Are you constantly looking to escape the dull, monotonous existence of the typical human? Well, if you’re anything like me, then you probably spend a lot of time combing the library for books that have that special something—you know, one of those unforgettable stories that really makes you think. Searching for a book that successfully does this can be quite disheartening, especially for the young adult reader—it seems like every other YA novel is rife with teen angst and high school melodrama. But as luck would have it, I recently discovered a new book (okay, so it’s not exactly “new”, seeing as it was written in 1978) that transported me to an entirely different realm.
   What Dreams May Come is not your typical book. For example, the main character, Chris Neilsen, a happily married writer with four children, dies in the first chapter. It’s what happens after his death that makes this book so intriguing… and kind of outlandish.
   At this point, I know what you may be thinking: Great, it’s another one of those sappy books about angels and some divine dude sitting in the clouds with a funky beard. Trust me, that’s what I thought, too. Readers of this book will be surprised to find that it is far from the cliché pearly white gates we all hear about. Instead, Chris Neilsen finds himself in Summerland—or Heaven, or the Afterlife, whatever you want to call it—a beautiful place molded by his own preferences and perceptions. He is joined by his cousin, Albert, who preceded him in death. Chris finds himself surrounded by an ever-shifting landscape and a lot of free time, not to mention the lack of any sort of judgment whatsoever, but there is something missing—his wife, Ann.
   Little does he know, his non-religious wife is back on Earth, distraught and lost without her husband. An unexpected tragedy soon after his own death threatens to keep Ann and Chris apart forever (or a really really long time, at least). Determined not to let his so-called “soul-mate” slip into the lower realm, Chris and Albert embark on what I would call an epic journey to reunite with Ann and save her from the same despair that she harbored in life and carried into death.
   Alright, alright. So that still sounds a bit predictable, I know. But truth be told, this book is beyond words. Although the book is hardly realistic according to most people’s definition of reality, the author actually includes a lot of references to scientific studies on near-death experiences and reincarnation.
   What open-minded readers will love about this is that it doesn’t claim to have all of the answers, or any of them, really. The last page leaves you with the option to form your own conclusions. Most of all, though, this book will grab your attention and make you think outside of the box. Which is a pretty cool thing, since I often find the world a rather boring box.
    So if you’re looking for a new way to look at life or just a fantasy world to escape into, definitely check out this book. And if you enjoy the book, don’t forget to view the movie, which, although only loosely based on the book, will leave you equally awed and wondering exactly what kind of dreams may come.