Journey of Dreams- Dreams have a way of infusing themselves into our souls–becoming an indivisible part of who we are. Five lives irrevocably change when their greatest longings become their new reality–and for one, vice versa.
The Journey of Dreams series is Contemporary Christian Fantasy, exploring the desires of our hearts and how the Lord meets them.
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Introspection–this place invites it. I’ve never allowed myself the time to pause and get to know myself. My father taught me it was weak. Focus on the prize–eyes off yourself. The goal matters. You are just the instrument to get you there.
Here… Is this what that goal was and I never knew it? The peaks above, the trees that stand tall beside me as if my own personal bodyguards.
I am alive–maybe for the first time in my life–and I think it’s because I’m dead.
When Tony arrives in Highlands, he must come to grips with a world that embraces birth defects as beautiful and to be celebrated–even those easily corrected. Balancing the beauty of utter acceptance and the wisdom of when to alter the “workmanship of God” creates tension between Tony and the Highlanders.
The Journey of Dreams series explores themes in the Christian life from a different perspective–from a world that can’t exist anywhere but in the dreams of the people who live there.
Editorial Review
Ms. Havig drops a modern young athlete (nearly naked!) into a remote, bizarre community. He is confused. He is horrified. He wonders if he has died and is in some sort of afterlife. And then, with perfect, almost elegant pacing, the story unfolds, revealing a fascinating world in which people have unquestioningly accepted every circumstance as the will of – gifts from – God. Our hero struggles with understanding their beliefs – and so does the reader. The themes of extreme submission and gratitude are thought-provoking in this context. ~Cathe Swanson
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This book will be in my thoughts for years. I laughed, I cried, I even stopped reading for days to let what I read sink into my spirit. I didn’t want the story to end and in my mind, it never will. I highly recommend “Highlands” to everyone, you will be inspired to be your best you and see the best of others.
While I haven’t met even one of her books that I haven’t liked (a lot), the books of Chautona Havig’s Journey of Dreams series are far above and beyond the rest.
I read both of these books when they first came out, and preferred the first book, Prairie (I just might have read it two times in a row). Having now re-read Highlands and experienced the gamut of emotions it elicited in me, I am dying to re-read Prairie because I can’t imagine how it could be better than this one!
It is difficult to pick a genre for this book. Perhaps Speculative Fiction fits it best. It isn’t a typical Fantasy book, and yet it deals with the fantastical. It is a “What if you woke up in a foreign world that seems so similar to the one you know, and yet isn’t?” situation.
Told from Tony’s perspective, Highlands walks the reader through the first year of his life in this new world. Being in a place where his dad is not around to dictate every moment of his life causes Tony to mature and to see who he really is. He struggles to shake off the negativity and feelings of worthlessness from his upbringing. And yet, part of his growth was seeing the role that he played in his father’s perception of him.
The spiritual lessons in this story are poignant. The people of Highlands have a deep relationship with the Lord and a unique way of looking at things. I love the way the author used color-blindness to reflect a person’s lack of contentment. After all, doesn’t discontent cause life to lose its color?
Be warned that this book is not just a Journey of Dreams, but an emotional roller coaster that will have you smiling and oohing and then wiping tears away. It is a book that should be read slowly so you can savor it and not miss a word.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a Preview and Video Intro of Highlands at AmongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
If I was Tony, I would be freaking out right now. He can’t figure out where he is and it reminds me of feeling like you are in limbo between two worlds. Tony is one of these guys who is a gifted athlete. All he has known is to push himself and be the best at everything. I liked the idea that he was found almost naked because it reminded me of Adam. Adam was confused and didn’t know where he was. God clothed him and gave him directions. Tony seems to be confused and is starting to become a flight risk. I can’t blame him. If I woke up in a strange place, I would want to leave as fast as possible. Maybe it’s the unknown that makes us want to run, because the unknown scares us. We don’t have any control and that makes us feel vulnerable.
I loved it when Bryn said, ” Pride makes us do silly things.” It makes us make bad decisions and hurt people . I really liked Bryn and found her to be very intuitive. As I was reading the book something caught my eye and made me stop everything. Tony says , ” Even with a houseful of people, you’d be surprised how very alone you can feel.” I can so relate to that statement. How many of us have people fooled? Everyone thinks you are on top of the world, but deep inside you are crying out for help?
The book is very deep and I learned so much from this book. Tony having problems seeing colors is a great example of how we see things differently than others. Some people may be handicapped and to us they are flawed. God doesn’t make mistakes and what we see as flawed is God showing how a handicap can be a blessing. We can overcome things if we stop feeling sorry for ourselves and ask God what can we do to serve Him? Tony has much to learn in this place he finds different but God has him here for a reason. Will Tony accept that he is more than just a good swimmer? Can he see the beauty in things that others find ugly or different? The story is very good and made me take a look at myself. LikeTony, I have tried to please others. I didn’t feel good about myself and was always wanting to do better, look better, be better. What I forgot, was God made me just the way He wanted me to be. I have gifts and I am loved by Him. Don’t miss your chance to read this great story.
” We value what we must work for-what we must wait for. That which comes too easily can disappear without regret.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.