Rainy Lake

by Mary Francois Rockcastle

In Rainy Lake , author Mary Rockcastle invites the reader to savor the sights, sounds, and smells of summer at her parents' lopsided lakefront cabin during the 1960s. From the landscape of her memory, Danielle Fillian paints a sensitive and wise family portrait of summers filled with fly-fishing, swimming, water-skiing, new friendships, and a deepening first love. But with the intrusion of the Vietnam War and the rumblings of the civil rights movement growing steadily nearer, this sheltered vacation community is forced to acknowledge the harsh realities of the wider world.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming Of Age

282 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Mary Francois Rockcastle is the author of In Caddis Wood and Rainy Lake. She is the director of The Creative Writing Programs at Hamline University, and the founding and executive editor of Water~Stone Review. She lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book easily fits into one of my favorite genres, Coming-of-Age. I absolutely loved this story! I could relate to Danny, the main character. She and her family spend every summer at Rainy Lake. She spends time with her girlfriends, she joins the swim team, and loves to fish. She is twelve years old at the beginning of the novel, and eighteen when it ends. During that time she experiences so many things, including her first love. The time setting of this novel is the 1960's, during the Vietnam War....a simpler time but painful as well. Danny's brother Bryan is a strong war protester and butts heads with his father on war and many other issues. When tragedy strikes Danny's family, she must step into the spotlight and suffer through emotions that are foreign to her. This is a strong, compassionate and tender story that grabbed a hold of my heart and didn't let go.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many people understand that this book is based on a real place. I grew up at "Rainy Lake," and this book hits home more than anyone can truly understand without growing up here. I actually spent part of my summers at the lake living in the Francois house, which made reading the book slightly erie. I'm glad that someone has captured part of the essence of this place. It is important for others to realize that these people in the book are based on real people, most of which are all still here, and many events are based in fact. I am currently typing this on my dock in French's Grove staring at the Spillway thinking of all the other untold stories of "Rainy Lake." It's a must read book for all that can relate.

[Trudy Ackerblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, I could not love this book and I really wanted to love it. It took half the book before I got slightly invested I in the characters, they seemed so one dimensional. It touched on racism, Viet Nam, alcoholism, friendship and new love...but that is the problem it only TOUCHED on them.

[Kristine Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in CLCC (if you know, you know) this really was a pleasure to read and brought back so many memories. The story was wonderfully written about a hard time in the US and family trials with young love.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I didn't want to finish it, I want to know what happened after the ending! A good "coming of age" story, great characters.

[Shellie (Layers of Thought) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars actually - very close to a five...

A bit of a blurb: This is a lovely and heart stirring novel which addresses issues around race, class, and war.

I read this book for a small press review tour. For the complete review and the tour information please see the post at Layers of Thought.

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a good book. I only finished it because I thought that there had to be something good, somewhere in it. Much to my dismay...there was nothing. I give it a 2 on my scale of 10.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age story. Deals with family, alcoholism, Vietnam war, racism.
I read this book because the author's husband is going to be a guest of the firm I work for in early December.

[Linfron]

Good read