YA Friday: Life is But a Dream by Brian James

Friday, March 30, 2012

Title: Life is But a Dream
Author: Brian James
Genre: YA, contemporary fiction
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review, neuroscience list

Sabrina has always fascinated her friends and family with her wild imagination and vivid drawings. However, as she grows older, her friends become more interested in boys and the internet, and her parents seem to quietly disapprove of the things they used to find beautiful. Confused and frustrated, events build up inside Sabrina to an outburst and she finds herself in a hospital, where the nurses give her pills that dull her senses and she is surrounded by people that seem lost. Until she meets Alec, the first person who seems to understand her, who wants to encourage and treasure the visions she sees. However, will their dreams prove to be destructive?

Before I read this book, I only saw a few reviews for it, and they were lukewarm to negative. I began it with some trepidation -- I know that opinions vary, but in general people seem to feel the same way about most books, and I figured it would probably be mediocre for me as well. However, I was totally, completely wrong. Life is But a Dream blew me away with its beautiful detail and gutting emotion. It isn't an easy book to read, but Life is But a Dream is a powerful journey and one that brings a new empathy for individuals suffering from mental illnesses.

First, look at that cover. Do you see how the sky and flowers are beautiful, but the girl on the cover is forlorn and lying on stark ground? That is Sabrina's life at the hospital. The longer she spends there, the more medications she is given, the further the dreams that colored her life and the more isolated she feels. That is, until Alec comes to the hospital. Alec and Sabrina have an instant attraction to each other, and Sabrina loves that for the first time in months, she has a ready listener for her dreams and imaginings. Alec doesn't tell her to grow out of it, that she is crazy and needs to change. He tells her the rest of them are crazy and that she is the only person to see life clearly. He is completely transfixed by her view of the world, which I found completely endearing. So often, in adolescence especially, I think people shy away from what is different. Mental illness is completely stigmatizing in many cases. The fact that Alec saw past the fact that Sabrina was a patient in an institution and found beauty in her was moving. (I know that he is also in the mental institution -- his case is a little different. Revealing why would be a huge spoiler, however, so you're just going to have to read Life is But a Dream to find out).

As Sabrina and Alec grow closer and closer, they want to escape, and this is where the tension really enters into the story. We read Life is But a Dream through Sabrina's perspective. She tells us that her visions are beautiful, that they make her who she is, that her soul is being stolen without them. However, as the story progresses and Sabrina resists treatment, she begins to completely unravel, and the reader begins to wonder if everything the beautiful visions she is desperate not to lose are as benign as Sabrina believes them to be. There are no clear answers -- by taking the visions away, part of Sabrina's life is lost, but by letting them reign over her, she loses all control. I thought the issue of treating mental illness and whether it is disease or just difference was handled exceptionally well. I was also amazed at Brian James' ability to delve into Sabrina's mind so deftly. Often, I think we see schizophrenia as the homeless person muttering on the street or someone running down the street convinced that the government is after them. Sabrina's manifestation was very unique but absolutely convincing, and it is not until late in the story that the full story of her hospitalization is unveiled.

At times, the emotion and the uncertainty in Life is But a Dream is uncomfortable. I think mental illness is inherently a difficult subject -- we all expect our bodies to fail us at some point, but hope to be able to hang onto our minds, because that is who we are, more than the frames that carry us. However, Life is But a Dream offers a unique and powerful insight into the mind of someone with schizophrenia, and carries with it a very touching love story as well. Life is But a Dream will appeal to those interested in psychology and reading books about the "heavy issues" in YA literature.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Language, some descriptions of heavy making out

10 comments:

  1. I was one of those lukewarm reviews! I thought the language was beautiful and the author truly captured an aspect of schizophrenia that many people might not. Still, the ending just frustrated me beyond belief.

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    1. What about the ending frustrated you? (I'm just curious). I remember that you mentioned it was too grandiose but i wasn't sure what you meant by it. Was it unbelievable or just extreme to you?

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  2. Sounds like this book deals with a lot of issues. I've added it to my wishlist, it sounds refreshing to see a different take on mental illness.

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    1. I really enjoyed it! I thought it was a well-rounded look at schizophrenia that didn't only focus on the dysfunction inherent in the disorder.

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  3. Oh Lorren, I love your thoughts on this book! I sort of want to read it but have been shy of it because of all of the negative and lukewarm I've read about it. But you make it sound like it can be beautiful and real-to-life, and I find that so appealing and positive. It makes me NOT SCARED to pick it up. Thank you.

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    1. It still might not appeal to you -- I think I am alone in loving it. But I really did love it. It was depressing to read at times, but very moving. I hope it does end up being a book that you like!

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  4. I had an overall positive reaction to this book because of James' writing-I thought he did an amazing job of bringing us into Sabrina's life and then fully communicating exactly why she was in need of treatment.

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    1. I thought that as well. The writing was so beautiful and I felt so connected to Sabrina even though I have never experienced anything like what she was going through. I think it gave so much humanity to a disease that has a lot of stigma attached to it.

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  5. Thanks for the wonderful review...glad you looked past the lukewarm reviews...though, personally I've read more reviews like yours than lukewarm ones :)

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    1. I'm glad to hear that you have read more positive reviews than lukewarm ones! I definitely think your book deserves reviews of the glowing variety. :)

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