The Law Of Dreams

[katrina]

This novel tells the young life of Fergus. Fergus is a young man running to escape the famine in Ireland to a place of hope, dreams and food. Yet Fergus doesn't know where England is yet alone America.
Through the novel we travel across rural Ireland, the dark streets of Liverpool and across the sea to the land of hope, America.
The novel is filled with fanastically vivid descriptions. In a few places I found that I was losing interest, yet then I was pulled back.
In my opinion it should have been shorter, it went on for just that bit too long.

[chuntzy]

I believe the author is Peter Behrens and not Orhan Pamuk.

[megustaleer]

Author name amended.

[katrina]

Thanks I PM'd Bill, not quite sure how it happened as I definately typed the right name in :(

[Lady Lazarus]

I'm just past halfway on this book (you read faster than me Katrina!)... I'm enjoying it but I do know what you mean about it being a bit 'wordy'... is a little bit slow in places but am determined to finish it.

[Lady Lazarus]

I finished this book last night, and overall it was pretty good. It was very descriptive and atmospheric, and you really felt like you were there with Fergus as he made his journey. I definitely think that the writer believes it's all about the journey, rather than the destination, in this book, as Fergus was constantly on the move.

I really disliked the character of Molly (I think we were supposed to dislike her), although the rape scene with her and Muldoon was quite shocking, and will stay with me for a long while I think. I was relieved when Fergus decided to go with Ormsby instead of with Molly, especially after she aborted the baby and said she wasn't sure if it was Fergus's or Muldoon's, but that she would have done it anyway, and then she bet that he'd die when he climbed the ship's mast.

The character of Luke worked less well than any of the others for me. I found it hard to believe that a woman would live as a man and be accepted by a gang of men, and then let her lead them on their various missions to get food etc. Just didn't work for me.

All in all I did find parts of the book quite slow, but like Katrina, there was something in the writing that drew me in again, and made me carry on. I read in the back blurb abotu the author that this is his first novel, and that he is normally a screenwriter. I think this shows in this book, as the dialogue is good, but often the narrative felt like a bit of an afterthought, a bit tacked on to the dialogue.

[katrina]

I never was sure about Luke either, I couldn't imagine men or boys accepting a female dressed as a boy as their leader now days let alone all those years ago.
And I really don't think you are supposed to like Molly, from the start you get the impression she is a hard b***h and out only to protect herself.
I do keep thinking about it now its finished.

[dingsy]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Didn't feel it was overlong, as there was such a wide variety of characters and locations.
Didn't like Molly at all, but as others have said, I think that she was portrayed this way deliberately,perhaps to highlight and underline Fergus' innate goodness and generosity of spirit.
Wasn't too put off by Luke, and didn't feel it would have been an unrealistic situation in such dire times. A stong female (maternal?) character was just what the boys needed, and I felt that it worked well.An unusual slant perhaps, but they came over as young children, so the caring angle would have been important to them.
Loved it in its entirety, and I think it speaks volumes for the talents of the author, that with all the tragedies that unfolded in the book, I still had tears to shed at the fate of the horses. I was emotionally drained after finishing this one!