Dream in Color: A Novel (Strivers Row) [Paperback]

Darlene Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2002 | Series: Strivers Row

Victoria’s marriage is on the rocks, and she copes by daydreaming about fantasy men. But can these fantasies help fix her real life?

At age twenty-five, Victoria Chandler has a husband with a good job, a five-year-old daughter, Reese, and a house in the suburbs. She should be happy with her life. But she’s not. She suspects that her husband, Gerald, is having an affair, and she finds her loveless marriage a big disappointment. But Victoria stays married for the sake of her daughter. And to get by, she starts daydreaming about two fantasy men: James, a very handsome man she meets at a club, and Michael, a rock star.

As she ponders her attraction to these men, Victoria slowly realizes that her marriage to Gerald is doomed—they’re just not meant to be together. Inspired by the freedom that she exhibits in her fantasies, Victoria develops a plan to escape her marriage and create the reality that she’s always wanted.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A woman in a loveless marriage retreats into an elaborate fantasy world in Darlene Johnson's previously self-published Dream in Color. Victoria and Gerald Jordan married because she was pregnant; now their daughter is five years old, the marriage is in a shambles and Victoria suspects he's having an affair. She copes by inventing two dream lovers: James, a 17-year-old high school student, and Michael, a white rock star. The former "affair" is mostly platonic, while the latter contains all manner of fireworks-a wedding, drug addiction, betrayal-though neither really makes any sense. While slightly more imaginative than similar romances, the fantasy gimmick seems like an effort to distract readers from the lack of plot.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The ballad "Dream in Color" by pop star Regina Belle is the backdrop for this unusual look at love and relationships. Victoria and Gerald have been married for five years. Victoria ignored the early signs in their relationship that he did not feel the same way that she does. Gerald is only concerned about his duty as father to their daughter, Reese, and not his commitment as husband to Victoria. Out of her emotional and sexual frustration, Victoria begins to dream about two other men. James is the attractive, 17-year-old high-school student. She breaks her celibacy rules by fantasizing about the internationally famous rock musician, Michael. Her inability to deal with his drug addiction is similar to the powerlessness she experienced in her marriage. Victoria's dreams help her to escape the disappointing reality of her marriage as well as inspire her to create a new reality. She finally chooses to change her circumstances rather than to escape into fantasy. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Villard (July 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375758410
• ISBN-13: 978-0375758416
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,390,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I would have given it 5 stars but....., February 21, 2004

By 

Sabrina R. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dream in Color: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)

This novel is about a couple in a loveless marriage where the wife does something a bit different than the typical. Instead of literally cheating, she does so within the fantasies of her own mind. These fantasies/day dreams become her outlet from a marriage to a man that has never loved her and only married her because she had given birth to their child. Her husband treats her cold and indifferent and is borderline abusive. Not to mention the fact that she is positive that he's cheating.

Two different love stories with totally different twist develop within her mind. The stories within the story were very good. And by the end of the novel I was very proud of Victoria {the lead character}. With the aid of her two fantasy lovers she was able to gain the strength she needed, within herself to leave the loveless marriage.

Dream in Color was a slightly different novel for me. DJ is a very talented writer and I was very impress with her first novel. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because in a romance novel I like a bit more detail in the sex scene's... That did not happen here.

DJ!!!I NEED A LITTLE MORE SEX IN THE SEX SCENE'S HON....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars DIFFERENT CONCEPT, November 10, 2002

By 

Stacey Chatman (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dream In Color (Paperback)

The idea of basing a novel off of dreams is indeed different. I was caught off guard initially because I did not realize when the character started dreaming. My bookclub read this book and as a former resident of Indianapolis I wanted to be supportive of Ms. Johnson. The questions for discussion in the back were hepful for my bookclub. I did not care for the style in which it was written but I think she is a good writer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, June 12, 2000

By 

TCEdwards (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dream In Color (Paperback)

I met Ms. Johnson at her book signing in Indianapolis. She was such a nice woman that I rushed home to read the novel. I read through the entire novel in two days because I couldn't put it down. Ms. Johnson's novel brought me to near tears. I remember all too well what it was like to make love to a husband and feel nothing. I remember wishing, dreaming I was someplace else. I read Karen Miller's comment on the back of the novel that said it is a novel you will read over again. That is true. I find myself reading certain parts over again because they were just so true. I can not believe other women felt the way I did. Ms. Johnson's novel captured those feelings perfectly. Good job Ms. Johnson. I look forward to hearing more from you.