In the Dream Hotel, the main character begins her unusual journey by experiencing what many of us have. She works her way through the customs line when returning from a trip overseas. But the normalcy of that experience quickly changes. U.S. citizens and residents are subject to ongoing monitoring and review of their past behaviors and those of their friends and family members. Algorithms controlled by tech companies that have government contracts score individuals according to the risk factors. People with scores of over 500 are deemed as potential threats.

The Main Character

Main character Sara had always been a little bold and never quite fit into the new world order. She works with historical archives, but she’s no technophobe. She’s had the DreamSaver embedded into her body as a curse for her insomnia. This technology is also reporting the details of dreams.

The long memory of the surveillance system means a person can be sent to a Retention Center for observation. Penalties are incurred based on the decisions of entry-level employees.

And these centers, in the interest of profits, are understaffed and offer deplorable conditions. It’s not easy to be granted a release or family visits. Conferences with legal counsel can be arbitrarily cancelled, as can library visits. Over the course of a year, Sara’s husband, Elias, pleads with her to behave and keep her risk factor low as she works a variety of jobs at the center.

Frustrated by extensions on her retention and anxious to reunite with her husband and young twins, Sara relies on her analog inclinations. She uses old-school tactics to beat the system. When a norovirus outbreak and a fire ruin what little order remains in place, she convinces many retainees to stop working. The fear of her success is what leads the people in charge to release her.

Themes

In today’s world increasing violence and high-tech developments, it’s not impossible to imagine a social order like the one Laila Lalami constructs.

The uplifting part of this intense tale demonstrates how the resilience of and resistance by a strong-willed individual can still bring down a power system.

Fans of Philip Dick’s The Minority Report will enjoy the Dream Hotel.