Reviews

The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin

ikandree's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I wanted to love this book. I absolutely love Justin Cronin and think his work is elegant, moving, and thought provoking.  This story was just that...a story.  It was a nice story and changing POV was interesting.  The book definitely kept me interested and entertained, but I forgot it as soon as I put it down.  Sometimes I needed to back up to remember what I had read when I left off.  Disappointing, but it was his first published work.

stevieleigh17's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

dobbydoo22's review

5.0

I have been SO pleasantly surprised and impressed by Cronin's work outside of the "Passage" series, which greatly disappointed me. This one is a really lovely book that slowly unwinds twists and complexities that show that even the most seemingly mundane lives are never uncomplicated.

lmstone1's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jamheck's review

5.0

i just love this man’s writing. he is the best storyteller & i’m so glad i finally got around to reading this novel of his, since i’ve read everything else! love the way he writes characters.

marcies_8's review

5.0

I cannot get over how much this book jumps from character to character, crosses decades back and forth, and still makes sense and flows beautifully. This was so well written and engaging. I loved every single character and was never *quite* sure of how it would end, although I had my guesses (some of which were bang on).

arounds's review

4.0

Beautiful story.

leitnerkev's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It's a nice book. Definitely not my typical cup of tea but well crafted and (no surprise from Cronin) well written. The characters voices were fully realized and distinct and the leisurely reflection on loss, and death, and choices, was pleasant. It also had the benefit of a ultra wealth old man who serves as a positive force in the world. 

The story centers around a vacation camp, a place where people go to connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors, "rough" it a little, and those who lives are connected closely with it. The camp itself serves as avatar for the story itself, which is, largely, a peaceful contemplation of life and relationships, of death and memory, of family (blood and not) and love. 

The audio performance is fabulous, I do love an ensemble cast of narrators for a book like this, rather than a lone reader. 

kimmkoning's review

5.0

A 7 course meal of words and story...Beautifully written - the contemporary equilvalent of Steinbeck's East of Eden.
Rich and evocative prose combined with a story of a live lived and the extraordinary ways one life has of touching other's in life's journey.

ajaneb's review

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5