Review: The Book of Dreams by Nina George

The Book of Dreams is a story of family, friendships and the importance of making peace with ones past. While on his way to meet his thirteen-year-old son for the first time, Harry Skinner rescues a girl from drowning, and is hit by a car a few moments later. Rushed to hospital, he is placed in a coma, where he soon begins to have vivid dreams which allow him to relive and relearn some of the stories that helped to shape (or not) his life. Meanwhile, his former girlfriend Eddie keeps a close watch--as does his son Sam. Over time Sam, who has some very special gifts, builds a relationship with Eddie, and finds a very special kinship with his father, and another with Madelyn, a girl in a coma.

This one is an exceptionally difficult book to review. It asks some deep existential questions, offers some surprising, though wholly intelligent answers and is well, as slow as one would reasonable expect a book about a coma patient and his dreams and understanding of life to be. There are also themes of repetition which anyone who has made repeat visits to a loved on in hospital will understand. And I really don't know if I liked it, loved it or hated it. Suffice to say that the characters are all very human and the story had me asking some deep questions.

The Book of Dreams was originally published in German as Das Traumbook.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my reading copy.  


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