Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Random House (2008), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 272 pages
Description
A forty-year-old schoolteacher from Ohio still reeling from the tragedies of the Great War and the influenza epidemic comes into a modest inheritance that allows her to take the trip of a lifetime to Egypt and the Holy Land. Arriving at the Semiramis Hotel, site of the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference, she meets Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence, and Lady Gertrude Bell. With her plainspoken American opinions, she becomes a sounding board for these historic luminaries who will, in the space of a few days, invent the nations of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. While neither a pawn or a participant at the conference, she is drawn into the geopolitical intrigue surrounding the conference.
User reviews
LibraryThing member karieh
First and foremost, I should probably apologize to all of my favorite writers. Once I find a book I love, and then find another book by that author that is as good as or better than the first one I read – my expectations for any future works are sky high. Great expectations? HAH!!! Try wildly
That being said, I am very sad to report that my disappointment with “Dreamers of the Day” by Mary Doria Russell is not all of my own making. While I quickly accepted the narrator and the telling of her story from the afterlife…I quickly started to unsuspend my disbelief. This book is so different from Russell’s three other beautifully crafted and haunting works, that a comparison to those would be unfair, but a comparison to the movie “Forrest Gump” seems in order.
The narrator and main character, Agnes Shanklin, takes Gump’s role as the average person who interacts with famous people of her day (Post World War I). Lawrence of Arabia, Winston Churchill, etc. populate Agnes’s story – they take her on as a new friend when she travels from her staid upbringing in Ohio. As each new famous person invites her to dinner or takes her on trips…I just found myself saying, “Really? Really?”
Don’t get me wrong, parts of the book were very enlightening. Given the research that Russell does – I was interested to learn more about the great influenza epidemic of 1918.
“The pointless savagery of the Great War forged a generation of writers, so I’ve always found it strange that no one here at home chronicled the Great Influenza or its effects on us…Without literature as a guide, I expect you think of the flu as a homey, familiar kind of illness, not a horrifying scourge like the black plague or smallpox.”
It killed fifty million people – “millions more than died in combat on all sides, on all fronts, in four and a half years of the Great War, itself an orgy of killing.” She’s right – now that we call it the flu and that sometimes it’s just something that keeps us out of work for a few days – it is easy to forget how deadly it can be.
And then her observation on the birth of mass marketing, “The war taught us the power of propaganda,” one of the CPI men said after the armistice. “Now, by God, when we have something to sell to the American people, we know how to sell it.”
And then the book takes another turn as it discusses the creation of the modern Middle East and discusses today’s mess there in thinly veiled terms. I can’t say I disagree with many of the conclusions drawn by Agnes as she watches politicians start the creation of today’s wars…but I wasn’t sure why this belonged in this book.
The characters sound like the talking heads on CNN and MSNBC. “The level of religious bigotry in those regions is staggering! The Persian clergy spends half of its time fostering hatred…”
And this (I promise, this was from a book set in 1918) – “The sheer arrogance of the lies!” he (Lawrence) was snarling. “The relentless concealment! The British public was tricked into this adventure in Mesopotamia by a steady withholding of information,” he told me when I arrived at his side. “They have no idea how bloody and inefficient the occupation has been, or how many have been killed.”
I agree! I agree! But I kept jumping out of the book’s confines and into today’s headlines. (I am glad to say that I now know the difference between a Shi’a and a Sunni, thanks to T.E. Lawrence.)
Sigh. So the book consists of an interesting story about a woman who finally comes into her own, who discovers who finally who she is at 40, broken up by what come across as modern day politics. And then the last chapter REALLY gives your head a spin. Even more historical figures enter the picture – at which point I was really just glad to almost be done.
Again – I agree with what Russell has to say, but by the time I got to this – I was a hopeless case.
“Read to children.”
“Vote.”
“And never buy anything from a man selling fear.”
As I reach the end of this review, I have a sad, sick feeling. I realize that I’ve spent my time and my words ripping this book apart. I did not mean to – there were parts of it I enjoyed – the parts that focused more on the emotional development of Agnes. She was so used to living in the shadows – it was a pleasure reading about her discoveries in and outside herself.
But back to where I started – I had high hopes for this book and I suppose my disappointment comes through more strongly than I had planned.
Mary Doria Russell has written so beautifully of such amazing things (“The Sparrow” – what a lovely, amazing, unexpected jewel of a book. If not for “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Russell’s first book might be my all time favorite) – and in ways that allow the reader to learn even more than s/he is aware (“Thread of Grace”). I will pick up her next book with eagerness and hope – but will cross my fingers that it follows more the pattern of her first three books and of another description of the fictionalized T.E. Lawrence, “Garnett’s scholarship is so easy and exact, so deep, but so unobtrusive.”
I hope her next book is like that…so I can read and learn…and lock my disbelief firmly away.
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unrealistic expectations.That being said, I am very sad to report that my disappointment with “Dreamers of the Day” by Mary Doria Russell is not all of my own making. While I quickly accepted the narrator and the telling of her story from the afterlife…I quickly started to unsuspend my disbelief. This book is so different from Russell’s three other beautifully crafted and haunting works, that a comparison to those would be unfair, but a comparison to the movie “Forrest Gump” seems in order.
The narrator and main character, Agnes Shanklin, takes Gump’s role as the average person who interacts with famous people of her day (Post World War I). Lawrence of Arabia, Winston Churchill, etc. populate Agnes’s story – they take her on as a new friend when she travels from her staid upbringing in Ohio. As each new famous person invites her to dinner or takes her on trips…I just found myself saying, “Really? Really?”
Don’t get me wrong, parts of the book were very enlightening. Given the research that Russell does – I was interested to learn more about the great influenza epidemic of 1918.
“The pointless savagery of the Great War forged a generation of writers, so I’ve always found it strange that no one here at home chronicled the Great Influenza or its effects on us…Without literature as a guide, I expect you think of the flu as a homey, familiar kind of illness, not a horrifying scourge like the black plague or smallpox.”
It killed fifty million people – “millions more than died in combat on all sides, on all fronts, in four and a half years of the Great War, itself an orgy of killing.” She’s right – now that we call it the flu and that sometimes it’s just something that keeps us out of work for a few days – it is easy to forget how deadly it can be.
And then her observation on the birth of mass marketing, “The war taught us the power of propaganda,” one of the CPI men said after the armistice. “Now, by God, when we have something to sell to the American people, we know how to sell it.”
And then the book takes another turn as it discusses the creation of the modern Middle East and discusses today’s mess there in thinly veiled terms. I can’t say I disagree with many of the conclusions drawn by Agnes as she watches politicians start the creation of today’s wars…but I wasn’t sure why this belonged in this book.
The characters sound like the talking heads on CNN and MSNBC. “The level of religious bigotry in those regions is staggering! The Persian clergy spends half of its time fostering hatred…”
And this (I promise, this was from a book set in 1918) – “The sheer arrogance of the lies!” he (Lawrence) was snarling. “The relentless concealment! The British public was tricked into this adventure in Mesopotamia by a steady withholding of information,” he told me when I arrived at his side. “They have no idea how bloody and inefficient the occupation has been, or how many have been killed.”
I agree! I agree! But I kept jumping out of the book’s confines and into today’s headlines. (I am glad to say that I now know the difference between a Shi’a and a Sunni, thanks to T.E. Lawrence.)
Sigh. So the book consists of an interesting story about a woman who finally comes into her own, who discovers who finally who she is at 40, broken up by what come across as modern day politics. And then the last chapter REALLY gives your head a spin. Even more historical figures enter the picture – at which point I was really just glad to almost be done.
Again – I agree with what Russell has to say, but by the time I got to this – I was a hopeless case.
“Read to children.”
“Vote.”
“And never buy anything from a man selling fear.”
As I reach the end of this review, I have a sad, sick feeling. I realize that I’ve spent my time and my words ripping this book apart. I did not mean to – there were parts of it I enjoyed – the parts that focused more on the emotional development of Agnes. She was so used to living in the shadows – it was a pleasure reading about her discoveries in and outside herself.
But back to where I started – I had high hopes for this book and I suppose my disappointment comes through more strongly than I had planned.
Mary Doria Russell has written so beautifully of such amazing things (“The Sparrow” – what a lovely, amazing, unexpected jewel of a book. If not for “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Russell’s first book might be my all time favorite) – and in ways that allow the reader to learn even more than s/he is aware (“Thread of Grace”). I will pick up her next book with eagerness and hope – but will cross my fingers that it follows more the pattern of her first three books and of another description of the fictionalized T.E. Lawrence, “Garnett’s scholarship is so easy and exact, so deep, but so unobtrusive.”
I hope her next book is like that…so I can read and learn…and lock my disbelief firmly away.
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LibraryThing member mdwilliams
While the idea of a middle-aged spinster from Cleveland might be so easily accidentally find herself carousing with such luminaries of the age as T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Gertrude Bell may on the surface seem flimsy and unbelievable, somehow it comes across as perfectly natural and
Though I did not enjoy Dreamers of the Day as much as her excellent duology The Sparrow & The Children of God, many of the same elements that made those two books so remarkable feature prominently in Russell's latest effort. The protagonist, Agnes Shanklin, through cultural ignorance of the Arab world's disdain for the canine breeds bumbles her way into the periphery of the 1921 Cairo conference which gave us all the lovely complications that today entangle our equally bumbling foreign policy in Mesopotamia. Among the illustrious company of Lawrence, Churchill, Bell and the other architects of the Middle East's modern political geography Shanklin faces a litany of religious, moral and social quandaries, to which she finds the answers through a triumvirate of educational experiences: travel abroad, romantic companionship, and a clarifying tour through the past of her dead family members.
At its heart, Dreamers of the Day is a coming of age novel, even if the protagonist whose emotional development has long been stunted is coming out of her adolescent cocoon a quarter of a century late. Tacked, not incidentally, on to that core is a great deal of timely--if occasionally heavy-handed--political commentary.
Between well-developed characters and an obvious talent for capturing the essence of the historic setting, Dreamers of the Day was an enjoyable read with just the right amounts of historical accuracy, melancholic universal truths, and engagingly subtle plot.
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almost inevitable. Perhaps it is my own easily suspended suspension of disbelief when it comes to a well written novel, or my personal experience with the extraordinary circumstances that occur when one travels far from home. More likely, however, it is Russell's straightforward, engaging wordcraft that allays any doubts.Though I did not enjoy Dreamers of the Day as much as her excellent duology The Sparrow & The Children of God, many of the same elements that made those two books so remarkable feature prominently in Russell's latest effort. The protagonist, Agnes Shanklin, through cultural ignorance of the Arab world's disdain for the canine breeds bumbles her way into the periphery of the 1921 Cairo conference which gave us all the lovely complications that today entangle our equally bumbling foreign policy in Mesopotamia. Among the illustrious company of Lawrence, Churchill, Bell and the other architects of the Middle East's modern political geography Shanklin faces a litany of religious, moral and social quandaries, to which she finds the answers through a triumvirate of educational experiences: travel abroad, romantic companionship, and a clarifying tour through the past of her dead family members.
At its heart, Dreamers of the Day is a coming of age novel, even if the protagonist whose emotional development has long been stunted is coming out of her adolescent cocoon a quarter of a century late. Tacked, not incidentally, on to that core is a great deal of timely--if occasionally heavy-handed--political commentary.
Between well-developed characters and an obvious talent for capturing the essence of the historic setting, Dreamers of the Day was an enjoyable read with just the right amounts of historical accuracy, melancholic universal truths, and engagingly subtle plot.
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LibraryThing member mzonderm
While reading this book, one is forced to wonder how much it is meant to be a commentary on the current situation in the Middle East. And indeed, the political and historical expositions can be a little heavy-handed. And yet I found these easy to forgive, due mainly to the engaging voice of Agnes,
Most of the book is just good narrative. Agnes tells us her story as though we were sitting down over a cup of tea, and her conversational tone draws the reader in right away. Her tales of meeting Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia), and the others at the Cairo Peace Conference are wonderfully told, and her descriptions of Egypt, Jerusalem, and the other places she visits make them come alive. And of course, the way she tells us about her beloved dachshund Rosie are simply delightful!
I've been a big fan of Mary Doria Russell's books since I discovered them, and this one did not let me down.
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our narrator. She has a very fresh and conversational tone that allows the reader to take in the information without feeling bashed over the head with it. And, I have to say, a lot of the description of how the Middle East was divvied up after WWI was very interesting in light of what's happened since in that region.Most of the book is just good narrative. Agnes tells us her story as though we were sitting down over a cup of tea, and her conversational tone draws the reader in right away. Her tales of meeting Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia), and the others at the Cairo Peace Conference are wonderfully told, and her descriptions of Egypt, Jerusalem, and the other places she visits make them come alive. And of course, the way she tells us about her beloved dachshund Rosie are simply delightful!
I've been a big fan of Mary Doria Russell's books since I discovered them, and this one did not let me down.
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LibraryThing member Airycat
I liked Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. Agnes Shanklin is as real as any living, breathing person I've met.
The plot of the story is simple. Agnes, an "old maid" (this is about 1921) schoolteacher, takes a trip to Egypt after recovering from the war and the influenza epidemic of 1919.
The plot is not what held my interest. As Agnes tells her story, you know that she lived through what she is telling. Reading it, I sensed that some of the gaps in my knowledge of the period were being filled without the drudgery of history lectures. I found myself fascinated by a topic that had not particularly interested me before.
I was delighted to read in the acknowledgments at the end, that Ms. Russell had done her homework and invented only Agnes's story. Where it crossed the well known individuals, she kept them true to reality.
While I didn't hate it, I felt the final chapter was added on to express some opinions of the author that didn't naturally fit into the story. The naturalness, and reality, that I loved about the rest of the book fell away here. Though Russell gave hints early on, it just didn't work for me. Nonetheless, the book was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in love stories and/or the early twentieth century.
The plot of the story is simple. Agnes, an "old maid" (this is about 1921) schoolteacher, takes a trip to Egypt after recovering from the war and the influenza epidemic of 1919.
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While there, she meets some of the famous statesmen and military men who were "solving" the middle east problem. She also falls in love while there.The plot is not what held my interest. As Agnes tells her story, you know that she lived through what she is telling. Reading it, I sensed that some of the gaps in my knowledge of the period were being filled without the drudgery of history lectures. I found myself fascinated by a topic that had not particularly interested me before.
I was delighted to read in the acknowledgments at the end, that Ms. Russell had done her homework and invented only Agnes's story. Where it crossed the well known individuals, she kept them true to reality.
While I didn't hate it, I felt the final chapter was added on to express some opinions of the author that didn't naturally fit into the story. The naturalness, and reality, that I loved about the rest of the book fell away here. Though Russell gave hints early on, it just didn't work for me. Nonetheless, the book was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in love stories and/or the early twentieth century.
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LibraryThing member spurnell
This is not a book I would have picked up had I not received a copy through the Early Reviewers Club. As it turns out, I really enjoyed it and have passed it along to others who have enjoyed it as well. What I liked most about the book was Agnes. She struck me as unusual heroine with her own unique
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path to follow. Mary Doria Russell created an extremely engaging character with Agnes and her traveling companion Rosie. Unlike a lot of the reviewers, I enjoyed the way the book ended. I found it to be unexpected and original. Show Less
LibraryThing member whitetara
Have you ever woken from a dream that was so real, so tangible, that you completely believe it to be true? You doubt yourself, but it feels right; it smells right; and you just can't shake it away? That was just about the feeling I had reading Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. I've loved
I have been to many of the parts of the Middle East that these characters visit and what I like best about the way Ms. Russell describes them is that it's not a blow-by-blow account of the exact scene or panorama. She subtly gives you a picture with small details that seep into your subconscious and paint the thousand words that could never be captured in just a snapshot. Every word in this book has meaning and purpose behind it and is worth pause and reflection. Ms. Russell truly never fails to please her fans.
Best of all, in my opinion, is the timing of this book. More than ever, we all need to hear the words of Lawrence (and Agnes) and know the ramifications of what a very few people's choices have set into action that are affecting the world on such a grand scale today. I wish I could give this book to everyone in the U.S. to read and make them understand the weight of the history behind the Middle East. I will give it to as many people I know and hope they will feel what I felt. I laughed out loud at times and cringed with embarrassment and sympathy at others. I felt emboldened and challenged right along with Agnes Shanklin and was proud of her transformation. I felt wrapped in the arms of a master researcher who had painstakingly weeded through mounds of material to clearly outline the events and feelings of that time (and was thrilled to have a list of sources at the end of the book to prove it). I hope you enjoy Dreamers of the Day as much as I have. If it is your first time picking up a book by Ms. Russell, be prepared to feel exactly what each character is feeling. And if you are a fan of Ms. Russell's already, you will not be disappointed in the least.
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her work for a long time, but this piece of historical fiction is something I will reread and treasure for years to come. Agnes Shanklin is a schoolteacher from Ohio, thrown into historically changing events in 1920's Cairo. She finds herself among the likes of T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell, and those that are among that key players of the Cairo Conference, among other things. Ms. Russell gives Agnes such a descriptive voice of the time, of her travels and about the people she encounters that I felt just like waking from one of those dreams. Is that what happened? If feels like that must be exactly what happened. Every word rings true. It can't possibly be fiction. This Agnes is Real.I have been to many of the parts of the Middle East that these characters visit and what I like best about the way Ms. Russell describes them is that it's not a blow-by-blow account of the exact scene or panorama. She subtly gives you a picture with small details that seep into your subconscious and paint the thousand words that could never be captured in just a snapshot. Every word in this book has meaning and purpose behind it and is worth pause and reflection. Ms. Russell truly never fails to please her fans.
Best of all, in my opinion, is the timing of this book. More than ever, we all need to hear the words of Lawrence (and Agnes) and know the ramifications of what a very few people's choices have set into action that are affecting the world on such a grand scale today. I wish I could give this book to everyone in the U.S. to read and make them understand the weight of the history behind the Middle East. I will give it to as many people I know and hope they will feel what I felt. I laughed out loud at times and cringed with embarrassment and sympathy at others. I felt emboldened and challenged right along with Agnes Shanklin and was proud of her transformation. I felt wrapped in the arms of a master researcher who had painstakingly weeded through mounds of material to clearly outline the events and feelings of that time (and was thrilled to have a list of sources at the end of the book to prove it). I hope you enjoy Dreamers of the Day as much as I have. If it is your first time picking up a book by Ms. Russell, be prepared to feel exactly what each character is feeling. And if you are a fan of Ms. Russell's already, you will not be disappointed in the least.
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LibraryThing member the_awesome_opossum
The title Dreamers of the Day comes from the writing of TE Lawrence: "Those who dream by night wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible."
It is these dedicated dreamers with whom a
But Agnes's perspective was uninformed and uninteresting, sadly. There's a wealth of fascinating history with an impact we still see in present day politics unfolding in the narrative, and Mary Doria Russell can bring humanity and believability to any character or historical figure. But the narrative gets caught between Agnes's own story and the story of the Conference, and unfortunately the impact of both are mutually dulled by ceding space and depth to each other. Agnes is a well-drawn character and I liked her personally, but her limited perspective couldn't adequately convey the long-reaching significance of Middle Eastern history and politics that the book promises.
It is these dedicated dreamers with whom a
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schoolteacher named Agnes Shanklin ends up socializing at the 1921 Cairo Conference. Having had very little excitement in her life up to this point, Agnes takes a trip to the Middle East that unfolds rather like a coming of age story as she finds her confidence in travel. But at the same time that Agnes is working through personal growth, she is also witness to the birth of the modern Middle East - determined largely by British diplomats and little to no input by actual Middle Eastern politicians. Agnes (in-credibly) befriends Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia, and Gertrude Bell as they hash out the boundaries and governance of the Middle East in the post-WWI era.But Agnes's perspective was uninformed and uninteresting, sadly. There's a wealth of fascinating history with an impact we still see in present day politics unfolding in the narrative, and Mary Doria Russell can bring humanity and believability to any character or historical figure. But the narrative gets caught between Agnes's own story and the story of the Conference, and unfortunately the impact of both are mutually dulled by ceding space and depth to each other. Agnes is a well-drawn character and I liked her personally, but her limited perspective couldn't adequately convey the long-reaching significance of Middle Eastern history and politics that the book promises.
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LibraryThing member mcna217
I use three criteria to judge a work of historical fiction:
1. Was it believable? Could these events have really happened?
2. Did I enjoy it as a piece of writing? Was the dialogue interesting, were the characters well drawn, etc.
3. Did this book encourage me to learn more about a particular place,
This book "Dreamers of the Day" failed on two of these three standards, and as such, I would not recommend it.
1. I did not find it believable that a dowdy, middle-aged spinster would be hobnobbing with Winston Churchill and other known historical figures. I also could not imagine important government secrets being shared with her. Therefore, the historical accuracy was lacking.
2. I did not find this book especially well written, nor did I find the characters sympathetic. I was especially put off by the final section of the book (Part 3-Ohio and Beyond). It seemed farfetched and did not follow the rest of the story.
3. In this final criteria, Dreamers of the Day was a sucessful read. It has furthered my interest in the the influenza epidemic, the diplomatic career of Winston Churchill, and the history of Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.
In summary, this book was disappointing because Mary Doria Russell was so highly recommended. However, it did spark a curiosity in learning more about this time in history.
1. Was it believable? Could these events have really happened?
2. Did I enjoy it as a piece of writing? Was the dialogue interesting, were the characters well drawn, etc.
3. Did this book encourage me to learn more about a particular place,
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person, or period in history?This book "Dreamers of the Day" failed on two of these three standards, and as such, I would not recommend it.
1. I did not find it believable that a dowdy, middle-aged spinster would be hobnobbing with Winston Churchill and other known historical figures. I also could not imagine important government secrets being shared with her. Therefore, the historical accuracy was lacking.
2. I did not find this book especially well written, nor did I find the characters sympathetic. I was especially put off by the final section of the book (Part 3-Ohio and Beyond). It seemed farfetched and did not follow the rest of the story.
3. In this final criteria, Dreamers of the Day was a sucessful read. It has furthered my interest in the the influenza epidemic, the diplomatic career of Winston Churchill, and the history of Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.
In summary, this book was disappointing because Mary Doria Russell was so highly recommended. However, it did spark a curiosity in learning more about this time in history.
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LibraryThing member Pandababy
The day before Christmas, a package arrived from The Random House Publishing Group: an Advance Reader's Edition of Mary Doria Russell's new novel - Dreamers of the Day.
At 255 pages, it was the perfect length to fit in between preparations and celebrations. (But I'm a speed reader.) I cruised the
There is so much I want to tell you about Dreamers of the Day, but I won't diminish the charm you will find in discovering them for yourself. My only complaint at the end of this book was that it was over too soon. Perhaps that is also good - an author, like a party hostess, wants to always stop while people are still asking for more.
Already I have revisited the story and its protagonist, Agnes Shanklin, in my mind, considering certain scenes, turning them this way and that in the light of retrospection, to see if they maintain their purity. Yes, Russell's writing shines with originality. Although her work and her acknowledgments show her to be a careful craftsman of history, she weaves real events and famous people into her story with a light touch, producing a fresh perspective.
The ending was a total surprise, yet fit the rest of the narrative perfectly. This is a book I will read more than once. Very highly recommended.
Mary Doria Russell also wrote A Thread of Grace, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
At 255 pages, it was the perfect length to fit in between preparations and celebrations. (But I'm a speed reader.) I cruised the
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story as slowly as possible, savoring the characters and the setting. What do you get when you put Rosie the Dachshund, Karl the German spy, T. E. Lawrence and an Ohio schoolteacher in Cairo, Egypt? Why, an enchanting novel, full of explorations and discoveries - of foreign places, of famous people, even of the self.There is so much I want to tell you about Dreamers of the Day, but I won't diminish the charm you will find in discovering them for yourself. My only complaint at the end of this book was that it was over too soon. Perhaps that is also good - an author, like a party hostess, wants to always stop while people are still asking for more.
Already I have revisited the story and its protagonist, Agnes Shanklin, in my mind, considering certain scenes, turning them this way and that in the light of retrospection, to see if they maintain their purity. Yes, Russell's writing shines with originality. Although her work and her acknowledgments show her to be a careful craftsman of history, she weaves real events and famous people into her story with a light touch, producing a fresh perspective.
The ending was a total surprise, yet fit the rest of the narrative perfectly. This is a book I will read more than once. Very highly recommended.
Mary Doria Russell also wrote A Thread of Grace, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
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LibraryThing member mrstreme
Historians will tell you that to understand the present you must comprehend the past. I believe that is what Mary Doria Russell is trying to show us in her latest book, Dreamers of the Day.
At initial glance, Dreamers of the Day is a coming-of-age novel about late bloomer, Agnes Shanklin, who
While in Cairo though, she witnesses a moment of great historical significance: the Cairo Conference, when Winston Churchill, Lady Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence decided the fate of the Middle East after World War I. This simple story of a woman’s self-discovery transforms into a social commentary – in a graceful style that only Mary Doria Russell can write.
Mary Doria Russell could lecture on character development. She is the master of it. And that is true for her characters in Dreamers of the Day. My favorite character is Rosie, the loyal but fiery dachshund who adds such a realistic dimension to this story. Rosie poops in Winston Churchill’s car. She dives into the Nile after a fish. She has a crooked tail and likes to eat sausage at the table. Through Russell’s writing, you can see Rosie, walking down the streets of Cairo on her short legs with her ears perked up at the new sounds. To be honest, I loved Rosie’s character so much that I wished I owned a dachshund too.
Despite the superb character development, I believe that Dreamers of the Day has some flaws. First, you must suspend a level of disbelief before reading this story. The likelihood that this prestigious international assembly would welcome an American spinster is slim to none. Agnes reminds me of Forrest Gump, showing up at the right place at the right time, while major historical events unfold. Second, the ending seemed superfluous. To be certain, Dreamers of the Day is social commentary about the mess in the Middle East and the U.S. involvement in this region. I got that. I didn’t need to last chapter to be so aggressive in advancing this message.
While I would contend that Dreamers of the Day is not one of Russell’s best, I still feel that it is a good, important book to read and would recommend it to MDR fans and lovers of historical fiction. I bet we will see Dreamers of the Day on notable lists and perhaps as a Pulitzer finalist in 2008 – the message is that important and one I doubt critics will ignore. If you decide to read this book, be prepared to learn a lot, let the story take its course – and bring some sausage bites for Rosie. She’ll love you for it.
At initial glance, Dreamers of the Day is a coming-of-age novel about late bloomer, Agnes Shanklin, who
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becomes an heiress after the death of her relatives from the influenza epidemic in 1918. Agnes is unconfident and has an inferiority complex that has hindered her since childhood. Suddenly free of family and societal ties, Agnes decides to leave Ohio and voyage to Egypt to see the sites described in her deceased sister’s letters. Accompanied by her dachshund, Rosie, Agnes embarks on a journey that shapes her life. While in Cairo though, she witnesses a moment of great historical significance: the Cairo Conference, when Winston Churchill, Lady Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence decided the fate of the Middle East after World War I. This simple story of a woman’s self-discovery transforms into a social commentary – in a graceful style that only Mary Doria Russell can write.
Mary Doria Russell could lecture on character development. She is the master of it. And that is true for her characters in Dreamers of the Day. My favorite character is Rosie, the loyal but fiery dachshund who adds such a realistic dimension to this story. Rosie poops in Winston Churchill’s car. She dives into the Nile after a fish. She has a crooked tail and likes to eat sausage at the table. Through Russell’s writing, you can see Rosie, walking down the streets of Cairo on her short legs with her ears perked up at the new sounds. To be honest, I loved Rosie’s character so much that I wished I owned a dachshund too.
Despite the superb character development, I believe that Dreamers of the Day has some flaws. First, you must suspend a level of disbelief before reading this story. The likelihood that this prestigious international assembly would welcome an American spinster is slim to none. Agnes reminds me of Forrest Gump, showing up at the right place at the right time, while major historical events unfold. Second, the ending seemed superfluous. To be certain, Dreamers of the Day is social commentary about the mess in the Middle East and the U.S. involvement in this region. I got that. I didn’t need to last chapter to be so aggressive in advancing this message.
While I would contend that Dreamers of the Day is not one of Russell’s best, I still feel that it is a good, important book to read and would recommend it to MDR fans and lovers of historical fiction. I bet we will see Dreamers of the Day on notable lists and perhaps as a Pulitzer finalist in 2008 – the message is that important and one I doubt critics will ignore. If you decide to read this book, be prepared to learn a lot, let the story take its course – and bring some sausage bites for Rosie. She’ll love you for it.
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LibraryThing member betsytacy
In Dreamers of the Day, which I received through the Early Reviewers program, Mary Doria Russell returns to the historical fiction genre of her most recent book, but the result is a mixed bag. The book is a combination coming of age story, history lesson, and romance, but some of those threads are
In the best parts of the book, Russell shows the metamorphosis of her delightful main character, Agnes Shanklin, from a 40-year-old schoolteacher whose life has been controlled by her mother into a confident and independent woman. Agnes loses her family in the influenza epidemic of 1919 but from that tragedy is able to build a new life for herself. The scene where Agnes goes shopping for new, stylish clothes is delightful.
Agnes takes the adventurous step of traveling to Egypt alone, and Russell paints a vivid picture of Egypt in the 1920s. Agnes meets T.E. Lawrence; Winston and Clementine Churchill; Thompson, Churchill’s bodyguard; and Gertrude Bell, all of whom Russell brings to life. Through Agnes’s eyes, Russell effectively shows how the machinations of the Cairo Conference laid the seeds for the problems that continue in the Middle East today.
As for the ineffective parts of the story, while in Egypt, Agnes has a romance with a German spy, and although this allows Russell to bring in the German perspective on what the British were doing in the Middle East, I found myself impatient with this plot line. I wanted to see Agnes interacting more with T. E. Lawrence and the Churchills instead. The historical side of the story was far more interesting than the romantic side.
The end of the book is where everything falls apart. Russell ignores one of the most basic tenets of good writing: show, don’t tell. Instead of trusting that she told her story well and that her readers will see how the decisions made at the Cairo Conference reverberate today, she decides to have Agnes lecture the readers from the afterlife about the missteps of the past 100 years of history, which was ridiculous at times. I wish Russell had found a more effective way to wrap up her story. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others, but perhaps I would advise that they skip the last section.
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more successful than others.In the best parts of the book, Russell shows the metamorphosis of her delightful main character, Agnes Shanklin, from a 40-year-old schoolteacher whose life has been controlled by her mother into a confident and independent woman. Agnes loses her family in the influenza epidemic of 1919 but from that tragedy is able to build a new life for herself. The scene where Agnes goes shopping for new, stylish clothes is delightful.
Agnes takes the adventurous step of traveling to Egypt alone, and Russell paints a vivid picture of Egypt in the 1920s. Agnes meets T.E. Lawrence; Winston and Clementine Churchill; Thompson, Churchill’s bodyguard; and Gertrude Bell, all of whom Russell brings to life. Through Agnes’s eyes, Russell effectively shows how the machinations of the Cairo Conference laid the seeds for the problems that continue in the Middle East today.
As for the ineffective parts of the story, while in Egypt, Agnes has a romance with a German spy, and although this allows Russell to bring in the German perspective on what the British were doing in the Middle East, I found myself impatient with this plot line. I wanted to see Agnes interacting more with T. E. Lawrence and the Churchills instead. The historical side of the story was far more interesting than the romantic side.
The end of the book is where everything falls apart. Russell ignores one of the most basic tenets of good writing: show, don’t tell. Instead of trusting that she told her story well and that her readers will see how the decisions made at the Cairo Conference reverberate today, she decides to have Agnes lecture the readers from the afterlife about the missteps of the past 100 years of history, which was ridiculous at times. I wish Russell had found a more effective way to wrap up her story. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others, but perhaps I would advise that they skip the last section.
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LibraryThing member MaowangVater
The only member of her family to survive the influenza pandemic of 1918, former fifth grade schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin and her dachshund Rosie set off from Cleveland, Ohio on a cruse to Egypt “…to escape from the sadness.” She arrives in 1921 to find the local population in a state of
Fortunately, she is rescued from her predicament by members of the very same English that are causing such a stir, Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence. She soon makes the acquaintance of Winston Churchill and a very charming German gentleman who proves to be a very attentive friend and sympathetic listener. Thus the author skillfully sets the stage to portray the men and women who literally shaped the modern middle-east. As the fictional Miss Shanklin puts it, “my little story has become your history.” She might have added, “and your current struggles.”
Dreamers of the day is a fascinating work of historical fiction and an extremely satisfying read.
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agitated turmoil over the impending meeting of their new British governors. They are torn between a desire to kill the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Churchill and admiration and awe for the war hero who did so much to liberate the Arabs them from the rule of the Turks, Colonel Lawrence. She also arrives to find that dogs are not welcome in first-class hotels in Cairo.Fortunately, she is rescued from her predicament by members of the very same English that are causing such a stir, Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence. She soon makes the acquaintance of Winston Churchill and a very charming German gentleman who proves to be a very attentive friend and sympathetic listener. Thus the author skillfully sets the stage to portray the men and women who literally shaped the modern middle-east. As the fictional Miss Shanklin puts it, “my little story has become your history.” She might have added, “and your current struggles.”
Dreamers of the day is a fascinating work of historical fiction and an extremely satisfying read.
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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
First and foremost: Thanks, Librarything and thanks, Random House, for allowing me to snag an early copy of this book.
The title is taken from a quotation by T.E. Lawrence (remembered today as Lawrence of Arabia), which states:
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night wake in the
One reason I really enjoy Mary Doria Russell's writing is that it tends to sneak up on you -- meaning that the more you think about it, the more you realize exactly what she's trying to tell you. This one is no exception. Dreamers of the Day is not really a story within a story but an awesome piece of writing in which two stories tend to mirror each other to a degree. Agnes' life story may be viewed as a representative prelude to a bigger story -- that of post WWI events in the Middle East that not only helped to shape the world of the time, but which, of course, have led to the political situation currently facing each and every one of us. Perhaps what I'm saying may sound a bit confusing, but once you read the entire story, you'll understand what I'm trying to say here.
An inheritance allows schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin to take time to do some things she's always wanted to do -- namely, visit the Holy Land where her sister and brother-in-law once served at an American Missionary school in Jerusalem. She begins her journey in Egypt, and runs into some very famous people at the outset: TE Lawrence (fondly known to Agnes' sister as Neddy); Gertrude Bell (see Wikipedia if you don't know who this is) and Winston Churchill among others. She also meets up with one Karl Weilbacher, who is quite interested in the activities of the British contingent & what's coming out of the 1921 Cairo Conference. As events that redefine the world progress, Agnes comes to some realizations about herself & the world she lives in.
That's putting it in a nutshell; to say more would be to spoil it. The book is divided into three sections and to be really honest, at first I considered that the story would have been better ended at the end of section two. However, I came to realize that part three was absolutely necessary, although imho, it could have been toned down a bit ...it seemed a bit silly overall. And although I'm a doggie lover, with 2 lovable puppies at home, I really got tired of hearing about Rosie the dog after a while.
Overall, a fantastic read, one not to be missed.
Who would like it? People with an interest in geopolitics as a force shaping history, Lawrence of Arabia, or historical fiction in general would most definitely enjoy Dreamers of the Day. Don't worry if you don't know anything about the Cairo Conference, the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson or other immediate post WWI history; that's what Wikipedia is for! A very easy read, but watch out....you don't want to buzz through it. Take your time and let the story grow on you. You'll find yourself thinking about it long after you've read the last word.
The title is taken from a quotation by T.E. Lawrence (remembered today as Lawrence of Arabia), which states:
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night wake in the
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day to find that it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." One reason I really enjoy Mary Doria Russell's writing is that it tends to sneak up on you -- meaning that the more you think about it, the more you realize exactly what she's trying to tell you. This one is no exception. Dreamers of the Day is not really a story within a story but an awesome piece of writing in which two stories tend to mirror each other to a degree. Agnes' life story may be viewed as a representative prelude to a bigger story -- that of post WWI events in the Middle East that not only helped to shape the world of the time, but which, of course, have led to the political situation currently facing each and every one of us. Perhaps what I'm saying may sound a bit confusing, but once you read the entire story, you'll understand what I'm trying to say here.
An inheritance allows schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin to take time to do some things she's always wanted to do -- namely, visit the Holy Land where her sister and brother-in-law once served at an American Missionary school in Jerusalem. She begins her journey in Egypt, and runs into some very famous people at the outset: TE Lawrence (fondly known to Agnes' sister as Neddy); Gertrude Bell (see Wikipedia if you don't know who this is) and Winston Churchill among others. She also meets up with one Karl Weilbacher, who is quite interested in the activities of the British contingent & what's coming out of the 1921 Cairo Conference. As events that redefine the world progress, Agnes comes to some realizations about herself & the world she lives in.
That's putting it in a nutshell; to say more would be to spoil it. The book is divided into three sections and to be really honest, at first I considered that the story would have been better ended at the end of section two. However, I came to realize that part three was absolutely necessary, although imho, it could have been toned down a bit ...it seemed a bit silly overall. And although I'm a doggie lover, with 2 lovable puppies at home, I really got tired of hearing about Rosie the dog after a while.
Overall, a fantastic read, one not to be missed.
Who would like it? People with an interest in geopolitics as a force shaping history, Lawrence of Arabia, or historical fiction in general would most definitely enjoy Dreamers of the Day. Don't worry if you don't know anything about the Cairo Conference, the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson or other immediate post WWI history; that's what Wikipedia is for! A very easy read, but watch out....you don't want to buzz through it. Take your time and let the story grow on you. You'll find yourself thinking about it long after you've read the last word.
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LibraryThing member amysisson
I first encountered Mary Doria Russell's fiction in her debut novel "The Sparrow", which was followed by a direct sequel, "Children of God", both of which are perhaps best characterized as literary science fiction. I don't normally read historical fiction, but on the strength of Russell's superb
"Dreamers of the Day" is told from the point of view of Agnes Shanklin, a never-married Ohio schoolteacher who has lost all of her family is the great influenza epidemic that followed World War I. Her beloved younger sister and her brother-in-law had spent several years near Beirut as missionaries, and Agnes, inspired by her sister's life, decides to use her inheritance to visit Egypt and Palestine. Once in Cairo, she immediately becomes an intimate witness to the doings of the Cairo Peace Conference, where T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia), Winston Churchill, and other luminaries are gathered to determine the fate of the troubled Middle East.
As always, Russell's characterization is brilliant. I love Agnes's personality, and her honesty with herself and the audience to whom she's narrating. Her relationships -- with Lawrence, with a German Jew and intelligence officer named Karl Weilbacher, and even with her dog, Rosie -- are utterly charming. I also enjoyed the larger-than-life personalities of Churchill and Lawrence himself.
As expected, the setting is well drawn. There are so many details of sights, sounds, and smells than it's easy to imagine the Cairo that Agnes experienced. I will admit that the historical elements were a bit dry for me, and that the subtle political machinations were sometimes over my head, but that's a failing in my knowledge of history rather than a failing on the part of the author.
*** SPOILERS BELOW ***
My only real quibble is with the device of having Agnes narrate these past events from her afterlife-in-limbo along a ghostly Nile River. It's an awkward device, and the supernatural element is at odds with the realism that Russell's detailed settings always evoke. Further, it appears that Russell did this mainly because she wanted to comment upon, without naming it outright, September 11 and its aftermath, and how that tragedy can perhaps be traced back to the Peace Conference in the 1920s. I would have much preferred an elderly but still living Agnes to look back on her life and the historical events she witnessed, but obviously a character that age could not have lived to see September 11, so we are stuck with this awkward pseudo-afterlife that does not reveal anything of Russell's idea (if she has one) about the reality of God or Heaven.
Going one step further, it even seems to me that Russell wrote the entire book to be able to end with one particular line almost at the end, about men selling fear, an obvious comment on the current administration in this country. I agree with her sentiments, and I understand she would have been leaving out something important to her by not commenting on current events, but the awkward device just doesn't work for me.
Nonetheless, I would still give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Russell's writing is just that good, plain and simple -- and, to be fair, other readers may not find this narrative device as problematic as I did. There were many wonderful lines that I marked as I read so I could peruse them again later. I'll continue to follow Russell's fiction anywhere she chooses to take it.
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characterization and scene-setting, I will read any fiction she writes no matter what the genre."Dreamers of the Day" is told from the point of view of Agnes Shanklin, a never-married Ohio schoolteacher who has lost all of her family is the great influenza epidemic that followed World War I. Her beloved younger sister and her brother-in-law had spent several years near Beirut as missionaries, and Agnes, inspired by her sister's life, decides to use her inheritance to visit Egypt and Palestine. Once in Cairo, she immediately becomes an intimate witness to the doings of the Cairo Peace Conference, where T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia), Winston Churchill, and other luminaries are gathered to determine the fate of the troubled Middle East.
As always, Russell's characterization is brilliant. I love Agnes's personality, and her honesty with herself and the audience to whom she's narrating. Her relationships -- with Lawrence, with a German Jew and intelligence officer named Karl Weilbacher, and even with her dog, Rosie -- are utterly charming. I also enjoyed the larger-than-life personalities of Churchill and Lawrence himself.
As expected, the setting is well drawn. There are so many details of sights, sounds, and smells than it's easy to imagine the Cairo that Agnes experienced. I will admit that the historical elements were a bit dry for me, and that the subtle political machinations were sometimes over my head, but that's a failing in my knowledge of history rather than a failing on the part of the author.
*** SPOILERS BELOW ***
My only real quibble is with the device of having Agnes narrate these past events from her afterlife-in-limbo along a ghostly Nile River. It's an awkward device, and the supernatural element is at odds with the realism that Russell's detailed settings always evoke. Further, it appears that Russell did this mainly because she wanted to comment upon, without naming it outright, September 11 and its aftermath, and how that tragedy can perhaps be traced back to the Peace Conference in the 1920s. I would have much preferred an elderly but still living Agnes to look back on her life and the historical events she witnessed, but obviously a character that age could not have lived to see September 11, so we are stuck with this awkward pseudo-afterlife that does not reveal anything of Russell's idea (if she has one) about the reality of God or Heaven.
Going one step further, it even seems to me that Russell wrote the entire book to be able to end with one particular line almost at the end, about men selling fear, an obvious comment on the current administration in this country. I agree with her sentiments, and I understand she would have been leaving out something important to her by not commenting on current events, but the awkward device just doesn't work for me.
Nonetheless, I would still give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Russell's writing is just that good, plain and simple -- and, to be fair, other readers may not find this narrative device as problematic as I did. There were many wonderful lines that I marked as I read so I could peruse them again later. I'll continue to follow Russell's fiction anywhere she chooses to take it.
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LibraryThing member kfeete
Agnes Shanklin has always lived her life for others: her overbearing mother, her beautiful sister, the children she teaches in her small Cleveland school. Then, in 1919, the influenza robs her of mother, sister, and job all in one stroke. Cut adrift, Agnes decides to take a cruise to Egypt with her
In Dreamers Russell has taken on the ambitious project of telling a small story -- that of Agnes -- against the backdrop of giant ones. She does this largely by making the giants equally small; World War I, the influenza epidemic, the Cairo Conference, all are explained mostly as they affect the tiny and diffident figure of Agnes. The giant personalities that threaten to overshadow her -- Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell, Lawrence of Arabia -- are likewise rendered in miniature: not Churchill's leadership, but his love of painting; not Lawrence's deeds but his nervous giggle. Greatness lurks behind in the shadows, coloring the edges of events and words, but is never allowed to take centre stage. The result is a book of heartbreaking poignancy and beauty.
There are flaws. Agnes, particularly in some early passages, shares with Dickens's Esther Summerson an unfortunate tendency to be too good while at the same time characterizing herself as a bad person, giving her an air of unbelievable martyrdom. She does improve once she reaches Egypt, however. And I found the final passage of the book less than satisfying. These flaws, however, speak less to the quality of the work than the immense challenge Russell takes on in portraying a small woman among greatness -- a balancing act that I have never before seen performed with such finesse and power. A brief glimpse of an oft-overlooked period of history, this is a book I will be chewing over for a long time to come.
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dog Rosie. There she will be a witness to the Cairo Conference that changed the face of the Middle East and a friend to some of the most famous and infuential people of the time; she will meet a man who changes her spinster life forever; she will begin, at forty, to discover who she is.In Dreamers Russell has taken on the ambitious project of telling a small story -- that of Agnes -- against the backdrop of giant ones. She does this largely by making the giants equally small; World War I, the influenza epidemic, the Cairo Conference, all are explained mostly as they affect the tiny and diffident figure of Agnes. The giant personalities that threaten to overshadow her -- Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell, Lawrence of Arabia -- are likewise rendered in miniature: not Churchill's leadership, but his love of painting; not Lawrence's deeds but his nervous giggle. Greatness lurks behind in the shadows, coloring the edges of events and words, but is never allowed to take centre stage. The result is a book of heartbreaking poignancy and beauty.
There are flaws. Agnes, particularly in some early passages, shares with Dickens's Esther Summerson an unfortunate tendency to be too good while at the same time characterizing herself as a bad person, giving her an air of unbelievable martyrdom. She does improve once she reaches Egypt, however. And I found the final passage of the book less than satisfying. These flaws, however, speak less to the quality of the work than the immense challenge Russell takes on in portraying a small woman among greatness -- a balancing act that I have never before seen performed with such finesse and power. A brief glimpse of an oft-overlooked period of history, this is a book I will be chewing over for a long time to come.
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LibraryThing member Somer
Dreamers of the Day is fiction, but it reads like really fascinating non-fiction. I am embarrassingly uninformed about early 20th century history, and this book whet my appetite for more books set in the period, both fiction and non-fiction.
Agnes Shanklin is an unwed, middle-aged woman who finds
Dreamers of the Day reads like a travelogue, and Agnes is a delightful narrator. I really enjoyed watching the transformation of Agnes from a homely spinster into a worldly, sophisticated woman.
I have to say that the plotline is a little unbelievable - that this ordinary woman from Ohio would find herself socializing with such prominent political figures, but surprisingly, it works.
I also appreciated the acknowledgments Russell included at the end of the book, as I kept thinking while reading that I would really like to read more about Lawrence and the making of what we know as the middle east. Russell mentions many books she used as references that I plan to add to my wishlist.
Agnes Shanklin is an unwed, middle-aged woman who finds
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herself an heiress after her entire family dies in the 1918 flu epidemic. Agnes is left with enough money to take the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land, where she ends up knee deep in international politics after she makes the acquaintance of T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia), who had been friends with Agnes' sister, the wife of a missionary. Lawrence is in Cairo for the Cairo Peace Conference, in the company of such names as Winston Churchill and Gertrude Bell, among others.Dreamers of the Day reads like a travelogue, and Agnes is a delightful narrator. I really enjoyed watching the transformation of Agnes from a homely spinster into a worldly, sophisticated woman.
I have to say that the plotline is a little unbelievable - that this ordinary woman from Ohio would find herself socializing with such prominent political figures, but surprisingly, it works.
I also appreciated the acknowledgments Russell included at the end of the book, as I kept thinking while reading that I would really like to read more about Lawrence and the making of what we know as the middle east. Russell mentions many books she used as references that I plan to add to my wishlist.
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LibraryThing member xmaystarx
I enjoyed this book mainly for 2 reasons - the characters and the knowledge I gained. Agnes is a great character and her transformation from a feeble woman with an over-bearing mother into a self-confidant world traveler was highly entertaining. I loved the descriptions in the beginning of the
I admit to knowing next to nothing about the history of the middle east and the Cairo conference so this book provided a nice insight into the history which explains much of the unrest still occurring today. It was a nice amount of information without being to overwhelming and taking away from the fictional story telling.
I agree with many other reviewers that the ending seemed superfluous and sort of tacked on in order to dictate some final thoughts. This was the only really negative aspect of the book for me. I have not read all of MDR's books but have read Thread of Grace and was not enthralled by it. So I can say that I like Dreamers of the Day better than that one and think it will stick with me longer.
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book, before she goes to Egypt. In particular, the women playing the stock market and Agnes' makeover with Millie stick out in my mind. I admit to knowing next to nothing about the history of the middle east and the Cairo conference so this book provided a nice insight into the history which explains much of the unrest still occurring today. It was a nice amount of information without being to overwhelming and taking away from the fictional story telling.
I agree with many other reviewers that the ending seemed superfluous and sort of tacked on in order to dictate some final thoughts. This was the only really negative aspect of the book for me. I have not read all of MDR's books but have read Thread of Grace and was not enthralled by it. So I can say that I like Dreamers of the Day better than that one and think it will stick with me longer.
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LibraryThing member mamajoan
"Dreamers of the Day" is a history lesson and geopolitical/historical commentary, thinly disguised as a novel. But I don't mean that in a bad way. Mary Doria Russell's engaging, richly detailed prose brings the story to life in a way no textbook could.
The novel presents the life story of one Agnes
Russell has clearly done her homework on points large and small, resulting in a vivid portrayal of what the time period was like -- including the experience of an American woman abroad in a volatile area. It's true that the underlying "ordinary person thrown into the midst of historical events" plot necessitates a large helping of suspension-of-disbelief (yeah, these people in positions of power, engaged in tense political negotiations, would really let a naive American commoner join in...suuure) and that large portions of the book flagrantly violate the "show, don't tell" rule as various other characters explain the history and politics of the Middle East to Agnes. There are undoubtedly readers who will find these flaws insufferable. I personally did not mind them, as Russell's breezy, wryly self-conscious style makes it clear that she knows what she's doing.
Interwoven with the political story is the personal narrative of Agnes's process of self-discovery. Having spent her entire life being beaten down by a domineering mother who did nothing but criticize, Agnes is finally free to be herself in a foreign land, constantly amazed that other people actually find her interesting and worthy of attention. Over time, she gradually comes to realize how her mother's treatment of her was shaped by personality and society more than by any real flaws in Agnes herself. The blossoming of Agnes's self-confidence is handled deftly and with wit and compassion.
The political story itself is fascinating. Many modern-day Americans are probably, like myself, only vaguely aware of how modern-day Iraq, Israel, Palestine, et al. came to be, and Russell does an excellent job of sketching the depths of complexity of the region, while at the same time evoking the arrogance (or optimism) inherent in a bunch of Westerners sitting around a table planning to "solve" several millennias' worth of religious and ethnic conflict. The parallels to modern-day politics are impossible to miss and Russell thankfully doesn't waste much time hitting us over the head with them. Her portrayal of Lawrence is particularly poignant in this aspect, as we truly feel that he wants to help create peace but is realistic about the chances of that actually happening.
At the end of the book, Russell introduces an aspect of the supernatural (strongly hinted at earlier, but still fairly unexpected) that feels out of place in this type of story. Although it advances the plot appropriately and provides a convenient explanation for the nagging question of how a modest Ohio schoolteacher comes to be such an expert on international politics, it still feels jarring and left me scratching my head a bit.
Overall, an extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking story, well worth a read.
The novel presents the life story of one Agnes
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Shanklin, a schoolteacher from Ohio who, after losing her entire family in the influenza epidemic of 1919, decides to travel to the Holy Land in the footsteps of her late sister. She arrives in Cairo just as the 1921 peace conference gets underway, and quickly finds herself thrown into the midst of such luminaries as T. E. Lawrence and Winston Churchill. As the peace talks -- which, in reality and in the novel, resulted in the formation of what we now know as the Middle East -- progress, Agnes becomes involved with the main players, learns about the politics, and contributes her own point of view. Meanwhile, as she narrates the story in retrospect, Agnes gives us a sense of the context, of how the Cairo conference fits in to the larger picture.Russell has clearly done her homework on points large and small, resulting in a vivid portrayal of what the time period was like -- including the experience of an American woman abroad in a volatile area. It's true that the underlying "ordinary person thrown into the midst of historical events" plot necessitates a large helping of suspension-of-disbelief (yeah, these people in positions of power, engaged in tense political negotiations, would really let a naive American commoner join in...suuure) and that large portions of the book flagrantly violate the "show, don't tell" rule as various other characters explain the history and politics of the Middle East to Agnes. There are undoubtedly readers who will find these flaws insufferable. I personally did not mind them, as Russell's breezy, wryly self-conscious style makes it clear that she knows what she's doing.
Interwoven with the political story is the personal narrative of Agnes's process of self-discovery. Having spent her entire life being beaten down by a domineering mother who did nothing but criticize, Agnes is finally free to be herself in a foreign land, constantly amazed that other people actually find her interesting and worthy of attention. Over time, she gradually comes to realize how her mother's treatment of her was shaped by personality and society more than by any real flaws in Agnes herself. The blossoming of Agnes's self-confidence is handled deftly and with wit and compassion.
The political story itself is fascinating. Many modern-day Americans are probably, like myself, only vaguely aware of how modern-day Iraq, Israel, Palestine, et al. came to be, and Russell does an excellent job of sketching the depths of complexity of the region, while at the same time evoking the arrogance (or optimism) inherent in a bunch of Westerners sitting around a table planning to "solve" several millennias' worth of religious and ethnic conflict. The parallels to modern-day politics are impossible to miss and Russell thankfully doesn't waste much time hitting us over the head with them. Her portrayal of Lawrence is particularly poignant in this aspect, as we truly feel that he wants to help create peace but is realistic about the chances of that actually happening.
At the end of the book, Russell introduces an aspect of the supernatural (strongly hinted at earlier, but still fairly unexpected) that feels out of place in this type of story. Although it advances the plot appropriately and provides a convenient explanation for the nagging question of how a modest Ohio schoolteacher comes to be such an expert on international politics, it still feels jarring and left me scratching my head a bit.
Overall, an extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking story, well worth a read.
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LibraryThing member dragonlady
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this advance copy of Mary Doria Russell's newest book. I had so loved A Thread of Grace. There Ms. Russell created believable stories and used them effectively to teach the reader about a particular time and place in history. Here unfortunately, although the
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historical research and description of historical event matched her earlier work, the story created was simply not believable. I could have been willing to believe it if I hadn't found it to be very jerky and disjointed in the beginning. Perhaps if the influenza epidemic had been left out of the story it would have worked better. It was disappointing but not so much so that I will not one day finally pick up that copy of The Sparrow I have in my to be read pile. Show Less
LibraryThing member selkins
An exploration of WWI and the US role in it and the aftermath, through the vehicle of Agnes, a fictional teacher who survives the great influenza epidemic that killed so many, travels to Egypt, and interacts with famous people.
Agnes is naive and fairly passive in her interactions with people,
Agnes is naive and fairly passive in her interactions with people,
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though she does at least speak up pretty directly when challenged. As a character study, one can see why she lets herself be used by anyone who takes an interest in her. The part in the US where she's observing and then changing after the epidemic is more convincing than the latter half of the book. The awkwardly-inserted close-ups of T.E. Lawrence and Winston Churchill were interesting and seem to have been well-researched. Not a keeper for me, but as a window into the times, not pointless. Show Less
LibraryThing member hyperpat
In her prior books, Russell has clearly shown that she knows how to delineate very real characters. With this book of historical fiction, centered around the events of 1918-1921, this attribute shows just as clearly, with a fine portrait of Agnes Shanklin, her protagonist, but perhaps even more
Agnes has quite an inferiority complex engendered by her mother’s constant criticism, a lack of self confidence about her looks and her abilities. The first section of this book, details her upbringing and shows just who she is, a living, breathing person. Almost as a sidelight to this exemplary characterization, this section informs the reader of effects of the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918-9 and is a great depiction of the mores, customs, and daily life of that time, making some great commentary on just why that way of life disappeared so suddenly, to be replaced by the ‘roaring twenties’. But this first section of the book is merely an introduction, for when the flu kills off everyone else in her family, leaving Agnes the sole inheritor of various estates, she decides to take a trip to Egypt and the Holy Land, inspired by her late sister’s forays in this area of the world.
The second section is the heart of this novel, as Agnes arrives in Egypt and through some fortuitous circumstances becomes a distant part of the group of people present at time in Cairo, from Churchill and Lawrence to Lady Gertrude Bell, who would eventually determine the political landscape of the middle east for many years to come, and the effects of which are still being felt today. It is a little bit unbelievable that such a relatively ‘minor’ person such as Agnes would become part of this group (such things are always a problem when trying to insert a fictional character into a historical setting), but Russell does a good and somewhat humorous job of setting this up, and it must be remembered that the European ‘community’ in Cairo at this time was quite small and insular. Once you accept that Agnes has been ‘adopted’ by these luminaries, the rest follows quite logically, and this is where this book shines. Russell’s depiction of the sights, sounds, smells, climate, and history of this region are remarkable, even if some of the history takes the form of essays – these blocks of expository material fit very well with the rest of the story, and give the reader a lot of context for current events.
Right alongside this travelogue is her depiction of the people surrounding her. T. E. Lawrence comes across as a far more complicated man than the character shown in the Lawrence of Arabia movie, and the Churchill shown here is not the famous Prime Minister of WWII fame, but rather the fairly lowly government functionary still trying to live down the debacle of Gallipoli. At the same time as this Cairo peace conference was making its way to becoming history, Agnes herself blossoms, becoming romantically involved with a local German, and finding that her thoughts, opinions, and actions are important, that she can be more than just a mouse.
The final section, which details some of Agnes’ life after returning to America, is not as strong as the rest of the book, as it is told from a metaphysical viewpoint that doesn’t quite jive with the tone or feeling of the rest of the book, with a strong ‘message’ component that is probably not necessary – Russell has already gotten this message across in the earlier sections, and much more effectively by ‘showing’ rather than ‘telling’.
This book was clearly well and heavily researched, bringing to life a period of history that few Americans have any knowledge of, even though the events depicted here have a strong influence on our current involvement in the region. Russell provides a decent bibliography of her sources, a great aid for anyone wishing to find out more about this time and place.
An excellent book in many ways, perhaps not quite as strong as her The Sparrow, but definitely worth reading.
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significantly, her pictures of historical luminaries such as T. E. Lawrence and Winston Churchill. Agnes has quite an inferiority complex engendered by her mother’s constant criticism, a lack of self confidence about her looks and her abilities. The first section of this book, details her upbringing and shows just who she is, a living, breathing person. Almost as a sidelight to this exemplary characterization, this section informs the reader of effects of the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918-9 and is a great depiction of the mores, customs, and daily life of that time, making some great commentary on just why that way of life disappeared so suddenly, to be replaced by the ‘roaring twenties’. But this first section of the book is merely an introduction, for when the flu kills off everyone else in her family, leaving Agnes the sole inheritor of various estates, she decides to take a trip to Egypt and the Holy Land, inspired by her late sister’s forays in this area of the world.
The second section is the heart of this novel, as Agnes arrives in Egypt and through some fortuitous circumstances becomes a distant part of the group of people present at time in Cairo, from Churchill and Lawrence to Lady Gertrude Bell, who would eventually determine the political landscape of the middle east for many years to come, and the effects of which are still being felt today. It is a little bit unbelievable that such a relatively ‘minor’ person such as Agnes would become part of this group (such things are always a problem when trying to insert a fictional character into a historical setting), but Russell does a good and somewhat humorous job of setting this up, and it must be remembered that the European ‘community’ in Cairo at this time was quite small and insular. Once you accept that Agnes has been ‘adopted’ by these luminaries, the rest follows quite logically, and this is where this book shines. Russell’s depiction of the sights, sounds, smells, climate, and history of this region are remarkable, even if some of the history takes the form of essays – these blocks of expository material fit very well with the rest of the story, and give the reader a lot of context for current events.
Right alongside this travelogue is her depiction of the people surrounding her. T. E. Lawrence comes across as a far more complicated man than the character shown in the Lawrence of Arabia movie, and the Churchill shown here is not the famous Prime Minister of WWII fame, but rather the fairly lowly government functionary still trying to live down the debacle of Gallipoli. At the same time as this Cairo peace conference was making its way to becoming history, Agnes herself blossoms, becoming romantically involved with a local German, and finding that her thoughts, opinions, and actions are important, that she can be more than just a mouse.
The final section, which details some of Agnes’ life after returning to America, is not as strong as the rest of the book, as it is told from a metaphysical viewpoint that doesn’t quite jive with the tone or feeling of the rest of the book, with a strong ‘message’ component that is probably not necessary – Russell has already gotten this message across in the earlier sections, and much more effectively by ‘showing’ rather than ‘telling’.
This book was clearly well and heavily researched, bringing to life a period of history that few Americans have any knowledge of, even though the events depicted here have a strong influence on our current involvement in the region. Russell provides a decent bibliography of her sources, a great aid for anyone wishing to find out more about this time and place.
An excellent book in many ways, perhaps not quite as strong as her The Sparrow, but definitely worth reading.
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LibraryThing member coloradoreader
Dreamers of the Day is the story of Agnes Shanklin, a middle aged, unmarried woman who inherits family money following their demise from influenza. With that money she decides to travel to the Middle East, where her sister and brother in law had been missionaries.
She finds herself in Cairo in 1921
Without a doubt this is one of the most interesting and exciting historical fiction books I have ever read. The characters were drawn with great detail---even including Rosie the Daschund! And the scenes were described with such rich and colorful detail I felt as though I were there. It's a part of the world I've never been and never wanted to go. However, following this book I very much want to see the pyramids and the ancient streets of Jerusalem.
The reason I was only able to give this book three stars is because of the last chapter. Had Russell stopped at the previous chapter it would be a five star book. However, she contrived a "goofy" ending with Agnes having great wisdom on all events of the 20th and early 21st centuries. The author clearly did fine research for this book covering a small segment in time. Again, had she stopped with the events of 1921 I would be glowing in my review. Instead, it seems clear to me that her ultimate desire was to be critical of our current president and his policy in that part of the world, a stance undoubtedly very appealing to many people. I, however, found it preachy. I don't want to be lectured to in a fiction book and I am capable of drawing my own conclusions about the events of history without the help of a hollow device used by the author.
She finds herself in Cairo in 1921
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in the company of such notables as Winston Churchill and T. E. Lawrence. She also meets, and falls in love with, a German intelligence officer. Without a doubt this is one of the most interesting and exciting historical fiction books I have ever read. The characters were drawn with great detail---even including Rosie the Daschund! And the scenes were described with such rich and colorful detail I felt as though I were there. It's a part of the world I've never been and never wanted to go. However, following this book I very much want to see the pyramids and the ancient streets of Jerusalem.
The reason I was only able to give this book three stars is because of the last chapter. Had Russell stopped at the previous chapter it would be a five star book. However, she contrived a "goofy" ending with Agnes having great wisdom on all events of the 20th and early 21st centuries. The author clearly did fine research for this book covering a small segment in time. Again, had she stopped with the events of 1921 I would be glowing in my review. Instead, it seems clear to me that her ultimate desire was to be critical of our current president and his policy in that part of the world, a stance undoubtedly very appealing to many people. I, however, found it preachy. I don't want to be lectured to in a fiction book and I am capable of drawing my own conclusions about the events of history without the help of a hollow device used by the author.
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
I'm a huge admirer of Mary Doria Russell, but I found this novel to be very disappointing. It is one of those historical fiction novels where an ordinary person (a spinster from Ohio) meets famous historical figures (T.H. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, and Gertrude Bell) and watches major historical
The impulses behind the novel are apparent: Russell was interested in the way European countries carved up the Middle East after WWI, and how the countries arbitrarily created at the Cairo Peace Conference led to the current conflicts in the Middle East. She was also fascinated by the character of T.H. Lawrence, but found him enigmatic enough of a character that she needed to portray him through an outsider's eyes. I am also interested in these topics, but I didn't think the book treated them with the depth and insight that I would expect from Russell.
The novel was rather unfocused: Russell couldn't seem to decide whether the story was about a woman from Ohio traveling in foreign countries and dealing with her own past, about T.H. Lawrence, or about Middle Eastern politics. Consequently, all of the plotlines are rather weak. There is also a weak metaphor drawn between the main character's relationship with her mother and Middle Eastern countries' relationship with Europe, but the metaphor is poorly developed and lacks insight.
Perhaps Russell ran into the same frustration that strikes anyone who researches the history of the Middle East in the twentieth century: it is such a depressing and tangled mess that it is hard to say anything concrete or coherent about it.
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events unfold (the creation of Middle Eastern countries after WWI). This is, unfortunately, a very contrived and unconvincing way of writing historical fiction. The impulses behind the novel are apparent: Russell was interested in the way European countries carved up the Middle East after WWI, and how the countries arbitrarily created at the Cairo Peace Conference led to the current conflicts in the Middle East. She was also fascinated by the character of T.H. Lawrence, but found him enigmatic enough of a character that she needed to portray him through an outsider's eyes. I am also interested in these topics, but I didn't think the book treated them with the depth and insight that I would expect from Russell.
The novel was rather unfocused: Russell couldn't seem to decide whether the story was about a woman from Ohio traveling in foreign countries and dealing with her own past, about T.H. Lawrence, or about Middle Eastern politics. Consequently, all of the plotlines are rather weak. There is also a weak metaphor drawn between the main character's relationship with her mother and Middle Eastern countries' relationship with Europe, but the metaphor is poorly developed and lacks insight.
Perhaps Russell ran into the same frustration that strikes anyone who researches the history of the Middle East in the twentieth century: it is such a depressing and tangled mess that it is hard to say anything concrete or coherent about it.
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LibraryThing member walkonmyearth
Shimmering. That’s the image in my mind of ‘Dreamers of the Day’ by Mary Doria Russell. ‘Shimmering’ may describe Egypt’s sun over the desert, or the opulence of Cairo’s Semiramis Hotel. Shimmering definitely describes the fabric of Agnes Shanklin’s narrative. Shaking off the
Russell researched personal papers of Lawrence, Churchill, Bell and others and integrated their actual comments so artfully, that I needed an occasional reminder that I was reading fiction. The nearest I’ve been to Egypt was the Pharaohs/King Tut exhibit at the Minnesota Science Museum. Yet such observations Agnes made, as with constant changes in government, maps and ruling nations, each adding its own personal touch to the culture of the Middle East, that when I viewed the King Tut artifacts at the museum and noted that additions and alterations were also made by one pharaoh upon another’s buckle, statuary, and canopic cache, my appreciation for Russell’s research and writing grew.
‘Dreamers of the Day’ truly did lift me to another place in time and reverie. I highly recommend this book. Sh/July 2011
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shackles with which her mother had bound her, Agnes, schoolteacher from Ohio, boldly books a Cook’s Tour of Egypt. Her mother, through her disparaging spirit, follows Agnes, pricking almost every action with sharp barbs. Fortunately, the evolving Agnes also receives encouragement from Mildred, the department store clerk and from new friends and acquaintances, Lawrence (T. E.), Gertrude Bell, Winston Churchill, and others. Russell researched personal papers of Lawrence, Churchill, Bell and others and integrated their actual comments so artfully, that I needed an occasional reminder that I was reading fiction. The nearest I’ve been to Egypt was the Pharaohs/King Tut exhibit at the Minnesota Science Museum. Yet such observations Agnes made, as with constant changes in government, maps and ruling nations, each adding its own personal touch to the culture of the Middle East, that when I viewed the King Tut artifacts at the museum and noted that additions and alterations were also made by one pharaoh upon another’s buckle, statuary, and canopic cache, my appreciation for Russell’s research and writing grew.
‘Dreamers of the Day’ truly did lift me to another place in time and reverie. I highly recommend this book. Sh/July 2011
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LibraryThing member TimBazzett
DREAMERS OF THE DAY is the second Mary Doria Russell book I've read and it was a most enjoyable read. (The first was DOC - an emphatic 5 stars.) Russell has a way of inventing characters you can easily identify with, or at least I can. And Agnes Shanklin is no exception. A forty-ish spinster
Because Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence (i.e. "Lawrence of Arabia") were just a few of those titular 'dreamers' of their day. And all three, as well as a few other historical figures, become characters in Russell's tale. Lawrence in particular is a prominent figure, as a friend of Agnes's younger sister (now deceased) from before the war. Russell's descriptions of Lawrence brought back Peter O'Toole's magnificent film portrayal of the man. But the most interesting figure here is one wholly fictional, in the person of Karl Weilbacher, who, we learn almost immediately, is an intelligence agent for the German government. Agnes is immediately smitten by Karl, but also finds Lawrence fascinating. Since Karl and Lawrence have an adversarial relationship going back to before the war, a certain dramatic tension prevails throughout Agnes's Egypt adventure.
There are layers of story here: Agnes's emergence from her old self to a new life (and she has an endearing little dachshund who's always there, for dog lover readers); the politics and intrigue of the Peace Conference with a multitude of historical figures; and an anti-war theme emerges, as Russell examines the history of intertribal and religious wars in the Mideast which continue right up to the current troubles in Iraq, a country which was created as a political compromise by Churchill, Lawrence, Bell and others. An implicit message here is that, despite the best efforts of many, there will always be war. Or, as Agnes remarks to Lawrence -
"And who knows what comes next? ... One thing about the Middle East seems certain: another army is always waiting, just around the bend."
Russell also informs us that foreigners and unbelievers will never succeed in these Muslim countries because the natives are masters of 'ketman' - the art of fakery - and then there is the Shi'a concept of 'takkiya' - religious permission to lie when dealing with infidels.
DREAMERS OF THE DAY is a curiously topical book for today, given recent U.S. and British involvement in Iraq and the Mideast. I found it to be not only an absorbing story, but also an informative and even educational reading experience. Learning new things can often be tedious and boring. Not so here. Great story, wonderful, colorful characters and terrific writing. Highly recommended.
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schoolteacher from Cleveland whose whole family was wiped out by the Influenza epidemic of 1918, Agnes had lived under her mother's thumb for her whole life. Finally free of all family constraints and left with a sizeable inheritance, she slips her shackles of conventionality and books a vacation cruise to Cairo, an experience which changes her whole life. Her stay there is set against the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference, where Winston Churchill and his international contemporaries were reapportioning the Mideast following the cataclysm of WWI. In fact, Agnes's story gives you a bird's eye view of how Iraq became a country.Because Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T.E. Lawrence (i.e. "Lawrence of Arabia") were just a few of those titular 'dreamers' of their day. And all three, as well as a few other historical figures, become characters in Russell's tale. Lawrence in particular is a prominent figure, as a friend of Agnes's younger sister (now deceased) from before the war. Russell's descriptions of Lawrence brought back Peter O'Toole's magnificent film portrayal of the man. But the most interesting figure here is one wholly fictional, in the person of Karl Weilbacher, who, we learn almost immediately, is an intelligence agent for the German government. Agnes is immediately smitten by Karl, but also finds Lawrence fascinating. Since Karl and Lawrence have an adversarial relationship going back to before the war, a certain dramatic tension prevails throughout Agnes's Egypt adventure.
There are layers of story here: Agnes's emergence from her old self to a new life (and she has an endearing little dachshund who's always there, for dog lover readers); the politics and intrigue of the Peace Conference with a multitude of historical figures; and an anti-war theme emerges, as Russell examines the history of intertribal and religious wars in the Mideast which continue right up to the current troubles in Iraq, a country which was created as a political compromise by Churchill, Lawrence, Bell and others. An implicit message here is that, despite the best efforts of many, there will always be war. Or, as Agnes remarks to Lawrence -
"And who knows what comes next? ... One thing about the Middle East seems certain: another army is always waiting, just around the bend."
Russell also informs us that foreigners and unbelievers will never succeed in these Muslim countries because the natives are masters of 'ketman' - the art of fakery - and then there is the Shi'a concept of 'takkiya' - religious permission to lie when dealing with infidels.
DREAMERS OF THE DAY is a curiously topical book for today, given recent U.S. and British involvement in Iraq and the Mideast. I found it to be not only an absorbing story, but also an informative and even educational reading experience. Learning new things can often be tedious and boring. Not so here. Great story, wonderful, colorful characters and terrific writing. Highly recommended.
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Subjects
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2010)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Historical Fiction — 2009)
Original publication date
2008
Physical description
272 p.; 9.4 inches
ISBN
1400064716 / 9781400064717