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lauriestein's review against another edition
4.0
Very much recommended for its thoughtful evocations of place and time. Beautiful language and plotting - the separate, overlapping, layered chapters brought the summer to life in a way that straight chronology could not. Definitely felt Fitzgerald-esque. And of course the familiarity of the North Shore/Chicago settings appealed to me.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
An Unfinished Season is Ward Just's coming of age story set in Chicago of the 1950s. The year before Wils goes off to college is the year his father sees his control of his business challenged as his workers strike. His mother is frightened and his father begins carrying a gun in a duffel he carries everywhere with him. Wils gets a summer job at a local Chicago paper and spends his time juggling two worlds; the gritty, hyped up atmosphere of the newsroom and the genteel debutante parties he attends several times a week. He's not sure what he wants to do with his life, but he knows he doesn't want to follow along the well worn paths set for the well-heeled sons of the affluent families of the North Shore.
More than the story itself, the center of this book is the city of Chicago and the atmosphere of the 1950s. Just writes beautifully, and here he puts his skills to work describing the politics and manners of a world just beginning to change. Wils is less important than he thinks he is, but what nineteen-year-old is, and its through his eyes we get a snapshot of the world at a very specific time and place. Just is an underappreciated writer of great skill and heart and I'm always happy to read one of his books.
More than the story itself, the center of this book is the city of Chicago and the atmosphere of the 1950s. Just writes beautifully, and here he puts his skills to work describing the politics and manners of a world just beginning to change. Wils is less important than he thinks he is, but what nineteen-year-old is, and its through his eyes we get a snapshot of the world at a very specific time and place. Just is an underappreciated writer of great skill and heart and I'm always happy to read one of his books.
tessatabea's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
canada_matt's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Stumbling upon this novel by Ward Just, I thought I would give it a try. Reading the dust jacket blurb and doing a little background research of my own, I discovered a little more about the author and the types of books he like to pen. The book was a little of everything, which suited me well, allowing me a vacation from the drama-heavy pieces that have crossed boy reading desk of late. Just provides the reader with some special and political commentary of the 1950s, as well as some views into how a young man processed the ever changing world around him in post-war Chicago. I am interested to see about trying to another novel by the author soon, though I am not sure which one I will choose as of yet.
Wilson Ravan has been acclimating to post-war America by watching his father’s life take a significant turn. Living in the small community of Quarterday, just outside Chicago, Wilson watches as Teddy Ravan tries to come to terms with significant change. A strike at the his printing plant and new political views seeping in from all sides, both of which put a strain on the elder Ravan each day. While Teddy tries his best to run the family with his great knowledge of the world, it does not seem to be enough any longer. All the while, Wilson watches and tries to find his own foothold on society’s ever-changing views.
While Teddy deals with unions and their violent reaction to all things capitalist, Wilson’s summer before college leaves him on his own path, taking a job with a newspaper, which opens his eyes significantly. Wilson learns more about the world around him, as well as the struggles in his own community. Attending community events and countless soirées, Wilson soon sees the divide between himself and his parents, who are also becoming frigid towards one another. Amidst all the drama, Wilson finds himself falling in love with a young woman, Aurora, who has family issues that are just as rocky, though these can usually be shelved when it comes to spending quality summer nights with her new beau.
As time inches forward, Wilson sees his life transforming before his eyes, while America takes on new responsibilities. Seeking to synthesise everything, Wilson realises that he has been living in is bubble and that while he appreciates his upbringing in Quarterday, it was much too limiting when compared to the world around him. Teddy tried his best, but his son is just too strong headed, meaning changes will have to take place before too long, if everyone wants to live in harmony. A powerful story by Ward Just that kept me asking questions throughout.
To call the book wholesome or ‘granola’ may be a little too much, but it was definitely more grounded than many books I have read over the last while. Ward Just paints a wonderful picture of the struggles of postwar America and the shadow of the oncoming Cold War. His narrative style is quite clean and provides the reader with some strong themes to consider. The flowing writing introduces characters with ease, each contrasting well with others, which provides wonderful depth to the story. A few key plot twists allow the reader to feel a degree of surprise as they navigate through the book, though the story is less about shock and more the coming of age of a young Wilson Ravan. All this is accomplished effectively and kept me on my toes trying to see what was waiting around the corner. As I said above, I am eager to see if there are other Ward Just books that would interest me in the future.
Kudos, Mr. Just, for pulling things all together with such ease.
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rachelp's review against another edition
2.0
Parts of this book seemed good, but parts seemed to drag on and on. Some of it tended to be over descriptive, in my opinion. But overall it was a pretty good story.
chidseaotters's review against another edition
4.0
I could have done w/o the epilogue. Also, I didn't feel a lot of cohesion between the three parts of the book. it felt like the big events were arbitrary and unconnected. It was very well written, though.
rachelp's review
2.0
Parts of this book seemed good, but parts seemed to drag on and on. Some of it tended to be over descriptive, in my opinion. But overall it was a pretty good story.
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