DREAMer by Emily GalloMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A heartfelt mystery drama with a distinctly cinematic feel to it...
DREAMer by Emily Gallo is a touching mystery drama that is richly descriptive with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and poignant adventure tale with an underlying social narrative that looks at the changing socio-political landscape, immigration and family dynamics. It’s an excellent novel that had me captivated from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this masterclass in storytelling had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that made me feel like I was right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl [12-year-old Marisol] sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won't speak, but that doesn't deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.’
The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Gallo pays as much attention to her sentences as she does her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an authentic and emotional atmosphere throughout.
What I took away from this wonderfully written story is that life is a wonderful combination of difficult experiences that are paradoxically intertwined with experiences of happiness in our lives. The difficult experiences are usually surprising, and we will never be ready for them. However, they make us resilient and make us appreciate what is there. Therefore, even with difficulty, one must not forget to be grateful. Because showing gratitude is a source of power that connects great faith and hope.
I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of her characters. Any aspiring writer will learn a lot about character development by reading DREAMer by Emily Gallo. Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me.
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