Dream Singer

by Frank O. Smith

Dream Singer is the story of Elijah McCloud, a Native American elder who lives reclusively in the mountains of the West. As a young man, he possessed the rare gift of dream singing – the ability to see the future, but lost it through a selfish act. A seemingly chance crossing of paths with a thirteen year-old runaway boy who has witnessed a murder in a railroad dramatically changes both their destinies. Part love story, tragedy, and mystery, Dream Singer is a story of the betrayal of love, and the quest for redemption, where listening to dreams and the spirit of the land is vital to Elijah and boy staying ahead of the killer – and staying alive.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2014

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank O Smith has written a beautiful tale of redemption in his first published novel Dream Singer. Elijah McCloud is a man struggling with the loss of his roots, indeed is a lost man, when he succumbs to temptation leading himself down a path of self destruction.

In his struggle to regain his spiritual connection as a dream singer, Elijah meets up with teenage runaway Jackie Logan. This intersection of two unlikely fellow travelers becomes an opportunity for each to find a way back to his own true self.

Smith's writing is masterful, his approach to story superb. Clearly Smith understands the power of setting in elevating story as he takes us through back woods and box cars. The journey is thrilling, the book fantastic. Get it, read it, you won't be disappointed.

[Bruce Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale for the ages

Dream Singer by Frank O. Smith is a tale for the ages. Through brilliant use of prose, Smith takes us on a journey to a place where lives and lessons intersect and teach us something about ourselves.

[Rebecca Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I enjoyed this tale of a Metis man of Mix of heritage and his wanderings. It did not read particularly fast paced, not slow. It just ambled along like an old bear. There were times I kept reading longer than I should but was baited by the mystery, the next possibility. After the climax it seemed to drag a little, however it built nicely into an ending that was very appropo. Be sure to read all the way through to the very end.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of a Native American

The story of a man who made mistakes but was still a basically good man. He had a gift working with horses. He was married and in love with his wife but risked everything for another woman. He lost his wife and children and his ability to work with horses.

[Susan Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly embracing

I loved this story. Elijah became my family, my hero. I wanted to ride the rails, set at the camp fire.

[Janet Blain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my interest

Well written and kept my interest all the way through. Great descriptions of the setting and characters were authentic. Read it

[Maxine Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It took a while to get into the story and to understand the back and forth.itbwas easy to imagine the country described in the book.

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elijah McCloud. Modoc. Emma. Elsa. Jackie Logan. Pup. One-Eyed Bear. Two Crows. Trains. Horses. Traveling the Rails. Nature. Out West. Bend-Oregon. Murder. Love. Family.

[Sammi D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. A true work of art. The story in the epilogue was a beautiful parable in itself, but I was enthralled at how it tied into the story of the whole book. The imagery and the metaphors through animals and Modoc culture brought a dazzling color to this novel and I feel like this story will stay with me for a long time. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good and deep read.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank O. Smith's Dream Singer is a unique and wonderful work: at once lyrical and grounded, mystical and gritty. It's the story of a runaway boy and a runaway man who in finding each other also find a way out of their individual fixes, both spiritual and physical. Smith writes with great authority about boys and men, women and girls, boxcars and railroad bulls, hobos and cops, and he creates a vivid here and now that you can see, smell and touch. I was sorry to come to the dramatic ending, much as I enjoyed it.

[Tina Charney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel captivated me very quickly, first with its precise and evocative use of detail and metaphor, and next with its characters. The better I got to know the character of Elijah, the more significant and intriguing each place that he inhabited became. His travels and plights, the tensions, the consequences added up to a compelling story.