Escaping Dreamland - by Charlie Lovett (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Robert Parrish's childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series--the Tremendous Trio.

Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.

Robert's quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children's books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island's Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.

The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert's redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children's series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.

Review Quotes

Escaping Dreamland is a departure from the Lovett canon in that it offers not one coming-of-age tale, but three; not one mystery, but two; not one love story, but four...Few are the authors who have so beautifully captured the Gilded Age of New York as has Lovett here...Escaping Dreamland is a bold and brave novel from Lovett."

-- "Mountain Times"

"Escaping Dreamland is an absolute delight. Charlie Lovett takes readers on a lively literary adventure that spans a century, cleverly weaving historical moments into mystery about a forgotten children's book series. A celebration of both literature and New York City, the novel serves as a poignant reminder of how stories shape us and how, ultimately, they can save us."

-- "Amy Meyerson, internationally bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays"

"Escaping Dreamland captures the dizzy thrill of falling in love with reading for the first time. It is a testament to the way the stories of our childhood haunt our imagination for years to come, shaping and sustaining us. A loving tribute to the enduring power of books."

-- "Wil Medearis, author of Restoration Heights"

"As a devout childhood reader of adventure series, I can assure you that Charlie Lovett has captured their spirit in this tremendously enjoyable read for adults. Escaping Dreamland combines the whimsy of Lewis Carroll and the daredevil of the Hardy Boys in a story that takes readers through the looking glass of how we see beloved characters, their narratives, and most importantly, ourselves in reflection."

-- "Sarah McCoy, New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables"

"Charlie Lovett is the author of several bookish novels...and his new one, I am happy to report, keeps bibliophila front and center...Fans of the Stratemeyer Syndicate--i.e., Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift--will get a kick out of the spotlight Lovett shines on anonymously/pseudonymously written children's book series, and just about anyone who calls themself a 'book lover' will relish his latest."

-- "Fine Books & Collections"

"Nostalgic, wistful, warm, and wise, Charlie Lovett's latest is a tribute to readers everywhere, and the writers who pen the stories that shape us. Lovett skillfully weaves together fact and fiction to deliver an immensely satisfying and thoroughly absorbing tale that explores the power of stories to irrevocably shape their readers."

-- "Anne Bogel, creator of Modern Mrs. Darcy and author of I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life"

"The Gilded Age of New York pulses with life as Charlie Lovett cleverly weaves together historical figures and events with the compelling, emotionally layered stories of a trio of young aspiring writers juxtaposed against a struggling, modern-day Manhattan novelist. Lovett navigates skillfully between centuries while exploring interwoven themes of regret, unrequited love, loyalty, and ambition. Not since E. L. Doctorow's Ragtime has this era in New York been so beautifully captured."

-- "Liza Nash Taylor, author of Etiquette for Runaways"

"This dual-timeline story about the mysteries of children's literature will inform and delight...The crisp clarity of Lovett's prose, as well as the way Escaping Dreamland immerses the reader in its historical time and place, reminded me of the novels of Ian McEwan and A. S. Byatt...Like the best children's literature, this novel will inform and delight adult readers who are nostalgic for the books of their youth."

-- "Washington Independent Review of Books"

"This is a wonderful book about the power of stories and of love--even in the midst of disaster."

-- "Greensboro (NC) News & Record"