The Dream Years

Robert St. Cyr encounters Surrealist artists and revolutionaries in 1924 Paris while working on his stories. Through unexplained shifts in time, he moves between that era and May 1968, when students and workers bring France to a standstill through protests and strikes. His interactions in both time periods reveal connections between the artistic rebellion of the Surrealists and the political upheaval of 1968. The story follows his attempts to understand these connections while pursuing romantic relationships and his writing career across the decades. The novel explores dreams, reality, art, and revolution - examining how these forces intersect and influence each other across time. By bridging two pivotal moments in French cultural history, it considers how creative and political movements echo through generations.

Readers describe this as a complex time-travel story that weaves together 1920s Paris surrealists with 1960s student protests. Many found the historical elements compelling, particularly the depiction of surrealist artists and revolutionaries. Likes: - Creative linking of two revolutionary time periods - Well-researched historical details - Effective blend of fantasy and reality Dislikes: - Plot can be hard to follow - Some characters feel underdeveloped - Ending leaves questions unanswered One reader noted "the parallels between art and revolution are fascinating but the story gets muddled." Another mentioned "strong start but loses momentum in the middle." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (120 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (14 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (25 ratings) Most readers categorize it as an ambitious but uneven novel that succeeds more in its historical atmosphere than its plot execution.

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🌟 "The Dream Years" weaves together two distinct time periods - 1920s Paris during the Surrealist movement and 1968 during the student protests, creating a unique time-travel narrative that explores revolution and artistic expression. 🎨 The novel's portrayal of the Surrealist movement includes reimagined versions of real historical figures like André Breton and Louis Aragon, who were founding members of the movement. ✍️ Lisa Goldstein won the National Book Award for her novel "The Red Magician" (1983), establishing her reputation for blending historical events with magical realism before writing "The Dream Years." 🗺️ The book captures the authentic atmosphere of Paris's Latin Quarter, particularly rue de la Huchette, which remains largely unchanged since the 1920s and served as a hub for both the Surrealists and later student protesters. 🏆 The novel received praise for its sophisticated handling of how revolutionary ideals transform across generations, earning recognition from both speculative fiction readers and literary critics.