Richard Matheson
What Dreams May Come
SummaryThis book is a manuscript written to Robert, brother of our main character Chris. Chris died in an automobile accident leaving his wife and four children behind to mourn his death. This manuscript is a retelling from Chris to a psychic about his experiences of life after death.
At first Chris is very confused and follows his family around until he realizes that he is dead and then journeys to a placed called Summerland where he meets Albert, his guardian angel. Albert explains about Summerland and the capabilities of the mind in this new place.
As Chris is exploring Summerland, his wife Ann is never out of his mind. He is constantly wondering when he will see his soulmate again and it is determined it is only a short twenty-four years later that she will join him.
Through bad dreams not normally present in Summerland he finally understands Annie’s unwillingness to live without Chris, and she ultimately ends her life too soon. Albert explains that Ann will stay the next twenty-four years in another “level” below Summerland which can only be described as the dark depths of Hell.
Chris goes on a dangerous journey with Albert to find her. He risks a beautiful and fulfilling Summerland to save his soulmate from her purgatory. Chris encounters the worst type of people and situations that threaten to keep him away from Summerland.
He finally finds Ann but she doesn't recognize him because she does not believe in life after death. Chris sacrifices himself to be with her and finally ends back in Summerland. Albert explains to him that Ann chose to be reborn after his sacrifice gave her awareness of what she had done. Chris chooses this path for himself in the hope of soon being with his Ann again.
ReviewThis amazing book takes you on a journey that is so unexpected and exciting. Life after death can be one of the scariest concepts to wrap your head around because no one knows. It is inevitable yet we spend most of our lives fighting it.
It was interesting to read about many theories all put into one cohesive book that makes it so possible its very eerie. Through much research, Richard Matheson takes you on his journey of discovering what everyone wants to know, what happens after we die?
Richard also delves into the explanation of soul mates which is another greatly explored subject in the book. The main character, Chris (recently deceased) and wife Ann are determined by the higher powers to actually be “soul mates”. This makes matters complicated when Ann can no longer live in a world where her other half does not exist. Chris never waivers in his determination to be with Ann again which makes this a heartbreaking tale of love lost. But after the journey has ended, it leaves great hope that life does go on, just not as you think it may.
Also be sure to check out the review for the movie adaptation of this novel here:
http://forum.openbooksociety.com/film-reviews/what-dreams-may-come/
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