Hannah's Dream

On the surface "Hannah's Dream" is the story of a motley crew of characters who come together to save an elephant living in a run-down zoo. On a deeper level it's about how we find and choose the people who will become a part of our life's story.
I can't say strongly enough how much I loved this book! For me, it was all about the characters. I simply fell in love with each of them and became immersed in their story. From Johnson Johnson the eccentric artist to Truman the precise and careful accountant, Neva the expert elephant handler and Sam the intuitive one, even Miles the pig was irresistible! I was not ready to let any of them go by the end. This is a funny, generous, warm book that will leave you feeling good.

3.5***

Sam Brown has been caring for Hannah, an Asian elephant, for over forty years, since shortly after she came to the Max Biedelman Zoo in the small agricultural town of Bladenham, Washington. Max Biedelman was really Maxine, the daughter and heiress of a wealthy lumber tycoon. She loved animals and nature and had quite the private collection of exotic animals. She willed her property, including the zoo and all its animals, to the city. But now a new zoo director has arrived, and Harriet Saul is determined to turn this place around. Unfortunately, her goals don’t have anything to do with proper care of the animals and Hannah will be the one to suffer most. Unless Sam and his colleagues and friends can find a way to save her.

This show more was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it. But then, if a book has an elephant in it, I’m bound to be a fan. I really liked Sam, his wife Corina, and Neva Wilson, the young zookeeper who comes to help.

The story moves back and forth in time, sometimes going to the early days when Max Biedelman was still alive, and Sam first came to work as Hannah’s keeper. The writing isn’t stellar, and the characters are out of central casting. But the basic story line was still enjoyable and kept me turning pages. There’s a subplot dealing with Max’s relationship with the charming, if frail, Miss Effie, that does little to advance the main plot, but which was handled sensitively. show less

I loved this novel .I loved all the characters. Sam, the simple, devoted elephant keeper and his wife Corinna, who treat Hannah , the elephant like their child. I loved the matriarch of the Zoo Max Biedelman, a woman who really was a man. And there is Truman and his son Winslow and their pig Miles who are delightful characters although apparently you never remember Truman no matter how many time you meet him. The villian in the story is Harriet who dresses up at Max Biedelman and cannot even get being a villian right. Don't forget Johnson Johnson who makes the drum set for Hannah. They are all supporting characters for Hannah the elephant . Her story and the story of her "family" is told with warmth, sweetness and great humor.

I love books about elephants so this one was right up my street. It tells the story of Hannah, an elephant who has lived in the Max L Biedelman zoo for 41 years, with no contact with other elephants. She has a devoted keeper in Samson Brown, who has been with her all the time she has been at the zoo, and he and his wife absolutely adore Hannah. However, Sam isn't in good health and needs to retire but won't leave Hannah at the zoo on her own so a plan is hatched to get her into an elephant sanctuary. The director of the zoo isn't pleased about this as Hannah is her biggest attraction.

This is a lovely story. It's quite sugary at times (in a Fannie Flagg kind of way) but I really enjoyed it. Hannah is a lovely elephant and Sam's love for show more her shines through in the story. It's a heartwarming tale and I gave an 'aah' at the end. show less

I don't believe that I've ever read a novel that told of a love story between an animal and humans. But this book covered that, and did it in a way that I loved it throughout it. Hannah's character is just so loveable that I found myself rooting for her and wanting to really go into the book to see her in action. And this is something definitely out-of-character for me. Mostly because I'm afraid of all animals. I think I like animals in the way that all kids do, when they choose their "favourite animal"-- it's for the most part, from afar. But to actually be near an animal scares the wits out of me. Anyways, back to the novel, I loved the idea of a pig bonding with the organized father and son pair. It's a funny thing to imagine yet show more totally captivating. Definitely a book worth reading for those who haven't yet. show less

What a touching story that leads to so much thinking: religion, love, leadership styles, and so much more.

I really enjoy the relationships in this story: animal/human, adult/adult/, adult/child, employer/employee, friend/friend, parent/child).

The relationship between Max (Maxine) and Miss Effie and their lifestyle reminds me so much of the lifestyle that existed at Topsmead in Litchfield, CT during roughly the same time frame (early - mid 1900s). At one point, when Harriet is trying to act as Max, Harriet states about Miss Effie: "She wasn't important" (100). Corinna had asked who would be playing Miss Effie and that was Harriet's answer. How wrong Harriet was about Miss Effie not being important.

Poor Harriet had no idea how to have show more relationships with others. She couldn't have relationships with others because she didn't understand them at all.

Several of the statements in this novel are so true: "Well, maybe that's so, sir [how Sam refers to Maxine], but I'd [Sam] rather appreciate what I've got than die of wanting what I can't have" (129).

This story will stay with me for a long time. I wish Hammond would write another book about Max's trips abroad. show less

I loved this book. I was sorry to have it end. I have read this plot in numerous books, but it didn't matter in this story. The characters were delightful. I liked the elephant and pot bellied pig the best. Don't miss this one for some pleasant, escape reading. I was in the hair salon when I finished the book and had to shed a few tears. Blessedly I was under the dryer, so I don't think I was noticed. Enjoy!