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leonarkr 's review for:
Summer of '69
by Elin Hilderbrand
This was my first time to read a novel by Elin Hiderbrand and probably what I enjoyed most was the wonderful comparison of Nantucket with upstart beach community Martha's Vineyard. The story was a bit long though I did care about middle-age mom Kate who worries constantly about her beloved (and only) son who was drafted into the Army.
The various stories of the daughters were at times absorbing and it's hard not to feel all of the hurts of 13-year-old neglected Jessie, the child of Kate and her second husband. Kate's imperious grandmother tries to mask her youngest grand-daughter's Jewish last name and forces her to spend most of her time at a WASP-y country club. Some of the events of that summer and location are shoe-horned into the story in rather dramatic fashion. Of course, Kirby, who works for a prominent hotel on Martha's Vineyard near Chappaquiddick is going to meet her Mary Jo Kopechne and be invited to the same party Kopechne sadly died on her way home from and, of course, Kirby narrowly misses seeing a soaking wet Ted Kennedy upon his mysterious return to the hotel after the car accident that took Kopechne's life off Chappaquiddick Island.
Secrets abound with nearly all of the characters. I almost needed a flowchart to keep up with them, but this is a decent vacation book.
The various stories of the daughters were at times absorbing and it's hard not to feel all of the hurts of 13-year-old neglected Jessie, the child of Kate and her second husband. Kate's imperious grandmother tries to mask her youngest grand-daughter's Jewish last name and forces her to spend most of her time at a WASP-y country club. Some of the events of that summer and location are shoe-horned into the story in rather dramatic fashion. Of course, Kirby, who works for a prominent hotel on Martha's Vineyard near Chappaquiddick is going to meet her Mary Jo Kopechne and be invited to the same party Kopechne sadly died on her way home from and, of course, Kirby narrowly misses seeing a soaking wet Ted Kennedy upon his mysterious return to the hotel after the car accident that took Kopechne's life off Chappaquiddick Island.
Secrets abound with nearly all of the characters. I almost needed a flowchart to keep up with them, but this is a decent vacation book.