The Good Dream

I was drawn into this book from the very first page and I literally could not put it down. As an adoptee, adoptive parent, and former foster parent, this book spoke to my heart on many levels. Although I have never personally worked with a child that has been through as much trauma as the boy in this story, I found myself identifying with Ivorie as she dealt with the small mindedness and prejudices of her community. I cried throughout the entire book. I cried from heartbreak, I cried from joy. The Good Dream really touched my heart. This is a beautifully written story. I was taken aback at the ignorance and cruelty of some of the characters, but they were realistically portrayed. While the innocence and terror the child endures brought show more me to tears, Ivorie's fierce determination to help the child was inspiring. This story is a beautiful illustration of the healing power of love. The characters stayed on my mind long after I finished reading.

Read this book if...
*you love southern fiction
*you love "small town" novels
*you love stories set in Appalachia
*you love stories of inspiration
*you love stories about the healing power of love
see this review on my blog at http://freespiritbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-good-dream-by-donna-vanliere.htm... show less

Despite the amazing reviews of The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere, I was hesitant about reading it once hearing that the author was described as an inspirational Christian writer. I was nervous about the book being too preachy or religious, but I was wrong. I absolutely loved this story. In fact, I would consider it one of my top five favorite novels for 2012.

The Good Dream is a story with substance that takes place in a small Tennessee town. The characters are so beautifully developed, that the reader feels a closeness with them. Simply summarized, Ivorie, one of the nicest, kindest characters, along with her brother, Henry, who also has a special way about him, and a cast of quirky characters, save a severely abused boy. But, the story show more is far from simplistic. As Ivorie helps this child, she saves her own lonely life as well.

It is a book about values and about doing what's right in the face of adversity, challenges and hardships. If this book represents Christian Fiction, then I have found a new genre to devour. I highly recommend this book. It is not to be missed. show less

I just love Southern fiction and The Good Dream is Southern fiction done well. Ivorie is a wonderful character – a strong and caring woman who refuses to bend to society’s will. She lives in a small town with a big cast of characters; it reminded me of a Fannie Flagg novel in that way. The author uses wonderfully descriptive metaphors filled with Southern charm. Some of my favorite examples:

“As useful as a back pocket on a shirt”
“Slower than a turtle after Thanksgiving dinner”
“Helpful as teats on a bull”

There is a darker side in this book however. Some very bad things happen to the boy in the first part of the novel that might be hard for the fainthearted to read. I didn’t find any of it gratuitous though.

The narration show more is first person when Ivorie and her brother are each telling their story. Parts of the story are also told from the boy’s point of view and I absolutely loved the device the author used for his narration. (I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t get more detailed about that part.)

When I saw that the author was the narrator of the audio book, I was apprehensive. That doesn’t always go so well. After listening, I was pleasantly surprised – she did a great job. She used a light Southern accent for the prose and then varied the thickness of the accent for the dialogue depending on who was speaking. I surprised when I listened to the author interview at the end of the book to hear that she doesn’t actually have a Southern accent at all because it sounded so authentic when she was narrating. She even did a really good snobby Southern accent for the banker.

After I listened to this book, I learned that the author is considered a Christian fiction author. I don’t know if this book is considered Christian fiction; I didn’t feel like it was while I listening to it. It is inspirational but it doesn’t have a lot of religious talk or preaching in it. I would highly recommend The Good Dream to anyone. show less

It is rare for me to give 5 stars to anything but this book deserves it. VanLiere is a gifted writer. The imagery immediately drew me into the story and transported me into Ivorie's world. The touching journey becomes vivid through her use of words, evoking feelings that stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

Sarah Ivorie Walker is 30 years old and single, which is a shame in 1950 rural Tennessee. Ivorie, as she's known, stayed home with her elderly parents, taking care of them, and now that her mother has passed on, she's all alone out there on her little homestead. But she has her garden, and her milk cow, and her job at the local public school to keep her busy. One fine summer day, she notices one of her tomato vines is broken, and something's been in the peas and green beans. Some durn critter is messing up her vegetable patch. She's determined to trap it. Sure enough, she does: the critter is a little boy. A speechless, neglected, and severely abused little boy who's been sneaking down out of the hills at night to eat out of her garden. show more Ivorie decides to take him in and raise him herself. And suddenly, she's not only a spinster, but a scandal.

Donna VanLiere tells us the story in alternate chapters, first through Ivorie's eyes, and then through the eyes of our nameless boy. And it's a sweet story, but not sentimental. Ivorie's no nonsense approach to all things permits no truck with sentimentality. Still, that isn't to say a reader won't shed a tear or two, especially with the closing paragraphs. A lovely lovely book, perfect to read on a summer's day, while sitting on the front porch drinking iced tea, watching the neighborhood children play in the yard, and counting one's blessings.

Many thanks to Goodreads First Reads program for the opportunity to read this books. show less

I won this book via Goodreads First Reads.

This book was really good. It was a page turner and written eloquently. I thought the author captured the voice of the south very well. The narrator, Ivorie, actually reminded me a bit of Sookie Stackhouse in the way that she was southern, bubbly, and not the norm compared to the people around. I suppose she was much like Sookie in the ways that most of her friends disapprove of her choices, but she stands by them anyway.

I honestly wasn’t sure what would happen in the book, so it kept me guessing. I loved Ivorie’s personality, her big heart, and her dog, Sally. She opens her heart to a small, filthy, and abused child. This is such a tender southern story. I don’t read much southern show more fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. All of the characters were well described and I felt like I knew them all. The narration switches between Ivorie and the boy, and later, Ivorie’s brother Henry. When Ivorie takes in the boy, I was surprised by the hostility of the townsfolk, and even more surprised by some of the characters who were supportive.

I tend to avoid stories set in such times where women weren’t really seen as equal, because a lot of times, the women in the book disappoint me. I love to see female characters challenge the norm, which is probably why I loved Ivorie so much. While still sticking to the tight knit community feeling that I’m sure those towns had back in those days, the author manages to present a female character with guts.

I would definitely recommend this book to others, as it was well written and enjoyable, set in a believable small Tennessee town in the 1950’s. Great read! show less

THE GOOD DREAM by Donna Van Liere
This was a quick read that held my attention to the end. The story has two problems that occur to me. Although the action takes place only over a summer, the relationships that developed would likely take much longer to develop in “real life.” Also, the boy’s disability (cleft palate) is unrealistically presented.
Setting aside the believability factor, the tale is well told, the characters are well developed and the place and time of the story are realistic and well described. The conversation and actions of the characters are correct for the time and place.
Van Liere is described as a “Christian” writer but this tale is only briefly and peripherally “Christian”, rather the people and show more actions are those of well-meaning and moral people of any, or no, faith. I was pleased that not all the situations and persons get a happy ending in this charming tale of life in small town 1950’s era Tennessee.
3 ½ stars of 5 show less