Last updated on October 28th, 2025 at 05:00 pm
The Dream Photographer by Andrew Thurlow is one of those intense novels that has got everything science, psychology, and emotion until you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.
“A shocking and advanced technology that can take an image from your dreams. Eugene has been alone most of his life, chasing money from the gray side, & dreaming. To reach further for the real truth he made the dream interceptor, some fancy AI and a way to capture a moment from a dream. Taking small, quiet steps the world took notice and labeled him.”
Book Review: The Dream Photographer by Andrew Thurlow
If you’ve ever finished a dream and sat there wondering what on earth was that supposed to mean, this book will speak to you on a deep level.
It’s not a “fast read” — it’s the kind that pulls you in slowly, layer by layer — but once you’re in, you won’t want to leave.
The plot revolves around Lem, a man from Rotterdam. Then we get to know about his small routine and lonely life, with only his aunt Mollie, the only person in his life who truly understands him. When she dies, his world falls apart. And from there, his trust on reality starts to fade — dreams begin to interfere into waking life.
Meanwhile, we meet Eugene, a neuroscientist focussing on decoding dreams using AI. He’s created a system called Daaisi ( Dream Assisted Artificial Intelligence System Interaction) that can supposedly read and preserve dreams.
There’s also Paige, his ex, who’s moved to London trying to rebuild her life, though she can’t quite escape the shadow of Eugene’s work — or their past.
“If dreams existed, they must serve a purpose. Evolution didn’t favour waste.”
And all this story threads into the theme of a “dream photographer” — someone who can capture and save the photos of your subconscious.
Honestly, the pacing may not be for everyone. The first few chapters move slowly — you have to trust the process. And you should know it is not a book full of big reveals or plot twist sort of thing; the tension builds more like a heartbeat.
But once you settle, then you start liking it.
Also Read: The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Number of Pages | 162 pages |
| My Rating | 4.0⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | October 14, 2025 |
What I Loved
One thing about the book is how real it feels, even when it’s all about abstract and not-so-known stuff like dream mapping and AI consciousness. Lem’s grief feels raw and real. Eugene’s obsession feels painfully believable.
Thurlow balances the philosophical ideas — Freud, consciousness, AI ethics — with real human emotion. You don’t have to be into neuroscience or dream theory to get what he’s saying. The heart of the story is about connection and loss — and what happens when technology starts replacing the parts of life that are supposed to stay mysterious.
Thurlow’s writing style is nice & descriptive, a lil bit lyrical. He describes the cities and rooms with as much care as he paints emotions. Rotterdam feels cold and gray, like Lem’s loneliness. London buzzes with restlessness.
The dream sequences are very good…like — strange but emotionally sharp, like you know they’re metaphors but still can’t look away. The pacing is slow at the start, almost like u are meditating, but it suits the story. You’re need to slow down a lil bit, not sprint through it.
Quotes:
“He waited on the spot for an eternity to wake from the dream, but it was very real.”
Also Read: Strangers in Time by David Baldacci
Final Verdict?
Overall, a very good slow intense sort of read…
Who should read it:
- Fans who love fiction with dreams and AI.
- Fans of slow-burn literary sci-fi.
- Fans of authors like Haruki Murakami, Kazuo Ishiguro, or Ursula K. Le Guin.
Books like The Dream Photographer:
- The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Observer by Robert Lanza and Nancy Kress
