To Love and to Dream

Set primarily in Louisiana from 1941 to 1950, this contrived novel explores the amatory and professional tribulations of Caro Hamilton and her stepbrother, Skye Langlinais. Caro, a vivacious 18-year-old with aspirations as a painter, enjoys the perquisites of being legislator Beau Langlinais's stepdaughter, but her insulated existence ends when the U.S. enters World War II. Galvanized by patriotism, Caro forsakes her art to work in a shipyard, where she gingerly deflects male chauvinism and the envy of impoverished female colleagues. More troublesome is her relationship with a charming doctor whose Jewish heritage leaves Caro, a Catholic, uncertain about their future. Intrepid Skye becomes an Air Force pilot, although he is appalled by the racism directed at his black peers. In England, Skye warmly reminisces about his sultry girlfriend back home, yet he also feels powerfully attracted to a captivating WAAF who is engaged to another man. The overly simplistic plot and characters and a thoroughly predictable conclusion render Dubus's third novel (after Where Loves Rules ho-hum fare. Paperback rights to Berkley.(October 20)