A 2018 Favorite!
I love everything about this book—the characters, the themes, the setting, the time period, the authors, and the ending. A definitive favorite of 2018!
In 2013, I read Susan Crandall’s breakout novel, Whistling Past the Graveyard, and fell in love with her brilliant storytelling. I remember being in awe of her ability to create such rich characters that seep into your heart and mind, and refuse to leave. A part of young Starla, its coming-of-age protagonist, still lives with me.
In The Myth of Perpetual Summer, which takes place during the same Civil Rights era and on through the 70s, Tallulah James is just as endearing and memorable, if not more so. Although my childhood circumstances weren’t the same as “Lullie’s,” they were turbulent. This enabled me to fully sympathize and empathize with her. I feel as if I’ve walked in her shoes and made many of the same choices she made—missteps, as well as successes.
Having a Manic-Depressive (Bi-Polar) parent, I certainly understand the “hurricane” and “shadow” times Tallulah was forced to experience throughout childhood. I understand her inner yearnings for “normal” parents who bake cookies, have tea parties, and play ball with their children. Perhaps having so many similarities with Tallulah is why I love this story so much, but I can’t imagine anyone not being able to relate to her.
I’ve never even visited Louisiana, but now feel as if a part of me has lived there. Tallulah’s hometown of Lamoyne depicts so many southern towns in the US, with mixtures of friendly community and bothersome busybodies, unwanted broadcasts and “things that are never mentioned,” Southern hospitality and social intolerance.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I enjoyed looking back into certain aspects of my younger years, although the social injustices I witnessed during the Civil Rights Movement were painful to revisit. The world has progressed in the past five decades, but not nearly enough.
I could go on and on about why I love this story, but I’ll end by saying one of my favorite things about The Myth of Perpetual Summer, aside from the heartrending message of redemption, is that nothing feels fabricated. That’s quite a feat for a tale that was fabricated in the author’s mind. Kudos, Ms. Crandall—brilliant storytelling! I received an Advanced Copy of this book from NetGalley.
I love everything about this book—the characters, the themes, the setting, the time period, the authors, and the ending. A definitive favorite of 2018!
In 2013, I read Susan Crandall’s breakout novel, Whistling Past the Graveyard, and fell in love with her brilliant storytelling. I remember being in awe of her ability to create such rich characters that seep into your heart and mind, and refuse to leave. A part of young Starla, its coming-of-age protagonist, still lives with me.
In The Myth of Perpetual Summer, which takes place during the same Civil Rights era and on through the 70s, Tallulah James is just as endearing and memorable, if not more so. Although my childhood circumstances weren’t the same as “Lullie’s,” they were turbulent. This enabled me to fully sympathize and empathize with her. I feel as if I’ve walked in her shoes and made many of the same choices she made—missteps, as well as successes.
Having a Manic-Depressive (Bi-Polar) parent, I certainly understand the “hurricane” and “shadow” times Tallulah was forced to experience throughout childhood. I understand her inner yearnings for “normal” parents who bake cookies, have tea parties, and play ball with their children. Perhaps having so many similarities with Tallulah is why I love this story so much, but I can’t imagine anyone not being able to relate to her.
I’ve never even visited Louisiana, but now feel as if a part of me has lived there. Tallulah’s hometown of Lamoyne depicts so many southern towns in the US, with mixtures of friendly community and bothersome busybodies, unwanted broadcasts and “things that are never mentioned,” Southern hospitality and social intolerance.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I enjoyed looking back into certain aspects of my younger years, although the social injustices I witnessed during the Civil Rights Movement were painful to revisit. The world has progressed in the past five decades, but not nearly enough.
I could go on and on about why I love this story, but I’ll end by saying one of my favorite things about The Myth of Perpetual Summer, aside from the heartrending message of redemption, is that nothing feels fabricated. That’s quite a feat for a tale that was fabricated in the author’s mind. Kudos, Ms. Crandall—brilliant storytelling! I received an Advanced Copy of this book from NetGalley.