Weike Wang on Recurring Dreams and Loneliness
Weike Wang discusses her story "The Dreamdrive," inspired by her own struggles with insomnia and a nightmare her husband experienced about reckless driving. The story follows a man who suffers from relentless dreams of driving, symbolizing his inability to rest and deeper psychological themes. Wang reflects on the personal significance of dreams, the limits of others' empathy, and the narrative appeal of Freudian theory over scientific explanations.
- ▪Weike Wang's insomnia and her husband's nightmare about driving inspired the story "The Dreamdrive."
- ▪The protagonist dreams every night of driving, reflecting his sleeplessness and emotional turmoil.
- ▪Wang prefers Freudian interpretations of dreams in fiction because they allow for open-ended, emotionally rich storytelling.
- ▪The protagonist's immigrant background and childhood experiences are tied to his recurring dream about driving.
- ▪People often lose interest in others' dreams, as they are more invested in their own meaning-making processes.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
This Week in FictionWeike Wang on Recurring Dreams and LonelinessThe author discusses her story “The Dreamdrive.”By Deborah TreismanMay 17, 2026Illustration by The New Yorker; Source photograph by Weike WangSave this storySave this storySave this storySave this storyThis interview was featured in the Books & Fiction newsletter, which delivers the stories behind the stories, along with our latest fiction. Sign up to receive it in your inbox.The protagonist of your story “The Dreamdrive” is a man who, every night, dreams that he’s driving a car and wakes up feeling as though he hasn’t slept at all. How did this idea come to you?I have insomnia, and last year it was at an all-time high. When I can’t sleep, I am a prisoner of my brain and body and spirit.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The New Yorker.
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