Review of Hypersomnolence

[Tejas Koli]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hypersomnolence" by Stanley Michelsen.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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"Hypersomnolence" takes readers on a surreal journey through the dreamlike winter landscape of Whittier, Alaska. Author Stanley K. Michelsen Jr. crafts a hypnotic narrative that masterfully blurs the lines between waking life and vivid dreams, reflecting the disorienting effects of the long, dark winter nights in the far North.

The story is narrated by Sidney Krogh, a Vietnam veteran who has relocated to the remote outpost of Whittier, seeking isolation from society. Plagued by chronic insomnia, Sidney frequently slips in and out of an ominous dream state marked by the recurring apparitions of enigmatic travelers, Billy and Suzette. As his dreams become more vivid and sinister, a string of grisly murders involving crude oil grips the isolated community. Sidney soon finds himself caught in a surreal murder investigation as his perception of reality begins to unravel.

Michelsen immerses readers in Sidney's harrowing psychological experience, capturing the dissociative effects of prolonged darkness and the lack of social contact during the Alaskan winter. The descriptions of the harsh winter landscape are both lyrical and unsettling, mirroring Sidney's fragile mental state. Recurring themes of insomnia, PTSD, and the blurred lines between dreams and reality establish an unnerving and sustained mood that lingers with the reader. Under these haunting descriptions lies a commentary on humanity's fraught relationship with fossil fuels and the oil industry's corrosive influence. The sinister murder method—using crude oil—references environmental disasters like the Exxon Valdez spill and alludes to the notion that "whoever controls the oil controls humanity."

The editing of the book is well done, with no grammatical errors, resulting in a seamless reading experience. While the dreamlike plot may frustrate some readers seeking clear answers, Michelsen skillfully employs discontinuity and ambiguity to mirror Sidney's psychological unraveling. Fans of surreal and psychological literary fiction will find much to admire in "Hypersomnolence," which challenges perspectives on identity, memory, and the nature of reality itself. Though dark in subject matter, the novel is a mesmerizing tale sure to provoke discussion on our relationship with the natural world and remain with readers long after the final surreal twist. There were no flaws in my reading experience, and there are no negative aspects of the book that I disagreed with or didn't like.

In "Hypersomnolence," Stanley K. Michelsen Jr. has crafted an unforgettable literary thriller that blurs the boundaries of reality and dreams to unnerving effect. Readers willing to undergo Sidney's disturbing journey will find much to contemplate in this haunting work of Alaska winter Gothic fiction. I would rate it 5 out of 5.

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Hypersomnolence
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[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

This review was very informational for me. I never knew there was such thing as hypersomnolence; I actually googled it. The main character, Sydney, is going through such a harrowing experience. Not knowing whether he is really dreaming or if he is in the reality. The book seems interesting, however I will pass; I feel like it is too tricky and dark.