Seventeenth Summer, Maureen Daly, Simon Pulse, 291 pgs.
I picked this book out at Barnes & Noble because it looked like a story that I would be interested in.
Summary: Angie Morrow is a girl who has never dated or really ever spoken to boys before. She meets Jack Duluth one summer and she finds an interest in him. The two of them begin to see a lot of each other and soon enough, they fall in love. It is a coming of age story about young romance and your first love. From boat rides to dances, Jack and Angie each experience a special summer that they will never forget.
Audience: Young teenage girls who can appreciate the imagery and full descriptions
Style: Descriptive. The book is filled with excellent imagery and long-lasting descriptions that fill you in on every detail and really put you inside Angie’s mind. Her writing style is what makes the book breath-taking.
“A tingling ran up my arm and I felt my face flush in the darkness. As a finale a series of rockets was set off in rapid succession till everything was a dazzle of quick-tailed shooting stars, fiery comets, and huge chrysanthemums of colored light.” (154)
Passages:
“And then, I, Angie Morrow, who had never done anything like this before, who until last Monday night had never even been on a real date, could feel his cheek on mine, as warm and soft as peach fuzz. And I knew if I moved my face just a little, just a very little…” (59)
This passage is describing Angie’s first kiss. I think this is an important moment in every girl’s life. For most people it isn’t perfect, but Angie was given a pretty perfect kiss. I really liked the way she described it.
“That week and the next week were filled with such a new happiness that my whole mind sang with the sheer joy of it.” (88)
This is when Angie was feeling total lust. It’s a great feeling and it reminds me of myself at times. I like this because it can put my friends and my own feelings, as well as Angie’s into better words than I ever could.
“The last two weeks of July melted away like brown sugar into nothing but warm, crowded memories. I let the inevitable imminence of college ride on the top of my thoughts, never really admitting that it was there.” (183)
This is when Angie began to think more about college. Summer was coming closer to an end and it’s hard when you know when the exact end of your relationship is coming. I like the simile she used and I thought this passage was very well-written – as most of the book was.
My Relationship:
I enjoyed this book and I didn’t. I truly admire the way Maureen Daly’s words flow and read beautifully. The story was also very nice. However, all of the descriptions were very long. I found that at some points I would be reading these long paragraphs describing every aspect of the moment, but my mind would be somewhere else. It’s hard to focus on sometimes. I could relate to this book in one way or another, but I wouldn’t recommend it because I know most people don’t enjoy reading long descriptions. Unless you do like that kind of thing, then you should read it. I believe that a lot of people really would think that it’s a great book.
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This book seems like it would catch my interest because i love reading books about love stories. They tend to keep my interest the whole time. The summary kind of reminds me of The Notebook and I LOVED that novel and movie! The only thing i would probably not enjoy so much about the book would be the long descriptions.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds way too typical. And way too predictable. I will definitely never read this book because I hate books/ movies that are predictable. I did like in one of the passages “July melted away like brown sugar into nothing but warm, crowded memories”. I think that gives you a good feeling when you think about it.-Pat Larrow
ReplyDeleteI agree with Pat Larrow. Books that seem predictable get boring fast. I prefer books/movies with a good twist to them. But I think girls, on the other hand would love this book. I really liked how you related to the book and said how you felt about it!
ReplyDelete-Tim Pchelka
I really thought that this would be a book i would enjoy as i was reading your descriptions, until i read that there are lots of detailed descriptions. when i read books i prefer that there is minimal description. i just am too easily distracted to read a book filled with an over load of discription. i find i am actually more interested in the books where the author leaves enough to my imagination rather than filling the pages with passages about how the sky looks , "oh so blue.."
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your summary,I really think that this would be a book that I would really enjoy.It sounds like a very book. I like the fact that the book is descriptive. The first passage that you picked is very cute but I don't think that a girl's first kiss is a very important moment in her life.Maybe some girls but not all.I like the fact that the book is descriptive.
ReplyDelete-Rosina Sinigur
This book I believe would be one I could actually like. It seems like it could really catch my attention and keep it. In general, as corny as it sounds, I like love songs. I plan on both watching the movie and reading the book as well. Though the book is a little bit too much descriptive, I think that it could be one that would draw me in.
ReplyDelete-Eric Loubriel