The Dream Peddler by Martine Fournier Watson is a novel set in a small farming town in the early 1900s. The story revolves around a traveling salesman named Robert Owens who arrives in town offering dream potions to the residents. As the town grapples with the disappearance of a young boy, Ben, the arrival of Mr. Owens brings a mix of magic and mystery to the community. The book explores themes of grief, love, desires, and hopes against the backdrop of a close-knit rural community where neighbors look out for each other and where life is centered around simple pleasures and traditional values. The narrative unfolds poetically, drawing readers into the lives of the characters and their struggles to reconcile their needs and desires with grace and love.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, capturing a range of human emotions and experiences, particularly encapsulated in Evie's grief and the mysterious Dream Peddler.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and engaging, effectively drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a boy's mysterious disappearance and the arrival of a dream salesman in a close-knit community, exploring the impact of dreams on people's lives.

Setting:

The setting is a rural farming community in the past, characterized by its simplicity and strong sense of community.

Pacing:

The pacing is engaging and well-balanced, allowing for both character development and plot progression.

The dream peddler came to town at the white end of winter, before the thaw. He had no horse or motorcar, but a low wagon harnessed to himself that he pulled along. He whistled as it bumped over the ro...

Notes:

The story begins with a boy named Benny who wakes up at night drawn to the moon.

A dream salesman named Robert Dawson arrives in town the day Benny goes missing.

Robert Dawson sells dreams in vials, promising a money-back guarantee if the dreams don't meet expectations.

The characters are described as rounded with rich backstories, immersing readers in small-town life.

The main character, Evie, experiences a deep emotional journey through her grief after losing her son.

The setting is a quaint small farming village with traditional activities like quilting and church gatherings.

The novel explores themes of love, grief, and the complexities of human desires and needs.

The writing style is described as poetic and beautifully crafted, engaging the reader's emotions.

The story has a nostalgic quality, reflecting on simpler times without modern distractions.

Readers appreciate the unique premise of a dream peddler adding a touch of magic to everyday life.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of grief, the loss of a child, and the emotional struggles of the characters.

From The Publisher:

"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.

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About the Author:

Martine 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…

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The Dream Peddler

Martine Fournier Watson