The Summer After June

Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: I had read that this author was up there with the South's most up and coming writers, but I genuinely felt that her style seemed more like a college freshman than a seasoned novelist. While there are many beautiful images and the language is smooth, the characters seemed too superficial, I didn't get involved with them as with some of my other favorite books. I would read an excerpt of this or a chapter first before making it a choice selection.

Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was swept up in the poetic, dreamlike voice that this book has. Once you get into the language of the book, you don't want to put it down. It was suspenseful, vivid and well written. The author really "shows" the characters instead of simply "telling" the reader. There is no doubt that each reader will interpret the book differently and have their own visions of each character and what drives them.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: Lindy Jain (the main character) is so richly developed and the story so multilayered you will want to read it in one sitting!...truly an outstanding book, the kind that keeps running throught your mind long after you finish reading this superbly written novel

Rating:
Summary: Same thing, different book
Review: Once again, Ms. Warlick has written some nice prose, but it doesn't go anywhere. My biggest problem with this book is that it is trying to hard to be well written and isn't just telling its story. I think she has some talent, but I would like to see her refocus and not try to be so artistic and southern. I think, while she is southern, that those two things come across as forced.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written but numb
Review: Warlick's novel 'The Summer After June' is a sluggish beach read which suffers from an overload of description. Because of some unrealistic dialouge & situations, it often feels like there are missing pieces to its puzzle. However, the poetic touches of the South are charming & perhaps more suitable for Conroy lovers.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: What a poetic book, it is a sad story that is more than well written. I can relate to Lindy in so many ways. I feel if you liked "White Oleander", you would appreciate this also.

Rating:
Summary: Wish I Hadn't Bought It!
Review: When I first read the synopsis of this story I thought it was going to be about a woman, who with the reluctant permission of her family and fiance, goes back to her grandmother's house to grieve for her lost sister and rediscover her past and the things about herself that give her life meaning again. And since the father was in no position to care for his child she just takes him with her. Instead she runs away and hides and worse, causes so much more grief, that she becomes a rather selfish and unsympathetic character. Poetic language is one thing but not when pointless plot devices get in the way. This story could have been told with grace without the angst ridden hiding out aspect. I understand the point that grief can bring you to desperate measures but this wasn't plausible or believable and reduces what could have been a compelling story