The Summer Guest
by Justin Cronin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Justin CroninEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-05-31
ISBN: 0385335822
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback
Book Reviews of The Summer Guest
Book Review: An epic drama, a work of literature with class and beauty
Summary: 5 Stars
It is so rare to read a book that has not one boring page in it. This is an elegantly written family saga and suspenseful tale which is visually stunning and emotionally riveting. Polished, immersing, unputdownable. I wanted in. I wanted to leap into the novel--literally! and connect with the characters personally. There are times it brought me to my knees.
This is an author who braids craft with art without sacrificing one for the other. Cronin controls his story and characters with a fierce yet velvet subtlety. It shimmers, like a cold, clean, pure Maine river. The North Woods sparkles in all its four glorious seasons and becomes an important part of the story. I was ready to chuck it all and find that spot in Maine and move there.
The prologue begins just after WW II and continues for about 20 pages. We then are carried to the 1990's, where much of the action takes place, all at this Maine fishing camp for tourists run by a family in its second generation of ownership. It is a reflective story that draws heavily on past events. Cronin masters the back and forth sequences of time without distracting or annoying the reader--in fact, the story blooms with time changes rather than halts.
After reading the last page, I closed the book and just sat there, staring at the cover, drifting back into the story, a shudder through my body, a sigh that wouldn't quit. It was such an exalting experience that I have to gush. I want to share this compelling and unforgettable story with everyone. It is practically flawless. Literature, and a page-turner, a passionate drama. Cronin's powerful and well-chosen narrative style and classy use of the English language prevents it from ever being melodrama.
My heart spills over my words.
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