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The Dream Peddler
“Astonishing . . . Explores the vast underground legacy of our own desires. This is the must-read book of the year.” —Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of The Child Finder
A richly imagined debut novel about a traveling salesman and the small town he changes forever
If someone offered you a magic elixir that could conjure any dream you wanted . . . would you take it?
Traveling salesmen like Robert Owens have passed through Evie Dawson’s town before, but none of them offered anything like what he has to sell: dreams, made to order, with satisfaction guaranteed.
Soon after he arrives, the community is shocked by the disappearance of Evie’s young son. The townspeople, shaken by the Dawson family’s tragedy and captivated by Robert’s subversive magic, begin to experiment with his dreams. And Evie, devastated by grief, turns to Robert for a comfort only he can sell her. But the dream peddler’s wares awaken in his customers their most carefully buried desires, and despite all his good intentions, some of them will lead to disaster.
Gorgeously told through the eyes of Evie, Robert, and a broad cast of fully realized characters, The Dream Peddler is an imaginative, moving novel of overcoming loss and reckoning with the longings we keep secret.
A richly imagined debut novel about a traveling salesman and the small town he changes forever
If someone offered you a magic elixir that could conjure any dream you wanted . . . would you take it?
Traveling salesmen like Robert Owens have passed through Evie Dawson’s town before, but none of them offered anything like what he has to sell: dreams, made to order, with satisfaction guaranteed.
Soon after he arrives, the community is shocked by the disappearance of Evie’s young son. The townspeople, shaken by the Dawson family’s tragedy and captivated by Robert’s subversive magic, begin to experiment with his dreams. And Evie, devastated by grief, turns to Robert for a comfort only he can sell her. But the dream peddler’s wares awaken in his customers their most carefully buried desires, and despite all his good intentions, some of them will lead to disaster.
Gorgeously told through the eyes of Evie, Robert, and a broad cast of fully realized characters, The Dream Peddler is an imaginative, moving novel of overcoming loss and reckoning with the longings we keep secret.
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2018
46 people are currently reading
6921 people want to read
About the author
Martine Fournier Watson
1 book119 followersMartine Fournier Watson is originally from Montreal, Canada, where she earned her master’s degree in art history after a year in Chicago as a Fulbright scholar. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. The Dream Peddler is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
June 8, 2019
There is some magical realism in this book, but I found the story to be more real than magical. There are realistic emotions - grief and love and realistic characters with wants and desires and hopes that are relatable. This is a quiet, slow moving story with an aura of mystery. Robert Owens, a traveling salesmen who is selling dreams arrives in this small town, where everyone seems connected, where people care about each other, where the sometimes stifling and narrow small town life affects their desires to dream beyond their daily lives. He arrives on the day that tragedy strikes when a nine year old boy disappears. These are some of the characters that we get to know through the dreams they want to buy.
Toby, a typical teenage boy: “ I would like the dream of a girl. A good one.”
George, the distraught father trying to find his missing son : “Maybe you could mix me up a dream of where he is, or where he might be, someplace more where I could look.”
Christina, a teenage girl who knows the life ahead will be to marry and remain in this place: “ I just wondered, would it be possible to have a dream about the future? Could I dream of my future husband? “
Jackson, a teenage boy who has dreams he doesn’t understand, confused over his identity who doesn’t take a potion of his own, but one made for someone else.
Evie, the mother of the boy who went missing doesn’t want to buy a dream. She wants to stop dreaming of her son so she doesn’t have to face the unbearable pain each morning that he isn’t there.
The author does a wonderful job of developing these characters and we come to know so much about them. Robert Owens, however remains a mystery to the reader until later in the novel when he has developed a friendship with Evie. It is through their conversations that we get to know about Robert’s past, his losses. I can’t say that I’m a big fan of fantasy or magical realism, but there was nothing in this story that felt beyond my imagination and I never felt that it was the potions alone that made these characters dream what they wanted to dream in this beautifully written debut novel.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin Books through Edelweiss.
March 24, 2019
Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
This reminded me very much of a Diane Setterfield authored novel. There is no specifically identified location or time setting for this story. There is a just a general feel of a small farming village with a general store and everyone knows their neighbor. There are quaint activities such as quilt making and a summer fair where farm animals, pies and quilts get prize ribbons. People pack picnic lunches, drink lemonade and tea, and ladies are housewives. Everyone goes to church on Sunday.
The book begins with a 9-year old boy who wakes up at night, transfixed by the moon. He creeps out of his bed, silently into the night to get closer to it...unbeknownst to his parents. The parents wake up and start their morning as usual with the mom Evie preparing breakfast and the husband George coming downstairs to bulk up before his farm work. Then they discover that their son Benny is missing. It is winter time and there is snow on the ground. After an unreasonable amount of time passes and Benny still hasn't returned home, a search party of the father George and some local men scour the grounds. This goes on for a few days until quite by accident little Benny is discovered under the ice of the frozen bay.
On the fateful morning that Benny went missing, there was a new arrival in town. His name was Robert Dawson and he walked on his own two feet- tethered to a cart full of wares behind him. His first order of business was to find a place to board and visit the general store for some supplies. One of them was a bag of candy hearts to butter up potential customers. What was he selling? Dreams. Tell him what you wanted to dream about and he would retreat to his room and the vials secreted away in his bedroom drawer and prepare a draft in a little bottle for you. Just a swallow before bedtime and if it didn't live up to its expectations, there was a money-back guarantee. A teenage boy could yearn to dream about sordid trysts with women. A young lady might dream about her future husband. Or, someone could ask to have no dreams at all. Sometimes the Dream Peddler would sit outside the general store to meet up with customers, or sometimes they came to him at Violet Burnley's place where he boarded. It was a small town, so it didn't take long for the word to get around.
The things I loved about the book were the small town life with good moral values. A simpler way of life. I loved the way people visit each other and make tea and serve cake. Life was quiet and slower. I also was intrigued by the main character of Evie, mother of the deceased little boy Benny. Following her stages of grief was an emotional journey I enjoyed travelling with her. That might sound twisted, but I am drawn to the melancholy in stories. There was mystery swirling throughout the book that did not totally resolve for me, but I still enjoyed the ride.
This reminded me very much of a Diane Setterfield authored novel. There is no specifically identified location or time setting for this story. There is a just a general feel of a small farming village with a general store and everyone knows their neighbor. There are quaint activities such as quilt making and a summer fair where farm animals, pies and quilts get prize ribbons. People pack picnic lunches, drink lemonade and tea, and ladies are housewives. Everyone goes to church on Sunday.
The book begins with a 9-year old boy who wakes up at night, transfixed by the moon. He creeps out of his bed, silently into the night to get closer to it...unbeknownst to his parents. The parents wake up and start their morning as usual with the mom Evie preparing breakfast and the husband George coming downstairs to bulk up before his farm work. Then they discover that their son Benny is missing. It is winter time and there is snow on the ground. After an unreasonable amount of time passes and Benny still hasn't returned home, a search party of the father George and some local men scour the grounds. This goes on for a few days until quite by accident little Benny is discovered under the ice of the frozen bay.
On the fateful morning that Benny went missing, there was a new arrival in town. His name was Robert Dawson and he walked on his own two feet- tethered to a cart full of wares behind him. His first order of business was to find a place to board and visit the general store for some supplies. One of them was a bag of candy hearts to butter up potential customers. What was he selling? Dreams. Tell him what you wanted to dream about and he would retreat to his room and the vials secreted away in his bedroom drawer and prepare a draft in a little bottle for you. Just a swallow before bedtime and if it didn't live up to its expectations, there was a money-back guarantee. A teenage boy could yearn to dream about sordid trysts with women. A young lady might dream about her future husband. Or, someone could ask to have no dreams at all. Sometimes the Dream Peddler would sit outside the general store to meet up with customers, or sometimes they came to him at Violet Burnley's place where he boarded. It was a small town, so it didn't take long for the word to get around.
The things I loved about the book were the small town life with good moral values. A simpler way of life. I loved the way people visit each other and make tea and serve cake. Life was quiet and slower. I also was intrigued by the main character of Evie, mother of the deceased little boy Benny. Following her stages of grief was an emotional journey I enjoyed travelling with her. That might sound twisted, but I am drawn to the melancholy in stories. There was mystery swirling throughout the book that did not totally resolve for me, but I still enjoyed the ride.
July 25, 2018
Wow. I was lucky to get an advance copy of this astonishing novel. THE DREAM PEDDLER unfolds like a gorgeous poem, leading us deep into the lives of its characters, and exploring the vast underground legacies of our own desires. Put this one on your must-read lists!
September 10, 2021
"People think hope can be raised or lowered like a flag, and it's not like that at all. Its in your chest no matter what."
4.5 stars. I went to bed last night looking forward to this book, then was saddened to recall I had finished it. :-( Mark of a good book! I did not want it to end.
I'm always amazed when I read a book by a debut author whose command of the language is breathtaking, yet they have little background in the way of writing. Watson's writing is simply spectacular. Now and then it can be a tad too flowery, but I adored the plot (a peddler selling dreams comes to a small northwest rural farm town in the early 1900s, just after a young boy has gone missing), loved the characters, especially the peddler, and Evie, the main character.
Evie is the one whose son goes missing, and Watson apparently drew on a nightmare she had herself about the imagined death of her own son for this book, and it's one of the most accurate fictional accounts I've ever read of a mother losing a child.
I will never forget Watson's description of the oily hand print that the boy leaves behind on a farmhouse window that the mother refused to clean off. My gosh. Powerful.
Read this book if you love historical fiction, poetic prose, rural stories, and lots of human insight. And a little mystery and suspense thrown in. Going on my favorites shelf!
4.5 stars. I went to bed last night looking forward to this book, then was saddened to recall I had finished it. :-( Mark of a good book! I did not want it to end.
I'm always amazed when I read a book by a debut author whose command of the language is breathtaking, yet they have little background in the way of writing. Watson's writing is simply spectacular. Now and then it can be a tad too flowery, but I adored the plot (a peddler selling dreams comes to a small northwest rural farm town in the early 1900s, just after a young boy has gone missing), loved the characters, especially the peddler, and Evie, the main character.
Evie is the one whose son goes missing, and Watson apparently drew on a nightmare she had herself about the imagined death of her own son for this book, and it's one of the most accurate fictional accounts I've ever read of a mother losing a child.
I will never forget Watson's description of the oily hand print that the boy leaves behind on a farmhouse window that the mother refused to clean off. My gosh. Powerful.
Read this book if you love historical fiction, poetic prose, rural stories, and lots of human insight. And a little mystery and suspense thrown in. Going on my favorites shelf!
January 17, 2019
3,75 stars
This was a wonderful story that focused on the lives of people in a small town but with the addition of magical realism in the form of the dream peddler and the dreams he conjured. My favourite part of the book was probably the writing, it was so beautiful and reflected the historical aspect of the book very well. I can't say I liked the characters that much, except for Robert, he had a very complex personality in my opinion. Towards the end of the novel, I felt like the plot dragged a bit and repeated itself and overall, the ending could've been better. I still enjoyed this amazing piece of historical fiction a lot though!
A big thank you to the publisher and the Edelweiss+ website for providing me with an early copy!
This was a wonderful story that focused on the lives of people in a small town but with the addition of magical realism in the form of the dream peddler and the dreams he conjured. My favourite part of the book was probably the writing, it was so beautiful and reflected the historical aspect of the book very well. I can't say I liked the characters that much, except for Robert, he had a very complex personality in my opinion. Towards the end of the novel, I felt like the plot dragged a bit and repeated itself and overall, the ending could've been better. I still enjoyed this amazing piece of historical fiction a lot though!
A big thank you to the publisher and the Edelweiss+ website for providing me with an early copy!
March 10, 2019
I’m DNF’ing this one. The prose is gorgeous, but good god I am so incredibly bored. A character who disappeared early in the novel was just found by the townspeople and my actual reaction was, “Oh god, finally, now maybe we can move on to something interesting.”
April 10, 2019
I unexpectedly received this book from the publisher and it was such a treat! I was in the middle of several other reads when it arrived, however, I made the mistake of skimming through the first few pages....over 100 pages later, I finally put it down to go to bed. I finished this sweet story in two sittings and was so impressed by the gentle but firm pacing - it's a bit on the quieter side, but I never felt bored or frustrated.
The novel focuses on themes of overcoming grief, community, and identity, and I would highly recommend it for fans of light magical realism (think Sarah Addison Allen or Isabel Allende).
The novel focuses on themes of overcoming grief, community, and identity, and I would highly recommend it for fans of light magical realism (think Sarah Addison Allen or Isabel Allende).
October 1, 2019
Honestly, I was a little bored reading this book. My mind kept wandering- not a good sign. I just didn't find the story and characters that compelling. I didn't find the writing as "gorgeous" as other reviewers found it (I've read better). It's not a bad story, it has a good premise, but it fell flat for me in its overall telling and flow. I just wasn't feeling it. I can't say I recommend this book, but I will say I'd try reading another of the author's books. I do feel she has promise. And I did love her comments in the interview at the back of the book- that was a lot of fun.
August 20, 2018
A delightful read from start to finish! I really enjoyed this book and would read it again if I could.
A man comes into town selling dreams the day after a family loses their only son. That's the foundation for this story that shows the simplicity and complication of small towns with the wonder of dreams both big and small. The titular dream peddler, Robert, is a compelling character that you understand, but know so little about. The relationships he builds with the townspeople are heartwarming and ultimately heartbreaking as people usually reject what they don't understand. The characters a beautifully drawn out and the story is so mesmerizing you'll have a hard time putting it down.
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes stories about family, friendship, grief, and the understanding that a little magic can go a long way.
**Read thanks to an ARC from Penguin Books**
A man comes into town selling dreams the day after a family loses their only son. That's the foundation for this story that shows the simplicity and complication of small towns with the wonder of dreams both big and small. The titular dream peddler, Robert, is a compelling character that you understand, but know so little about. The relationships he builds with the townspeople are heartwarming and ultimately heartbreaking as people usually reject what they don't understand. The characters a beautifully drawn out and the story is so mesmerizing you'll have a hard time putting it down.
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes stories about family, friendship, grief, and the understanding that a little magic can go a long way.
**Read thanks to an ARC from Penguin Books**
March 13, 2019
"The Dream Peddler" is a luxurious debut about the whispers of a small town, the magic of dreams, and a boy who goes missing one snowy morning. When Robert Owens happens to sway into town the same day little Benjamin goes missing, the town doesn't think much of it at first. In the beginning the townsfolk find Robert mysterious... yet kind... and soon the allure of buying a custom-made dream is too much to resist. By the time the seasons have changed, half the town is secretly buying colorful liquid-filled vials from Mr. Owens and experiencing their most ambitious daydreams at night while they sleep. For some these dreams offer a glimpse into the future, for others an escape from the present, or even salvation from the past. This is a beautiful, eloquent novel with a touch of magic realism that explores just how far a dream can take us.
November 3, 2018
A peddler comes to town the day a young boy goes missing. What happens in the aftermath is a beautifully written study of the townspeople, their experiences, feelings, and actions. Watson's characters live in an unnamed town at an unnamed time, but their lives are entirely relevant to every place and time. There is so much we have in common with other people just because we are all human. Some of us take longer to heal from heartbreak, some of us need more attention, some of us can't accept who we are, and each of us must navigate life as best we can.
April 1, 2019
4.5 stars but might round up to 5 later! More to share in a bit...
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The Dream Peddler is a novel that had me hooked from the first chapter. There was just something about Watson's writing style, and the way we enter the story, that imbued the world with magic, wonder and mystery.
We follow the story of Robert Owens, a traveling salesman who offers magical potions that will give you whatever dream you desire. On the day he enters town, a young boy disappears, and this begins a series of events that follow Robert throughout his time in the town. We meet the young boy's mother, Evie, and other townspeople, as they come to Robert for dreams, or simply curiosity.
Watson keeps the story moving at a great pace which perfectly balances action and character development, both in Robert, and the many townspeople who weave in and out of his story. While Robert is the main character, many townspeople play large roles in the story, and we are able to see a bit into their lives. Evie occupies the second most central role, and her relationship with Robert is beautifully, and realistically, portrayed. One of my favorite things about this book is Watson's genius for characterization—each person is so realistic, with flaws, dreams (obviously, ha), and secrets, whether big or small. I felt that each of their desires and struggles were relatable, regardless of the time period in which this book is set. I loved all of the characters, which made reading this book just so so fun.
Watson addresses universal themes, such as love, grief, loyalty, and religion, in a unique story. I am so excited for this book to be published in two weeks! :) Thank you to Penguin and Edelweiss for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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The Dream Peddler is a novel that had me hooked from the first chapter. There was just something about Watson's writing style, and the way we enter the story, that imbued the world with magic, wonder and mystery.
We follow the story of Robert Owens, a traveling salesman who offers magical potions that will give you whatever dream you desire. On the day he enters town, a young boy disappears, and this begins a series of events that follow Robert throughout his time in the town. We meet the young boy's mother, Evie, and other townspeople, as they come to Robert for dreams, or simply curiosity.
Watson keeps the story moving at a great pace which perfectly balances action and character development, both in Robert, and the many townspeople who weave in and out of his story. While Robert is the main character, many townspeople play large roles in the story, and we are able to see a bit into their lives. Evie occupies the second most central role, and her relationship with Robert is beautifully, and realistically, portrayed. One of my favorite things about this book is Watson's genius for characterization—each person is so realistic, with flaws, dreams (obviously, ha), and secrets, whether big or small. I felt that each of their desires and struggles were relatable, regardless of the time period in which this book is set. I loved all of the characters, which made reading this book just so so fun.
Watson addresses universal themes, such as love, grief, loyalty, and religion, in a unique story. I am so excited for this book to be published in two weeks! :) Thank you to Penguin and Edelweiss for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
Robert Owens is peddler of a product that is rare and quite valuable: dreams. He travels from town to town, mixing his elixirs individually for each client at their request, fulfilling their unique desires. Some dream to remember the past, some to see the future and others to relive a present day joy. Evie’s request, however, is unusual. She has a pain so intense that she believes only Robert can and his elixirs can cure. As they meet over the elixir exchange, they form a friendship, a bond, but that bond is tested as the town’s residents begin to turn on Robert. After all, too much of a good thing is never really good for a small town, is it?
I found The Dream Peddler to be one of the most unique, remarkable stories that I have read in a very long time. There is a wide cast of characters, each with their own hidden desires, faults and goodness. However, Evie and Robert clearly stand out as the main focus and their complexity is brilliantly written throughout. While the dreams themselves appear to have a touch of magical realism to them, I felt that the story was more of a parable or fable, a story within the story, with a lesson for us all. We wish, we dream, we have hopes and with those desires come consequences. Do we dare to dream them anyway despite knowing the risk?
I was hesitant to give this a full 5 stars solely due to the fact that the book is complete perfection until the end where it wobbles a just a bit. It is still, however, highly recommended across all genres and one of the best books I’ve read in 2019.
I found The Dream Peddler to be one of the most unique, remarkable stories that I have read in a very long time. There is a wide cast of characters, each with their own hidden desires, faults and goodness. However, Evie and Robert clearly stand out as the main focus and their complexity is brilliantly written throughout. While the dreams themselves appear to have a touch of magical realism to them, I felt that the story was more of a parable or fable, a story within the story, with a lesson for us all. We wish, we dream, we have hopes and with those desires come consequences. Do we dare to dream them anyway despite knowing the risk?
I was hesitant to give this a full 5 stars solely due to the fact that the book is complete perfection until the end where it wobbles a just a bit. It is still, however, highly recommended across all genres and one of the best books I’ve read in 2019.
April 29, 2019
I was really intrigued by the concept of this book - a man who sells bottled dreams arrives in a small town the same day a young boy goes missing and the ramifications in the town of the dream peddler being there. I liked how the story played out, but I wanted more from it. I think if the book was longer and dove more into the goings on in the town, described dreams in detail and how they were changing people’s lives and the ripples that had in the town, I would have liked it more. Some of that was there, but a lot of it was inferred, implied, or we found out second hand through “gossip.” That may have been a choice on the author’s part since that’s how small towns tend to work, but I would have rather read about the events as they happened than read a one or two sentence synopsis of the event.
April 22, 2019
The Dream Peddler was a wonderful listen. I loved the portrait of a small town and I'm sure the story will stay with me. The language was lovely and the characters were interesting. I would have enjoyed a little more exploration of the character's motives particularly the more minor characters... I suspect Violet, Rose and Jackson would all have had interesting perspectives on small town life. I wasn't completely satisfied at the end. I wanted more both from the dreams and the peddler. Yet, this was just the book I was looking for and I will surely pick up the author's next book.
November 1, 2019
This book was such a waste of my time. I should have listened to my first instinct and left it partially read. No action happens until the last quarter of the book, and it’s resolved so swiftly it wasn’t at all worth waiting for. I can forgive a book where nothing happens if the writing is beautiful, but this wasn’t quite there. The idea of a wandering seller of dreams was so great I just wish more had actually happened. At least I’m finally finished.
July 22, 2019
I found this book very enjoyable. It starts off as a very heart breaking scene with Ben Dawson disappearing and coming up in the lake drowned. The same day Ben went missing an unexpected visitor came to town, Robert Owens, the Dream Peddler. Robert is a drifter from town to town he sells his dreams. Evie Dawson. Ben's mom, is very emotional but comes to become very close to Robert. As things advance the town turns on Robert and he ends up leaving. I was very fortunate to have won a copy of this book from Penguin. I highly recommend it! I do not want to post anymore of the book spoilers then what I have already posted above.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2023
An interesting ballet of characters that addresses ideas of loss, coping, secrets and the lies we tell ourselves.
Worth a read, though one character in particular I felt was underdeveloped.
Worth a read, though one character in particular I felt was underdeveloped.
April 20, 2019
No one before has ever seen the likes of traveling salesman Robert Owens. He makes his way, town after town, peddling the most astonishing gifts...dreams. But soon after Robert's arrival, the community has just been dealt with the most devastating of blows when nine year-old Benjamin Dawson's body was discovered only days after he went missing. With extreme expectations that Robbie's elixir will unleash deep-rooted desires and hopes, many townsfolk partake in what this man is selling while others shout "charlatan". The Dream Peddler is a honest thought provoking novel.
April 26, 2019
I had heard nothing about this book and just checked it out because it sounded interesting and I liked the cover :) What a pleasant surprise. This beautifully written book is about a small town that's visited by a man who sells dreams. The magical realism was just the right touch to a book about sorrow and loss and grief. It's also about identity, religion and community. The characters in this book were well developed, real and they stay with you. It's a quiet but touching story.
February 28, 2019
A very good read: a mix of emotions with a touch of magic realism.
I loved everything in this book: the style of writing, the characters and the plot.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Penguin Books and Edelweiss for this ARC
I loved everything in this book: the style of writing, the characters and the plot.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Penguin Books and Edelweiss for this ARC
July 27, 2019
This would have been a much better book in the hands of a more experienced writer. Good story, interesting characters, but the flow is weird. It took far too long for me to read this book, for all that it's only 315 pages.
March 3, 2019
Beautifully written. Whispers of the mystical and magical in a very real setting. Every character is well rounded and could be your neighbor.
April 14, 2020
I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind. --Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
In her chest was that ache she brought everywhere with her, like a loyal dog who can't be left behind. Sometimes it struck her how odd it was that others couldn't see it. As she neared the town and began to encounter more people, she had the feeling there was a knife sticking out of her chest. But everyone passed her by in spite of it, ignored her as if she were part of a street-fair magic act they did not want to stop for. She was the woman being sawed in half, her head and feet parting swiftly in their two painted boxes, her audience watching quietly and without surprise.
~~A frozen lake in Minnesota. This fits my mental image of the late winter lakeshore described in The Dream Peddler
Martine Fournier Watson draws us into the lives of a tight-knit community in a small, unnamed town. While the setting is not specified, I pictured a turn of the century (1900's) town beside one of the many lakes in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Feel free to envision your own setting though. The characters carry this novel.
We briefly meet Benjamin Dawson as he awakens in the middle of the night, bewitched by a full, low-hanging moon. He puts on his clothes, opens the front door, and walks into the night. The next morning his mother, Evie, calls him for breakfast before noticing that his coat is gone from the rack. When her husband, George, comes in (alone) from doing the morning chores, the parents realize that Benjamin appears to have had an early start on the days adventures. They start to worry by evening, and George organizes a search party the next day.
Meanwhile, a strange peddler walks into town, dragging his cart behind him. He introduces himself as Robert Owens, and becomes a boarder with the local spinster, Violet. He initially surrounds his wares with an aura of mystery, then gradually lets out, by word of mouth, that he can concoct potions that will influence a person's dreams. His first customer is Toby, a teenage boy who has had limited to no success dating the local girls. Toby, predictably, wants "a dream of a girl. A good one." Robert offers the first potion for free, and guarantees its success with a 100% money-back promise.
The next day Robert hears about the on-going search for little Benjamin, and volunteers to help. George gets paired with Robert, and asks for a potion that will let him dream about the path his missing son took. As time goes on, and word of Robert's seeming magic spreads, his customer base increases. But not everyone is a fan. Evie's mother is a witch of sorts, and she disapproves of the "charlatan". Then too there's the pastor who fears that boys are having immoral dreams, husbands are cheating on their wives while they sleep, and (most importantly) he will lose his hold on his flock.
But all this is a backdrop to Evie. Her anguish over her missing son intensifies as the days go on and hope slowly fades into despair. She is left a shadow of herself, emotions dulled, and unsure how to go on being a wife to George. Out of desperation, she turns to Robert, hoping that he can give her an elixir that will erase her dreams. If she doesn't dream that her son is well and with her, maybe the mornings after won't be so terrible. Maybe then she will have some semblance of normalcy. But what are we without our dreams? What role exactly do they play in our lives? And is Robert actually altering the town people's dreams, or do they merely awaken their hidden desires when they seek him out as a customer? Read to attempt an answer at these questions for yourself!
My two cents: I agree with other reviewers that Watson writes beautiful, lyrical prose. The novel feels slow for the first few chapters, but half way through the book I realized that I had been drawn in slowly but deftly into the lives of the townspeople. I easily empathized with Evie. Watson's depictions of grief are some of the best that I've read. She raises questions that aren't easily answered, and doesn't seek to tie the ending up in a pretty bow. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Recommended!
Other favorite quotes: "Evelyn had been a Whiting, raised in the big, broad house with the wide, deep porch on the crest of the longest road. Looking down on the other houses, it seemed to have opened its mouth and let them tumble down from it long ago like baby teeth."
~~"June was satisfied strewing words about the house, just as she had sprinkled the lucky salt in every corner after it was first built. She couldn't help it, and Evie didn't expect her to. The words flopped like hooked fish on the furniture and the floor, piling invisibly there until Evie thought she'd smother from them."
~~"Clearing his throat, [Pastor] Arnold bent his head in a manner that seemed intended to erase the memory of any unpleasant disruption and carried on, saying, "Friends, let us pray." He led them in the Lord's Prayer because it was solid and gathered the voices of all the congregation beneath his own. Like water under a boat, they bobbed him up, while the familiar ancient words brought him back his composure."
Further Reading: An article from Scientific American discussing whether one can control one's own dreams. https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
~~An article from Fatherly describing the horrific grief that parents go through when they lose a child. https://www.fatherly.com/health-scien...
In her chest was that ache she brought everywhere with her, like a loyal dog who can't be left behind. Sometimes it struck her how odd it was that others couldn't see it. As she neared the town and began to encounter more people, she had the feeling there was a knife sticking out of her chest. But everyone passed her by in spite of it, ignored her as if she were part of a street-fair magic act they did not want to stop for. She was the woman being sawed in half, her head and feet parting swiftly in their two painted boxes, her audience watching quietly and without surprise.
~~A frozen lake in Minnesota. This fits my mental image of the late winter lakeshore described in The Dream Peddler
Martine Fournier Watson draws us into the lives of a tight-knit community in a small, unnamed town. While the setting is not specified, I pictured a turn of the century (1900's) town beside one of the many lakes in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Feel free to envision your own setting though. The characters carry this novel.
We briefly meet Benjamin Dawson as he awakens in the middle of the night, bewitched by a full, low-hanging moon. He puts on his clothes, opens the front door, and walks into the night. The next morning his mother, Evie, calls him for breakfast before noticing that his coat is gone from the rack. When her husband, George, comes in (alone) from doing the morning chores, the parents realize that Benjamin appears to have had an early start on the days adventures. They start to worry by evening, and George organizes a search party the next day.
Meanwhile, a strange peddler walks into town, dragging his cart behind him. He introduces himself as Robert Owens, and becomes a boarder with the local spinster, Violet. He initially surrounds his wares with an aura of mystery, then gradually lets out, by word of mouth, that he can concoct potions that will influence a person's dreams. His first customer is Toby, a teenage boy who has had limited to no success dating the local girls. Toby, predictably, wants "a dream of a girl. A good one." Robert offers the first potion for free, and guarantees its success with a 100% money-back promise.
The next day Robert hears about the on-going search for little Benjamin, and volunteers to help. George gets paired with Robert, and asks for a potion that will let him dream about the path his missing son took. As time goes on, and word of Robert's seeming magic spreads, his customer base increases. But not everyone is a fan. Evie's mother is a witch of sorts, and she disapproves of the "charlatan". Then too there's the pastor who fears that boys are having immoral dreams, husbands are cheating on their wives while they sleep, and (most importantly) he will lose his hold on his flock.
But all this is a backdrop to Evie. Her anguish over her missing son intensifies as the days go on and hope slowly fades into despair. She is left a shadow of herself, emotions dulled, and unsure how to go on being a wife to George. Out of desperation, she turns to Robert, hoping that he can give her an elixir that will erase her dreams. If she doesn't dream that her son is well and with her, maybe the mornings after won't be so terrible. Maybe then she will have some semblance of normalcy. But what are we without our dreams? What role exactly do they play in our lives? And is Robert actually altering the town people's dreams, or do they merely awaken their hidden desires when they seek him out as a customer? Read to attempt an answer at these questions for yourself!
My two cents: I agree with other reviewers that Watson writes beautiful, lyrical prose. The novel feels slow for the first few chapters, but half way through the book I realized that I had been drawn in slowly but deftly into the lives of the townspeople. I easily empathized with Evie. Watson's depictions of grief are some of the best that I've read. She raises questions that aren't easily answered, and doesn't seek to tie the ending up in a pretty bow. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Recommended!
Other favorite quotes: "Evelyn had been a Whiting, raised in the big, broad house with the wide, deep porch on the crest of the longest road. Looking down on the other houses, it seemed to have opened its mouth and let them tumble down from it long ago like baby teeth."
~~"June was satisfied strewing words about the house, just as she had sprinkled the lucky salt in every corner after it was first built. She couldn't help it, and Evie didn't expect her to. The words flopped like hooked fish on the furniture and the floor, piling invisibly there until Evie thought she'd smother from them."
~~"Clearing his throat, [Pastor] Arnold bent his head in a manner that seemed intended to erase the memory of any unpleasant disruption and carried on, saying, "Friends, let us pray." He led them in the Lord's Prayer because it was solid and gathered the voices of all the congregation beneath his own. Like water under a boat, they bobbed him up, while the familiar ancient words brought him back his composure."
Further Reading: An article from Scientific American discussing whether one can control one's own dreams. https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
~~An article from Fatherly describing the horrific grief that parents go through when they lose a child. https://www.fatherly.com/health-scien...
November 25, 2020
An absolute delight. Full of exquisite imagery and well rounded characters. The characters tugged at your heart with their 'simple' countryfolk backstories and lives. I felt myself walking down the country roads and shopping at the general store. Yes, there is heartbreak at the centre of the story, but there is so much more. The hopes and dreams of young girls and grown men. Good food and seasonal crops. Magic and mystery. Of all the characters, the Dream Peddler remained the most illusive, as if he himself only partially filled one of the glass vials. Grief, love, the awareness of oneself - the author has captured it all.
The small town historical setting magnifies the life decisions made by the characters, without any reference to life outside the township. With no escape from their lives through television or film or the internet, their neighbours are their entertainment. Remember when life was like that? Those memories are writ larger than life in the pages of this book. Pure escapism tainted by grief, and held together by love.
The small town historical setting magnifies the life decisions made by the characters, without any reference to life outside the township. With no escape from their lives through television or film or the internet, their neighbours are their entertainment. Remember when life was like that? Those memories are writ larger than life in the pages of this book. Pure escapism tainted by grief, and held together by love.
October 8, 2020
The end was nice :’) some of the characters were hard to decipher between and there wasn’t much plot. I enjoyed it tho I think I would have loved it maybe 3-4 years ago more
April 7, 2019
"The Dream Peddler unfolds like a gorgeous poem, leading us deep into the lives of its characters and exploring the vast underground legacy of our own desires." ~ Rene Denfeld, author of The Child Finder and The Butterfly Girl (coming October, 2019)
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of The Dream Peddler, the debut novel by Martine Fournier Watson, from the library marketing folks at Penguin Random House. It has a lovely review from Rene Denfeld, an author whom I admire. The premise sounds so unique: a traveling salesman in the early twentieth century, who has the unusual ability to create dreams, settles temporarily in a farming community one winter right around the time that a young boy goes missing.
The Dream Peddler, known as Robert Owens, is an enigmatic character. We don't know much about where he's been or where he's going or what drives him to do what he does: selling dreams that he is able to concoct with his vast stores of mysterious tinctures. The community is suspicious at first about something that seems like a ruse; however, one satisfied customer after another reinforces the validity of the dream peddler's potions. But the dreams sometimes reveal things that are not entirely expected, or wanted. And when one person knows so many of the secret desires of others, there can be a heavy price to pay.
There is a thread of sadness in this beautifully written tale that weaves its way through the narrative, leaving your heart at once less and more full than it was before. One character in the book meaningfully states, "Sadness is like an ocean. It must move in and out." And the book flows in just this way, ocean-like, with the waves of the story ebbing and flowing. Although darker than what I usually choose to read, I don't regret the time spent with these authentic, richly drawn characters and their struggles to understand and experience their inward desires through the dreams they purchase from the Dream Peddler.
And I asked myself this often while reading: what dream would I choose, given such a choice?
Thoughtful Reading.
*possible trigger for those with young children*
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of The Dream Peddler, the debut novel by Martine Fournier Watson, from the library marketing folks at Penguin Random House. It has a lovely review from Rene Denfeld, an author whom I admire. The premise sounds so unique: a traveling salesman in the early twentieth century, who has the unusual ability to create dreams, settles temporarily in a farming community one winter right around the time that a young boy goes missing.
The Dream Peddler, known as Robert Owens, is an enigmatic character. We don't know much about where he's been or where he's going or what drives him to do what he does: selling dreams that he is able to concoct with his vast stores of mysterious tinctures. The community is suspicious at first about something that seems like a ruse; however, one satisfied customer after another reinforces the validity of the dream peddler's potions. But the dreams sometimes reveal things that are not entirely expected, or wanted. And when one person knows so many of the secret desires of others, there can be a heavy price to pay.
There is a thread of sadness in this beautifully written tale that weaves its way through the narrative, leaving your heart at once less and more full than it was before. One character in the book meaningfully states, "Sadness is like an ocean. It must move in and out." And the book flows in just this way, ocean-like, with the waves of the story ebbing and flowing. Although darker than what I usually choose to read, I don't regret the time spent with these authentic, richly drawn characters and their struggles to understand and experience their inward desires through the dreams they purchase from the Dream Peddler.
And I asked myself this often while reading: what dream would I choose, given such a choice?
Thoughtful Reading.
*possible trigger for those with young children*
April 14, 2019
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Robert Owens, a traveling dream salesman, comes to a town right as a young boy goes missing. Set in the late 1800s/early 1900s in a small country town, you really get a feel for the people and where they live. This story was told from many of the townspeople view points, which really gives you a feel for all the events going on through the book. And how their viewpoints shape the opinions you might have of others. I thought the the storyline was beautiful BUT I thought there were too many viewpoints. And my main reason for giving this a 3 is that I felt how the view point changed too quickly. It jumped around quite a lot, from one sentence to the next within the same paragraph. It made parts of this book hard to follow and I would have to go back to re-read. I loved the storyline, but a slow read.
Robert Owens, a traveling dream salesman, comes to a town right as a young boy goes missing. Set in the late 1800s/early 1900s in a small country town, you really get a feel for the people and where they live. This story was told from many of the townspeople view points, which really gives you a feel for all the events going on through the book. And how their viewpoints shape the opinions you might have of others. I thought the the storyline was beautiful BUT I thought there were too many viewpoints. And my main reason for giving this a 3 is that I felt how the view point changed too quickly. It jumped around quite a lot, from one sentence to the next within the same paragraph. It made parts of this book hard to follow and I would have to go back to re-read. I loved the storyline, but a slow read.
September 26, 2018
Beautifully written. What a delight to get an advanced copy!
October 14, 2018
I really enjoyed the way this was written. Beautifully done with setting and characters perfectly described. Lucky to have read the advance copy!
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