Dream Country
by Luanne Rice
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Jewelry maker Daisy Tucker's remarkable talent has earned her a devoted, growing clientele. Her necklaces and bracelets are fashioned of polished stone and delicately etched bone, crafted into pieces inspired by family stories, myths, and Native American lore. But it is not just because of its unique beauty that her jewelry is prized -- word has spread that Daisy's creations bring love into the lives of those who wear them. Once, years ago, Daisy's work had brought love into her own life. show more Just out of college, she had traveled to the wilderness of Wyoming's Wind River Mountains in search of inspiration for her art. What she found was rancher James Tucker, a man with the wilderness inside him. Their life together was as close to paradise as a family could get -- until the day their three-year-old son, Jake, disappeared without a trace in the wild country they both had loved. Her heart broken, her marriage in tatters, Daisy returned home to Connecticut with Jake's twin sister, Sage. Wyoming had taken everything from her but her livelihood. Now, thirteen years later, Wyoming wants more. Sixteen-year-old Sage, whose bedroom walls are covered with posters of the West, is on a dangerous pilgrimage across a vast continent to a father she has longed for but lived without for most of her life. Sage's thirst to see the land and father of her dreams, and learn more about her lost twin, is driving her westward on freight trains and farm roads. Daisy, terrified, flies out to where it all began, to where James Tucker now rides the range with a heart turned to stone, still scouring the canyons for Jake. show lessTags
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I’m not a fan of westerns. And this story is a family drama (contemporary fiction) that just happens to be set on a Wyoming ranch. But that setting was beautifully painted; it was all just enough to let my inner cowgirl enjoy it, without getting all-western-y on me.
The three things around which this story revolves (all revealed in the first chapter, so I don’t think this will be considered spoiler-ish), are the loss of a young child on the ranch, the subsequent divorce of the parents with mother and daughter moving back East, then the teenager running away.
The story was told in a lyrical, rather dream-like, way, with much mingling of the requisite first people spirituality. I didn’t find that over the top, but it was mighty show more close to the edge for my taste, with many passages like these: “This reminded her of her mother: the studio filled with feathers, bones, rocks, and gold wire. Dream-catchers – netted hoops she had once hung over her infants’ cribs to catch the good dreams floating by – hung from the ceiling. Her mother was the most spiritual person Sage knew, believing in seeking spirits for their dreams, visions, and help. . . .” “…talking to the spirit world through bones and gold.”
Daisy is a jewelry artist from Connecticut, having found her husband-to-be whilst in the west looking for inspiration for her jewelry designs. She weaves Indian myths and family stories into her art; and her heart and fingers are so full of magic, that her customers tell her that love found them while wearing her jewelry. Having found love, herself, she married and stayed in Wyoming, where their twins were born. If you’re still reading, be warned, I’m veering toward spoiler-ness now. Out on the ranch one day with his father, James, and the other cowboys, three year old Jake is lost. The crew scours the area for him for days on end. Daisy is devastated and finally takes their daughter, Sage, to raise her back East. Daisy cannot make herself return to the ranch. James cannot let himself leave the ranch; he is ever searching for evidence of what happened to Jake. Thirteen years later, Sage runs away, heading back to see the father that she hasn’t set eyes on since they moved. Too much would be revealed to say any more about the plot.
The characterization was nicely done: Tucker, James’ father, who is beginning to suffer Alzheimer symptoms. Louisa, his life partner since the death of his wife, enduring dislike from James. James, with his broken heart, and guilt over losing Jake. Daisy, with her shattered dreams, and hope-filled art. Sage, a normal teenager, dreadfully missing her father. The ranch hands, the people encountered during Sage’s trip west, the locals in Wyoming, Daisy’s sister in Connecticut – these were all very believable, not cardboard cutouts.
Even taking into account all the spirit-this and spirit-that, the story, itself, drew me in. It was a satisfying read from beginning to end. Nothing fancy, but well written. show less
The three things around which this story revolves (all revealed in the first chapter, so I don’t think this will be considered spoiler-ish), are the loss of a young child on the ranch, the subsequent divorce of the parents with mother and daughter moving back East, then the teenager running away.
The story was told in a lyrical, rather dream-like, way, with much mingling of the requisite first people spirituality. I didn’t find that over the top, but it was mighty show more close to the edge for my taste, with many passages like these: “This reminded her of her mother: the studio filled with feathers, bones, rocks, and gold wire. Dream-catchers – netted hoops she had once hung over her infants’ cribs to catch the good dreams floating by – hung from the ceiling. Her mother was the most spiritual person Sage knew, believing in seeking spirits for their dreams, visions, and help. . . .” “…talking to the spirit world through bones and gold.”
Daisy is a jewelry artist from Connecticut, having found her husband-to-be whilst in the west looking for inspiration for her jewelry designs. She weaves Indian myths and family stories into her art; and her heart and fingers are so full of magic, that her customers tell her that love found them while wearing her jewelry. Having found love, herself, she married and stayed in Wyoming, where their twins were born. If you’re still reading, be warned, I’m veering toward spoiler-ness now. Out on the ranch one day with his father, James, and the other cowboys, three year old Jake is lost. The crew scours the area for him for days on end. Daisy is devastated and finally takes their daughter, Sage, to raise her back East. Daisy cannot make herself return to the ranch. James cannot let himself leave the ranch; he is ever searching for evidence of what happened to Jake. Thirteen years later, Sage runs away, heading back to see the father that she hasn’t set eyes on since they moved. Too much would be revealed to say any more about the plot.
The characterization was nicely done: Tucker, James’ father, who is beginning to suffer Alzheimer symptoms. Louisa, his life partner since the death of his wife, enduring dislike from James. James, with his broken heart, and guilt over losing Jake. Daisy, with her shattered dreams, and hope-filled art. Sage, a normal teenager, dreadfully missing her father. The ranch hands, the people encountered during Sage’s trip west, the locals in Wyoming, Daisy’s sister in Connecticut – these were all very believable, not cardboard cutouts.
Even taking into account all the spirit-this and spirit-that, the story, itself, drew me in. It was a satisfying read from beginning to end. Nothing fancy, but well written. show less
Many years ago, having just gotten out of college, jewelry maker Daisy Tucker had traveled to the wilderness of the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming in search of inspiration to fuel her art. What she had found was rancher James Tucker, a man with the wilderness inside him. Their life together was as close to paradise as a family could get - until the day their three-year-old son Jake disappeared without a trace. Her heart broken, her marriage in tatters, Daisy returned to Connecticut with Jake's twin sister, Sage.
It was just a typical argument, one of hundreds that Daisy had had with her teenage daughter, Sage, over the years. However, this particular argument had ended differently, with Sage gone from their Connecticut home in the show more morning, leaving behind only a brief note: "I have to go." Daisy tried to stay calm; she tried not to overreact; tried to remind herself that this situation was completely different from what had happened thirteen years earlier to Jake. Yes, this was an entirely different situation from a little boy disappearing into the canyons of Wyoming, never to be found. Sage was sixteen years old and resourceful. She would be found.
As Daisy returns to the Tucker ranch to wait and pray for Sage's safe arrival, what she can't know is that Sage has undertaken a dangerous cross-country pilgrimage to find her father. Desperate to find her daughter, Daisy will return to Wyoming, to the place that once took everything she had. She will also learn that you can never close the door on the past, but sometimes, if you step through it, it can lead you home...
I found this book to be quite engrossing - filled with lots of intertwined story lines and endearing characters. At 504 pages, I would classify this book as a modern-day family saga; definite summer reading for anyone who likes to read books about families. I give Dream Country by Luanne Rice an A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future. show less
It was just a typical argument, one of hundreds that Daisy had had with her teenage daughter, Sage, over the years. However, this particular argument had ended differently, with Sage gone from their Connecticut home in the show more morning, leaving behind only a brief note: "I have to go." Daisy tried to stay calm; she tried not to overreact; tried to remind herself that this situation was completely different from what had happened thirteen years earlier to Jake. Yes, this was an entirely different situation from a little boy disappearing into the canyons of Wyoming, never to be found. Sage was sixteen years old and resourceful. She would be found.
As Daisy returns to the Tucker ranch to wait and pray for Sage's safe arrival, what she can't know is that Sage has undertaken a dangerous cross-country pilgrimage to find her father. Desperate to find her daughter, Daisy will return to Wyoming, to the place that once took everything she had. She will also learn that you can never close the door on the past, but sometimes, if you step through it, it can lead you home...
I found this book to be quite engrossing - filled with lots of intertwined story lines and endearing characters. At 504 pages, I would classify this book as a modern-day family saga; definite summer reading for anyone who likes to read books about families. I give Dream Country by Luanne Rice an A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future. show less
Dream Country by Luanne Rice
Have loved the authors other works
Jeweler maker Daisy Tucker flies to the west to find her daughter, Sage at her husbands ranch. Her 3yr old son Jake had walked away one year and left them all devastated.
Her creations after the American Indian society have brought others love. Love what each piece represents to the one receiving the jewelry.
The detectives come and ask questions about Sage to try to figure out where she could've gone to...then find the positive pregnancy test strip...
Chapters from James side of the story in Wyoming and his father and the ranch, he tries to keep busy because he still hears his 3 yr old crying, 13 years later...
Chapters from Sage and her boyfriend Ben's story along the way as show more they travel to her fathers ranch. She still thinks of her twin brother Jake who had just wandered away.
We find out how Daisy and James met and their early life along with Sage's journey across the country to the ranch....interesting to find out what they symbols represent.
As Daisy travels to Wyoming to be there when Sage gets there she reunites with the family... Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less
Have loved the authors other works
Jeweler maker Daisy Tucker flies to the west to find her daughter, Sage at her husbands ranch. Her 3yr old son Jake had walked away one year and left them all devastated.
Her creations after the American Indian society have brought others love. Love what each piece represents to the one receiving the jewelry.
The detectives come and ask questions about Sage to try to figure out where she could've gone to...then find the positive pregnancy test strip...
Chapters from James side of the story in Wyoming and his father and the ranch, he tries to keep busy because he still hears his 3 yr old crying, 13 years later...
Chapters from Sage and her boyfriend Ben's story along the way as show more they travel to her fathers ranch. She still thinks of her twin brother Jake who had just wandered away.
We find out how Daisy and James met and their early life along with Sage's journey across the country to the ranch....interesting to find out what they symbols represent.
As Daisy travels to Wyoming to be there when Sage gets there she reunites with the family... Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less
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71+ Works 15,406 Members
Novelist Luanne Rice was born in Old Lyme, Connecticut on September 25, 1955. She has written over twenty books and her stories, such as Home Fires and Cloud Nine, depict average people in emotionally complex situations. Many of her novels have been adapted into TV movies including Crazy in Love (1992) which starred Holly Hunter, Bill Pullman and show more Gena Rowlands, and Blue Moon (1999) which starred Sharon Lawrence, Kim Hunter and Richard Kiley. She currently splits her time between New York City and Old Lyme, Connecticut. (Bowker Author Biography) Luanne Rice is the author of Follow the Stars Home, Cloud Nine, Secrets of Paris, Stone Heart, Angels All over Town, Home Fires, Crazy in Love (made into a TNT Network feature movie), and Blue Moon, which has been made into a CBS television movie. Originally from Connecticut, she now lives in New York City with her husband. (Publisher Provided) Luanne Rice is the author of ten novels, most recently Dream Country, Follow the Stars Home, and Cloud Nine. She lives in New York City and Old Lyme, Connecticut, with her husband. (Publisher Provided) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Beleef de droom
- Original publication date
- 2001-02
- People/Characters
- Daisy Tucker; James Tucker; Sage Tucker; Jake Tucker; Dalton Tucker; Louisa Rydell (show all 7); David Crane
- Important places
- Wyoming, USA; Connecticut, USA
- Dedication
- To Bob
- First words
- At seven A.M., Daisey Tucker paused at the foot of the stairs to smell the laundry she held in her arms.
- Quotations
- Making jewelry, she used myths, family stories, western and New England Indian lore in her work. Using sharp tools, she etched fine designs in the bone, filling them with black ink like tattoos or scrimshaw. She used dot, c... (show all)ircle-and-dot, and concentric circle designs to symbolize love, eternity, and spiritual vision. … There were so many different kinds of love in the world, and everyone wanted it. To fall in love, to heal broken hearts, to bring families back together. “You don’t have customers,” Hathaway said. “You have devotees.”
He knew that this wasn’t his real life, that Sage Tucker would never be his wife, that he thought of the child inside her as a mistake, not someone he wanted to live on a ranch with. Holding the trembling girl in his arms,... (show all) he still felt love, and in that moment Ben learned something terrible: that love wasn’t always enough.
When you were Louisa’s age and sitting in a hospital room by the bedside of your infirm beloved, you wanted your family by your side. You wanted to remember that you were loved and cherished, that you had made a difference... (show all) in this world, that your spirit would live on. Crises made you realize that no one goes on forever, that this precious life was over in a snap – just like that. And it made you want your offspring to reassure you that they would be there and love you till the end.
His thoughts were slippery things, like trying to hold an armful of snakes – serpent slithering off into dark corners the more he tried to hold on to them. And just about as nasty, too: Wills, death and memory loss were n... (show all)ot pretty thoughts. But if he didn’t take care of this now, he might forget forever.
She looked so frail, standing by the window, looking out at those big, snow-covered mountains. Such fine bones, such sorrow in her posture, the attitude of waiting hanging on her like a black shawl… - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Still holding the bouquet of wildflowers, Dana turned around, and together she and the young boy of long ago walked slowly past the white church toward the gallery and its waiting crowd.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)(Last words, From ISBN 0-553-80119-8) James Tucker shouted as loud as he could, his booming voice echoing again and again off the dark red cliffs of the Wind River mountains: “Thank you!”
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)(Last words, From ISBN 0-553-80119-8) Epilogue: “They’re back!” Jake Tucker shouted with all his might. He was smiling, too, waving like someone who felt excited to be part of a family whose legend included snow geese and Washakie, exactly like someone who was riding home with his twin sister, on their way to the wedding of their parents: someone who very much intended to stick around and hear them say, “I do”. - Blurbers
- Krentz, Jayne Ann; Hoag, Tami; Dunne, Dominick; Gill, Brendan
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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