Eric Puhner’s New Novel: A Vast Landscape of Emotion
Eric Puhner’s latest work, *The Dream State*, offers a sweeping view of Montana’s landscapes—both physical and emotional. Starting in 2004, it opens with a young woman just weeks shy of her wedding, diving into a stunning lake that mirrors the surrounding mountains. This idyllic beginning provides a backdrop for a story that stretches across decades, exploring themes of love, change, and the complexities of life.
The protagonist, Sese, leaves her family home, where Charlie Margolis, a cardiac surgeon, is her boss. The setting is peaceful yet vibrant, marked by ancient apple trees and lush raspberry bushes. It’s a place Sese cherishes dearly. Arriving in Montana ahead of her wedding, she plans to finalize details before her fiancé Charlie and their guests arrive. But things take an unexpected turn when her friend Garrett shows up just as she’s enjoying a swim. What follows is a series of events that lead to a tense but captivating attraction between Cece and Garrett, all while the wedding looms overhead.
Puhner navigates the initial chapters with cleverness and humor, cleverly presenting the love triangle while introducing humorous elements, like a recurring mountain goat. As we move into the second act, however, the narrative shifts focus—the dynamics of their relationships become more intricate. The trio—Cece, Charlie, and Garrett—navigate new roles as parents, and their emotions murmur with complications as they grow older. This evolution deviates from the expected resolutions of the first act, reflecting how feelings shift over the years.
As years go by, the book itself evolves from romantic drama to elegy.
This ongoing complexity is evident in the lives of their children, Jasper and Lana, who become characters in their own right, grappling with the shadows of their parents’ decisions. Puhner dedicates an entire chapter to their experiences, revealing personal struggles while simultaneously reflecting their parents’ relationships through a unique lens. By portraying their journeys, Puhner illustrates how adulthood doesn’t fundamentally change one’s character—transformation is not only possible but essential. Yet, the impact of parental choices raises questions about free will.
In the 21st century, the notion of free will carries different weight. Spanning a rich narrative, *The Dream State* sometimes feels reminiscent of Victorian literature, presenting a well-developed world. Unlike Victorian characters who confront a stable reality, Puhner’s characters exist within ever-shifting landscapes, marking time by the decline of wildlife and seasonal shifts. The imagery of a lake receding, leaving behind a barren landscape, speaks vividly to the changes faced by Lana and Jasper—they encounter hotter summers and diminishing resources, limiting their options further.
The narrative ultimately circles back to its origins, exposing the dashed hopes of its characters and their shared losses. Puhner draws readers in with familiar storytelling techniques, only to disrupt them, challenging us with deeper layers of anxiety. Yet his warm, engaging style makes this exploration worthwhile; it’s not until the final pages that the full scope of the narrative’s brilliance truly sinks in.
*The Dream State* by Eric Puhner is available from Scepter, priced at £18.99.
