Discover The Power ... Of Judy Blume! (Summer Sisters - Judy Blume)

Member Name: karenuk

Product:	Summer Sisters - Judy Blume
Date:	15/07/05 (763 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great read, engaging, realistic, enjoyable, memorable.

Disadvantages: None

INTRODUCTION

I loved reading Judy Blume’s books as a child. They were a bit risqué, exciting, real. They were about kids you could relate to, kids growing up, kids with issues and problems many of us shared. Her books were a part of my childhood.

A few years ago, Judy Blume started publishing books for adults, but somehow, I never got round to buying or reading them. Then my friend Hannah recommended the novel Summer Sisters, not just as a casual “You’d like this…” but in a way which radiated her own infectious love and enthusiasm for the book. So I read it, finishing it around 1am this morning. I am very glad I did.

SYNOPSIS

The novel follows the lives of two American women – Victoria ‘Vix’ Leonard and Caitlin Somers – from 1977 until 1996. You see them grow up from twelve to thirty-something and you become lucky observers, able to watch what happens in their lives and those of their friends and family.

For although plenty of things happen, this novel is more about characters. There aren’t any big sensationalist headline events – no murder mystery or apocalyptic scenario. Kids grow up and have relationships; their parents split up and remarry; they get jobs, study, and travel, have sex and make new friends. But it’s fascinating!

The characters soon become real and you care about them and want to know what they are going to do and how everything’s going to turn out. As in real life, there are times of humour and happiness, times of sadness and tears. Sometimes fiction can be lazy and an author will conveniently tie up all the loose ends in the last couple of chapters, so the hero marries the heroine and they all live happily ever after. As we all know, this isn’t always the truth and Judy Blume is content to write about life in a realistic way we can all recognise.

CHARACTERS

The novel concentrates on the relationship between Victoria and Caitlin, who seem to be opposites in many ways. Caitlin is from a wealthy background, while Vix’s family are poorer. Caitlin is beautiful, confident and charismatic. Vix is quieter, clever but rather insecure and shy. She feels in awe of Caitlin and when she is invited by her family to spend the summer with them in their second home by the sea, she is thrilled and excited, but very surprised.

During their summer – and subsequent summers – there, Vix gets to know Caitlin’s parents – Lamb and Phoebe – and her brother Sharkey. She finds herself becoming a part of a family in a different way to her own home. Her mother Tawny isn’t very happy or maternal and she has a strange relationship with Vix’s father, Ed, who is very quiet and unassuming. Tawny has three other younger children – Nathan (who is in a wheelchair), Lanie and Lewis – but seems to have more feelings for the Countess who she looks after.


The two girls go through puberty together, sharing their sexual feelings and developing their own code, as they discover The Power and The Package! They become their alter egos, Vixen and Cassandra, pledging NBO – to Never Be Ordinary!

Victoria and Caitlin soon become integrated into the island community and often go round with two older local lads called Von and Bru. But as the girls grow up, many things change. Caitlin and Victoria get on well when they are together, but it’s a bizarre friendship in some ways and there are times when they seem destined to head off in opposite directions. Will their growing up finally split up the Summer Sisters once and for all? Or will their friendship prevail?

MY THOUGHTS

This is a novel you enjoy, live and – I suspect – remember. Although the main characters live ordinary lives in many respects, the novel is never boring. It is a well-paced story and you want to keep reading it to discover what happens next. I especially loved Victoria, but all of the characters were well-developed and easy to picture – evidence of a good author! – and you are interested in how things will turn out for everyone.

Although there are lots of different characters in this book, it isn’t confusing at all and you can easily follow what is happening. I was also pleased that you find out how everyone gets on with updates throughout the book, but cleverly interwoven in a way that seems completely natural and unobtrusive. I was glad to see the author brought the novel to a satisfying, but unpredictable, conclusion.

OVERALL

I was nervous about writing this review, because I loved the book and felt I couldn’t do justice to it. I know this is nowhere near my best book review, but what can you say about a novel that’s wonderful? I loved it from start to finish and Judy Blume’s style is perfect for this kind of book – engaging, easy to read and memorable. I am now hoping to read her other adult fiction titles – which is further proof.

So I’ll let the book speak for itself. Buy it, borrow it, read it for yourself. I’ll be surprised if you don’t like it. I loved it.


SUMMER SISTERS by Judy Blume
ISBN 0-330-37160-6
Cover price £5.99
Published by PAN

NOTE - Just started reading another of her adult fiction - 'Wifey' - but it's not as good as this one!

Summary: A novel of two girls growing up to become women of the world.