Sáenz, Benjamin Alire: Dreaming the End of War

Copper Canyon Press (paperback, 2006) Publisher Marketing: This gripping suite of twelve dreams, infused with the conflict along the border of Mexico and the United States, traces humanity's addiction to violence and killing--from boys stepping on ants to men shooting animals, men shooting women, men shooting enemies. The Dreams begin in a desert landscape where poverty and wealth grate against each other, and the ever present war becomes "as invisible as the desert sands we trample on." The dreams, however, move toward a greater peace with Sáenz providing an unforgettable reading experience. From "The Fourth Dream: Families and Flags and Revenge" I don't believe a flagis importantenough to kiss--or even burn. Some men would hate meenough to kill meif they read these words. "Rage," Sáenz said in an interview, "must be a component of any writer's life. But this rage must also be contained--otherwise our very bodies will become chaos--our minds will become chaos. We need order." Sáenz f