The Law of Dreams

I had just finished The Law of Dreams a couple of days ago, and I will say that it got real very fast.

We go with Fergus, who lived on the mountain belonging to a farmer in the mid-1800s who just goes through the following one-two years going from place to place trying to find his way in the world where clearly the Irish are not wanted, along with meeting various people who for the most part help him along while in the process dying because of various circumstances. Not that Fergus is a jinx, or anything, it is just a shit time to be Irish in that time period and part of the world.

As mentally unhealthy as it sounds, the route that Fergus goes to cope with all of the trauma that life deals him ends up being the thing that keeps him going, and I appreciate how even though it is a second person narrative, there are moments of first person monologue where he argues with himself to not remember those that were especially close to him who have died and to just keep pressing on, because how else can you continue to overcome the obstacles ahead of you, but to just push it all away and try to be present in the current happenings.

I also appreciate how even though he tries a couple of times to fall in love, he does not let himself be taken advantage by women. He is realistic of his situation; to be honest, I really do not think there is any other option given the nature of society in that time.

I would want to read this again; it was cool to see Fergus progress from small figure with a fatalistic mindset to a survivor with goals and personality. Find it here.

9/10