Kayleigh Lane
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Originally published in 2002 in the Paris
Review
Won the Aga Kahn Prize for Fiction from the
Paris Review
Became a novel in 2007, where in 2012 it was
finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. (no prize was
chosen for the year of 2012)
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Early 1900s:
Ford Model T created in 1908 (the first car)
 Wright Brothers: First successful airplane flight in
1903
 Roaring twenties, Great Depression
 Innovation and westward change
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Grainier’s realization of his old age.
He helps the Pinkhams out and their grandson
Hank dies when they lift sacks of cornmeal.
Grainier’s confused reaction to death, regret
over the boomer and his part in the Chinese
Railroad Hand’s death.
He drives Mr. Peterson to a doctor because he
was “shot by his dog.”
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Follows Grainier’s life in his “lean-to” home on
his old land.
His bad dreams about his wife and daughter
that soon lead to other less horrific dreams.
The spiritual “visit” from Gladys and the
realization that she drowned and his daughter
Kate might still be alive.
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Grainier takes up howling as a sport, has a
new hauling business.
Aging process shows through join problems
and skinniness due to jaw displacement, no
longer a woodsman.
The plane ride in which “all his life’s mysteries
were answered.”
The trip for Claire Thompson where Eddie’s
marriage proposal is shot down and Grainier
realizes that he is alone.
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Death/Hardship:
The boy Hank just: “sat on the pile of sacks, removed his
hat, flopped over sideways, and died” (58).
 “He didn’t know what to say or do. He felt he should
leave, and he felt he shouldn’t leave”(60).
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Animals and Humans
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“that animal all of a sudden knew things”(68).
Pilot-raccoon, Grainier-howling
Humans vs. Nature
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“Grainer disliked the shadows…It all seemed designed to
frighten the child in him” (65).
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Modernization:
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“when the election season came…the mysteries in
the hills…were forgotten for a while” (73).
“How did it fly when its wings stayed still?” (84).
“explosive machines”
Religion/Supernatural:
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“she tossed away the bible…This uncovering of her
indifference to God, the Father of All-this was her
undoing”(78).
Glady’s visit in spirit form.
“Curse of the China-man”
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What do you think was the significance of the
story of Mr. Peterson(the man who was shot by
his dog)? What light does it shed on how
humans and animals get along?
What was the importance of the visit from
Gladys? (what it did for the rest of the book)
Why didn’t Grainier, upon finding out Kate is
still alive, start to look for her?
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Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-0418/lifestyle/35450639_1_train-dreamsswamplandia-novel
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/13/train
-dreams-denis-johnson-review
http://www.ocinsite.com/index.php/blog/comments/
oc_book_blog_train_dreams_by_denis_johnson