Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Book of Dreams” as Want to Read:
The Book of Dreams
by
The next novel from Nina George, author of the blockbuster bestsellers
The Little Paris Bookshop
and
The Little French Bistro
, about the spaces between lives and realities and loves both lost and coming home
When Henri ends up in a coma after rescuing a young girl from the Thames, his ex-girlfriend, Eddie, discovers that she is listed as Henr ...more
When Henri ends up in a coma after rescuing a young girl from the Thames, his ex-girlfriend, Eddie, discovers that she is listed as Henr ...more
Get A Copy
Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Published
April 9th 2019
by Crown
(first published March 17th 2016)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Book of Dreams,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Nancy Brady
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of The Book of Dreams

Mar 09, 2019
Paromjit
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literary-fiction,
netgalley
Whilst The Book of Dreams by Nina George is not perfect, there is nevertheless much to love about this profoundly moving novel about what it is to be human and just how much momentous decisions define the life path for a person. In this complex and complicated book of family drama, relationships and human emotions, ex-war reporter, Henry Skinner, is on his way to meet his estranged teenage son, Sam, when he finds himself saving the life of a young girl in the River Thames. Unfortunately the most
...more

Powerful, moving, and poetic, Nina George's newest novel,
The Book of Dreams
, is absolutely exquisite. It's so different from other books I've read recently, and it is one I won't soon forget.
"Maybe we're all stories that someone is reading, and maybe that will save us before we ultimately expire?"
Henri Skinner was once a renowned war reporter whose eyes have seen first-hand the horrors of our world. Shaped by tragedy at an early age, he is a passionate person, one prone to acting before he ...more
"Maybe we're all stories that someone is reading, and maybe that will save us before we ultimately expire?"
Henri Skinner was once a renowned war reporter whose eyes have seen first-hand the horrors of our world. Shaped by tragedy at an early age, he is a passionate person, one prone to acting before he ...more

This has been a wonderful journey - it's like `Inception`, but unplanned and with no control or deception!
The Book of Dreams is the story of Henri Skinner. Henri, a former war correspondent, is hit by a car after rescuing a child from drowning. And, he goes into a coma, but fights his way back from the `in-between world` to the world of living - and the most important part of this tale are the reasons which bring back Henri to life again - the love for his sweetheart Eddie and son Samuel. This s ...more
The Book of Dreams is the story of Henri Skinner. Henri, a former war correspondent, is hit by a car after rescuing a child from drowning. And, he goes into a coma, but fights his way back from the `in-between world` to the world of living - and the most important part of this tale are the reasons which bring back Henri to life again - the love for his sweetheart Eddie and son Samuel. This s ...more

A beautifully written book, richly metaphorical, about hovering in the space between life and death. It follows Henri, in a coma after an accident, and how he tries to interact with his loved ones and they in turn with him. Poignant and profound, we explore the feelings of loss, hope and grief, all at once.
Yet, even though I can appreciate the beauty of this book, it really wasn't for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Yet, even though I can appreciate the beauty of this book, it really wasn't for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I picked up this book, and I mean that in the best possible way. This is the type of book I will be thinking about for awhile. I think the author really took a chance with this one and maybe it won't be for everyone, but I'm pretty darn glad I read it.
The story in some ways is a bit tricky to explain without getting into spoiler territory so I'm gonna keep it brief and simple. The less you know is probably best in this case. Henri Skinner is set ...more
The story in some ways is a bit tricky to explain without getting into spoiler territory so I'm gonna keep it brief and simple. The less you know is probably best in this case. Henri Skinner is set ...more

The Book of Dreams surprised me in the best of ways. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’m a fan of Nina George’s Little Paris Bookshop, and I noticed right away that her trademark warmth imbued on every page of The Book of Dreams.
Henri Skinner, one of our main characters, is a former war reporter. He’s rough around the edges, and the war has shaped him. He’s going to visit his son, Sam, who he doesn’t really know.
While literally on his way to see his son, he is injured and rushed to the hospital. While there, he i ...more
I’m a fan of Nina George’s Little Paris Bookshop, and I noticed right away that her trademark warmth imbued on every page of The Book of Dreams.
Henri Skinner, one of our main characters, is a former war reporter. He’s rough around the edges, and the war has shaped him. He’s going to visit his son, Sam, who he doesn’t really know.
While literally on his way to see his son, he is injured and rushed to the hospital. While there, he i ...more

The ripples of tragedies were too sensory overloaded for me.
So, while I was engaged in the story from the start, I was grappling with the believability chain-
-of events as well.
With several mishaps - right away - they didn’t feel authentically believable to me....but...
ok, I went with it.
I appreciated the concept of this book - ( especially the authors personal connection to this novel - with her own father’s death ), but I honestly wasn’t drawn to reading it until recently when my friend, ver ...more
So, while I was engaged in the story from the start, I was grappling with the believability chain-
-of events as well.
With several mishaps - right away - they didn’t feel authentically believable to me....but...
ok, I went with it.
I appreciated the concept of this book - ( especially the authors personal connection to this novel - with her own father’s death ), but I honestly wasn’t drawn to reading it until recently when my friend, ver ...more

4.5 Stars
”Maybe our lives are nothing but stories that are being read by other people.”
Henri Skinner, a man who was once-upon-a-time a war reporter, has just jumped off the Hammersmith Bridge as this story begins, desperate to save the life of a young girl who had fallen overboard.
”The river is dragging her along. It wants to own her.”
But Henri wins this time. It is only after he is on land, carrying this girl to safety that he begins to worry about being late to get to the school where ...more
”Maybe our lives are nothing but stories that are being read by other people.”
Henri Skinner, a man who was once-upon-a-time a war reporter, has just jumped off the Hammersmith Bridge as this story begins, desperate to save the life of a young girl who had fallen overboard.
”The river is dragging her along. It wants to own her.”
But Henri wins this time. It is only after he is on land, carrying this girl to safety that he begins to worry about being late to get to the school where ...more

I loved this book and I have no idea how to convey why. It deals in the spaces between so-called reality that we all share, but not all of us know it. And it deals with places that are possibly just as real that we only traverse alone.
If you can accept the profundity of the simple lyrics “Row, row, your boat, gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream” and are comfortable with this notion, you will understand and appreciate this book of dreams. It takes the ...more
If you can accept the profundity of the simple lyrics “Row, row, your boat, gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream” and are comfortable with this notion, you will understand and appreciate this book of dreams. It takes the ...more

A heart-tugging story of devotion and hope. Nina George has created beautiful characters and compelling relational dynamics. I especially loved Sam, an extraordinary boy who is astute beyond his years. I wanted to give him a giant bear hug and make his dreams come true.
George excelled at putting her thoughts to paper, especially as they relate to Sam’s journey to find peace and love and Henri’s alternating states of awareness as he remained trapped between two worlds. A profound and thought-prov ...more
George excelled at putting her thoughts to paper, especially as they relate to Sam’s journey to find peace and love and Henri’s alternating states of awareness as he remained trapped between two worlds. A profound and thought-prov ...more

This was not a bad book. For me there were just parts of it that took a bit of pushing myself through it, which made reading it difficult to get through at times. The premise of the story was interesting and different than I've read, so it wasn't terrible. The characters where likable and unique. They were a bit strange at times or maybe it was the story that was strange at times or maybe it was the relationships that were strange, I'm just not sure.
I knew what would happen in the end, but it wa ...more
I knew what would happen in the end, but it wa ...more

Have you ever watched a comedy where so many jokes are made that some of them are bound to make you laugh? The sheer volume of gags ensures that you're constantly tickled, even if most of the jokes fail. Turn that comedy into a book, trade out the humor for attempts at poetic beauty, and you've got Nina George's The Book of Dreams. Part metaphysical romance, part coming-of-age tale, The Book of Dreams is cluttered with imagery. Whatever ease and elegance it otherwise possesses, George's meanderi
...more

I love Nina George's books. They are perfection. I bought them all in hardcover (after already having the paperback). Perfection.
...more

I will not be summarizing this story. Instead, I will be reviewing my likes and dislikes. I feel the summary for the story that is provided by the publishers is accurate.
The premise for this book is a challenging but rewarding experience.
It is difficult to predict the story, characters decisions, and the ending due to the natural unknown elements in life that the author attempts to tackle. The topics of dreams, life, death, after-life, and those in between are poetically posed and philosophicall ...more
The premise for this book is a challenging but rewarding experience.
It is difficult to predict the story, characters decisions, and the ending due to the natural unknown elements in life that the author attempts to tackle. The topics of dreams, life, death, after-life, and those in between are poetically posed and philosophicall ...more

Started out great, slogged through the middle, and the ending was so very disappointing. After sticking with the characters for that long the choices made by Henri in the end made no sense. What a let down.
There is a great tone to the start of the book and I think the author had a good concept but ultimately this book just let me down.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review.
There is a great tone to the start of the book and I think the author had a good concept but ultimately this book just let me down.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review.

The story eventually captured my attention, but if I’m being honest... I was hoping for a different conclusion.

I enjoy Nina George's writing. I loved The Little Paris Bookshop and the The Litte French Bistro, and hoped to recapture another heartwarming reading experience.
I was excited to see that she had a new book out and really didn't read the synopsis before diving in. Big mistake
Having recently lost my brother 10 months ago to cancer, my mother two months ago to stroke and cancer, and now facing a hospitalization with my father, this book is just too intense and painful for me at this phase of my l ...more
I was excited to see that she had a new book out and really didn't read the synopsis before diving in. Big mistake
Having recently lost my brother 10 months ago to cancer, my mother two months ago to stroke and cancer, and now facing a hospitalization with my father, this book is just too intense and painful for me at this phase of my l ...more

Nina George admits that she has always been afraid of death - her own and that of those close to her that she loves.
"... existential questions about death have colored my last three novels, The Little Paris Bookshop, The Little Breton Bistro, and The Book of Dreams . To produce these books, which address issues of being and no-longer-being, have no happy endings, and are therefore not very “market friendly,” I needed book people who were willing to tread this kind of literary path with me."
This ...more
"... existential questions about death have colored my last three novels, The Little Paris Bookshop, The Little Breton Bistro, and The Book of Dreams . To produce these books, which address issues of being and no-longer-being, have no happy endings, and are therefore not very “market friendly,” I needed book people who were willing to tread this kind of literary path with me."
This ...more

A heart-tugging story of devotion and hope. Nina George has created beautiful characters and compelling relational dynamics. I especially loved Sam, an extraordinary boy who is astute beyond his years. I wanted to give him a giant bear hug and make his dreams come true.
George excelled at putting her thoughts to paper, especially as they relate to Sam’s journey to find peace and love and Henri’s alternating states of awareness as he remained trapped between two worlds. A profound and thought-prov ...more
George excelled at putting her thoughts to paper, especially as they relate to Sam’s journey to find peace and love and Henri’s alternating states of awareness as he remained trapped between two worlds. A profound and thought-prov ...more

The Book of Dreams is a fascinating read that grabs the reader tightly and demands attention. The unique narrative is written in the first person from each of the main characters' point of view, thus the reader is able experience the story from multiple angles. Nina George effectively explores the depths of human relationships, and looks intently at both the good side and the bad. Ultimately this is a story of redemption, and each characters journey to find it is heartbreaking, yet inspiring. Th
...more

The Book of Dreams was published in Germany four years ago, but is only now being released as an English translation. In the April edition of Good Reading magazine, Nina George talks about her own experiences with the rare neurological condition of synaesthesia. After writing nearly 30 books under five different pen names, The Book of Dreams is the first time she’s written about the condition. I have to say, reading that Nina herself is a synesthete really added a layer of credibility to this no
...more

A very emotional read; 4.5, and perhaps a very personal reaction to a book.
According to the author's postscript, this is the final book in a cycle of novels (starting with The Little Paris Bookshop) dealing with the theme of mortality.
Henri, an ex-war reporter/native of Brittany coast, is on his way to see his son, Sam, for the first time when he rescues a little girl from the Thames & is then ricocheted into the path of an oncoming car and he is seriously brain injured.
The book covers his 45 ...more
According to the author's postscript, this is the final book in a cycle of novels (starting with The Little Paris Bookshop) dealing with the theme of mortality.
Henri, an ex-war reporter/native of Brittany coast, is on his way to see his son, Sam, for the first time when he rescues a little girl from the Thames & is then ricocheted into the path of an oncoming car and he is seriously brain injured.
The book covers his 45 ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

It's been several week since I read this book and I find my mind returning to it often. Because of this, I've changed my rating of it from a 4 to a 5 star. When a book engages your imagination and your thinking, it is a marvel.
Henri is on his way to meet his teenage son whom he has not seen since he was born. While on the way to the school he notices a young girl fall off a boat and jumps off the bridge to rescue her. He successfully brings her a shore and while engaging the bystanders, wonderin ...more
Henri is on his way to meet his teenage son whom he has not seen since he was born. While on the way to the school he notices a young girl fall off a boat and jumps off the bridge to rescue her. He successfully brings her a shore and while engaging the bystanders, wonderin ...more

The Book of Dreams is a tough read, y'all. The subject matter within it challenged me to the highest degree. I wasn't prepared. This type of book, full of speculation, is not what I enjoy reading; it's too much work. I still don't know if I fully "got it" but I feel like I got the gist. It deals with consciousness and whether we can communicate with each other in each other's dreams, in a kind of an alternate connection. By that I mean, communicating with someone while in a coma. I wasn't exactl
...more

Beautifully written story with unforgettable characters navigating through the many questions that connect us to our world and each other. Having lived through most of the experiences in this story I felt that Ms. George does indeed understand the struggle we all face in being human. A Must Read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this incredible story!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this incredible story!
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Adult Fiction. London, grumpy man falls into river and is hospitalized. Son has to decide to keep him on life support or not. Narrated by son and father. [s] | 4 | 13 | Nov 30, 2020 05:33AM | |
East Fishkill Com...: Our November book - The Book of Dreams | 1 | 6 | Nov 02, 2019 07:20AM | |
Were you left thinking after finishing this book? Will you change how you make life decisions? | 2 | 10 | May 19, 2019 06:59AM |
ENG (for German Bio please scroll down).
Born 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany, Nina George is a prize-winning and bestselling author (“Das Lavendelzimmer” – “The Little Paris Bookshop”) and freelance journalist since 1992, who has published 26 books (novels, mysteries and non-fiction) as well as over hundred short stories and more than 600 columns. George has worked as a cop reporter, columnist and mana ...more
Born 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany, Nina George is a prize-winning and bestselling author (“Das Lavendelzimmer” – “The Little Paris Bookshop”) and freelance journalist since 1992, who has published 26 books (novels, mysteries and non-fiction) as well as over hundred short stories and more than 600 columns. George has worked as a cop reporter, columnist and mana ...more
News & Interviews
Die-hard mystery fans are always on the hunt for their next supremely satisfying whodunit. To help you stock that Want to Read shelf, we asked...
46 likes · 21 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Maybe our lives are nothing but stories that are being read by other people.”
—
11 likes
“Coincidences are surprising events whose meaning only becomes apparent in retrospect. They're a chance to change your life, and you can either seize that opportunity or spurn it.”
—
6 likes
More quotes…