The First Principles of Dreaming

This deeply engrossing and powerful novel by Goobie draws readers in and squeezes tight. In 1972, Mary-Eve Hamilton is stuck between expectation and desire. Her mother tells her that she is one of the Waiting for the Rapture End Times Tabernacles' %E2%80%98chosen ones,' but unlike her %E2%80%98gifted' mother, the teen doesn't speak in tongues, receive visions, or truly believe the Tabernacles teachings. After a chance encounter with Dee Eccles, a girl she is obsessed with, Mary-Eve is reborn, stripping away her conservative upbringing and pulling on Dee's skin-tight jeans and ideals. Dee renames her Jezebel, and readers see an enthralled Jez willing to follow Dee's every directive. Both girls have built walls to hide lifetimes of secrets and mistreatment, and when those walls begin to shatter, their pain is inflicted on the other. The use of metaphoric and poetic prose is beautiful, despite the ugly things revealed. While some readers may view the occult elements as eccentric, they have a specific purpose within the story, and the commonplace way in which they are presented allows the reader to acclimatize quickly. Mythology lovers will see parallels to the Persephone myth. (Sept.)