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Dreams of Drowning
Dreams of Drowning is a work of magical realism that moves between real time where lives are buffeted by political conflict, tragedy and loss and another mysterious time where pain is healed, and love is eternal.
It’s 1973 and Amy, an American ex-pat, is living as an illegal immigrant in Toronto where she’s fled to escape the scandal surrounding her twin sister’s death by drowning. Joanie’s been gone two years, but Amy still hears her cries for help. Romance would jeopardize the secrets Amy has to keep, but when she meets Arcus, a graduate student working to restore democracy in Greece, she falls hard. Arcus doesn’t know about Amy’s past, and she doesn’t know Arcus has secrets of his own, including the shady history of an ancient relic he uses as a paperweight.
In 1993 Toronto, Jacob Kanter, a retired archaeologist, is mourning his dear wife and grappling with his son’s plans to move him to a nursing home. Despite double vision, tremors, and cognitive impairment, he remembers sailing as a youth and sets out toward the lake where he boards a ferry boat embarking on its maiden voyage. He expects a short harbor cruise, but the Aqua Meridian is larger than it looks, and time is slippery on the water. When he hears a drowning woman call for help his story merges with Amy’s, and they discover they have unexpected gifts for one another.
It’s 1973 and Amy, an American ex-pat, is living as an illegal immigrant in Toronto where she’s fled to escape the scandal surrounding her twin sister’s death by drowning. Joanie’s been gone two years, but Amy still hears her cries for help. Romance would jeopardize the secrets Amy has to keep, but when she meets Arcus, a graduate student working to restore democracy in Greece, she falls hard. Arcus doesn’t know about Amy’s past, and she doesn’t know Arcus has secrets of his own, including the shady history of an ancient relic he uses as a paperweight.
In 1993 Toronto, Jacob Kanter, a retired archaeologist, is mourning his dear wife and grappling with his son’s plans to move him to a nursing home. Despite double vision, tremors, and cognitive impairment, he remembers sailing as a youth and sets out toward the lake where he boards a ferry boat embarking on its maiden voyage. He expects a short harbor cruise, but the Aqua Meridian is larger than it looks, and time is slippery on the water. When he hears a drowning woman call for help his story merges with Amy’s, and they discover they have unexpected gifts for one another.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2024
73 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Averbach
6 books69 followersPatricia Averbach began her writing career at sixteen as the entirely unqualified literary assistant to Anzia Yeszierska, Jewish-American author of the immigrant experience. A native Clevelander, she’s a former director of The Chautauqua Writers Center. Her third novel, Dreams of Drowning (Bedazzled Ink, 2024), was a finalist for the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award and Chanticleer’s Somerset Award for Literary Fiction.
Previous novels include Painting Bridges (Bottom Dog Press, 2013) and Resurrecting Rain (Golden Antelope Press, 2020) which
was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and a poetry chapbook, Missing Persons, (Ward Wood Publishing, 2013) which was cited by Times of London Literary Supplement (November 2014) as one of the best small collections of the year. Her work appears in the anthology 101 Jewish Poems for the Third Millenium. She lives with her husband in Beachwood, Ohio when she’s not visiting her daughters in Toronto, Maui and Peru or hanging out in a virtual world called Second Life. To learn more visit her website at www.patriciaaverbach.com
Previous novels include Painting Bridges (Bottom Dog Press, 2013) and Resurrecting Rain (Golden Antelope Press, 2020) which
was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and a poetry chapbook, Missing Persons, (Ward Wood Publishing, 2013) which was cited by Times of London Literary Supplement (November 2014) as one of the best small collections of the year. Her work appears in the anthology 101 Jewish Poems for the Third Millenium. She lives with her husband in Beachwood, Ohio when she’s not visiting her daughters in Toronto, Maui and Peru or hanging out in a virtual world called Second Life. To learn more visit her website at www.patriciaaverbach.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 15, 2024
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The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
As someone who was born and raised in Toronto (and still currently living here) I loved reading a book that takes place here. It was such a joy to read about places I've visited often and street names I recognized. A couple of the younger men in the book went to Malvern Collegiate and I lived across the road from the school as a kid (Swanwick Ave.). There is talk of the Greek singer, Nana Mouskouri who I am also familiar with as my grade five French teacher loved her music and would play her French albums to the class often. Reading this book was like a walk down memory lane for me. I have shopped at Loblaws and eaten at Fran's this book is like a love letter to Toronto and I adored that.
I really adored the character of Jacob. I felt a kind of kinship with him as he has eyesight issues and I am deaf. When he describes feeling embarrassed by mistakes he makes because of his sight I felt that because I am often mistaken for rude or stupid because I can't or don't hear someone. I liked Patricia Averbach's sense of humour while telling this story. I laughed while reading the part where Amy claims that the fascists of Greece in the 60s couldn't happen in the USA because coups belong to small, struggling countries - not if Trump has his way, he's going to be a dictator on day one and is currently under indictment for plotting a coup and trying to overturn the election on January 6, 2021.
Where I had a problem with this story was with the Greek history and politics overwhelming it. I have never been a history fan, not even my own Country's history so all these facts and dates bored me to tears. It's unfortunate that the real story, described in the blurb wasn't front and center and didn't really even get touched on until the midway mark. So, I am of two minds about the book. It is well-researched and well-written but I was expecting a fantasy/magical realism and it was so minute that the story felt more like a textbook on the history of Greece and the political climate at the time (1973). This is simply a wrong-reader situation. I am going with three and a half stars rounded up for the sheer magnitude of research that was done and how well-written the story was.
Thank you to author Patricia Averbach and Bedazzled Ink Publishing for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
As someone who was born and raised in Toronto (and still currently living here) I loved reading a book that takes place here. It was such a joy to read about places I've visited often and street names I recognized. A couple of the younger men in the book went to Malvern Collegiate and I lived across the road from the school as a kid (Swanwick Ave.). There is talk of the Greek singer, Nana Mouskouri who I am also familiar with as my grade five French teacher loved her music and would play her French albums to the class often. Reading this book was like a walk down memory lane for me. I have shopped at Loblaws and eaten at Fran's this book is like a love letter to Toronto and I adored that.
I really adored the character of Jacob. I felt a kind of kinship with him as he has eyesight issues and I am deaf. When he describes feeling embarrassed by mistakes he makes because of his sight I felt that because I am often mistaken for rude or stupid because I can't or don't hear someone. I liked Patricia Averbach's sense of humour while telling this story. I laughed while reading the part where Amy claims that the fascists of Greece in the 60s couldn't happen in the USA because coups belong to small, struggling countries - not if Trump has his way, he's going to be a dictator on day one and is currently under indictment for plotting a coup and trying to overturn the election on January 6, 2021.
Where I had a problem with this story was with the Greek history and politics overwhelming it. I have never been a history fan, not even my own Country's history so all these facts and dates bored me to tears. It's unfortunate that the real story, described in the blurb wasn't front and center and didn't really even get touched on until the midway mark. So, I am of two minds about the book. It is well-researched and well-written but I was expecting a fantasy/magical realism and it was so minute that the story felt more like a textbook on the history of Greece and the political climate at the time (1973). This is simply a wrong-reader situation. I am going with three and a half stars rounded up for the sheer magnitude of research that was done and how well-written the story was.
Thank you to author Patricia Averbach and Bedazzled Ink Publishing for the Advance Readers Copy.
January 24, 2024
Dreams Of Drowning is a tale of magical realism set in Toronto.
The chapters alternate between Amy’s story set mainly in 1973 and Jacob’s story set in 1993.
Amy has run away from America where she was accused of killing her twin sister in a boating accident. She now lives illegally in Canada designing posters in a print shop. She is consumed with guilt and nightmares, hearing her sister calling to her in her dreams. One day she meets part-time baker Arcus who pulls Amy into his passion for politics in his home country of Greece.
In 1993 retired archaeologist Jacob is a lonely widower. His son would like to move him to a retirement home, but Jacob resists. He remembers his younger sailing days and takes himself to Toronto quayside in hopes of rekindling his love of boats. He’s given a free ticket for a harbour cruise and is delighted by the hospitality; every need is catered to and Jacob finds that his trip really brings back memories of his younger days.
In part two, we continue with Amy’s story twenty years later. She’s married now and meets Jacob while visiting her son in hospital. Jacob broke his hip in a recent fall and got talking to her son at physiotherapy.
While I read this book the magical realism elements kept the narrative fluid, it swirled like mist but never unbelievable; it felt possible. I liked the Canadian setting and I loved the time that Jacob spent on his cruise; he was a great character. I thought the story was very clever and it was a delight to read.
The chapters alternate between Amy’s story set mainly in 1973 and Jacob’s story set in 1993.
Amy has run away from America where she was accused of killing her twin sister in a boating accident. She now lives illegally in Canada designing posters in a print shop. She is consumed with guilt and nightmares, hearing her sister calling to her in her dreams. One day she meets part-time baker Arcus who pulls Amy into his passion for politics in his home country of Greece.
In 1993 retired archaeologist Jacob is a lonely widower. His son would like to move him to a retirement home, but Jacob resists. He remembers his younger sailing days and takes himself to Toronto quayside in hopes of rekindling his love of boats. He’s given a free ticket for a harbour cruise and is delighted by the hospitality; every need is catered to and Jacob finds that his trip really brings back memories of his younger days.
In part two, we continue with Amy’s story twenty years later. She’s married now and meets Jacob while visiting her son in hospital. Jacob broke his hip in a recent fall and got talking to her son at physiotherapy.
While I read this book the magical realism elements kept the narrative fluid, it swirled like mist but never unbelievable; it felt possible. I liked the Canadian setting and I loved the time that Jacob spent on his cruise; he was a great character. I thought the story was very clever and it was a delight to read.
June 29, 2024
Dreams of Drowning” by Patricia Averbach follows two seemingly different characters through pivotal moments of their lives as they attempt to overcome the tremendous challenges of life. In this thought-provoking and psychologically thrilling tale of magical realism, Averbach shows beauty in struggle and resilience in adversity. The book covers topics such as politics, death, mental health, and physical health, which work to present the characters’ realistic experiences with real-world issues, proving the worthiness of the time and energy devoted to them.
In 1973, Amy, a young woman who had recently relocated to Toronto, Canada, from the United States, is struggling to make ends meet as an undocumented immigrant. She’s working off the books and dealing with her PTSD which stems from a dark secret of her past back in the United States.
Decades later in Toronto, in 1993 Jacob is an elderly retired archaeologist trying to demonstrate his independence to his son despite his disabilities. Both Amy and Jacob have experienced the loss of a loved one and are grappling with whether life is still worth living amidst constant reminders and significant changes in their lives.
For Amy, when Arcas, a charming Greek man, enters her life, she feels a hesitant yet not unwelcomed new start. Jacob stumbles upon a luxury cruise ship, the Aqua Meridian, departing on its maiden voyage; what begins as a seemingly innocent experience raises a few eyebrows and brings renewed hope into his life. Throughout the decades that separate them, Amy and Jacob experience the same ups and downs, recognizable to people regardless of their personal time periods- lust, love, acceptance, mistrust, confusion, secrets, etc.
Patricia Averbach’s “Dreams of Drowning” is beautifully written and engaging. The characters have a depth that brings instant relatability to the reader. The sensitive topics for the characters are most likely not uncommon to readers, adding to the investment and care from readers as they journey through the alternating chapters. The conclusion continues the beauty of the rest of the story; everything is tied together and flows effortlessly throughout this experience. Due to the sensitive topics within this work, a mature audience is most appropriate for the best comprehension and retention of the mystique this work embodies. This unique and engaging story satisfies categories for both male and female readers alike.
In 1973, Amy, a young woman who had recently relocated to Toronto, Canada, from the United States, is struggling to make ends meet as an undocumented immigrant. She’s working off the books and dealing with her PTSD which stems from a dark secret of her past back in the United States.
Decades later in Toronto, in 1993 Jacob is an elderly retired archaeologist trying to demonstrate his independence to his son despite his disabilities. Both Amy and Jacob have experienced the loss of a loved one and are grappling with whether life is still worth living amidst constant reminders and significant changes in their lives.
For Amy, when Arcas, a charming Greek man, enters her life, she feels a hesitant yet not unwelcomed new start. Jacob stumbles upon a luxury cruise ship, the Aqua Meridian, departing on its maiden voyage; what begins as a seemingly innocent experience raises a few eyebrows and brings renewed hope into his life. Throughout the decades that separate them, Amy and Jacob experience the same ups and downs, recognizable to people regardless of their personal time periods- lust, love, acceptance, mistrust, confusion, secrets, etc.
Patricia Averbach’s “Dreams of Drowning” is beautifully written and engaging. The characters have a depth that brings instant relatability to the reader. The sensitive topics for the characters are most likely not uncommon to readers, adding to the investment and care from readers as they journey through the alternating chapters. The conclusion continues the beauty of the rest of the story; everything is tied together and flows effortlessly throughout this experience. Due to the sensitive topics within this work, a mature audience is most appropriate for the best comprehension and retention of the mystique this work embodies. This unique and engaging story satisfies categories for both male and female readers alike.
February 13, 2024
A standalone tale of magical realism set in Toronto and spanning 1973 to 1993.
This eARC was sent to me by Kelly Schuknect and Bedazzled Ink Publishing for an honest review.
My Take
Arcas is Greek and Tom’s dad is Greek and both are passionate about politics and very much against the ruling junta in Greece. Nancy notes that Tom is the son of a Greek banker and a Canadian socialite, which makes me laugh.
Joanie’s death haunts every step of Amy’s life. So much so that it’s debilitating, as Mrs Klein can attest when she practices tough love on Amy. I can understand Amy’s desperation in wanting Arcas. A sad state when I learned the truth at the end. Amy was a very lucky girl. That Arcas really spins a good tale. He does so well lying with the truth.
Ahh, geez, I do hate that Jacob is failing in ways, but I also hate that Michael is stuck on his own perceptions. Age-wise, I get it. I’m aging. My mother had dementia, and after seeing what it did to her, her misperceptions, her frustrations, I never want to go there. Shoot me when it gets to that point! I’ll be so grateful.
I can’t help but love Jacob. His memories of his youth and of Bessie, the excitement of archeology, his desperation for a life in retirement. Which only makes what happens to Jacob so much worse, as we know what he’s experienced. Although I suppose it could be in his head, and then again . . . where does one go from there?
Why do people automatically assume an old person is feeble-minded? Sure, it’s something to take into account, but why jump right there? It’s so unfair. It makes me angry with Michael and his highhandedness.
Wow. Averbach hasn’t any good to say of Constantine. I vaguely remember the brouhaha over the Greek junta, but that’s about all I know. I guess that applies to most of us Americans. We barely know what’s going on in our own country, and “we’re the only country that’s important”. *Eye roll* That’s certainly how Arcas sees it.
Tom? Tom is a good guy but that expectation he has of Nancy is not acceptable. It’s but one example of why I love women’s lib!
Hmm, that ship sounds like a miracle and a load of fun with all the events they put on. It’s divisions of first- and tourist-class levels, yeah, I know it’s reasonable, but it also seems heavy-handed when considered against all the oddities aboard ship. Free clothes, free food and drink, free everything. What is the distinction between first and everyone else? Who is that nurse??
I suspect it’s the ship that actually makes Dreams of Drowning so fascinating. I want to know more about it, this floating world of magical realism where miracles make you younger. What qualifies one to be a passenger on the Aqua Meridian anyway? How, why, do passengers embark and disembark, where do they go? Where is the ship going? If the ship has an excellent reputation why is it that it’s a maiden voyage when Jacob boards?
Jacob is catching fleeting glimpses of a woman who looks so like a younger Bess. That dream Amy has of trying to reach “the cruise ship”. Sam’s revelation about encountering the Aqua Meridian . . . It all leads me to wonder if the ship is Fate or a fulfiller of wishful dreams.
I had to laugh at Jacob noting that modern Greeks do not understand Attic Greek. Yep, languages are constantly evolving, so that wasn’t a surprise. Well, maybe to the Army, lol. More laughter when Jacob notes that he never did learn what assignment the Army wanted him to accomplish.
A scary note is Amy protesting that the US doesn’t do coups. Mm-hmm. We didn’t used to think a coup was okay. Then Amy goes on to note the countries that had been democracies and then turned to fascism.
It’s the characters and their experiences and thoughts that make the story, a first person dual protagonist point-of-view from Amy’s and Jacob’s perspectives. It’s also a story that left me hanging at the end. All this build-up. I’d love for Averbach to do a sequel. A series of short stories maybe?? Answer my questions, dagnabbit! I have too many!
There are so many dreams in Dreams of Drowning. Joanie’s dream of home, family, and husband. Amy’s dream of traveling the world. Arcas’ and Tom’s dreams of a better Greece. Jacob’s dreams of his lost wife and his childhood. Then there are the nightmares . . .
And yet, kindness abounds.
The Story
Distance does not make any difference, and Amy’s flight to Toronto only saves one part of her sanity as Amy still hears her sister’s cries for help.
It’s a chance thought that finds Jacob heading down to the marina, dreams of sailing in his head. Yet another chance finds Jacob Kanter boarding the Aqua Meridian where time is slippery.
It’s the aftermath of that voyage, of Jacob’s encounter with a drowning woman, that leads to an archeologist’s holy grail in 1993.
The Characters
1973
Amy “Mungo” Adler is an illegal immigrant in Toronto who fled the US to escape a warrant and the gossip. She’s working as a graphics designer for Abbot’s Printing. Joanie “Teazer” is the twin who died in 1971 because of Amy’s reckless behavior. Both their parents worked, her mom in real estate and her dad, Henry, as a dentist. Amy’s children will be Arcadia “Cady”, who’s studying to be a doctor, and Nick, who is their reckless son. Jackson is Cady’s boyfriend.
Arcas, a socialist goat herder, works at Kosmos Bakery that does such fabulous baklava, who is studying economics in Toronto; Helen and Petra are fellow bakers. Tom Savas is studying economics and dating Nancy Wells, who is the department secretary for the Economics department and working toward a doctorate in economics.
Andreas is part of PAK, a group in Canada protesting the junta. Esther Klein is the best friend of Amy’s mother and runs Abbot’s Printing with her husband. Eddie is the pressman.
1993
The eighty-three-year-old Dr Jacob Kanter, a nice Jewish boy from Leeds, is offered a professorship in Canada and has been an archeologist but is now retired. And he’s suffering from double vision, unsteadiness, and slight memory issues. His beloved Bessie of nearly fifty years died of cancer eight years ago. Michael is his lawyer son, torn between reality and love. Sharon / Ellen? is his therapist wife, who disagrees with Michael’s withholding information. I understand why he did, the snake. Peter is their son, Jacob’s grandson. Yulia Kanter had been Jacob’s Russian immigrant mother. The Phaistos Disc is an archeologist’s dream come true, a holy grail.
St Michael’s Hospital features in both timelines. Dr Mendoza is a neurologist.
The Aqua Meridian is . . .
. . . on its maiden voyage and free tickets are being given out. Some of Jacob’s fellow passengers include Dr Charles “The Missing Link” Dawson, teaching comparative philology — yep, his father was that Charles Dawson; Dr Samuel Rabinowitz is studying medicine; Harvey Newcome and his brother-in-law Jack Lewis own a company manufacturing light fixtures; and, Joanie is the young woman with memory issues whom Sam rescues. The Sea Breeze Café is one of the restaurants on the ship.
Fellow academics included Christopher Hollis who had been at Tell Uhaimir; Pendleton at Knossos; Luigi Pernier had worked the Phaistos site until 1929; Doro Levi, head of the Italian School of Archeology, excavated at Phaistos in the fifties; Sir Arthur Evans; MacComber; Tinsley; and, Grunberger. Dr Ianni Sournaris is the chairman of the archeology department these days; Dr Jordan Mansour is his second.
Georgios Papandreou was a good prime minister (Professor Andreas Papandreou is his son) who was replaced. eventually, with Geórgios Papadopoulos. King Constantine II was king in name only.
The Olive Tree, the Village Diner where Kaleisha is a waitress, Fran’s Restaurant, Mars, the classy Truffles, and Spiro’s are restaurants in Toronto. Nana Mouskouri is a Greek singer. Michael wants his dad to move to Bayside Manor Retirement. Mr Friedman is Jacob’s neighbor. Mrs Panagos works at a diner near the hospital. McClaren is selling a bass boat. Elsie had been one of Amy’s friends back in the day. Stephen had been Joanie’s almost-boyfriend. Veronica was Sam’s fiancée who dumped him for the spontaneous Frankie. Aunt Rose had bad news for Sam. Spiro Agnew is the US vice-president in 1973. Maple Leaf Rags will become a client of Amy’s. The Heritage Front and the National Front are white supremacist groups. Anti-Racist Action Committee is their opposite. Izzy had been a childhood friend of Jacob’s. Ernst Zundel is a Holocaust Denier. "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" is a poem about cats. Mrs Norton teaches biology at Malvern Collegiate. Arkadiko Tyri is a big cheese factory.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with an upward-looking Amy (or Joanie??) underwater and blowing a cloud of green and white bubbles. She’s wearing a white bathingsuit with glints of a pale green. The author’s name is at the top in that pale green while the title begins at Amy’s ear with the title gradating from a deeper pale green to white.
I see the title as a metaphor for Amy’s and Jacob’s lives, their Dreams of Drowning as an expression of their lives.
This eARC was sent to me by Kelly Schuknect and Bedazzled Ink Publishing for an honest review.
My Take
Arcas is Greek and Tom’s dad is Greek and both are passionate about politics and very much against the ruling junta in Greece. Nancy notes that Tom is the son of a Greek banker and a Canadian socialite, which makes me laugh.
Joanie’s death haunts every step of Amy’s life. So much so that it’s debilitating, as Mrs Klein can attest when she practices tough love on Amy. I can understand Amy’s desperation in wanting Arcas. A sad state when I learned the truth at the end. Amy was a very lucky girl. That Arcas really spins a good tale. He does so well lying with the truth.
Ahh, geez, I do hate that Jacob is failing in ways, but I also hate that Michael is stuck on his own perceptions. Age-wise, I get it. I’m aging. My mother had dementia, and after seeing what it did to her, her misperceptions, her frustrations, I never want to go there. Shoot me when it gets to that point! I’ll be so grateful.
I can’t help but love Jacob. His memories of his youth and of Bessie, the excitement of archeology, his desperation for a life in retirement. Which only makes what happens to Jacob so much worse, as we know what he’s experienced. Although I suppose it could be in his head, and then again . . . where does one go from there?
Why do people automatically assume an old person is feeble-minded? Sure, it’s something to take into account, but why jump right there? It’s so unfair. It makes me angry with Michael and his highhandedness.
Wow. Averbach hasn’t any good to say of Constantine. I vaguely remember the brouhaha over the Greek junta, but that’s about all I know. I guess that applies to most of us Americans. We barely know what’s going on in our own country, and “we’re the only country that’s important”. *Eye roll* That’s certainly how Arcas sees it.
Tom? Tom is a good guy but that expectation he has of Nancy is not acceptable. It’s but one example of why I love women’s lib!
Hmm, that ship sounds like a miracle and a load of fun with all the events they put on. It’s divisions of first- and tourist-class levels, yeah, I know it’s reasonable, but it also seems heavy-handed when considered against all the oddities aboard ship. Free clothes, free food and drink, free everything. What is the distinction between first and everyone else? Who is that nurse??
I suspect it’s the ship that actually makes Dreams of Drowning so fascinating. I want to know more about it, this floating world of magical realism where miracles make you younger. What qualifies one to be a passenger on the Aqua Meridian anyway? How, why, do passengers embark and disembark, where do they go? Where is the ship going? If the ship has an excellent reputation why is it that it’s a maiden voyage when Jacob boards?
Jacob is catching fleeting glimpses of a woman who looks so like a younger Bess. That dream Amy has of trying to reach “the cruise ship”. Sam’s revelation about encountering the Aqua Meridian . . . It all leads me to wonder if the ship is Fate or a fulfiller of wishful dreams.
I had to laugh at Jacob noting that modern Greeks do not understand Attic Greek. Yep, languages are constantly evolving, so that wasn’t a surprise. Well, maybe to the Army, lol. More laughter when Jacob notes that he never did learn what assignment the Army wanted him to accomplish.
A scary note is Amy protesting that the US doesn’t do coups. Mm-hmm. We didn’t used to think a coup was okay. Then Amy goes on to note the countries that had been democracies and then turned to fascism.
It’s the characters and their experiences and thoughts that make the story, a first person dual protagonist point-of-view from Amy’s and Jacob’s perspectives. It’s also a story that left me hanging at the end. All this build-up. I’d love for Averbach to do a sequel. A series of short stories maybe?? Answer my questions, dagnabbit! I have too many!
There are so many dreams in Dreams of Drowning. Joanie’s dream of home, family, and husband. Amy’s dream of traveling the world. Arcas’ and Tom’s dreams of a better Greece. Jacob’s dreams of his lost wife and his childhood. Then there are the nightmares . . .
And yet, kindness abounds.
The Story
Distance does not make any difference, and Amy’s flight to Toronto only saves one part of her sanity as Amy still hears her sister’s cries for help.
It’s a chance thought that finds Jacob heading down to the marina, dreams of sailing in his head. Yet another chance finds Jacob Kanter boarding the Aqua Meridian where time is slippery.
It’s the aftermath of that voyage, of Jacob’s encounter with a drowning woman, that leads to an archeologist’s holy grail in 1993.
The Characters
1973
Amy “Mungo” Adler is an illegal immigrant in Toronto who fled the US to escape a warrant and the gossip. She’s working as a graphics designer for Abbot’s Printing. Joanie “Teazer” is the twin who died in 1971 because of Amy’s reckless behavior. Both their parents worked, her mom in real estate and her dad, Henry, as a dentist. Amy’s children will be Arcadia “Cady”, who’s studying to be a doctor, and Nick, who is their reckless son. Jackson is Cady’s boyfriend.
Arcas, a socialist goat herder, works at Kosmos Bakery that does such fabulous baklava, who is studying economics in Toronto; Helen and Petra are fellow bakers. Tom Savas is studying economics and dating Nancy Wells, who is the department secretary for the Economics department and working toward a doctorate in economics.
Andreas is part of PAK, a group in Canada protesting the junta. Esther Klein is the best friend of Amy’s mother and runs Abbot’s Printing with her husband. Eddie is the pressman.
1993
The eighty-three-year-old Dr Jacob Kanter, a nice Jewish boy from Leeds, is offered a professorship in Canada and has been an archeologist but is now retired. And he’s suffering from double vision, unsteadiness, and slight memory issues. His beloved Bessie of nearly fifty years died of cancer eight years ago. Michael is his lawyer son, torn between reality and love. Sharon / Ellen? is his therapist wife, who disagrees with Michael’s withholding information. I understand why he did, the snake. Peter is their son, Jacob’s grandson. Yulia Kanter had been Jacob’s Russian immigrant mother. The Phaistos Disc is an archeologist’s dream come true, a holy grail.
St Michael’s Hospital features in both timelines. Dr Mendoza is a neurologist.
The Aqua Meridian is . . .
. . . on its maiden voyage and free tickets are being given out. Some of Jacob’s fellow passengers include Dr Charles “The Missing Link” Dawson, teaching comparative philology — yep, his father was that Charles Dawson; Dr Samuel Rabinowitz is studying medicine; Harvey Newcome and his brother-in-law Jack Lewis own a company manufacturing light fixtures; and, Joanie is the young woman with memory issues whom Sam rescues. The Sea Breeze Café is one of the restaurants on the ship.
Fellow academics included Christopher Hollis who had been at Tell Uhaimir; Pendleton at Knossos; Luigi Pernier had worked the Phaistos site until 1929; Doro Levi, head of the Italian School of Archeology, excavated at Phaistos in the fifties; Sir Arthur Evans; MacComber; Tinsley; and, Grunberger. Dr Ianni Sournaris is the chairman of the archeology department these days; Dr Jordan Mansour is his second.
Georgios Papandreou was a good prime minister (Professor Andreas Papandreou is his son) who was replaced. eventually, with Geórgios Papadopoulos. King Constantine II was king in name only.
The Olive Tree, the Village Diner where Kaleisha is a waitress, Fran’s Restaurant, Mars, the classy Truffles, and Spiro’s are restaurants in Toronto. Nana Mouskouri is a Greek singer. Michael wants his dad to move to Bayside Manor Retirement. Mr Friedman is Jacob’s neighbor. Mrs Panagos works at a diner near the hospital. McClaren is selling a bass boat. Elsie had been one of Amy’s friends back in the day. Stephen had been Joanie’s almost-boyfriend. Veronica was Sam’s fiancée who dumped him for the spontaneous Frankie. Aunt Rose had bad news for Sam. Spiro Agnew is the US vice-president in 1973. Maple Leaf Rags will become a client of Amy’s. The Heritage Front and the National Front are white supremacist groups. Anti-Racist Action Committee is their opposite. Izzy had been a childhood friend of Jacob’s. Ernst Zundel is a Holocaust Denier. "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer" is a poem about cats. Mrs Norton teaches biology at Malvern Collegiate. Arkadiko Tyri is a big cheese factory.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with an upward-looking Amy (or Joanie??) underwater and blowing a cloud of green and white bubbles. She’s wearing a white bathingsuit with glints of a pale green. The author’s name is at the top in that pale green while the title begins at Amy’s ear with the title gradating from a deeper pale green to white.
I see the title as a metaphor for Amy’s and Jacob’s lives, their Dreams of Drowning as an expression of their lives.
February 8, 2024
Patricia Averbach's book was a surprise to me as it went imaginatively to places that I was not expecting and, more to the point, it does it really well so that this is an engaging, well-written book which I was able to read easily and thoroughly enjoy. There was a chance that Averbach's premise could have led to a read which was cheesy or over-sentimental but she manages to tread this fine line with aplomb, producing a novel which is sensitive, realistic and magical all at the same time.
The book deals with two narratives. The author switches between them and they are very different voices, unconnected and from differing time periods. The first is Amy, young and living in Toronto, keeping a low profile and working in a print business. We follow her as she begins to settle in to her new life and learn about why she left America. She meets Arcus, Tom and Nancy who become an integral part of her life and are passionate young people, especially Tom and Arcus, who have ambitions to be revolutionaries and fight to free Greece from the juntas.
The second voice in the book is that of Jacob Kanter, an archaeologist in his younger days who is now a widower and faced with the prospect of moving into a home. There is the idea that he is losing his mind and this is certainly something which his son believes. The narrative does nothing to dissuade you of this notion although Jacob's voice is clear and educated and intelligent and so, his story in particular provides a mystery as we read his alongside that of Amy's.
I liked the characterisation of both Amy and Jacob as they are likeable people, just trying to find their way through life as best they can. They are both suffering from grief, having lost people close to them. What I really liked about this book, as I mentioned, was that it surprised me; it didn't shock me but Averbach's narrative took me in a direction I was not expecting and this was enjoyable for its unpredictability. I thought that I knew what this book was about and just as I had settled into that idea, it presented me with something completely different which was warm and mysterious and lovely.
This was good reading which flowed throughout. Convincing dialogue and a well-thought out plot make this a book to enjoy.
The book deals with two narratives. The author switches between them and they are very different voices, unconnected and from differing time periods. The first is Amy, young and living in Toronto, keeping a low profile and working in a print business. We follow her as she begins to settle in to her new life and learn about why she left America. She meets Arcus, Tom and Nancy who become an integral part of her life and are passionate young people, especially Tom and Arcus, who have ambitions to be revolutionaries and fight to free Greece from the juntas.
The second voice in the book is that of Jacob Kanter, an archaeologist in his younger days who is now a widower and faced with the prospect of moving into a home. There is the idea that he is losing his mind and this is certainly something which his son believes. The narrative does nothing to dissuade you of this notion although Jacob's voice is clear and educated and intelligent and so, his story in particular provides a mystery as we read his alongside that of Amy's.
I liked the characterisation of both Amy and Jacob as they are likeable people, just trying to find their way through life as best they can. They are both suffering from grief, having lost people close to them. What I really liked about this book, as I mentioned, was that it surprised me; it didn't shock me but Averbach's narrative took me in a direction I was not expecting and this was enjoyable for its unpredictability. I thought that I knew what this book was about and just as I had settled into that idea, it presented me with something completely different which was warm and mysterious and lovely.
This was good reading which flowed throughout. Convincing dialogue and a well-thought out plot make this a book to enjoy.
February 26, 2024
"Dreams of Drowning" by Patricia Averbach is a mesmerizing journey into the realms of magical realism and literary fiction, where the boundaries between past and present blur, and the healing power of love transcends time and space.
Set against the backdrop of political conflict and personal tragedy, the novel weaves together the lives of two seemingly disparate characters, Amy and Jacob, whose fates become intertwined in unexpected ways. Amy, an American ex-pat living as an illegal immigrant in 1973 Toronto, is haunted by the memory of her twin sister's drowning and the secrets that surround it. Meanwhile, in 1993 Toronto, Jacob Kanter, a retired archaeologist mourning the loss of his wife, embarks on a journey aboard a mysterious ferry boat, where time seems to bend and reality becomes fluid.
Averbach's masterful storytelling effortlessly blends elements of realism with moments of magical transcendence, creating a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, and redemption, as well as the transformative power of human connection. Through Amy and Jacob's intersecting journeys, the reader is taken on a profound exploration of love, memory, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty.
What sets "Dreams of Drowning" apart is Averbach's skillful rendering of her characters' inner lives and emotional landscapes. Amy and Jacob are richly drawn and deeply human, each grappling with their own demons and seeking solace in the midst of personal turmoil. As their stories unfold and intertwine, the reader is drawn into a web of intrigue and mystery, where the past echoes in the present and the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.
At its core, "Dreams of Drowning" is a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the human experience and to offer hope in the face of adversity. Averbach's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of both the physical world and the realms of dreams and memory. Fans of magical realism and literary fiction will find much to savor in this enchanting tale of love, loss, and the transcendent power of the human spirit.
Set against the backdrop of political conflict and personal tragedy, the novel weaves together the lives of two seemingly disparate characters, Amy and Jacob, whose fates become intertwined in unexpected ways. Amy, an American ex-pat living as an illegal immigrant in 1973 Toronto, is haunted by the memory of her twin sister's drowning and the secrets that surround it. Meanwhile, in 1993 Toronto, Jacob Kanter, a retired archaeologist mourning the loss of his wife, embarks on a journey aboard a mysterious ferry boat, where time seems to bend and reality becomes fluid.
Averbach's masterful storytelling effortlessly blends elements of realism with moments of magical transcendence, creating a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, and redemption, as well as the transformative power of human connection. Through Amy and Jacob's intersecting journeys, the reader is taken on a profound exploration of love, memory, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty.
What sets "Dreams of Drowning" apart is Averbach's skillful rendering of her characters' inner lives and emotional landscapes. Amy and Jacob are richly drawn and deeply human, each grappling with their own demons and seeking solace in the midst of personal turmoil. As their stories unfold and intertwine, the reader is drawn into a web of intrigue and mystery, where the past echoes in the present and the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.
At its core, "Dreams of Drowning" is a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the human experience and to offer hope in the face of adversity. Averbach's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of both the physical world and the realms of dreams and memory. Fans of magical realism and literary fiction will find much to savor in this enchanting tale of love, loss, and the transcendent power of the human spirit.
February 21, 2024
In Dreams of Drowning, Patricia Averbach masterfully weaves a tale of emotional depth and complexity set against the backdrop of personal crisis and historical intrigue. The novel introduces us to Amy, a woman grappling with the haunting memories of her twin sister's tragic demise. Relocating from America to Toronto, Amy's attempt to maintain a low profile is complicated by the lingering scandal of her sister Joanie's death. As Amy confronts her inner turmoil, she encounters Arcas, an ambitious graduate student deeply engaged in political movements and the preservation of democracy in Greece. Despite the budding romance that develops between them, Arcas's mysterious past and abrupt departure add layers of intrigue to the narrative.
Parallel to Amy's story is that of Dr. Jacob Kanter, who is navigating the challenging waters of memory loss and vision impairment following the death of his wife. His fear of being placed in a nursing home by his concerned son is poignantly portrayed, with reflections on his youthful days of sailing offering a glimpse into his character's depth. The element of water serves as a symbolic link, drawing Amy and Jacob's lives together in an unexpected intertwining of paths. The novel excels in its depiction of characters facing parallel realities. Amy's struggles as an undocumented immigrant, dealing with family complexities and a convoluted romantic life, are skillfully portrayed. Similarly, Jacob's journey through grief and the challenges of aging is handled with sensitivity and realism. This narrative is a rich exploration of themes such as love, loss, hope, and friendship, resonating deeply with the reader.
Dreams of Drowning delves into the impact of crises on ordinary lives, eloquently capturing the disorientation and loss of normalcy faced by individuals. Averbach balances suspense and action adeptly, providing a refreshing journey through history with her compelling storytelling. The book is a standout choice for readers who appreciate a blend of mystery and emotionally resonant fiction.
Parallel to Amy's story is that of Dr. Jacob Kanter, who is navigating the challenging waters of memory loss and vision impairment following the death of his wife. His fear of being placed in a nursing home by his concerned son is poignantly portrayed, with reflections on his youthful days of sailing offering a glimpse into his character's depth. The element of water serves as a symbolic link, drawing Amy and Jacob's lives together in an unexpected intertwining of paths. The novel excels in its depiction of characters facing parallel realities. Amy's struggles as an undocumented immigrant, dealing with family complexities and a convoluted romantic life, are skillfully portrayed. Similarly, Jacob's journey through grief and the challenges of aging is handled with sensitivity and realism. This narrative is a rich exploration of themes such as love, loss, hope, and friendship, resonating deeply with the reader.
Dreams of Drowning delves into the impact of crises on ordinary lives, eloquently capturing the disorientation and loss of normalcy faced by individuals. Averbach balances suspense and action adeptly, providing a refreshing journey through history with her compelling storytelling. The book is a standout choice for readers who appreciate a blend of mystery and emotionally resonant fiction.
February 20, 2024
Dreams of Drowning had me spellbound from the start, juxtaposing two equally compelling protagonists and storylines separated by two decades. I was as captivated by Amy's 1970s story and the mystery around the tragic death of her twin sister as I was the elderly, but funny and brave Jacob who boards a ferry boat that slips through time. So delicious to have a realistic storyline merge with magic realism and have two characters and their stories connect--in a way that was surprising and yet so satisfying. Patricia Averbach's writing is full of beauty and humor and her dialogue sparkles. Highly recommend for an evocative page turner that keeps surprising you at every turn.
April 28, 2024
Escape into the two parallel lives that crisscross one another in mystery and time. Amy, an ex-pat in 1973 is hiding in Toronto trying to escape the circumstances surrounding her twin sister's death by drowning. There is romance and hidden secrets, as well as political conflict. Jacob, in 1993, is a retired archaeologist and missing his wife and fighting his son to move him into a nursing home. He wanders onto a ship, expecting a short cruise, but time is not what one thinks it is, and he helps a drowning woman and his life intertwines with Amy's. At first, I only wanted to stay with Amy's story and wasn't interested in Jacob's story, not understanding why the author went from one to another. However, soon I was drawn in and had to keep reading late into the night. I was surprised and mostly pleased by the ending!
January 6, 2025
I'm conflicted over how to write this review. Maybe I should give it three stars. Maybe 2.5. two different stories that eventually intertwine towards the end. But I don't think I appreciate how they came together. And, the audiobook version had terrible editing. The narrator would repeat herself a couple of times, restating sentences, etc. and even have conversations with the audio engineer I'm assuming. It was very distracting, and happened way more than it should have.
February 6, 2024
She is still haunted by her twin sister death by drowning and she is in hiding as an illegal immigrant. She dreams of their screams for help and she keeps to herself. She will enter a new dream state where it is better. How will she get on? Can she ever recover from her loss? What will happen next? Follow her as she tries to recover from the loss
February 12, 2024
Highly recommend this well-crafted and enjoyable novel. Averbach tells a compelling tale that creatively combines a family tragedy, a passionate love story and a thread of magical realism.
August 13, 2025
What a gift this author has of weaving the lives of her characters and bringing them all together for a meaningful ending!
January 31, 2024
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems and I'm willingly leaving a review
I didn't care much for Nancy, especially when she told Tom not to make a scene and she was the one making it in the first place. How sad is the reality of the relationship between Jacob and his son Michael? I lost my breath by Amy's description of her canvases: "depicted the world through Joanie's eyes, looking up from the lake floor". PTSD comes back with a few more details each time. I was really mad when I read that Amy broke her parents' cardinal rule; the ramifications for her, her parents, and her employer would have been ginormous if her friend had talked. That was a bit selfish on her part. Why would she think Jacob had hidden the artifact himself when he couldn't even move on his bed, walk to the closet even less? Even as a wife and parent, Amy still comes out as naïve and selfish. I loved Tom and the children. I would have loved a trip on the Aqua Meridian too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dual story, which goes back and forth between the past and the present.
I didn't care much for Nancy, especially when she told Tom not to make a scene and she was the one making it in the first place. How sad is the reality of the relationship between Jacob and his son Michael? I lost my breath by Amy's description of her canvases: "depicted the world through Joanie's eyes, looking up from the lake floor". PTSD comes back with a few more details each time. I was really mad when I read that Amy broke her parents' cardinal rule; the ramifications for her, her parents, and her employer would have been ginormous if her friend had talked. That was a bit selfish on her part. Why would she think Jacob had hidden the artifact himself when he couldn't even move on his bed, walk to the closet even less? Even as a wife and parent, Amy still comes out as naïve and selfish. I loved Tom and the children. I would have loved a trip on the Aqua Meridian too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dual story, which goes back and forth between the past and the present.
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