Dreams of Speaking

A young Australian academic, Alice Black, embarks on a research project exploring modernity and technology's impact on human experience. Her quest takes her from Perth to Paris and Tokyo as she investigates what she calls "The Poetics of Modernity." In Paris, Alice encounters her former lover Stephen and becomes acquainted with Mr. Sakamoto, an elderly Japanese man who survived Nagasaki. Her research intersects with personal relationships and historical events as she documents the beauty and significance of modern inventions. The narrative moves between cities, time periods, and perspectives, incorporating letters and historical facts about technological innovations. Alice's sister Norah remains in Perth while Alice travels abroad pursuing her academic work. The novel examines the intersection of technology and human connection, exploring how modern inventions shape our understanding of ourselves and our relationships with others. Through Alice's academic journey, the story considers the hidden poetry in everyday technological objects and their role in contemporary life.

Readers describe Dreams of Speaking as a meditative character study that moves at a slow, contemplative pace. The descriptive prose and historical details about technology and innovation resonated with many readers. What readers liked: - Poetic writing style and attention to small details - Exploration of relationships between technology and human connection - Japanese cultural elements and setting descriptions What readers disliked: - Very slow pacing frustrates some readers expecting more plot - Character relationships feel distant and detached - Some find the technological history sections interrupt narrative flow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (356 ratings) Amazon: 3.6/5 (12 ratings) Review quotes: "Beautiful prose but moves like molasses" - Goodreads reviewer "The historical asides about Bell and Edison were fascinating but pulled me out of the story" - Amazon reviewer "A book to be savored slowly, not for those seeking action" - LibraryThing review

Vertigo by W. G. Sebald Through a blend of historical research, personal stories, and urban wandering, the narrator explores memory and modernity across European cities in ways that mirror Alice's intellectual journey.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa Mathematics and memory interweave in this story of connection between a professor and his housekeeper, reflecting the same interest in how knowledge shapes human relationships.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf The novel's exploration of time, perception, and human consciousness aligns with the philosophical undertones of Alice's research into modernity.

Snow by Orhan Pamuk A poet's journey to a distant Turkish city becomes an examination of modernity's impact on tradition, echoing the themes of technological progress and cultural change.

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose An art critic's investigation of performance art in New York creates similar connections between academic pursuit and personal transformation seen in Dreams of Speaking.

🌟 The novel was shortlisted for the 2007 Miles Franklin Award, one of Australia's most prestigious literary honors. 🌏 Gail Jones conducted extensive research in Japan while writing the book, immersing herself in Tokyo's technological landscape to authentically capture the setting. 💡 The character's research focuses heavily on Alexander Graham Bell's inventions, particularly exploring how the telephone revolutionized human communication. 🎓 Before becoming a novelist, Gail Jones was a Professor of Writing at Western Sydney University, bringing academic authenticity to her protagonist's scholarly pursuits. 🖋️ The book's unique structure incorporates multiple forms of writing including letters, historical documents, and academic observations, reflecting the fragmentary nature of modern communication.