Seventeenth Summer

Rating:
Summary: I beg to differ
Review: "Today this classic is enjoyed by many who think of it as the quintessential love story..."

This quote talks about Maureen Daly's 1942 Seventeenth Summer, and judging from that, I thought it would be a marvelous, riveting love story. Well, I beg to differ. The opening page starts off really well as the narrator, seventeen-year-old Angeline Morrow, talks about how she can't really explain her love for Jack Duluth, the eighteen year old boy she fell in love with that fateful summer (June to August). One day, Jack and Angie meet, and they start to talk. Along with Jack's friend, they go sailboating one evening, and that is the first time the two share hints of intimacy. Jack pours his heart out to Angie (on the first date!), and it is a serene scene.

From that sweet, tender moment, the book's storyline fades along with any interest that I had for the book. The novel continues with a little side-story about Angie's older sister Lorraine who dates a newcomer city-slick boy who never really returns her feelings of affection. In Angie's tale, she just continues to go out on dates with Jack and his friends, and his friends even drink and smoke (things that Angie doesn't do). The dialogue is flat and uninteresting, and if Jack says, "Gee, Angie" one more time, I will go insane. His friends aren't that interesting and developed, considering they are (I should say "were" because they have all graduated) the "popular" group in high school.

Jack and Angie do not share many intimate, tender moments, which is a disappointment. One would think they would do more than just talk about the same things over and over again and hold hands every now and then. Sure, Angie writes about her feelings for Jack, but they don't really say or do much to provoke a reader's interest in the story. The ending is supposed to be sad and poignant, and one moment -did- make me catch my breath, but other than that, it did not do much to stir my emotions.

One thing that I do find worthy is the non-dating parts when Angie describes about her feelings/surroundings. Daly does a nice job here because it sounds a little like descriptive diary "entries."

I know this book was written in the 1940s--many older people have grown up with this, and times have changed, but I still think this book is a little dull compared to the works of today. Maybe when I'm older and I have a daughter of my own, I'll be able to appreciate this. But as for now, I am returning this book to the library.

Rating:
Summary: A Drag
Review: When i bought this book I thought it would be full of jucie love. But i was really about this girl who was going off to college and had never had never kissed a guy before. Too add on to that she never had a boyfriend before. I kept wondering when something good was going to happen but it never did. Angie was very shy she and never told her boyfriend anything. It was boring. You might like this book if you were shelterd and have no life.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I totally agree with kymissy and smiled when I read she has re-read this book every year for thirty years. Me, too! I absolutely treasure the time capsule that is this book. And yes, the contemporary covers jarringly clash with the 50's mood of the book so you truly can't judge recent reprints by their covers! This book is written with such effortless detail that you find yourself living the story and never forgetting the progress of love and coming-of-age. A real treasure -- simple but profound.