The Cost of Dreams [Paperback]

Gary Stelzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

A novel: Flora Enriquez trusts that she has found safe haven for her young family in the remote U.S. Southwest, after fleeing the murderous environs of Central America where her parents were slain in a civil war. Only to find that all of her life's greatest challenges, by far, still lie before her.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author is a retired physician residing in the northern Midwestern U.S. with his family. THE COST OF DREAMS is the first of five novels to which Decent Hearts Press is committed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Decent Hearts Press (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936073005
• ISBN-13: 978-1936073009
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,807,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars The Cost of Dreams, March 22, 2010

By 

Mrs. C. Colbert (Lancashire, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cost of Dreams (Paperback)

Flora, the main character in the story, showed incredible courage in not only escaping from the troubles in her country to the USA but she then got married, had a family and trained to be a teacher. But I didn't really feel as if I got to know Flora as a person, I didn't know what she was thinking or the kind of person she was most of the time and so I didn't care too much about her terrible ordeals ......... and she did have a tough time throughout the book....... which was a shame, as I do love to sympathise with my characters and I usually want them to come through and live happily ever after. But I'm afraid I wasn't that bothered about what happened to any of them.

The storyline was interesting and it never got boring, there was always plenty of action, but not a lot of narrative. It was mainly plot-driven and descriptive, some of the terrain scenes I found quite difficult to visualize. Also, particularly at the beginning of the book, some of the sentences were long-winded and it didn't make for quick and easy reading, but I felt that this improved as the story went on.

Overall, even though this wasn't a book that I particularly enjoyed, I do feel that Gary Stelzer has some good creative ideas, and it was interesting to learn about a different culture.

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, January 20, 2010

By 

Leslie "That Chick That Reads" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cost of Dreams (Paperback)

Stelzer completely captivated me in Flora's story from the beginning. He just completely captured the difficulties that people crossing the border have and the kind of life they continue to live while in the States. There were so many things that were just so amazing! Flora's character is a strong willed, charismatic, and loving woman. She loves her husband, even after he left her in the car for dead; she adores her two children and manages to teach a school. This novel made me visualize Flora's journey with a variety of language techniques and through the visualistic language. When I got to the very last page, I seriously could not believe it! The writing is so fast paced that I just couldn't get believe that I had gotten to the last page that quickly! Anyway guys, check out this book! I guarantee you will not be sorry! I give this novel 4 out of 5 paws.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost in a new land, January 19, 2010

By 

Reading Frenzy "LuAnn" (Othello, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cost of Dreams (Paperback)

Some books are destined to become best sellers and I truly feel this is one of them. And I'd be very surprised if it didn't pull in several awards, as well.

I've read mixed reviews of this book. Many of those who didn't particularly care for it were the readers who found it difficult emotionally.

That, however, is the point of the story.

Gary Stelzer brings to the pages a tale meant to shock. Although rare, it can be a somewhat common story for those immigrants who face some harsh realities when they trade one tough situation for another.

The main character ends up fighting for her life in this unusual story of drugs, kidnapping, murder and insanity. And, indeed, there were parts very difficult to read, but without them, this would not be the book it is.

Even though it is fiction, the words paint a picture of a story that could really have happened. This is an excellent read and one I'd recommend to anyone wanting to understand the trials many immigrants could potentially face in a new land.