The Long Hot Summer
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
July 5, 2016
Hardcover
400
Publisher
Nine Lives. Four Generations. One Family. The MacEntees are no ordinary family.
Determined to be different from other people, they have carved out a place for themselves in Irish life by the sheer force of their personalities. But when a series of misfortunes befall them over the course of one long hot summer, even the MacEntees will struggle to make sense of who they are.
As media storms rage about them and secrets rise to the surface, Deirdre plans a family party for her 80th birthday-and with it one final, shocking surprise.
My review:
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me, helped immensely by the fact that I am a sucker for a family saga story. Although this was in a shortened time span, taking place over the course of just one summer, there was plenty of backstory provided to create an understanding of where the various family members were coming from. I loved the format of this book. It's told through chapters by each of the nine family members, but in a continuous time frame. Very interesting take on several narrators keeping the story moving forward in time. This did present a slight problem for me in that some of the stories were not quite resolved as well as I think they could have been had there been a bit more back and forth. Overall though, I felt the innovative setup mattered more. Lovely writing also added substance to this book. Even though I didn't love all of the family members, I feel that they remain true to who they are throughout, and I respect that this diversity of personalities is true to form in most families.
Engaging family story. Not a lot of action, but plenty of emotion and family dynamics. A good solid read, especially if you like family sagas.
I love a good family saga and I'm intrigued by the way the narration is done. I like hopping heads a bit because I get to know each character a little better and I love that the story continues to move forward as it hops. Sounds like a book I'd enjoy!
I haven't seen this one before now. I love a good family dynamic and don't mind the lack of drama or action as long as the emotion is there. Love your reviews!