Cat and The Dreamer

Cat and The Dreamer 

Cat and The Dreamer is the latest short story to be checked off my to be read list, which is growing bigger every day. This is the second short story from author Annalisa Crawford that I’ve read, and I was definitely excited to give this one a try. 

Short stories are amazing to read as both the start and end to my day. It is far more productive than mindlessly scrolling through social media in the mornings, and won’t keep me up all night reading either. If you’ve ever played the “just one more chapter” game, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

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Have you read Cat and The Dreamer yet? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About Cat and The Dreamer 

Julia was fifteen when she survived a suicide pact. Her best friend, Rachel did not.

Now aged thirty, still traumatized by the memories of that day, Julia retreats into fantastical daydreams. But even there, she’s not free from the crushing guilt of being the one who survived. Her dreams are dominated by Cat – a spiteful combination of old school bullies, a cruel work colleague, and Rachel herself – who will do anything to crush Julia’s spirit.

When Adam walks into her life, Julia sees his friendship as a chance to break free of the chains which have been holding her back all these years.

But will her guilt consume her before she can? 

Thoughts on Cat and The Dreamer 

Cat and The Dreamer is a story that isn’t for everyone. If it doesn’t click for you, don’t worry. There is no plot, no twists and turns, none of that. If you’re looking for something thrilling, this isn’t it. What it is though, is a beautifully written first person narrative of life and coming to terms with past trauma and finally learning how to move forward. 

The way it is written reminds me a lot of Zombie from Joyce Carol Oates, in that it goes back and forth between reality and fantasy from the standpoint of one single character and their interactions with others during daily life. This can be a bit hard to follow at times, and I found I had to go back and read a section over again to make sure I was in the right place. 

I really enjoyed it because we’ve all experienced trauma in our lives that changes who we are completely and there is no going back. It doesn’t always heal right away, and we carry that with us. Until someone comes into our life and helps us realize we are trapped and it is time to start growing and thriving again. I loved seeing Julia start growing as a person and developing her own identity and standing on her own instead of allowing herself to remain trapped by guilt, by her parents, and by a mundane life. That growth is something we should all be cheering for, and you will if you’ve ever experienced it for yourself. 

I really found that aspect of this story to be incredibly relatable and that is what kept me reading through it all. 

Final Thoughts on Cat and The Dreamer 

This was a brilliantly written piece of literary fiction, and it was not what I was expecting when I picked up this short story. But that is the best part, in my opinion. 

I appreciate an author who isn’t afraid to tackle sensitive subjects like bullying, suicide, trauma, guilt, and depression. Yet does so in a way that is so powerful, and gives each of those things a voice without condoning or romanticizing any of it. 

I was a lot more impressed with this book than I expected to be, but I also didn’t know what I was getting into when I picked it up, and I appreciated that. Sometimes going into a story without knowing anything or having any expectations is the perfect way, and that was definitely the case here. 

Discussion 

Have you read Cat and The Dreamer or any other writing from author Annalisa Crawford? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of moorland and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her husband, and canine writing partner, Artoo. Her two sons have flown the nest, but still like a mention.

Crawford writes dark contemporary, character-driven stories, with a hint of the paranormal.

Over the years, she has won several competitions, had many short stories published in small press journals and online. Highlights include winning a Silver Medal in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2023 and being shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award 2023.  

Purchasing Cat and The Dreamer

If you are interested in buying the paperback version of Cat and The Dreamer, click here.

Click here for the Kindle version.

Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

More From Annalisa Crawford 

Did you enjoy my review of Cat and The Dreamer? Need another great Annalisa Crawford story to read? Here are my favorites! 

The Clock in My Mother’s House 

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