The Summer of ’69 by Elin Hildebrand
Release
date June 18, 2019
A family
spends the summer of 1969 at their Nantucket summer home while navigating changes
and problems, both nationwide and within their family.
This
story revolves around the Foley-Levin family. There is Exalta, the strict matriarch
and owner of All’s Faire, the summer home where the story takes place. Her daughter,
Kate has four children—3 from her first marriage to Wilder Foley, a troubled
veteran who took his own life, and one from her second marriage to David Levin.
When Tiger, Kate’s 19 year old son, is drafted in the Vietnam war, it sends Kate
into a spiral of drinking, which causes her two older daughters, Blair and
Kirby, to distance themselves from her. Blair and Kirby also have their own
problems. Blair is married and pregnant, and her husband suffers from
depression and stress over his job working at Mission Control for the upcoming
moon launch. Kirby is navigating complicated romantic relationships and is
trying to plan for her future while working on nearby Martha’s Vineyeard.
Finally, there is Jessie, the youngest child, who is turning 13, and is worried
about growing up and being Jewish. Exalta’s groundskeeper and his grandson Pick
also have a storyline, with Pick wanting to set out for Woodstock to find his
mother who abandoned him. As the story progresses, readers see family secrets
revealed and historical events that changed the nation forever.
Alternating
chapters from various family members point of view make it difficult for the
reader to become invested in anyone. The attempt at tying in real historical
events to the story also feel unnatural and forced. Finally, some of the
secrets revealed were far too predictable. Still, for fans of summer reads who
want to ease into historical fiction, this book may be enjoyable. Readers who
are looking for more of the historical fiction element may want to look
elsewhere.
Hi Liz,
ReplyDeleteHave you read other Hinderbrand books like The Perfect Couple or Winter in Paradise? Why is Jessie worried about being Jewish? Is there antisemitism?
I have had friends who read this book and liked it and other friends who did not. Would you say this book could be a beach read? I feel like even the cover implies that it could be.
I also chose to write a review of a book that opposes the actual Kirkus review. I think the Kirkus author liked your book. The Kirkus author did not like my book, so I wrote a good review for my book.
I actually haven't read any of her other works. This book appealed to me because I am a big fan of historical fiction set in the 1950s-1980s. You're absolutely right that the cover depicts it as a beach read. The cover does not match the tone of the book to me at all. I am not super familiar with what constitutes a beach read. I've always pictured them as easy to read, quick, fun reads. While this book takes place in summer on a beach, I feel like I wouldn't be able to read it as a beach read because it has too many storylines to keep track of.
DeleteAs for the antisemitism, it is implied at the beginning of the book that the grandmother does not approve of her daughter's second husband because he is Jewish. She gifts Jessie a necklace to wear right after she starts wearing a star of David necklace and Jessie takes that to mean her grandmother wants her to hide this part of her.
I have to admit, when I read the title, my first thought was of the song by Bryan Adams. I appreciate your opinion of the historical event being forced, because the family dynamics do seem feasible, which would have led me to believe that it would read smoothly.
ReplyDeleteYes! The family dynamics were fairly believable, but the fact that they were involved in so many historical events just seemed a little too convenient.
DeleteExcellent job on this review! Love the closing sentences - they really get your feelings across while providing meaningful critique of the book!
ReplyDelete