Winter Dreams : A Novel

A moving novel about love, loss, and an extraordinary lifelong passion for golf, by the acclaimed author of The Cliff Walk and Fallen Angel.

Ross Lansdale never knew his mother and father and grew up at St. Luke's Orphanage for Boys in the 1950s. The one person who took an interest in him was Father Martin, a Benedictine monk who understood the loneliness of an orphan’s life. He instilled in Ross an enduring love of two solitary, reliable pursuits: golf and books. Over the years, and through the loss of his beloved mentor, Ross comes to rely on these trustworthy tools, sure that they will never abandon him.

As an adult and a college professor of literature, Ross encounters two people who will challenge and forever change his life: Julia, the student who opens his heart only to make him feel more vulnerable than ever, and Johnny Durocher, a spit-fire new professor–and terrifically talented golfer–who becomes Ross’s first true friend. Durocher’s one serious dream is to play the amateur tournament on the Old Course at Saint Andrews, but when an unforeseen tragedy keeps Johnny from playing, Ross must make the boldest decision of his life. As he travels to Scotland to confront his failures and fears, Ross embraces his wonder of the ancient game and plays a round of golf in honor of his friend, and the boy he used to be.

With characteristic poignancy and style that have earned Don J. Snyder critical acclaim for his novels and screenplays, WINTER DREAMS is a remarkable new work filled with compassion, heartache, and the grace that comes from the triumph of personal courage.

I don't want to give the plot away, but I do want to explain why this book is valuable. (1) Ross is a good man who has bad things happen to him, but never ceases to be human. He struggles through several challenges in his life and always struggles on. (2)The clouds don't suddenly lift and everything become wonderful. This is good in a book; life is not a bowl of cherries, eh? (3) But the best thing about this book is that it gets at the essential sadness that is within many of us, without becoming sappy, preachy or melodramatic. (4)It is easy to care about all of the key characters in the book, even the ones who act badly. They have their own motivations which have nothing to do with wanting to cause pain. A rare quality in even good books.(5) And finally, I received several good tips which seem to be helping my struggling golf game.

In conclusion, so many books on golf come off as mystical or are written about great golfers. It is wonderful to have a book about a hacker, who gets real joy from just trying to play and for the higher honor of friendship.