David Winkler has life threatening dreams and was trying to save his baby daughter Grace from drowning. He fled to change the circumstances, only to return 25 years later to find her mother Sandy had died and he had a grandson

Odd but intriguing tale, beautifully written and well told about exile and home coming . Quite a long book to listen too, but it keeps you engaged if not excited. ( )

A very touching book. Very sad in many places. The kind of book that makes you think you've really experienced something, and yet there's probably more beneath the surface that you didn't grasp, more layers of meaning. I really like this guy's prose. ( )

A stunning novel about family, love, physical and mental health, the environment, and discovery. Doerr has created a phenomenal character with David Winkler who is transformed after dreaming a premonition about a traumatic accident which occurs shortly after. He takes these dream premonitions very seriously, focusing on them in a way that causes his behavior to become bizarre.

A naturally quiet, gentle man he is fey, and sees and senses incredible details of the physical world around him whether it is a rain drop, or a snow flake, or a leaf, or a footstep, etc. Despite his periodic strange actions, and his inability to articulate his thoughts and feelings clearly, there are many kind and caring people around him. They take the time to speak with him and get to know him, and get a sense of his beautiful inner soul. His mother understood and loved him deeply and inspired him.

I believe that the most dramatic life-changing action he took happened because someone who should have understood him did not. If her behavior had been loving and supportive instead of critical and sharp, he would not have experienced a terrifying premonition so deeply. He possibly would not have left his home and family in Ohio.

But he does ends up in the Caribbean, spending the next 25 years finding himself. Hiding from the terror of his premonition, and very slowly healing with help from Soma, Felix and their children.

When the next awful premonition comes, he tries warning people but they don't fully understand him. He realizes its up to him to act and prevent a tragedy. And once again this event is life-changing but in a much more positive way.

So much feeling, love, kindness, soul, science, learning in David and in this gorgeous book.

(Re-reading my review of Doerr's All the Light We Cannot Sea, I realized how similar David and Frederick are. Both having brilliant minds above the superficiality of the world because they see so much deeper. )

I can see why readers might not compare this well with his second. But I would say, stick with it. ( )