Book #3: Nicholas Sparks - Dreamland

Synopsis 

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wish comes a poignant love story about risking everything for a dream—and whether it’s possible to leave the past behind.
 
Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, until tragedy grounded his aspirations. Now the head of a small family farm in North Carolina, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.
 
But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known.

While they are falling headlong in love, Beverly is on a heart-pounding journey of another kind. Fleeing an abusive husband with her six-year-old son, she is trying to piece together a life for them in a small town far off the beaten track. With money running out and danger seemingly around every corner, she makes a desperate decision that will rewrite everything she knows to be true.
 
In the course of a single unforgettable week, two young people will navigate the exhilarating heights and heartbreak of first love. Hundreds of miles away, Beverly will put her love for her young son to the test. And fate will draw all three people together in a web of life-altering connections . . . forcing each to wonder whether the dream of a better life can ever survive the weight of the past.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Early in the novel, Colby observes: “We don’t always get to choose our paths in life; sometimes they choose us.” Discuss this sentiment. How does it relate to Colby’s life? Have you personally experienced this feeling? If so, please share.

2. A great thrill in Dreamland is watching two characters meet and fall in love. Colby notes: “Our lives were entirely different, and yet, somehow, we’d just seem to click.” If you have experienced an instant attraction in your life, what were the signs that it was more than a chance encounter, a mere introduction, or a date?

3. Morgan asks Colby to describe his sister in three words. How would you describe Colby in three words? And Beverly? How did you come to those three words?

4. What do you consider the major themes of Dreamland?

5. Which character were you drawn to most, and why?

6. Nicholas Sparks writes Dreamland’s two narratives in different ways: The Colby sections in first-person, the Beverly section in third-person. Why do you think the author chose these POVs? How does it enhance the reading experience?

7. At one point, Colby wonders: “Did love carry with it the power to make a person question everything? Did love make a person want to become someone new?” What do you think? Please explain.

8. Did you figure out the connection between the two stories before it was revealed? If so, how did you come to your conclusion? If not, what were some of your early theories that didn’t pan out?

9. How would you define the concept of “dreamland”? Describe your ideal dreamland.

10. If Dreamland were made into a movie, who would you cast in the major roles?

11. Have you ever read Nicholas Sparks before? If so, what have been your favorite novels, and why? If this is your first time with Sparks, did anything surprise you about the read? What did you think of the ending?

    
    

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