Sleepwalking in Paradise

A quirky, coming-to-religion novel set in San Francisco that features a colorful cast of characters: Tommy Delacroix, a turned-corporate, former liberal journalist; Charles Clairbourne, a reviled, wealthy businessman with a sleep disorder; Johnny Ray, a lovable, homeless Vietnam Vet; Marta, a secretary with prophetic visions; Carlotta, Tommy’s sassy fiancée; and Guardino, a tough cop whose on-the-job experiences has made him believe in miracles. And, these miracles are not occurring in quiet sanctuaries, but instead in the Golden Gate Park against the backdrop of tunes like: Grand Funk Railroad’s “Some Kind of Wonderful, “and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes.”

This is one of the more memorable efforts to ground biblical happenings in the modern day. Dugas successfully includes a number of diverse life perspectives that lead to believable clashes of interest. Likewise, his scenes are uniquely fun, and take on the quality of a musical that has gotten out of hand, and found itself tramping through a homeless camp, Pacific Terrace mansion, beat poetry reading, etc. Fans of the Beatles’ “I am the Walrus;” especially of lines like: “I am he as you are he as you are me/ And we are all together,” will enjoy Dugas’ euphoric description of monism.