Collecting Dreams

by Sue Whitmer

We'd gone about it the wrong way: invested three hours to clean up a tiny bathroom, and all we had to show for it was six nicely rearranged rugs, six big bags of trash, three or four bruised egos, and an angry mother.

232 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2013

Reviews

[Karl Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collecting Dreams is a wonderful book. As the son of a hoarder myself I totally understand the confusion, the total bewilderment and even the disorientation that is part and parcel of being a hoarder’s offspring. I can’t even begin to tell you how old some of the food was in her deep freeze, but my mother has rooms that have been locked for over twenty years.

Whilst myself and my wife enjoy clearing space out of lives, my mother sees that as being wasteful. A trip to the dump is simply frittering away stuff that “might come in handy one day.”

I originally thought this happened to people who’d been the war years when everything was rationed, but I no longer think that’s the case. I think my own mother surrounded herself with ‘stuff’ as some kind of protection. Against what, I don’t know.

I’ve tried talking to her. I’ve tried to understand what it is about old train tickets, old blankets, old jars that once contained jam, old manuscripts, old shit that comforts her. But she won’t tell me. My mother has never been very articulate and I feel it’s just that she can’t explain. Unfortunately she lives in a house that is now unsafe. Everywhere you go there are trip hazards and fire hazards.

However, I’m supposed to be writing a book review, and I’m sure the prospective reader doesn’t want to hear my situation. Collecting Dreams is a lovely book and I highly recommend it. Not only do we see glimpses inside the lifestyle of a person with hoarding disorder but Sue Whitmer digs deep into the persona of an individual whose inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects causes significant adverse effects on family members.

Most of us can move through our house with ease, but a hoarder’s abode is so full of junk that cooking, cleaning and even sleeping can present challenges that are not easily conquered.

Excessive acquisition is now a recognised illness but, as Sue so eloquently points out, one that is extremely hard to deal with because you don’t have the co-operation of the patient, who will fight you tooth and nail.

So why do I say this is a lovely book? Because it’s not all about excessive acquisition. In alternate chapters Sue allows us beautiful and touching glimpses into small town American life, and at times the storyline is quite stunning. And this is the magic in this book.

There are surprises here, diamonds in the rough if you like, but I’m no spoiler and you’re going to have to purchase the book to find them. Suffice to say, this story captured me and forced me to think very deeply about certain issues that had never crossed my mind before.

Well done to the author. She really is a very good writer.

[Lisa Landreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Whitmer’s Collecting Dreams is a beautifully written story about mental illness and a family’s trials and tribulations with the condition. It centers on the mother who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder or more precisely, hoarding. But Sue shows us that hoarding is not just some crazy condition people can stop whenever they want. It runs deep to our core and often hides horrible pain or secrets, which we as humans have trouble dealing with. Her book’s purpose is not to make light of this serious condition, but to spread an understanding to the world in hopes at least one reader can relate the story to their own life’s problems.

Even if you don’t know anyone with this type of OCD, the book is a good read. Sue does a terrific job weaving great description with splashes of humor. There’s an interesting twist, one that may make you feel a little sad, but the end of the story is tied-up nicely leaving you feeling satisfied and happy.

[Deborah Fontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

With firsthand information and a deep comprehension of hoarders and the impact they have on everyone they encounter, Sue Whitmer's "Collecting Dreams" is a cleverly written and captivating tale. Anyone who knows or has ever known someone with hoarding difficulties will find this story heartwarming. This book takes you on a journey on how many people are impacted. There are several surprising turns and twists in the plot as well. Sue, the author, creates a realistic image that makes you feel as though you are actually there. The recollections to her childhood, which tied everything together, were really enjoyable. It will be difficult for me to let go of this book, but I will be sharing it with my community in my Little Free Library. I believe that this hoarding problem affects us all in some way. I find it difficult to let go of memories. This book offers a very satisfying ending and a wide range of feelings, including love, laughter, and sadness.

So many thanks, Sue Whitmer @sue_at_helens_library, for your enlightening book for my Little Free Library. Thank you so very much for supporting Little Free Libraries!

[Kate Bayard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue does great job of weaving the past and present in this novel about a family struggling to deal with a parent's hoarding. She really captures the narrator's emotional journey, and gives a depth of understanding to the situation that shows like Hoarders aren't able to capture in an hour format. It is a brave book that doesn't shy away from exploring the traumatic events of the past that lead to the the family's present situation, but does it in an elegant way that unfolds naturally, and never for shock value. If you are looking for a quick read, with humor and drama, this would be a great book to pick up!

[John Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic portrayal of a real-life issue made into an interesting fiction novel. For those (like myself) who wouldn't think to pick up a non-fiction book to study of the difficulties that come with OCD and hoarding, a novel of this nature is the perfect way to become aware. I'm looking forward to the sequel...which I already have in my possession.