Dream On [Kindle Edition]

Ever since discovering Tyler on the Twittersphere, I've been a firm fan of her work and was delighted when I heard another book was being released.

Dream On takes a different narrative format to her previous works, but is still enjoyably readable and from the very first page the story simply flows.

In a modern society obsessed with celebrity and the fame that is attached to success, Dream On follows the aspirations of the daydreamer Dave and his friends as they try to become a musical sensation. Tyler's work also delves in to the emotions attached to the cost of the search for fame.

All of the characters are well crafted and believable, with the scenes themselves crafted in a way that sits you there along with all the chatter and the music. I wish my own local was this eventful! There are lost daydreamers, deluded self-worshippers, loveable rogues and downright oddballs. Dream On has it all with aplomb, and is once more in Tyler's effortlessly good style.

My only criticism would be that I would have liked more to read - but that's the problem when a book is too good to put down! A recommended read - why haven't you bought it already?

Dream On is not a book I'd normally read, but I'm truly glad I did. It isn't chick lit, it isn't a saga, it isn't comedy, it isn't a 'be true to your principles and you'll be rewarded' novel, it isn't even a love story, it's a combination of all these things and more. You're drawn into the narrative because you like the people, and Terry Tyler must be wise beyond her years to recognise the absolute truths behind human motivations and emotions. In a similar way to how Tony Parsons portrays family life (though he writes from the perspective of a man) Terry Tyler can outline a person's predicament, set forth seemingly insoluble problems for her characters, but, just as in life, solutions arrive of their own accord, often in the most surprising ways. The novel sums up the injustices we all face, the dichotomy of struggling with prosaic aspects of life when you're trying to follow your dream. But most importantly of all she can make her characters step right off the page into your mind.

I liked one of the protagonists, Dave, particularly - always aiming for his dream of musical success, talented, clever, yet torn between paternal love and mundane responsibilities, with the prospect of future golden possibilities, his choice made all the more daunting when the reappearance of the love of his life, beautiful talented Ariel Swan, seems to promise him a golden future. I also liked Janice, the lovely long-suffering mother of his son Harley, and I very much liked Max - I won't say who he is, you'll have to read the book to find out.

All kinds of things are touched on in this book: the gritty underbelly of the music business, social media, its uses, abuses and drawbacks, the glamour and misery of TV talent shows, and the dreadful injustices of life, where the most unlikely people are rewarded and the most laudable, well intentioned, or highly talented folk so often remain unsung heroes. However the strength in this book is the likeable characters, who stay with you long after the book is finished. And like all good books, you wonder what will happen to them afterwards, and ponder on how, if they'd made other life choices, their futures would probably have led in other directions. Heartbreaking in some parts, I was especially struck by the the cruelty of these stark choices: do you follow your dream, or do you face up to the responsibilities of the here and now? The book is quite sexy in some parts too, but not overtly erotic, just realistic.

All in all it's very easy reading because the characters are nice to get to know, to understand and most of all, to like. If all Terry Tyler's books are as good as this one, I'll have to read them.

I had read Ms Tyler's other books and enjoyed them all, so was awaiting this release, which I devoured in a day and a half. Not knowing anything about rock music, initially I was a little concerned that I might not enjoy it as much as the other three books. I need not have worried. After a bit of scene setting and introducing the band, we swiftly engage with single mother, Janice, who I really felt for throughout the book. I'm sure we have all seen this chain of events happen over and over in real life.
The author once again delivers realistic characters, with real depth, which we can't help but like. Even those we want to rap over the head and knock some sense into, we can't feel too mad at them for long. I am not a fan of reality TV shows, but in the same way as Ben Elton sent up some of the early shows, Terry Tyler does this in Dream On. The collection of weirdos that come out of the woodwork ((namely bodhran playing Glynis) as well as those who genuinely want to make their living from music, rounded off by the barely talented, Melodie, made me laugh. So, whether you love or hate reality TV shows, you will love this book!
I also liked the life lessons learned by more than one of the characters, as well as secondary characters like Max and Harley, too, was a sweetie. The very touching scenes about a relative with dementia were particularly well portrayed and accurate.
I could imagine the pub scene, certain characters barely getting a round of applause, others getting totally lost in their dreams, to the exclusion of all else, even when it was to their detriment. We've all met people like that, whether rock stars or another pipe dream.
Dave, the male protagonist was lovely, but needed a talking to. And Shane, he needed neutered! Ritchie just needed to stop waffling!
The bottom line is a very funny book, with warm, real characters that you might bump into down your local.