Train Dreams

A New York Times Notable Book for 2011
One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year
One of NPR's 10 Best Novels of 2011

From the National Book Award-winning author Denis Johnson (Tree of Smoke) comes Train Dreams, an epic in miniature, and one of Johnson's most evocative works of fiction.

Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American West--its otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge builders--this extraordinary novella poignantly captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life.

It tells the story of Robert Grainer, a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth century--an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal defeats and the radical changes that transform America in his lifetime.

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116 pages

Average rating: 7.8

15 RATINGS

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1 REVIEW

Community Reviews

E Clou
May 10, 2023
10/10 stars
Had to read it twice in a row. The first time, I read it slowly. It was lovely but the very last memory left me a bit lost. So then I went back and constructed an OCD-induced timeline of Grainier's life. While it helped me get a better grip on what happened and when, it isn't relevant. These are memories, told and remembered out of order, as you might get from your grandparent, parent, or spouse. All the memories aren't always remembered correctly and the timelines are always hazy, but it's the only way to know a person. These are quite likely the final memories of Granier, possibly as he's looking over his life, and maybe even dreaming. He's not perfect, but he's a beautiful soul. I hope I'll read this book again many times.

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