Rating: 
Summary: A Well-Written Novel and a Joy to Read
Review: THE GOODBYE SUMMER, Patricia Gaffney's fourth novel, centers on 32-year-old Caddie Winger, a somewhat naive and inexperienced woman who has lived with her grandmother for most of her life. Her mother, Jane (Chelsea), was too busy to be there for Caddie, and entrusted her daughter's care into her mother's hands. Without any hint of complaint, Nana took Caddie under her wing and raised her as her own daughter.The book opens with Nana alluding to a home where she would like to live while recuperating from a fall. Caddie finally figures out that the home her grandmother is talking about is Wake House, whose residents are mostly elderly people needing some help to get by but do not need a nurse or companion to see to their everyday needs. The one exception is Magill, a young man closer to Caddie's age than Nana's, who Caddie later discovers is living there while recuperating from an accident that took the life of his girlfriend. Caddie's history could be considered tragic. She worshipped her mother from afar, a woman who was caught up in the hippie movement and who thought of herself as a singer first, a mother second. Jane's life ends at the young age of 31, and Caddie does not know much more about her mother --- not until much later in the book when Caddie makes an effort to track down the man she thinks is her father, a musician who played in her mother's band. Caddie lives the life of a modern-day spinster. However, early on in the story, Caddie meets an animal trainer named Chris. While it takes Caddie a while to figure out that Chris is interested in her romantically, she is on cloud nine once she realizes his intentions. Caddie blossoms before everyone's eyes, and life takes on new meaning. When her romance with Chris takes a turn for the worst, it is her friends at Wake House who help her through her darkest moments and teach her that there is more to life than romance and love between a man and a woman. There isn't any real strong plot line to THE GOODBYE SUMMER. What makes this novel work is the characters who fill its pages. Caddie goes through life not really living it, spending her days teaching young people how to play the violin or the piano. She slowly comes out of her shell, finds out who she really is underneath the facade of being a very proper and somewhat dull person, and learns about friendship and love through the residents of Wake House. Caddie also watches as her grandmother slowly ages before her eyes. The woman she had always looked to as her mother begins to lose the ability to function normally in society. Through the friendships she builds with Magill and others at Wake House, Caddie finally connects with people other than her grandmother, and learns to be independent emotionally rather than rely solely on Nana for every basic social need. Although Caddie is the central figure in THE GOODBYE SUMMER, it is the residents of Wake House who give this book its charm and substance --- Magill, the shy and rather strange young man who finds himself drawn to Caddie; Thea, the woman who becomes Caddie's close friend and mentor, the mother she never had; Cornel, an old curmudgeon who is filled with love for Thea, but is unable to show how he feels about Thea (or anything else for that matter); and even Finny, Nana's Jack Russell Terrier, makes an impact on the reader as he goes about his doggy duties and creates havoc wherever he goes. There are a half-dozen more characters who populate this book, and they all fit perfectly. All have their slight eccentricities and quirks, which makes them all the more interesting to meet and get to know. This reviewer gives THE GOODBYE SUMMER a very hearty recommendation of five stars. While Patricia Gaffney's first novel THE SAVING GRACES fell short in terms of lovable characters and a good story structure, THE GOODBYE SUMMER, her fourth novel, shows that she has come a long way. Not only is it written well, it is also a joy to read. This reviewer will be sure to pick up her next book. --- Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
Rating: 
Summary: A lovely read with fun and interesting "elder" characters!
Review: This book was such a nice read. The main character is Caddie, a 32 year old music teacher who has always lived with her grandmother (since Caddie's mother died when Caddie was very young). Caddie's grandmother decides to go live at the local pseudo nursing home while she heals a broken leg. The home is called Wake House and the inhabitants all are quite distinctive! This story is written through Caddie's eyes. Since she is no longer living with her grandmother, she starts to get out more and eventually falls in love. In addition, she visits often with the Wake House folks and gets to learn a lot about them as she write their bios for a Wake House project. There are not many books that have so many "elder" characters written with such flair! You want to know more about them and their sometimes boring, sometimes exciting, but always REAL experiences. Just a nice, feel good book that will make you cry and laugh. I can't wait to read another by this author!
Rating:
Summary: A lovely read with fun and interesting "elder" characters!
Review: This book was such a nice read. The main character is Caddie, a 32 year old music teacher who has always lived with her grandmother (since Caddie's mother died when Caddie was very young). Caddie's grandmother decides to go live at the local pseudo nursing home while she heals a broken leg. The home is called Wake House and the inhabitants all are quite distinctive! This story is written through Caddie's eyes. Since she is no longer living with her grandmother, she starts to get out more and eventually falls in love. In addition, she visits often with the Wake House folks and gets to learn a lot about them as she write their bios for a Wake House project. There are not many books that have so many "elder" characters written with such flair! You want to know more about them and their sometimes boring, sometimes exciting, but always REAL experiences. Just a nice, feel good book that will make you cry and laugh. I can't wait to read another by this author!
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