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A review by memeraryfiction
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
The Dream Hotel's basic concept is okay, but I felt it failed to deliver. I will dive shortly into the reasons why I think this, but it's worth noting that it also failed the enjoyment check: I never felt that spark of interest or excitement when I picked it up, and I didn't particularly enjoy reading it. I finished it because I wanted to give it time to develop its project, and while I don't necessarily regret that choice, it felt like a slog.
From the start, I struggled to find what makes the book really unique. Its premise, while potentially interesting, proves to be a mish-mash of recycled concepts, so that it never really feels fresh, new, or necessary. (I mean, Dick's The Minority Report is literally older than Lalami.) More than anything, it reads like Orange Is the New Black fanfiction - decent fanfic, to be fair, but fanfic nonetheless. On this point, I think it's telling that Lalami writes in the acknowledgements that she began The Dream Hotel in 2014, the year after OITNB premiered.
The writing is technically sound but never exciting or inspired. There are a number of moments that feel very cookie-cutter, like the book is following some sort of near-future speculative fiction template.I especially felt this way about the interspersal of official documents with the narrative; the documents rarely add to the story, and the inclusion of the disciplinary record at the end, which briefly felt like it would be used to advance the story in an interesting way, was very awkward. There are some storylines and characters that are introduced but never developed or (in some cases) revisited. Sara's cousin Zach didn't seem to serve much purpose story-wise, and his emails didn't really add anything. The Julie Renstrom dream product placement arc was easily the most interesting part of the book, but it is never really developed.
Finally, at its end the book abandons what little subtlety it had and engages in explanatory passages that spell out the points it is trying to make. It wasn't a particularly subtle book to begin with, so these portions are unnecessary. I would have liked to like The Dream Hotel more, as I share much of Lalami's politics and appreciate the points she is making; but it ended up being a big miss for me.
From the start, I struggled to find what makes the book really unique. Its premise, while potentially interesting, proves to be a mish-mash of recycled concepts, so that it never really feels fresh, new, or necessary. (I mean, Dick's The Minority Report is literally older than Lalami.) More than anything, it reads like Orange Is the New Black fanfiction - decent fanfic, to be fair, but fanfic nonetheless. On this point, I think it's telling that Lalami writes in the acknowledgements that she began The Dream Hotel in 2014, the year after OITNB premiered.
The writing is technically sound but never exciting or inspired. There are a number of moments that feel very cookie-cutter, like the book is following some sort of near-future speculative fiction template.
Finally, at its end the book abandons what little subtlety it had and engages in explanatory passages that spell out the points it is trying to make. It wasn't a particularly subtle book to begin with, so these portions are unnecessary. I would have liked to like The Dream Hotel more, as I share much of Lalami's politics and appreciate the points she is making; but it ended up being a big miss for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Vomit
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Dementia, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Pregnancy