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Dreams of Eli
Southern soldier Eli West wakes in a cave and discovers he is held captive by a soldier of the Union. Shot, drugged, and tortured, he descends into the darkness and the beauty of his unconscious, uncovering a time when he was still in love, a time before war, a time before everything fell away.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 25, 2020
This was quite a story, it’s sad but also a lovely read, really well written too. I found the whole thing really engaging and found it hard to put down as our tragic tale unfolded. Yes you will need tissues for this book!
Our story centres around a young man who is held captive and while trapped he relives his earlier life in dreams and memories. Not all of them are happy memories, at times it feels like one tragedy after another. Truly heartbreaking at times.
I don’t think my review could do justice to this powerful and moving story, and that ending - what an ending. Just read this.
Definitely 5*/5.
Our story centres around a young man who is held captive and while trapped he relives his earlier life in dreams and memories. Not all of them are happy memories, at times it feels like one tragedy after another. Truly heartbreaking at times.
I don’t think my review could do justice to this powerful and moving story, and that ending - what an ending. Just read this.
Definitely 5*/5.
January 2, 2013
There should be "SIX STARS" available for beautifully written books such as this. The author captures that rare ability to evoke emotions in a person. The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, sympathize with them and cry for them. Dreams of Eli takes you on an emotional journey with his childhood friend Ezra. The story takes you back and forth through time to Eli's childhood and then to adult years. This is a story that will have you reflecting on your own life and what really is most important. Eli's journey will make you laugh and make you cry. The friendship between himself and Ezra is such a beautiful one a rare and true friendship. This is a story of love and loss and one I urge you to read. This is an original beautiful story that I will re-read again...
April 22, 2013
Dreams of Eli is a Civil War story that reunites childhood friends as adults fighting on opposite sides. That sounds like a familiar plot, but in this one Eli is a white Confederate soldier and his friend, Ezra, is a colored Union soldier. I hate people who spoil a book for me so I won't do that, but I will say the ending was not what I expected. This book is full of anguish from battle wounds mixed with dreams that held their own bittersweet pain. Eli's dreams as he lays wounded and fighting for his life had me wishing for a happy ending I knew he would never have. This is a raw story written superbly and well worth the time spent reading it.
December 28, 2012
What a great and moving story!
"Dreams of Eli" is one of those books that stay with you long after you have finished them. The book is set during the Civil War era and describes the slow recovery of a soldier wounded by his enemy's rifle. During his slow and painful recovery he had dreams of his past, flashbacks that took him back to the most beautiful and moving moments of his life. There are a few twists and turns in the plot that really took me by surprise, and the story's unexpected ending left me in tears. It's a great and moving book which I recommend highly!!!
"Dreams of Eli" is one of those books that stay with you long after you have finished them. The book is set during the Civil War era and describes the slow recovery of a soldier wounded by his enemy's rifle. During his slow and painful recovery he had dreams of his past, flashbacks that took him back to the most beautiful and moving moments of his life. There are a few twists and turns in the plot that really took me by surprise, and the story's unexpected ending left me in tears. It's a great and moving book which I recommend highly!!!
August 28, 2013
Gripping to the end--then it will blow you away!
December 3, 2012
Dreams Of Eli grants us a detailed retrospective of Eli's life and loves. The story carries you back and forth between the present(which in this novel is 1863)and points in Eli's past ranging from childhood to young adulthood. All of this is done very smoothly despite the challenge of keeping the flow of the story intact when using such a format. It's an excellent story; earthy and visceral as it is thought provoking. This is not to say that it is a dour tale, as there are many charming and humorous moments worked into the narrative, but overall it made me think and reflect upon my own life and what is important. That is the most one can hope to gain from reading a novel in my humble opinion. Anytime that a story can make me immerse myself within it and open my mind then I am happy with the experience.
If you would enjoy something unique and thoughtful to read, I encourage you to pick a copy of this or Malaika which is a novel by the same author. Mr. Heerling is adept at relating some of life's finer struggles in a way that leaves the reader feeling improved for having read his work.
If you would enjoy something unique and thoughtful to read, I encourage you to pick a copy of this or Malaika which is a novel by the same author. Mr. Heerling is adept at relating some of life's finer struggles in a way that leaves the reader feeling improved for having read his work.
November 29, 2012
I read this (second novel written by one of my "fav" authors) the day it was first released - in a single (no real choice about it) sitting. I am reviewing it now many, many books after the fact - viscerally and as memory serves. The subject/plot, potentially dark - the period (US Civil War), not really a grabber for me. That said, reading it was a completely (and surprisingly) mesmerizing, compelling, fascinating, thought-provoking, completely absorbing experience. --- It is definitely worthy of a reread, which no doubt will warrant an update to this review. --- I am really quite impressed with this author's old soul (for a young man), not to be pigeon-holed talent. Don't miss him.
April 11, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The movement back and forth between the present and the past wove in different parts of the story that added more depth as the story progressed and made it more interesting than just a chronological telling of events would have done. His budding friendship and courtship of Cora was touching. The treatment of his friend Ezra was gut-wrenching. The book brought many tears.
February 1, 2013
Author, Van Heerling gives us a story with a twist .. a sudden happening that wasn't expected. I liked that. I also like the fact that it was written in the time of the Civil War, where unusual friendships between men are formed. The love story between Eli and Cora is deep and tender. The story moves not only in actions but in emotions leaving the reader wanting more at the brave ending.
December 1, 2012
An amazingly, beautiful story that will stay with you for a long time after you have finished reading it. You will fall in love with Eli, Cora & Ezra because they are such great characters. I didn't want the story to end. Great book!
December 1, 2012
Loved the book!! =D
April 3, 2013
Well worth the time. Interesting viewpoint to approach story.
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February 11, 2021I am not quite sure how to categorize this book but it was a great read. Eli has been injured and during his convalescence, he dreams repeatedly of his love. To tell more of the story would be to spoil it of others, read the book. It kept me interested enough that I was dreaming about it. Woke up this morning and finished the book before breakfast.
February 23, 2018
Memorable characters
Eli, Ezra, Cora Samantha... they will live in my memory for a while, because of the portraits carefully drawn in this short, tense, tale of adventure.
Eli, Ezra, Cora Samantha... they will live in my memory for a while, because of the portraits carefully drawn in this short, tense, tale of adventure.
March 4, 2017
A beautiful story about the Civil War. When two young boys grow up together and are friends. One boy is black and the other is white. As the two boys grow up the Civil War breaks out and the two boys who are now men has to fight against one another. But something happens, and one brother saves another brother in a time of war. This book was so good that I read the story twice.
December 13, 2012
A soldier of the Union confines a Southern soldier named, Eli West. Eli wakes in a cave, and discovers a sinister and twisted enemy holds him captive.
During his imprisonment, Eli teeters in and out of consciousness. Each time he awakes, he is drugged and tortured. In little time, he learns he has been shot, his teeth have been ripped from his mouth and for the life of him, Eli cannot understand his menaces desire to constantly dig into his leg and big toe.
Unconsciousness seems to be his only solace, in which he relives a time when he was in love, a life before war, and fond memories of a time when life was worth living.
Certain, his life would end by the hands of his enemy. Eli wakes in a stupor of pain and heartache. He absorbs the loss of his teeth, his freedom and his will to fight.
After days of torture, Eli recognizes his capture; the man he thought was a sadistic and twisted soul. It was actually his old friend, Ezra, and although they were enemies of war, and Ezra was his capturer, he still felt that old bond. He’d think back to the earlier years, when Ezra was a close childhood friend, and many times, Eli considered Ezra a brother.
Ezra explains how he shot Eli, and when he realized whom he had shot, he dragged him into a cave and tried his best to help save his life.
Throughout it all, Eli longed for the darkness. In his unconscious state, he was happy and able to embrace his one true love.
Nearly three weeks had passed, and in that time, Eli’s body became a second warzone. Ezra tried to help Eli battle the infections. It was a long successful battle, but not without a casualty. Eli had lost his leg. He no longer felt he was a worthy man and heart’s desire was impossible to embrace during his waken state. Eli admits the only beauty in his world lies within his unconscious, and wishes to never wake.
Once strong enough to travel, Eli’s friend offers to take him home. It is during their travels they meet some interesting characters, and venture through rough terrain. This adventure helps mend their friendship and trust. Eli asks Ezra to help him fulfill his one true desire, to reunite him with his love.
This is civil war tale with some interesting characters. :)
During his imprisonment, Eli teeters in and out of consciousness. Each time he awakes, he is drugged and tortured. In little time, he learns he has been shot, his teeth have been ripped from his mouth and for the life of him, Eli cannot understand his menaces desire to constantly dig into his leg and big toe.
Unconsciousness seems to be his only solace, in which he relives a time when he was in love, a life before war, and fond memories of a time when life was worth living.
Certain, his life would end by the hands of his enemy. Eli wakes in a stupor of pain and heartache. He absorbs the loss of his teeth, his freedom and his will to fight.
After days of torture, Eli recognizes his capture; the man he thought was a sadistic and twisted soul. It was actually his old friend, Ezra, and although they were enemies of war, and Ezra was his capturer, he still felt that old bond. He’d think back to the earlier years, when Ezra was a close childhood friend, and many times, Eli considered Ezra a brother.
Ezra explains how he shot Eli, and when he realized whom he had shot, he dragged him into a cave and tried his best to help save his life.
Throughout it all, Eli longed for the darkness. In his unconscious state, he was happy and able to embrace his one true love.
Nearly three weeks had passed, and in that time, Eli’s body became a second warzone. Ezra tried to help Eli battle the infections. It was a long successful battle, but not without a casualty. Eli had lost his leg. He no longer felt he was a worthy man and heart’s desire was impossible to embrace during his waken state. Eli admits the only beauty in his world lies within his unconscious, and wishes to never wake.
Once strong enough to travel, Eli’s friend offers to take him home. It is during their travels they meet some interesting characters, and venture through rough terrain. This adventure helps mend their friendship and trust. Eli asks Ezra to help him fulfill his one true desire, to reunite him with his love.
This is civil war tale with some interesting characters. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2014
This was a very bizarre book. It was a freebie from Amazon that I thought sounded like it could be pretty good and had pretty high ratings. It was a super quick read which is what allowed me to keep reading and finish it but I was left it feeling like, "what just happened?" Nothing, I feel, gets fully developed or flows very well. The main character Eli is wounded and has these flashbacks, in is comatose state, to these times when he met and fell in love with his wife. They are pretty random though; one memory when he was eight another when he was 12, oh wait lets go back and finish that memory we started 20 pgs. ago. It would have been fine had they helped to develop and further the story but they didn't really.
As for the present day and the story with he and his friend Ezra that was equally strange. It supposedly takes part during the civil war but that really plays no part in it other than Eli is a soldier when he gets shot. Ezra is a black man that he has been friends with since childhood. He is pretty messed up as he commits several gruesome murders throughout the book but they are just treated like no big deal, no one ever reacts. These are no even acts of war just what appears to be just things he does to "protect" people or cause he got mad. It's bizarre I tell you.
As for the ending, everything appears to be fine and he's getting better but you get to the last pages and just kidding he apparently is in terrible shape and is dying so Ezra takes him to visit his wife's grave and kills him. Once again, no big deal, just generous mercy killing. I appreciated that his wife came and got his spirit and that he his loved ones that had died before him but that is me trying to find the silver lining in this book.
Sometime trying to expand your reading horizons can backfire a bit :)
As for the present day and the story with he and his friend Ezra that was equally strange. It supposedly takes part during the civil war but that really plays no part in it other than Eli is a soldier when he gets shot. Ezra is a black man that he has been friends with since childhood. He is pretty messed up as he commits several gruesome murders throughout the book but they are just treated like no big deal, no one ever reacts. These are no even acts of war just what appears to be just things he does to "protect" people or cause he got mad. It's bizarre I tell you.
As for the ending, everything appears to be fine and he's getting better but you get to the last pages and just kidding he apparently is in terrible shape and is dying so Ezra takes him to visit his wife's grave and kills him. Once again, no big deal, just generous mercy killing. I appreciated that his wife came and got his spirit and that he his loved ones that had died before him but that is me trying to find the silver lining in this book.
Sometime trying to expand your reading horizons can backfire a bit :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2013
I bought this book very inexpensively for my Kindle on a daily deal. As others have said, my Kindle has changed my reading habits. I have my list of books I want to read, but I buy these deals on the kindle and feel compelled to read them.
I was surprised at how short this book was. I read it in one weekend. It was a lovely emotional story and I enjoy being grabbed emotionally. I did find it annoying when words were used erroneously such as the use of 'shutter' at least three times when the correct word should be "shudder." Maybe this book was copied via OCR onto the Kindle. I also found the attraction to a dying man by a young girl a bit difficult to believe. Most young people are so very attracted by appearance alone and this man's appearance had been well described as pretty awful. Otherwise, I enjoyed my time with this story.
I was surprised at how short this book was. I read it in one weekend. It was a lovely emotional story and I enjoy being grabbed emotionally. I did find it annoying when words were used erroneously such as the use of 'shutter' at least three times when the correct word should be "shudder." Maybe this book was copied via OCR onto the Kindle. I also found the attraction to a dying man by a young girl a bit difficult to believe. Most young people are so very attracted by appearance alone and this man's appearance had been well described as pretty awful. Otherwise, I enjoyed my time with this story.
January 20, 2013
I like to read novels set during the Civil War. I am familiar with the horrors of war and the horrors of slavery. Most of the time I can handle dark fiction but this one was even too depressing for me. This book is well written, but it jumps around a lot from Eli's childhood to present day where he is being tortured in a cave. I have done a lot of research and have not found much evidence of soldiers being tortured at least not to this extent. His drug induced ramblings are interesting but the story didn't seem to have a coherent story line.
This is an original, well researched story. However it is clearly not for everyone.
This is an original, well researched story. However it is clearly not for everyone.
August 30, 2013
Van Heerling Well written
Dreams Of Eli
Eli West is a southern soldier , he weakens up in a cave held captive by a union soldier. This book is so well written that you actually feel as though you are there at the time of the civil unrest in America .
This story takes you back and forth from present times(1863) and when he was growing up. It covers his life, loves and disability s in which he gets part of his leg removed. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride with your emotions changing many times.
5 stars. 30 August 2013.
Dreams Of Eli
Eli West is a southern soldier , he weakens up in a cave held captive by a union soldier. This book is so well written that you actually feel as though you are there at the time of the civil unrest in America .
This story takes you back and forth from present times(1863) and when he was growing up. It covers his life, loves and disability s in which he gets part of his leg removed. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride with your emotions changing many times.
5 stars. 30 August 2013.
March 22, 2014
This was a very entertaining book. It was written a little different from other books. It was about Eli and Ezra in the civil war, ELI was seriously injured during the civil war and Ezra took care of him. This was the life of Eli sometimes it would be in the present time as how Eli felt then and the things he was doing. Sometimes he tell of his dreams, other times he would tell of his wife and then he would be dreaming telling about his childhood days. The plot was good, very entertaining, a little hard to keep up with but a good read.
January 25, 2013
This is another book out of my comfort zone. Eli is injured in war in 1863 and while recovering he dreams of his childhood and other past experiences. The story is told so well, that I couldn’t put it down in spite of the emotional content. Eli’s story, his past and present had me in tears more than once. I want to type so much more, but I would spoil the end for other readers. This was a great read!
March 22, 2013
I found this book interesting and although a bit dark in the beginning, the story makes a 180 degree turn and shows the friendship and generosity of people to those in dire need. It also flashes back to a love story and the pain of loss. The ending was very surprising and I'm not sure I entirely understand why the author decided to end it that way. I started reading Van Heerling's short story sample Malaika at the end and it looks to be another thought provoking novelette.
December 4, 2014
Dreams of Eli: A tale of war and peace
This is a story of friendship and loss, joy and grief. It is a portrait of sickness and healing, pain and love. Out of the midst of the Civil War, one of the worst events of our history, comes a picture of peace in brokenness, and a friendship so poingnant that it even survives death. I recommend this novella to anyone seeking a place of quiet in the middle of chaos. I look forward to other books by this author.
This is a story of friendship and loss, joy and grief. It is a portrait of sickness and healing, pain and love. Out of the midst of the Civil War, one of the worst events of our history, comes a picture of peace in brokenness, and a friendship so poingnant that it even survives death. I recommend this novella to anyone seeking a place of quiet in the middle of chaos. I look forward to other books by this author.
February 2, 2017
This is not the usual go to staple book that I read. I am normally your fantasy, sci fi and suspense reader. The title of the book caught my eye. I am so very happy it did. I became thoroughly engrossed in the life of Eli from the very beginning. This was one of those stories that makes you want to pick back up your book at every possible opportunity. Even now the story still pulls at my memory. I very much recommend this book.
July 19, 2013
I could not finish this book. I read about ten percent of it and gave-up. The constant switching between present and past kept the story from flowing. I also do not understand the whole being captured and tortured thing...though if I read further, I might find out. As someone who loves reading about the Civil War, this was a major disappointment.
August 1, 2016
Amazingly a beautiful book.
I was at first thinking this was a gruesome book, till I read further on...then realizing that is truly a love story with not just with a girl but an unheard of friendship during this era. Is touched my heart in so many ways. It was hard to put down. It is a short story, but I loved it and wish everyone to read it!
I was at first thinking this was a gruesome book, till I read further on...then realizing that is truly a love story with not just with a girl but an unheard of friendship during this era. Is touched my heart in so many ways. It was hard to put down. It is a short story, but I loved it and wish everyone to read it!
May 3, 2013
The story was OK, but I found my self asking "Why?!" at the end. Maybe I missed something important somewhere alone the line, but I don't think so. It seemed like the author got tired of it and killed it to put us all out of misery!
December 28, 2013
This is a great story of real friendship and true love. I enjoyed the structure of the novel, the way the story of Eli is told through his memories while fading in and out of consciousness. He is not only physically tortured by his wounds, but emotionally tortured as well.
January 8, 2014
Eh. I am hesitant to extol this novel's virtues, but I did read it through the end. I believe my reticence stems more from a dislike of the actual story rather than it's merit or technical proficiency.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews