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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
This was a great book which touches on issues that are still relevant today. Harrowing and full of interesting characters.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
L'intégralité de ma chronique ici: http://lune-et-plume.fr/dans-la-chaleur-de-lete-de-vanessa-lafaye/
Voilà un livre qui me laisse sur ma faim. Si j’ai trouvé le thème qui y est abordé vraiment très intéressant, je n’ai pas complètement accroché et cela pour plusieurs raisons.
L’histoire prend place aux États-Unis, dans les Keys, archipel situé au sud de la Floride, durant l’été 1935. Au sortir de la Première Guerre Mondiale, en pleine période de la Grande Dépression. Période durant laquelle la ségrégation raciale est son apogée et particulièrement violente dans le Sud. C’est d’ailleurs en Floride qu’il y eu le plus de lynchage cette année-là. Alors que bon nombre de Noirs avaient combattu au côté de soldats français, alors qu’ils avaient les mêmes droits que les Blancs en France, les lois Jim Crow instaurent aux États-Unis une ségrégation dans tous les lieux publics. Dans le même temps, les vétérans de la Première Guerre Mondiale, de retour au pays, parfois des années plus tard, sans emplois, sans logement, abandonnés par le gouvernent, sont considérés comme des hommes violents, dangereux, mais fournissent une main d’œuvre peu coûteuse. [...]
Voilà un livre qui me laisse sur ma faim. Si j’ai trouvé le thème qui y est abordé vraiment très intéressant, je n’ai pas complètement accroché et cela pour plusieurs raisons.
L’histoire prend place aux États-Unis, dans les Keys, archipel situé au sud de la Floride, durant l’été 1935. Au sortir de la Première Guerre Mondiale, en pleine période de la Grande Dépression. Période durant laquelle la ségrégation raciale est son apogée et particulièrement violente dans le Sud. C’est d’ailleurs en Floride qu’il y eu le plus de lynchage cette année-là. Alors que bon nombre de Noirs avaient combattu au côté de soldats français, alors qu’ils avaient les mêmes droits que les Blancs en France, les lois Jim Crow instaurent aux États-Unis une ségrégation dans tous les lieux publics. Dans le même temps, les vétérans de la Première Guerre Mondiale, de retour au pays, parfois des années plus tard, sans emplois, sans logement, abandonnés par le gouvernent, sont considérés comme des hommes violents, dangereux, mais fournissent une main d’œuvre peu coûteuse. [...]
I was lucky to win Summertime from Holly at Bookaholic Confessions. I have to say that I was thrilled when my copy of Summertime arrived, I hadn’t realised that I’d won a hardback copy! I sensed this would be a good book, and in this I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, not only did I enjoy Summertime, I would say that I loved Summertime.
It is an excellent debut by Vanessa Lafaye and I would highly recommend it.
Summertime is a fictional story based upon the labour day hurricane of 1935. It is set in Heron Key in Florida during the nineteen thirties. In this fictionalised account the storm takes place after the 4th July celebrations. There is an annual beach party in which racial tensions are set to explode, like lit fireworks, but the celebratory fireworks hold back, refusing to light. The habitual fight between white and black is engrained into the very fabric of this society ravaged by a deep and destructive racial divide.
I loved the sense of place, which is conveyed so vividly in the opening paragraph: “The humid air felt like water in the lungs, like drowning.”
The characters – there are so many and yet Vanessa Lafaye details them all in a way that makes them so real, and engaging. There are so many elements to this novel, it touches upon racial tensions, an attempted murder, the far-reaching effects of abuse, even magical spells play a part!
The developing love story between Missy and Henry is so endearing. The reader senses that Henry will do anything to protect Missy, and Missy will wait for Henry forever if needs be. Missy loves the white baby boy that she cares for, and wants only to protect him from harm. Henry arrives back in Heron Key but he is not the same man who left, war has left him in a state in which : “He felt like a ghost, haunting a former life where he didn’t belong any more.” Missy has grown from a child into a strong young woman who will fight against the forces of nature to get what she wants: “She was tired of being blown around like a leaf, with no say in anything that mattered. Anger rose up her spine like a column of molten steel and her back straightened…… By God, I will not fail at this.”
The way in which Vanessa Lafaye transports you to the very eye of the storm, make this in my opinion a must read novel. The two main characters Missy and Henry are without doubt my favourites. Henry is so drawn to Heron Key, even though he knows Heron’s Keys terrible shortcomings. Henry has experienced a sense of freedom in a culture of non-discrimination in his time in the battlefields of France, but is this a country he wants to call home? Vanessa Lafaye uses a rubber band analogy to suggest how drawn he is to Heron Key: “It was like he was attached to the place by a long rubber band that was now stretched to its absolute limit.”
The war veterans are all different, some are good men, some are not, but none of them are welcomed in Heron Key. These hardened men don’t seem so tough when they encounter the force of the hurricane. It is as if the sheer force of the destructive natural elements of the hurricane are so much more fierce and terrifying than the atrocities of war. In a war, I suppose you have a sense of when the battle is over but in a hurricane, no such certainty exists, just when the winds quieten you realise that the hurricane is playing with you, it is deceiving you, readying itself to deliver its final fatal blow.
” There was a collective moan, which quickly rose to an awful, haunt-ing cry. It sent a stab of dread right through Trent’s heart. He knew that noise, had heard it before: it was the sound men make when they realise they are about to die.”
Not only can the winds get you but the rising water can too: “So this is what it feels like to die in a washing machine!”
The aftermath is devastating: “In the quiet left by the wind, he noticed the complete absence of birds. No gulls, no pelicans, no buzzards, even with the carpet of death below him.”
The carnage that the hurricane leaves in its wake is every bit as devastating and shocking as a war zone. The hurricane strips everyone bare of their possessions, their clothes, and ultimately their human dignity. Survival becomes paramount, petty quarrels, and racial hatred are stripped away for that tiny moment in time. Yet, there are always those with hatred in their hearts, who instigate fear and hatred in others, and this is demonstrated so clearly when white people ask the black folks to leave the apparent safety of the shelter when there is not enough room: “Traitorous stars shone within a circle of swirling cloud.”
The epilogue ends with the words, “Time to begin,” suggesting a new life will start, this new life won’t be without its trial and tribulations but it will be filled with a new-found sense of hope.
I tend to get so involved in books. This time I was so deeply affected by Summertime that one night I dreamt that my bed was filled with hurricane winds! I could feel myself being lifted, and buffeted on a bed of sheets, and thrown up and down in the air. Luckily my dream carried me gently up and down as if I was on a trampoline of buffeting air, but sadly in this book, and in real life many people die in hurricanes, white and black alike, the interesting and emotive point that Vanessa Lafaye makes is this: the hurricane doesn’t discriminate. There are so many poignant moments, family members choose death rather than be separated from their loved ones, mothers save their children instead of themselves. Life is such a precious treasure, why waste it by hating other people just because they’re different?
My rating:
It couldn’t be less than 5 stars
It is an excellent debut by Vanessa Lafaye and I would highly recommend it.
Summertime is a fictional story based upon the labour day hurricane of 1935. It is set in Heron Key in Florida during the nineteen thirties. In this fictionalised account the storm takes place after the 4th July celebrations. There is an annual beach party in which racial tensions are set to explode, like lit fireworks, but the celebratory fireworks hold back, refusing to light. The habitual fight between white and black is engrained into the very fabric of this society ravaged by a deep and destructive racial divide.
I loved the sense of place, which is conveyed so vividly in the opening paragraph: “The humid air felt like water in the lungs, like drowning.”
The characters – there are so many and yet Vanessa Lafaye details them all in a way that makes them so real, and engaging. There are so many elements to this novel, it touches upon racial tensions, an attempted murder, the far-reaching effects of abuse, even magical spells play a part!
The developing love story between Missy and Henry is so endearing. The reader senses that Henry will do anything to protect Missy, and Missy will wait for Henry forever if needs be. Missy loves the white baby boy that she cares for, and wants only to protect him from harm. Henry arrives back in Heron Key but he is not the same man who left, war has left him in a state in which : “He felt like a ghost, haunting a former life where he didn’t belong any more.” Missy has grown from a child into a strong young woman who will fight against the forces of nature to get what she wants: “She was tired of being blown around like a leaf, with no say in anything that mattered. Anger rose up her spine like a column of molten steel and her back straightened…… By God, I will not fail at this.”
The way in which Vanessa Lafaye transports you to the very eye of the storm, make this in my opinion a must read novel. The two main characters Missy and Henry are without doubt my favourites. Henry is so drawn to Heron Key, even though he knows Heron’s Keys terrible shortcomings. Henry has experienced a sense of freedom in a culture of non-discrimination in his time in the battlefields of France, but is this a country he wants to call home? Vanessa Lafaye uses a rubber band analogy to suggest how drawn he is to Heron Key: “It was like he was attached to the place by a long rubber band that was now stretched to its absolute limit.”
The war veterans are all different, some are good men, some are not, but none of them are welcomed in Heron Key. These hardened men don’t seem so tough when they encounter the force of the hurricane. It is as if the sheer force of the destructive natural elements of the hurricane are so much more fierce and terrifying than the atrocities of war. In a war, I suppose you have a sense of when the battle is over but in a hurricane, no such certainty exists, just when the winds quieten you realise that the hurricane is playing with you, it is deceiving you, readying itself to deliver its final fatal blow.
” There was a collective moan, which quickly rose to an awful, haunt-ing cry. It sent a stab of dread right through Trent’s heart. He knew that noise, had heard it before: it was the sound men make when they realise they are about to die.”
Not only can the winds get you but the rising water can too: “So this is what it feels like to die in a washing machine!”
The aftermath is devastating: “In the quiet left by the wind, he noticed the complete absence of birds. No gulls, no pelicans, no buzzards, even with the carpet of death below him.”
The carnage that the hurricane leaves in its wake is every bit as devastating and shocking as a war zone. The hurricane strips everyone bare of their possessions, their clothes, and ultimately their human dignity. Survival becomes paramount, petty quarrels, and racial hatred are stripped away for that tiny moment in time. Yet, there are always those with hatred in their hearts, who instigate fear and hatred in others, and this is demonstrated so clearly when white people ask the black folks to leave the apparent safety of the shelter when there is not enough room: “Traitorous stars shone within a circle of swirling cloud.”
The epilogue ends with the words, “Time to begin,” suggesting a new life will start, this new life won’t be without its trial and tribulations but it will be filled with a new-found sense of hope.
I tend to get so involved in books. This time I was so deeply affected by Summertime that one night I dreamt that my bed was filled with hurricane winds! I could feel myself being lifted, and buffeted on a bed of sheets, and thrown up and down in the air. Luckily my dream carried me gently up and down as if I was on a trampoline of buffeting air, but sadly in this book, and in real life many people die in hurricanes, white and black alike, the interesting and emotive point that Vanessa Lafaye makes is this: the hurricane doesn’t discriminate. There are so many poignant moments, family members choose death rather than be separated from their loved ones, mothers save their children instead of themselves. Life is such a precious treasure, why waste it by hating other people just because they’re different?
My rating:
It couldn’t be less than 5 stars
A very well written book which made me aware of events in history, which I was totally ignorant about. Not what you could call a 'enjoyable' book as the story is emotional and distressing at times: I enjoyed reading the book but it is not a happy story.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Starts off kind of dull but keep going and it hits you. In the end I think I could give 4 starts, but as I almost stopped reading at one point I have to take one star away. But I do recommend reading this. It beautifully combines fictional storytelling and the tragic events that took place in the Keys on Labor day in 1935.
Not a bad book, but I just didn’t love it. It took me a while to get into it. The plot was good but in some parts predictable, and some smaller characters I found kind of annoying. However, for the most part it was enjoyable.
This is very different from the typical books I read, but I did end up actually quite enjoying it! This did some things very well, and I flew through this, it was so easy and quick to read. However, some things were...not so good. That didn't mean I didn't enjoy this though! This was still a great read.
Vanessa Lafaye has such great writing! It is really immersive and makes this such a quick read, but it isn't simplistic. It has a nice lilt to it and I found it really easy to get into the book. I read it very quickly, and that is always nice to be able to do. I also think this book addressed many issues of this era. It explored the after effects that the war had on soldiers, and the prejudice against black men and women. But it was also about the culture and type of life that people led in these small villages, and I think the author did an amazing job creating a close knit community that felt realistic. But I think the best part of the book by far was the hurricane. Vanessa Lafaye's writing is wonderfully descriptive and really helps to portray these events. It was harrowing and sad and emotional all at once, and horrific things happened.
However, this book did have some weaker points - such as the mystery side of things. It was very, very predictable. I know that this book wasn't really about this as much, but it did focus quite a large portion of the book on it, so I would have expected it to be a bit better executed. I remember working it out, and then thinking - no, this can't be right, it's far too easy. It did not help that we saw from practically everyone's perspective, which just made it far less mysterious. Also, there was a portrayal of a character that I really did not agree with. Dwayne - I think his name was - was continually described as a "decent guy" - yet the reader was also told that he beat his wife. It was almost suggested that beating his wife was acceptable - because he was a decent guy, and this just did not please me.
I am glad I read this book, and I think that if you are interested, go ahead and read it. It is a very quick read, but still very impactful, and Vanessa Lafaye has really gorgeous writing that you shouldn't miss out on! It contains a lot of important topics and for the most part is executed very well.
Vanessa Lafaye has such great writing! It is really immersive and makes this such a quick read, but it isn't simplistic. It has a nice lilt to it and I found it really easy to get into the book. I read it very quickly, and that is always nice to be able to do. I also think this book addressed many issues of this era. It explored the after effects that the war had on soldiers, and the prejudice against black men and women. But it was also about the culture and type of life that people led in these small villages, and I think the author did an amazing job creating a close knit community that felt realistic. But I think the best part of the book by far was the hurricane. Vanessa Lafaye's writing is wonderfully descriptive and really helps to portray these events. It was harrowing and sad and emotional all at once, and horrific things happened.
However, this book did have some weaker points - such as the mystery side of things. It was very, very predictable. I know that this book wasn't really about this as much, but it did focus quite a large portion of the book on it, so I would have expected it to be a bit better executed. I remember working it out, and then thinking - no, this can't be right, it's far too easy. It did not help that we saw from practically everyone's perspective, which just made it far less mysterious. Also, there was a portrayal of a character that I really did not agree with. Dwayne - I think his name was - was continually described as a "decent guy" - yet the reader was also told that he beat his wife. It was almost suggested that beating his wife was acceptable - because he was a decent guy, and this just did not please me.
I am glad I read this book, and I think that if you are interested, go ahead and read it. It is a very quick read, but still very impactful, and Vanessa Lafaye has really gorgeous writing that you shouldn't miss out on! It contains a lot of important topics and for the most part is executed very well.
This was a brilliant book, very atmospheric. I lived through the hurricane with them. Beautifully written.