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businesscasualcowboy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Dream Life is a bit of a gay Lolita, but we get to hear the perspectives of both the adult tutor, Holly, and the child student he runs off with (kidnaps), Jed. Each chapter alternates between Holly and Jed in the first person, reflecting on their time together, which I appreciated. If it was only Holly’s POV, I would not have been able to get through it.
As with Lolita, it is very difficult to read about an adult sexualizing and taking advantage of a child. Jed is with Holly from the ages of 13-15. Holly is Jed’s first sexual experience. By 14, Holly begins tricking out Jed out of suspect necessity. It seems Holly begins trafficking Jed simply because Holly had been a child prostitute. Overall, Jed is wholly robbed of age-appropriate sexual exploration and intimacy. He is not held captive, though. Once he grows resentful, he speaks his mind and leaves Holly.
Even though we get Holly and Jed’s perspectives, the focus still seems to be on Holly — what happened to him to make him the way he is. It seems as though the place from which they are both reflecting on these events is not that far into the future. Jed is still young and may not grasp just how much he has been harmed.
I’m still processing what the ultimate takeaway seems to be from this story. In the afterward by Rebecca Brown, a friend of the late author, she speaks of Huston’s compassion for his characters — “Bo Huston looked at his characters with mercy and love, and very much with pity.” That may be it. I don’t know if that is enough for me.
While The Dream Life is challenging in terms of content, it is ✨beautifully✨ written. Every page truly sings. Each character feels vivid with their own strong, unique voice. I don’t know that I would truly recommend this book at this time, but I’m very eager to get my hands on more of Huston’s writing. And it’s heartbreaking that such a talented writer was taken too young.
As with Lolita, it is very difficult to read about an adult sexualizing and taking advantage of a child.
Even though we get Holly and Jed’s perspectives, the focus still seems to be on Holly — what happened to him to make him the way he is. It seems as though the place from which they are both reflecting on these events is not that far into the future. Jed is still young and may not grasp just how much he has been harmed.
I’m still processing what the ultimate takeaway seems to be from this story. In the afterward by Rebecca Brown, a friend of the late author, she speaks of Huston’s compassion for his characters — “Bo Huston looked at his characters with mercy and love, and very much with pity.” That may be it. I don’t know if that is enough for me.
While The Dream Life is challenging in terms of content, it is ✨beautifully✨ written. Every page truly sings. Each character feels vivid with their own strong, unique voice. I don’t know that I would truly recommend this book at this time, but I’m very eager to get my hands on more of Huston’s writing. And it’s heartbreaking that such a talented writer was taken too young.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Trafficking, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Abortion and Racism
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