Another unexpected winner, a real fresh surprise

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  The Dreamers offers a wholly unique novel filled with eloquence, tenderness and a medical mystery. I dithered between a 4 and 5 star rating but the dazzling quality of the writing alone deserves 5, so 5 it is!

In The Dreamers a mysterious sleeping sickness takes hold in a small college town in California. One moment a student seems fine, the next he/she is asleep with no way to rouse them. It seems contagious, jumping from student to student, but by what means? Quarantines are established but things, eventually, get out of hand and life changes drastically for anyone caught in Santa Lora.

The scope of this novel delivers more than just an unusual survival situation. It is extremely personal as we delve into the thoughts and fears of a handful of inhabitants within Santa Lora. Their stories are touchingly conveyed to the reader in beautifully constructed prose. The situation being so strange sparks panic and the fear is captured perfectly in the pages of this book. Not just fear, though, but for some a sense of duty leads them to great heights.

Where this book is heading is anyone's guess but the journey is entirely worthwhile. The characters are fully formed and people you would care about. I felt such a kinship with all the people we tracked through this crisis. I shared their hopes, tears and concerns and could not wait to see how this special novel ended. I loved it! Completely fresh and a great reading experience.