A review by anndouglas
In the Land of Dreamy Dreams by Ellen Gilchrist

3.0

An intriguing collection of short stories that will appeal to fans of Dorothy Allison, Flannery O'Connor, and other writers in the Southern Gothic tradition. The use of specific detail—shockingly racist language and the repeated (and jarring) injection of Christian language and Christian religious symbols when the characters are living by anything but Christian values—helps to ground the story in a particular place and time while providing insights into the characters’ moral code. The stories in this collection stay with the reader and becomes even more impactful with subsequent readings.