolutely love this aspect of the book. In just a few paragraphs, you could easily skip 10 years.
My biggest problem with the book is the motivations of the characters. I am fine with having morally gray characters, I do think they are more interesting. It is a very strange scenario to use an enemies to lovers trope where the transition from enemies to lovers takes about a week. Some of the most interesting parts of these story just weren’t mentioned. Cece, in particular, is written as if the author hates women, and this is his view of what a woman is. She’s flighty, lazy, Selfish. Her reasons for doing things are really strange and out of left field. My favorite character, by a mile, is Lana. Cece‘s daughter has a great attitude, is very loyal, and has truly most of the best lines of the book.
There’s an underlying theme of climate change and impending Natural disaster, which makes sense for the setting. My biggest problem was the characters, when I was about 25% of the way through this book, I thought it was going to be a five star read. As time went by I understood the characters less and less and their motivations for doing things.
That said, I don’t think I could say that I don’t recommend this book. This is a strongly written story, and if you like decades-long family drama books, especially one set in Montana, you will probably love this book.