This family saga is 100 pages too long — but who cares, the writing's great
I like it when a novel surprises me. So often, it's easy to slot literary narratives into a short list of categories: will-they-won't-they romance, journey to self-knowledge, sad girl millennial lit. By page 50, I can generally tell my thinly disguised autobiographies from my cosy crimes. But Dream State, the American writer Eric Puchner's second novel, went somewhere I wasn't expecting.
We begin in the summer of 2004 in a gorgeous old house on a lakeshore in Montana. It belongs to Cece's future parents-in-law, and she's there to plan her wedding to Charlie. The house is a magical place, a romantic idyll with 'raspberry bushes, magically replenishing, like something in a fairy tale'.
Keeping Cece company while Charlie toils away as a cardiac anaesthetist
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island's first bombshell is revealed and the American beauty is already in the villa causing a stir
Love Island's first bombshell has been revealed and she is already in the villa. ITV 's flagship show is already underway ahead of their season 12 launch on Monday as they have already started checking in the islanders. American beauty, Antonia Laites, who is a pool party girl from Las Vegas, is the first bombshell to check into the villa, according to The Sun. Antonia, who has also resided in Miami, is a sizzling brunette whose day-to-day is looking after the VIP cabanas at the lavish Fontainebleau Resort in Sin City. The Yank has reportedly strutted in on the first day to stir the pot for the islanders on the very first day. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A source told the publication: 'Being Love Island's first bombshell of the series is a big deal and is always reserved for the sexiest cast members. 'In the past it's been the likes of Davide, Uma and even Ekin-Su on All Stars. 'Antonia landed as part of a huge first day and everyone is very excited.' Earlier this week, show host M aya Jama set pulses racing on Instagram as she teased the first-ever American bombshell. The Love Island host, 30, flaunted her legs in a silky white robe as she revealed to fans that she'd received a voice note from a mystery new islander. At the start of the clip, Maya playfully echoed the show's signature line: 'Oh, I've got a text... I've been expecting this one.' She then listened to the message, which teased: 'Hey Maya, I heard you want more twists. How about an American bombshell? Get ready, I'm on my way.' While the voice note didn't reveal their identity, it confirmed that for the first time ever Love Island UK is welcoming a U.S. islander into the villa. Maya wrapped up the teaser with a smile, saying: 'Alright, there's the sweet, sweet sounds of an American.' Love Island confirmed the full line-up of contestants joining the upcoming series earlier this week. The ITV2 dating show returns on June 9 and there looks set to be the usual mix of love triangles, bedroom trysts and messy breakups as contestants make their way to the island. This year's crop of hopefuls include a Declan Rice body double, fire breather and Maura Higgins lookalike and Maya will once again be at the helm after joining the popular dating series in January 2023. This year, the show celebrates a decade on screens and promises to have 'more twists and turns than ever before' in honour of their 10-year anniversary. The series, which has been streamed over two billion times on ITVX, has seen over 300 Islanders pass through the villa doors over the years, including the likes of Olivia Attwood, Dani Dyer, Chris Hughes, and Molly-Mae Hague. Earlier this week, a Love Island producer also revealed that this year's contestants could come face to face with their ex-partners in the villa. Speaking to The Sun, ITV's Mike Spencer-Hayter said: 'Do you know what I always say, the cast get released and then the ex's come forward. And that's how you get the bombshells. 'They will have to go through the process, but we have already a pool of really really good bombshells lined up. There's some people in that mix that are really under the radar as well. 'The casting team have been working for quite a while now. Gone to lots of different events and been out and about looking for people and I think they've done a brilliant job. We always have those killer bombshells to come in.' It comes after Mike revealed to the Mail that the first week of the new season will see 'something big' as they 'tear up the rule book' to liven up the hit show. Last year the show had a shock entry when TOWIE favourite Joey Essex, 34, entered the villa, to very mixed results from fans. When asked if they will be getting another former reality TV star or celebrity in as a contestant this year, Mike said something else will be a surprise. 'No former Love Islanders are coming in this year,' he said. 'Something big is coming in week one though. Not another reality star like Joey Essex. 'We've got a big week one planned. It's not a celebrity, but totally new. It's even different this year the way islanders will couple up. 'You can't rest on people loving the show, we have to keep it exciting. Tear up the rule book a bit.' Love Island is set to air on June 9 over on ITV2 and ITVX.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
First Love Island bombshell is 'sexy Vegas pool party waitress'
Love Island host Maya Jama teased the first bombshell to descend on the villa, hopefully causing lots of drama for fans of the show - and for the first time ever, an American contestant joins the cast Love Island 's first bombshell has been revealed as a stunning Las Vegas pool party waitress. Antonia Laites looks after the VIP cabana huts at the swanky Fontainebleau Resort in the gambling mecca. The brunette is the first American bombshell to take part in the reality dating show, which kicks off on ITV2 on Monday (June 9). She will join the other islanders as a bombshell - a role usually reserved for the best-looking contestants. Antonia has also worked in Miami as a pool server, while attending Florida Atlantic University to study Public Management. She moved to Vegas and has worked in Sin City since February last year, according to her LinkedIn profile. The hospitality professional went into the villa on day one, meaning she's likely to have been ruffling feathers since the get-go. Maya Jama teased Antonia's appearance on the show with a voice note she played, which was posted on the official Love Island Instagram. The video was captioned: "A voice note from the first Bombshell? I'm listening." Maya could be heard at the start of the clip dropping one of the show's signature lines: "Oh, I've got a text! I've been expecting this one." The TV personality heard an American voice say: "Hey Maya, I heard you want more twists. How about an American bombshell? Get ready, I'm on my way." Although the voice note didn't give the name of the sender, it did confirm that Love Island UK will be welcoming their first ever US islander. Maya ended the teaser, adding: "Alright, there's the sweet, sweet sounds of an American." Creative director of Love Island, ITV's Mike Spencer-Hayter, previously revealed how the Love Island bombshells are usually cast. He told The Sun: "Do you know what I always say, the cast get released and then the ex's come forward. And that's how you get the bombshells. "They will have to go through the process, but we have already a pool of really really good bombshells lined up. There's some people in that mix that are really under the radar as well. "The casting team have been working for quite a while now. Gone to lots of different events and been out and about looking for people and I think they've done a brilliant job. We always have those killer bombshells to come in." Meanwhile, the rest of the Love Island cast has been confirmed, with the usual array of models, personal trainers and actors, all looking for love (and brand deals). Maya returns as host for the twelfth season, with more drama than ever promised by producers. Director Mike confirmed that viewers can expect a big surprise in week one. With fans' speculating about what's in store, he said it's not going to be another reality star or celeb, like Joey Essex. The ITV boss gave more clues, confirming "no former Love Islanders are coming in this year". While fans are kept guessing, he promises to "keep it exciting", adding that producers are set to "tear up the rule book a bit."
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Cleddau Flute Choir performs at St David's Cathedral
Cleddau Flute Choir took to the stage on Saturday, May 31, delivering a performance to a packed audience. The concert featured a varied programme of the group's favourite pieces, including Pachelbel's Canon in D, Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, and Scott Joplin's The Entertainer. The highlight of the day was the debut performance of Adar Dewi Sant, written and arranged especially for the occasion by American musician Ray Braswell. Alison Blasdale, musical director, said: "We honestly didn't know how many people would come along to listen to us play, so when I turned around to introduce the first piece I was incredibly surprised to see virtually every pew filled. "It made an already special day even more memorable for us all." The Cleddau Flute Choir was formed nearly three years ago and is made up entirely of amateur players, many of whom have returned to the flute after a long break. The group rehearses fortnightly in Pembroke and performs regularly throughout the year at venues including Carew and Pembroke Castles, as well as at local churches.
