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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
The whole time I was reading SUMMER OF ‘69 all I could think about was my parents.
.
In the summer of 1969, my mother was just graduating high school and my father was already in college. They were dating and being young and having a lot of fun. That is them in the photo on the top left. I’m not sure what my dad’s shirt was all about but it’s awesome. And my mother’s bikini from her high school junior/senior style show reminds me of something Jessie or Kirby might wear to the beach in Nantucket.
.
Much like Hildebrand’s other books, this one didn’t disappoint. I never realized how many important historical events happened that summer (Vietnam, the moon landing, Woodstock, and Chappaquiddick) and Hildebrand deftly weaves them all into the story. The characters are real, their problems timely. Told from the perspectives of four of the main female characters, we watch them deal with social and relational issues in 1969 that don’t feel that different 50 years later.
.
And let me just say on a personal note, the grandmother Exalta is TOTALLY my paternal grandmother, whom we all called Shirley because that was her name and she didn’t want some silly grandmother name. Yeah, she was something alright.
.
This has everything you want in a summer read and if you’re a fan of Hilderbrand’s or this is your first, SUMMER OF ‘69 won’t disappoint.
.
In the summer of 1969, my mother was just graduating high school and my father was already in college. They were dating and being young and having a lot of fun. That is them in the photo on the top left. I’m not sure what my dad’s shirt was all about but it’s awesome. And my mother’s bikini from her high school junior/senior style show reminds me of something Jessie or Kirby might wear to the beach in Nantucket.
.
Much like Hildebrand’s other books, this one didn’t disappoint. I never realized how many important historical events happened that summer (Vietnam, the moon landing, Woodstock, and Chappaquiddick) and Hildebrand deftly weaves them all into the story. The characters are real, their problems timely. Told from the perspectives of four of the main female characters, we watch them deal with social and relational issues in 1969 that don’t feel that different 50 years later.
.
And let me just say on a personal note, the grandmother Exalta is TOTALLY my paternal grandmother, whom we all called Shirley because that was her name and she didn’t want some silly grandmother name. Yeah, she was something alright.
.
This has everything you want in a summer read and if you’re a fan of Hilderbrand’s or this is your first, SUMMER OF ‘69 won’t disappoint.
“And maybe, just maybe, this summer will end up being one that people write songs about.”
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. To be honest, I think I’ve never given Elin Hilderbrand a proper chance – the beachy vibes and people-with-their-backs turned covers kind of made me feel like these were kind of Nicholas Sparks-esque summer romance novels. If this book wasn’t in my favorite genre of historical fiction, I never would’ve picked it up, and I’m so glad I did.
This is a novel about a bunch of badass, nuanced women during the summer of 1969: the year of the moon landing, Woodstock, a zenith of anti-war protests, the civil rights movement, and Ted Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick scandal. We follow the different women of the Levin family – Blair, who is regretting trading in her career for a marriage and pregnancy, Kirby, fresh off the civil rights protest circuit and searching for stability, Jessie, an observant thirteen year-old just beginning to discover her identity, and Kate, their mother, indulging in endless martinis to avoid thinking of her only son deployed in Vietnam. And everyone is hiding their share of dark secrets.
I fell in love with all the characters and their narratives. Often, when authors write from multiple POVs, it’s hard to distinguish between the narrative voices. Hilderbrand does the best job I’ve seen in creating really distinctive voices for each of the characters, in not just their dialogue, but their inner thoughts and observations as they narrate their chapters. I really felt like I was getting in the head of each character. I especially loved Jessie, whose journey of self-discovery is so well-done and touching.
To me this is truly the perfect summer break read: it’s light, beachy, but still packs a powerful emotional punch with lots of nuanced, well-rounded women. I’ve made a mistake in sleeping on Elin Hilderbrand for so long, and I can’t wait to pick up the rest of her books.
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. To be honest, I think I’ve never given Elin Hilderbrand a proper chance – the beachy vibes and people-with-their-backs turned covers kind of made me feel like these were kind of Nicholas Sparks-esque summer romance novels. If this book wasn’t in my favorite genre of historical fiction, I never would’ve picked it up, and I’m so glad I did.
This is a novel about a bunch of badass, nuanced women during the summer of 1969: the year of the moon landing, Woodstock, a zenith of anti-war protests, the civil rights movement, and Ted Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick scandal. We follow the different women of the Levin family – Blair, who is regretting trading in her career for a marriage and pregnancy, Kirby, fresh off the civil rights protest circuit and searching for stability, Jessie, an observant thirteen year-old just beginning to discover her identity, and Kate, their mother, indulging in endless martinis to avoid thinking of her only son deployed in Vietnam. And everyone is hiding their share of dark secrets.
I fell in love with all the characters and their narratives. Often, when authors write from multiple POVs, it’s hard to distinguish between the narrative voices. Hilderbrand does the best job I’ve seen in creating really distinctive voices for each of the characters, in not just their dialogue, but their inner thoughts and observations as they narrate their chapters. I really felt like I was getting in the head of each character. I especially loved Jessie, whose journey of self-discovery is so well-done and touching.
To me this is truly the perfect summer break read: it’s light, beachy, but still packs a powerful emotional punch with lots of nuanced, well-rounded women. I’ve made a mistake in sleeping on Elin Hilderbrand for so long, and I can’t wait to pick up the rest of her books.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
first time reading an elin hilderbrand book and her narration style is peculiar - i wonder if it's like that in all her books. its not good or bad, just has a very distinct voice. i liked this book and this story but felt like it couldve been about 100 pages shorter. also i dont understand the cover of this book. that family literally never went to the beach all together.
Pretty good escapism for both the setting and time frame
I usually go for mystery novels, but I decided to give another genre a chance and I'm really glad I did. I loved how this family followed the stories of each of its family members. The character development was great and I kept wanting to learn more about each of the characters. I definitely recommend this novel! It's a great beach read.
Another great read. Love the way the story and the events of 1969 intertwine.
Spoiler
Almost DNF. This book follows a family through the summer of 1969. However, there are so many words for so little progress. Summary:Mom: Drunk because son is at war
Dad: Avoids drunk mom
Tiger: At war
Blair: Has twins
Kirby: Dates a guy
Jessie: Gets a crush and a training bra