Monday, July 29, 2019

Summer of 69; Elin Hilderbrand



TITLE: Summer of 69
AUTHOR:  Elin Hilderbrand
PUBLISHER: Little Brown & Co
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING: Nantucket Island MA
FORMAT:  - print/library (439 pp)
RATING - 5/5

Summer of 69 was the perfect summer read for me: beautiful setting (Nantucket Island), family dynamics and complicated relationships.

It's 1969 and the Nichols, Foley and Levin clan looks forward, once again, to spending time on Nantucket Island at the Grandmother Nichols family home.  The Foley children: Blair who is pregnant with twins, Kirby, a college student and son Richard (Tiger) , the only boy, who is called to serve his country in Vietnam  and is now off to war as an Infantry soldier.   There is also 13 year old  Jessie Levin, a child from mother Kate's second marriage after her first husband's death.

There was so much I loved about this story, especially the drama within the family - it felt realistic and not over done.  Mother, Kate is a mess with her son off to war and booze is her coping mechanism.  There were lots of references to historic events that took place in 1969 besides the war, the moon landing, Woodstock and even the tragic event when Teddy Kennedy drove his car off the bridge in Chappaquiddick and the young woman he was with had drowned.  I think baby boomers will especially enjoy the trip down memory lane as I did. I also enjoyed the letters that young Jessie sent to her half-brother in Vietnam as it gave a nice picture of the mindset of both of these characters.

This is a book that belongs in your summer beach bag if you enjoy a well written family drama with characters you are bound to fall in love with as well.  I think you will be quickly pulled into the story as I was.

14 comments:

  1. That sounds terrific, thanks for the great review!

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  2. I read a less than glowing review of this a few weeks ago and am happy to see you loved it so much. I wonder if you need to be a "certain" age to really enjoy it.

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    1. I don't think so Kathy, but being a baby boomer kind of enhances the connection to the characters a bit.

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  3. This is the second good review of this book I've seen and it now sounds even more tantalizing. Thank you!

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    1. Oh I hope you try it as most of the reviews have been favorable.

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  4. Every blogger I follow who has read this loved it. I think I might too!

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  5. I don't think this one is for me, but I do remember that summer well, especially the historical events you mention in the review. It was, in fact, the summer I turned 21.

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    1. I think this author appeals most to women but, yes the historical references made this much more enjoyable for me as I recall it all so well. I was about 16 that summer.

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  6. I remember that summer, too. I graduated from high school and shortly thereafter, the first person I knew died in Viet Nam. I think I'd read it, just to refresh myself on events of the time.

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  7. I tried this author once. I think I mentioned it to you already the book didn't work for me. This one does sound pretty good from what you wrote though. I know she has written so many.

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