A Book A Week

I can't believe that it is already July. Where has 2019 gone?! Even though I had to work this Independence Day, I still snuck in some time to continue my summer reading. Last winter, I took a chance on Elin Hilderbrand's Winter series. Her novels perfectly encapsulated the feeling of the season. I binged all four books within a few days and vowed to read more of her books whenever I could. Enter Summer of '69, Hilderbrand's latest release and first foray into historical fiction. Just as the Winter series entranced me, this latest book quickly drew me in and took me on a great journey.

The novel sees Hilderbrand blend the rich history of 1969 with her usual approach of following the drama of a family. She deftly presents this history through the lens of the extended Levin family. They root the overarching themes in an easy to digest and relatable family drama. The family has a tradition of visiting Nantucket island each summer to spend time with matriarch Kate's mother. Despite each individual's own reservations about this yearly vacation, they still value the time they have to spend together. But this year, things just aren't going to proceed as planned.

Eldest daughter Blair is staying home this year. She and her rocket scientist husband are expecting their first child, and she is simply too pregnant to travel. Plus, her husband is busy working on the imminent lunar landing. Middle daughter Kirby is the rebel of the family. After spending time protesting and walking with MLK, she has decided to spend time with her friend's family on Martha's Vinyard. It should serve as a check on her privilege and give her some much-needed rest before she heads back to nursing school. The lone boy in the family Tiger can't take a vacation for a completely different reason. Like most other healthy, young men his age, he's been drafted to Vietnam.  This leaves the youngest daughter Jessie to fend for herself as she spends the summer with her mother and grandmother.

I never thought I would enjoy anything Hilderbrand wrote more than the Winter series, but Summer of '69 might just take the cake. Simply put, this is what summer reading is all about. Hilderbrand writes a compelling drama with a brisk pace, all set before the backdrop of one of the most significant years in American history. Hilderbrand takes some authorial license with some of the exact histories, but only ever in the service of providing a more accurate emotional payoff for her characters. She doesn't veer from the tougher aspects of our history. Hilderbrand tackles racism, sexism, and alcoholism in a way that his honest and ever reverential to the people who face them. Summer of '69 is a pure delight to read and serves as a nearly flawless summer read.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 24)