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The Last Days of Summer
'Opens Vanessa Ronan's literary career the way dynamite opens a safe ... beautiful and invigoratingly shocking' Joseph O'Connor, Irish Times Mid-July in Texas. Cicadas shed their dry summer skins, the scent of roses hangs heavy in the still air, and a woman sits alone on her porch at dusk, watching the empty, merciless prairie, its light falling to darkness. He's coming home. Upstairs, Lizzie knows, her daughters are safe in their beds. Joanne, still young enough to smile at strangers, one last summer of childhood left in her. Katie, already a beauty, the first flush of womanhood blooming on her skin. Both sleeping soundly. But out beyond the boundary of their land, the townspeople sleep fitfully. Too many have heard that Jasper is coming back - folk who know him of old, who remember what he did - men who will make it their business to see he doesn't stay too long round these parts ... 'Vivid storytelling. ... makes your fingers tremble when you turn the pages. The terror and the pity of it will stay with you for a long time'Sunday Times 'A powerful, formidable debut. Vanessa Ronan is a natural storyteller and what a gripping, dark, compelling story this is' Donal Ryan 'Written with poetry and vision. With a blistering ending that leaves you racing to its conclusion ...' Stylist 'Shades of In Cold Blood and Truman Capote, shades of Harper Lee ... there's constant mystery hovering over every turn of the page' Ryan Tubridy, RTE 'Each word is weighted with dread and laden with drama ... impressive' Sunday Independent
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2016
8 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Ronan
3 books25 followersVanessa Ronan was born in Houston and in her 28 years has lived in Texas, Mexico, New York, Edinburgh, and Dublin, where she now lives with her Irish husband.
Among other things, she has been a dancer, a PA, a barmaid, a literature student, a dance teacher, and now, a writer. Home-schooled by her literature teacher parents, Vanessa began writing as soon as she learned the alphabet. The Last Days of Summer is her first novel.
Read more at http://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/vane...
Among other things, she has been a dancer, a PA, a barmaid, a literature student, a dance teacher, and now, a writer. Home-schooled by her literature teacher parents, Vanessa began writing as soon as she learned the alphabet. The Last Days of Summer is her first novel.
Read more at http://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/vane...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 30, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Vanessa Roman, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
The Last Days of Summer looked like a whimsical summer read, the premise seemed an interesting one and the cover was fairly attractive and yet I didn't feel compelled to read this one. Maybe it wasn't the right book to pick up right now, maybe it wasn't the right book for me altogether or maybe the synopsis wasn't immediately grabbing. I don't know. Maybe it was all of this combined and maybe all of this contributed towards a book that ended up being a little lackluster book in my opinion.
Maybe I will stop writing maybe now...
This book is set in rural America. There is prairie grass and front porches and the sort of small town mentality that made me believe my earlier assessment of this as a whimsical read were correct. This rose-tinted view of small-town life soon dimmed however with the return of Jasper Curtis from Huntsville State Penitentiary, to live with his sister and he two daughters. His crime remains anonymous until close to the end of the book, which kept a huge cloud of suspense and intrigue hovering over much of my reading. One I was eager to dispel but also one I loved the author for keeping on the horizon for as long as she did.
The book is set from a multitude of perspectives - Jasper's himself; his sister, Lizzie's, her teenage daughter Kate's and her pre-teen daughter, Joanne's. This could get a little confusing on times as it took a few sentences for me to figure out which protagonist's mind I was entering. I felt this would have benefited from either longer sections in each person's perspective or a small header indicating who and when.
The character I had the most empathy for was Joanne, or 'Doe Eyes' as her uncle affectionately terms her. Maybe it was her innocence or that we learned of Jasper's crimes exactly when she does, but she seemed the character that came most to life for me. The ending only served to heighten my alignment with this character. Her sister, Kate, on the other hand felt almost like a pointless character. She served a purpose but I had no sense of who she really was, which was frustrating. I think it might have been best if her inner-monologue's were either cut completely or extended as to give her character more roundness and life.
I had more sense of the surrounding landscape as I did of her character. I felt the evocative imagery and the use of each and every sense was the the writer's talent in this book. Every place came alive, even if the characters did not.
But setting can only account for so much. If only all of this book was as phenomenal as the ending. I was drawn in to this book because of the evocative beauty of the writing and I left it with teary eyes and goose-pimpled flesh. The middle of it, however, felt like a sort of purgatory. There was little happening and little to keep my intrigue going. I initially liked the slow pace of the novel but felt it a little too drawn out for my own personal taste. There seemed like a strong beginning and ending with a floating middle of the plot that I felt I trudged to for far too long, given the length of this book.
Would I be interested in reading more from this author? Yes, her writing on its own was utterly beautiful. Would I be interested in learning more of this particular world? No, I felt the plot was drawn out and plumped with filler and could really have benefited from a truncated middle.
The Last Days of Summer looked like a whimsical summer read, the premise seemed an interesting one and the cover was fairly attractive and yet I didn't feel compelled to read this one. Maybe it wasn't the right book to pick up right now, maybe it wasn't the right book for me altogether or maybe the synopsis wasn't immediately grabbing. I don't know. Maybe it was all of this combined and maybe all of this contributed towards a book that ended up being a little lackluster book in my opinion.
Maybe I will stop writing maybe now...
This book is set in rural America. There is prairie grass and front porches and the sort of small town mentality that made me believe my earlier assessment of this as a whimsical read were correct. This rose-tinted view of small-town life soon dimmed however with the return of Jasper Curtis from Huntsville State Penitentiary, to live with his sister and he two daughters. His crime remains anonymous until close to the end of the book, which kept a huge cloud of suspense and intrigue hovering over much of my reading. One I was eager to dispel but also one I loved the author for keeping on the horizon for as long as she did.
The book is set from a multitude of perspectives - Jasper's himself; his sister, Lizzie's, her teenage daughter Kate's and her pre-teen daughter, Joanne's. This could get a little confusing on times as it took a few sentences for me to figure out which protagonist's mind I was entering. I felt this would have benefited from either longer sections in each person's perspective or a small header indicating who and when.
The character I had the most empathy for was Joanne, or 'Doe Eyes' as her uncle affectionately terms her. Maybe it was her innocence or that we learned of Jasper's crimes exactly when she does, but she seemed the character that came most to life for me. The ending only served to heighten my alignment with this character. Her sister, Kate, on the other hand felt almost like a pointless character. She served a purpose but I had no sense of who she really was, which was frustrating. I think it might have been best if her inner-monologue's were either cut completely or extended as to give her character more roundness and life.
I had more sense of the surrounding landscape as I did of her character. I felt the evocative imagery and the use of each and every sense was the the writer's talent in this book. Every place came alive, even if the characters did not.
But setting can only account for so much. If only all of this book was as phenomenal as the ending. I was drawn in to this book because of the evocative beauty of the writing and I left it with teary eyes and goose-pimpled flesh. The middle of it, however, felt like a sort of purgatory. There was little happening and little to keep my intrigue going. I initially liked the slow pace of the novel but felt it a little too drawn out for my own personal taste. There seemed like a strong beginning and ending with a floating middle of the plot that I felt I trudged to for far too long, given the length of this book.
Would I be interested in reading more from this author? Yes, her writing on its own was utterly beautiful. Would I be interested in learning more of this particular world? No, I felt the plot was drawn out and plumped with filler and could really have benefited from a truncated middle.
April 28, 2016
3.5★s
Huntsville State Penitentiary had held Jasper Curtis captive for ten years – his release was something he looked forward to. But his return to the only home he’d known; his parents’ house, now belonging to his sister Lizzie and her two girls, Katie and Joanne was fraught with difficulty. Jasper had nowhere to go other than Lizzie’s home – he didn’t want any trouble; was done with trouble – but would trouble come to him?
Teenage Katie was suspicious of the man she had to call Uncle, but eleven year old Joanne was still a child – her trust and innocence was immediate. Her openness and offer of friendship to Jasper disconcerted him; he hadn’t felt that warm glow of being liked for himself in a very long time. Lizzie wasn’t sure about her brother – she didn’t know what to believe, even ten years later. But she knew she trusted him with her girls…
It seemed that hate and bitterness knew no forgiveness in the small town which had known such hurt. Not one person wanted Jasper in town, not even his old and once best friend Rob. Jasper was hurt by the continued rejection, but wasn’t surprised by it. He told those who’d listen that he was done with trouble – but his words were just that; words. Would he be left in peace to get to know his sister and her girls once again? Or would trouble meet him head on in the searing heat of the last days of summer?
The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan was an intriguing novel filled with hate, bitterness and hope. The mystery over the crime committed by Jasper was kept until the closing chapters of the book, which heightened the suspense, while making me wonder if he had actually committed a crime. The character I was drawn to the most was Joanne – her innocent naivety was sweet and the affectionate nickname of Doe Eyes given to her by her uncle accentuated her loving character. I didn’t enjoy the explicit language (though there’s not a lot of it) and the violence and hate is a little unsettling. But the final chapters of the book are brilliantly written with a completely unexpected twist. The Last Days of Summer is a psychological thriller which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
Huntsville State Penitentiary had held Jasper Curtis captive for ten years – his release was something he looked forward to. But his return to the only home he’d known; his parents’ house, now belonging to his sister Lizzie and her two girls, Katie and Joanne was fraught with difficulty. Jasper had nowhere to go other than Lizzie’s home – he didn’t want any trouble; was done with trouble – but would trouble come to him?
Teenage Katie was suspicious of the man she had to call Uncle, but eleven year old Joanne was still a child – her trust and innocence was immediate. Her openness and offer of friendship to Jasper disconcerted him; he hadn’t felt that warm glow of being liked for himself in a very long time. Lizzie wasn’t sure about her brother – she didn’t know what to believe, even ten years later. But she knew she trusted him with her girls…
It seemed that hate and bitterness knew no forgiveness in the small town which had known such hurt. Not one person wanted Jasper in town, not even his old and once best friend Rob. Jasper was hurt by the continued rejection, but wasn’t surprised by it. He told those who’d listen that he was done with trouble – but his words were just that; words. Would he be left in peace to get to know his sister and her girls once again? Or would trouble meet him head on in the searing heat of the last days of summer?
The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan was an intriguing novel filled with hate, bitterness and hope. The mystery over the crime committed by Jasper was kept until the closing chapters of the book, which heightened the suspense, while making me wonder if he had actually committed a crime. The character I was drawn to the most was Joanne – her innocent naivety was sweet and the affectionate nickname of Doe Eyes given to her by her uncle accentuated her loving character. I didn’t enjoy the explicit language (though there’s not a lot of it) and the violence and hate is a little unsettling. But the final chapters of the book are brilliantly written with a completely unexpected twist. The Last Days of Summer is a psychological thriller which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2016
Lizzie's brother is released from prison and returning to the family home where his sister and her daughters now reside. In the small town, in the heart of prairie land, it is not a homecoming to celebrate. Jasper is not wanted by the locals and his return is unwelcome. Lizzie accepts his return as her lot but tried to shelter her daughters from the animosity that surrounds her brothers presence. Katie is a typical teenager, trying to appear non-plussed by her uncle, while her younger sister, Joanne, is curious as to why he his hated so much. Can Lizzie protect her girls from the bitter tensions building in their small community? Was the decision to allow her brother to return the biggest mistake of her life? Is a blood bond enough to carry the burden of a brothers crime? As the heat soars and the atmosphere becomes heavy, this tale of a summer in small-town America becomes a narrative on family, feuds and forgiveness...
Sometimes a book can etch away at your senses to the extent that it enters your bloodstream. The Last Days of Summer does just that. Lizzie and Jasper's hometown is insular and choked with tension. The single mother never questions her decision to allow Jasper to return to their home but she struggles with the effect he is having on her small family. Already stigmatised, they continue to keep their heads down and carve their existence into the vast landscape. Abandoned by her husband after Jasper's arrest, Lizzie has retreated within herself. Her eldest daughter, Katie, works in the local diner, dates the popular guy and tries to ignore the disruption that comes from Jaspers re-appearance. Eleven year old Joanne is at an age where anything new is to be appreciated and explored and she hovers around her uncle with an inquisitive innocence. The family are treated with distrust, distaste and are on constant alert. Lizzie battles with her unbalanced feelings towards her brother and attempts to holds her head up high, for her own sake as well as for her sibling. This is a debut that tests your emotions. It reaches into your soul and grabs at parts of you that are unexplored, underused or ignored. The prose is neat and tidy, yet contains some moments of unadulterated evil alongside exquisite beauty. There are echos of Steinbeck throughout, with the landscape becoming a momentous character in itself, and the examinations of family commitment, responsibility and pride are ever-present. Seeing the world from a curious eleven year old's eyes, juxtaposed against the dark mind of a convicted criminal, does not take away from the bond that they share. There are tear-inducing passages in this novel that are more to do with innocence than despair. There are moments of pure hatred alongside descriptions of the vast sprawling plains of the prairie and the writing is so meticulous that it makes your skin tingle. Scenes of mundane family chores, evenings on the wooden porch and limited conversations between two generations of siblings are all part of the overall package of this study of human emotion. This is a family who struggle to maintain their credibility and their right to belong within a community unwilling to forget. It is a novel of substance and atmosphere. Vanessa Ronan has brought the tradition of the great American novel and inserted it firmly into the contemporary world. If you can remember the delicate description of a slow moving turtle in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath or the intense heat of a southern summer in The Color Purple, then the swaying grasses and airborn insects of The Last Days of Summer are sure to resound with you.
Sometimes a novel touches you. Sometimes it lingers. Then, there are novels that become part of your own personal canon. This debut is the latter. It is simply divine.
Sometimes a book can etch away at your senses to the extent that it enters your bloodstream. The Last Days of Summer does just that. Lizzie and Jasper's hometown is insular and choked with tension. The single mother never questions her decision to allow Jasper to return to their home but she struggles with the effect he is having on her small family. Already stigmatised, they continue to keep their heads down and carve their existence into the vast landscape. Abandoned by her husband after Jasper's arrest, Lizzie has retreated within herself. Her eldest daughter, Katie, works in the local diner, dates the popular guy and tries to ignore the disruption that comes from Jaspers re-appearance. Eleven year old Joanne is at an age where anything new is to be appreciated and explored and she hovers around her uncle with an inquisitive innocence. The family are treated with distrust, distaste and are on constant alert. Lizzie battles with her unbalanced feelings towards her brother and attempts to holds her head up high, for her own sake as well as for her sibling. This is a debut that tests your emotions. It reaches into your soul and grabs at parts of you that are unexplored, underused or ignored. The prose is neat and tidy, yet contains some moments of unadulterated evil alongside exquisite beauty. There are echos of Steinbeck throughout, with the landscape becoming a momentous character in itself, and the examinations of family commitment, responsibility and pride are ever-present. Seeing the world from a curious eleven year old's eyes, juxtaposed against the dark mind of a convicted criminal, does not take away from the bond that they share. There are tear-inducing passages in this novel that are more to do with innocence than despair. There are moments of pure hatred alongside descriptions of the vast sprawling plains of the prairie and the writing is so meticulous that it makes your skin tingle. Scenes of mundane family chores, evenings on the wooden porch and limited conversations between two generations of siblings are all part of the overall package of this study of human emotion. This is a family who struggle to maintain their credibility and their right to belong within a community unwilling to forget. It is a novel of substance and atmosphere. Vanessa Ronan has brought the tradition of the great American novel and inserted it firmly into the contemporary world. If you can remember the delicate description of a slow moving turtle in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath or the intense heat of a southern summer in The Color Purple, then the swaying grasses and airborn insects of The Last Days of Summer are sure to resound with you.
Sometimes a novel touches you. Sometimes it lingers. Then, there are novels that become part of your own personal canon. This debut is the latter. It is simply divine.
April 21, 2016
The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan is set in a prairie town in Western Texas.
Jasper Curtis returns home to live with his sister and her two daughters after spending 10 years in the Huntsville State Penitentiary. Lizzie is nervous at taking Jasper into her home as after 10 years she no longer remembers or trusts Jasper.
Jasper says he's all done with trouble, but in a forgotten prairie town that knows no forgiveness, it does not take long for trouble to arrive at their door.
Vanessa Ronan is a vivid and skilful writer and I loved the sense of time and place in this novel.
Characters are well written but the plot is slow paced and I found the story dragged out.
It is a contemporary fiction style novel with a air of suspense about it and while the suspense is there from the beginning the novel, I felt there wasn't enough to make the book a page turner. It wasn't until the 70% mark that the book livens up and the final scenes were written and I found myself back in the action.
My thanks to penguin books for the opportunity to read The last days of Summer in return for an honest review.
Jasper Curtis returns home to live with his sister and her two daughters after spending 10 years in the Huntsville State Penitentiary. Lizzie is nervous at taking Jasper into her home as after 10 years she no longer remembers or trusts Jasper.
Jasper says he's all done with trouble, but in a forgotten prairie town that knows no forgiveness, it does not take long for trouble to arrive at their door.
Vanessa Ronan is a vivid and skilful writer and I loved the sense of time and place in this novel.
Characters are well written but the plot is slow paced and I found the story dragged out.
It is a contemporary fiction style novel with a air of suspense about it and while the suspense is there from the beginning the novel, I felt there wasn't enough to make the book a page turner. It wasn't until the 70% mark that the book livens up and the final scenes were written and I found myself back in the action.
My thanks to penguin books for the opportunity to read The last days of Summer in return for an honest review.
May 5, 2018
Loved this book......but..... i love animals, and the description of the rabbit left me with a sickening image.... because of this i've downrated the book..... There's enough real cruelty in this world towards animals, without have to read fiction.
March 20, 2020
Beautifully written
May 15, 2016
I have to say this is one of the hardest books I’ve had to review for a long time because I have such mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it is full of beautiful language, on the other, it is in short, a brutal read. In fact I feel sullied after reading it; does that make it good or bad?
We meet Jasper Curtis as he is being released from Huntsville State Penitentiary after serving a ten-year sentence. He is returning to his boyhood home, a home where his sister Lizzie lives with her teenage daughter Katie, and younger daughter Joanne who has vacated her room for her uncle. Lizzie’s husband and father to the girls, left many years ago and up until now they have been a threesome.
Vanessa Ronan does a fantastic job of creating a sense of place in rural America in land surrounded by prairies. The identity of the town and its inhabitants is steadily reinforced by the liberal use of apostrophes across the page during dialogue, something that I can find irritating but in this novel it really worked well to reinforce the setting. And what a setting it is, I don’t think anything lends itself better to crime fiction than a small town setting where everyone knows everyone else, and in this novel in particular, nothing is ever forgotten.
The characters, well what can I say except that they are a rum old bunch! We have the convict, the bitter sister, the teenage girl who think she knows everything and yet understands so little, the Reverend who speaks for the community, not God and a multitude of others who will never forgive the crime Jasper Curtis committed. The only one that was remotely likeable was eleven year old Joanne, and to be honest that is mainly because she is the only innocent in the whole book. Now just because I didn’t like the characters doesn’t mean I wasn’t able to understand some of them, but… and this is the biggie, Jasper is a repulsive man whose views on women in particular made my skin crawl, hence my opening statement about feeling uneasy about how to rate this book. I didn’t enjoy one little book how uncomfortable it made me feel but it did make an enormous impression precisely because of that!
The author increases the tension in a number of ways from the slow incremental hinting at what Jasper really did all those years ago along with a multitude of other half-kept secrets, to the raw anger that bubbles not far below the surface of Jasper and so the feeling of dread grows under her masterful pen. With no chapters to give the reader a comfortable spot to take a break and despite the story which at times seemed to move incrementally forward, I would have thought the switch between character’s viewpoints more prone to pull me out of the story than was actually evident. As the summer rolls on and tensions rise, at least we have a full view of Jasper and his family’s thoughts and feelings and all of this against the background of searing heat in a drought.
Please don’t be fooled by the cover, this is not the gentle story of redemption I was expecting, some of this book shocking even for this seasoned reader of crime-fiction. Be warned if you are averse to overt violence, you will struggle!
Am I glad I read this book? Honestly, I’m still not sure but it definitely is one that I will remember and perhaps in time as the shocks subside I will look back on this book more fondly than I currently feel which explains the middle of the road star rating.
I’d like to say thank you to Penguin Ireland who kindly sent me a copy of The Last Days of Summer. This, my honest opinion (although half-formed) is my thank you to them.
We meet Jasper Curtis as he is being released from Huntsville State Penitentiary after serving a ten-year sentence. He is returning to his boyhood home, a home where his sister Lizzie lives with her teenage daughter Katie, and younger daughter Joanne who has vacated her room for her uncle. Lizzie’s husband and father to the girls, left many years ago and up until now they have been a threesome.
Vanessa Ronan does a fantastic job of creating a sense of place in rural America in land surrounded by prairies. The identity of the town and its inhabitants is steadily reinforced by the liberal use of apostrophes across the page during dialogue, something that I can find irritating but in this novel it really worked well to reinforce the setting. And what a setting it is, I don’t think anything lends itself better to crime fiction than a small town setting where everyone knows everyone else, and in this novel in particular, nothing is ever forgotten.
The characters, well what can I say except that they are a rum old bunch! We have the convict, the bitter sister, the teenage girl who think she knows everything and yet understands so little, the Reverend who speaks for the community, not God and a multitude of others who will never forgive the crime Jasper Curtis committed. The only one that was remotely likeable was eleven year old Joanne, and to be honest that is mainly because she is the only innocent in the whole book. Now just because I didn’t like the characters doesn’t mean I wasn’t able to understand some of them, but… and this is the biggie, Jasper is a repulsive man whose views on women in particular made my skin crawl, hence my opening statement about feeling uneasy about how to rate this book. I didn’t enjoy one little book how uncomfortable it made me feel but it did make an enormous impression precisely because of that!
The author increases the tension in a number of ways from the slow incremental hinting at what Jasper really did all those years ago along with a multitude of other half-kept secrets, to the raw anger that bubbles not far below the surface of Jasper and so the feeling of dread grows under her masterful pen. With no chapters to give the reader a comfortable spot to take a break and despite the story which at times seemed to move incrementally forward, I would have thought the switch between character’s viewpoints more prone to pull me out of the story than was actually evident. As the summer rolls on and tensions rise, at least we have a full view of Jasper and his family’s thoughts and feelings and all of this against the background of searing heat in a drought.
Please don’t be fooled by the cover, this is not the gentle story of redemption I was expecting, some of this book shocking even for this seasoned reader of crime-fiction. Be warned if you are averse to overt violence, you will struggle!
Am I glad I read this book? Honestly, I’m still not sure but it definitely is one that I will remember and perhaps in time as the shocks subside I will look back on this book more fondly than I currently feel which explains the middle of the road star rating.
I’d like to say thank you to Penguin Ireland who kindly sent me a copy of The Last Days of Summer. This, my honest opinion (although half-formed) is my thank you to them.
September 23, 2017
This would make a wonderful book club book for groups that like to take on tough and morally subjective topics.
There is not really one major character per say in The Last Days of Summer. Although certainly out leads are a brother who just got out of jail, a conflicted sister over her familial obligation and said sisters two daughters.
Of all the things that stick out in Vanessa Ronan's prose; it's certainly that the youngest daughter is the person we all wish we could be as adults. Innocent, trusting, and compassionate. I love her line:
"Everyone should have a friend"
I want to say that after reading this book I believe it's true that everyone should have a friend. That all human beings are valuable in their own way; but it's hard to really believe that.
There are so many themes to discuss here from: faith, prayer, forgiveness, innocence and home.
- Do you have the right to return home after being in prison?
- Do you deserve a friend no matter what?
- Are there ever ways to gain forgiveness for heinous acts?
Ultimately for me this book is about what we as humans deserve. Do we all deserve to be happy? Do we deserve to ever have comforts if we've done certain things? And does anyone ever deserve to be treated in a different way?
Fair warning there are awful crimes described and that play out in this book. If you are squeamish or avoid some of the nasty things in our world then this book is not for you.
But if you believe we can learn from all acts, responses and thoughts of a child then I believe you will walk away from The Last Days of Summer with lots to think about and discuss with others if you choose to.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
There is not really one major character per say in The Last Days of Summer. Although certainly out leads are a brother who just got out of jail, a conflicted sister over her familial obligation and said sisters two daughters.
Of all the things that stick out in Vanessa Ronan's prose; it's certainly that the youngest daughter is the person we all wish we could be as adults. Innocent, trusting, and compassionate. I love her line:
"Everyone should have a friend"
I want to say that after reading this book I believe it's true that everyone should have a friend. That all human beings are valuable in their own way; but it's hard to really believe that.
There are so many themes to discuss here from: faith, prayer, forgiveness, innocence and home.
- Do you have the right to return home after being in prison?
- Do you deserve a friend no matter what?
- Are there ever ways to gain forgiveness for heinous acts?
Ultimately for me this book is about what we as humans deserve. Do we all deserve to be happy? Do we deserve to ever have comforts if we've done certain things? And does anyone ever deserve to be treated in a different way?
Fair warning there are awful crimes described and that play out in this book. If you are squeamish or avoid some of the nasty things in our world then this book is not for you.
But if you believe we can learn from all acts, responses and thoughts of a child then I believe you will walk away from The Last Days of Summer with lots to think about and discuss with others if you choose to.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
May 5, 2016
First published on https://eatsplantsreadsbooks.wordpres...
Vanessa Ronan’s debut Gothic Americana novel is fresh off the presses, and it could not come more highly recommended by writers I love. Joseph O’Connor describes it as “a gripping piece of storytelling, a debut written with the empathy and authority more usually encountered in the work of an established novelist”; while Donal Ryan says it’s a “powerful, formidable debut. Vanessa is a natural storyteller and what a gripping, dark, compelling story this is”. And that’s just to start with, I won’t drone on! So I was delighted to receive an advance copy from Penguin in return for an honest review, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
The story is told from four different viewpoints by four closely intertwined characters with very different ways of looking at the world. Jasper Curtis, newly released after a decade in prison, returns to what was his parents farm. His sister Lizzie lives there now with her two daughters, unsure of Jasper is – the big brother who she idolised and remembers with love, or the monster he became and a danger to her daughters. Teenage beauty Katie distrusts this strange man in their home, and wants more than anything to hold the attention of her football hero boyfriend. Eleven-year-old Joanne is intrigued by her new uncle, and fascinated with the crime that put him in prison, a crime that has been kept secret from her. Jasper says he’s done with trouble, but he chooses to insert himself back into a prairie town that will never forgive him, and trouble is not done with him.
The opening chapters, establishing the setting, have flashes of poetry:
"July flies call in the humid evening, song thick as heat, rolling in uneven waves across the lawn to wash up tuneless on the front porch…Had anyone been watching they might have thought Lizzie was waiting for someone. For him perhaps. Or the girls to come home. Or perhaps she was looking out beyond that darkness to another time when things seemed simpler, the stars more than children’s wishes trapped." We are introduced that primroses that bloom in the darkness, cicadas that shed their skin as the Curtis siblings wish they could shed their past, an array of subtle images capturing the intense heat and intense pressure of small town prairie life.
These initial flashes made me feel I would enjoy this novel, but it just didn’t match the hype for me. Small things kept snagging my attention and pulling me out of the story – a reference to “granny curtains”; snatches of dialogue that felt lifted from a country and western song; a reference to the era that the novel was set in (close to the end) despite no previous indication it was set then… After an evocative beginning, I felt it dragged in the middle, and then wildly escalated to a far darker place than had been indicated in the first 80% of the book.
It was obvious from the first visit of a smarmy sweaty Reverend to Lizzie on the eve of Jasper’s return where this tale of small town revenge was going. What would set it apart is how we got to that point, and while it is atmospheric and captures small town claustrophobia, it’s also too slowly paced. We spend a lot of time seeing through Jasper’s eyes, and while there are “well that was creepy” moments in his internal monologue there was nothing that pointed to the severity of his oft-hinted crime. I couldn’t help feeling, as we escalated towards the conclusion, that we would have been better off not seeing through his eyes at all if we were to get a half picture of the kind of man he is. The middle of the book is a bit bogged down with character building – so to not have a sense of one of the main characters, and to not give a hoot about another (I’m talking about you, vacuous Katie!) at the end of it is a big failing for me. I felt the book fell between two stools – it couldn’t decide if it was literary fiction or crime fiction, and ended up a not totally successful version of either.
The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan is published by Penguin UK. I received a copy of this book in return for an impartial review.
Vanessa Ronan’s debut Gothic Americana novel is fresh off the presses, and it could not come more highly recommended by writers I love. Joseph O’Connor describes it as “a gripping piece of storytelling, a debut written with the empathy and authority more usually encountered in the work of an established novelist”; while Donal Ryan says it’s a “powerful, formidable debut. Vanessa is a natural storyteller and what a gripping, dark, compelling story this is”. And that’s just to start with, I won’t drone on! So I was delighted to receive an advance copy from Penguin in return for an honest review, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
The story is told from four different viewpoints by four closely intertwined characters with very different ways of looking at the world. Jasper Curtis, newly released after a decade in prison, returns to what was his parents farm. His sister Lizzie lives there now with her two daughters, unsure of Jasper is – the big brother who she idolised and remembers with love, or the monster he became and a danger to her daughters. Teenage beauty Katie distrusts this strange man in their home, and wants more than anything to hold the attention of her football hero boyfriend. Eleven-year-old Joanne is intrigued by her new uncle, and fascinated with the crime that put him in prison, a crime that has been kept secret from her. Jasper says he’s done with trouble, but he chooses to insert himself back into a prairie town that will never forgive him, and trouble is not done with him.
The opening chapters, establishing the setting, have flashes of poetry:
"July flies call in the humid evening, song thick as heat, rolling in uneven waves across the lawn to wash up tuneless on the front porch…Had anyone been watching they might have thought Lizzie was waiting for someone. For him perhaps. Or the girls to come home. Or perhaps she was looking out beyond that darkness to another time when things seemed simpler, the stars more than children’s wishes trapped." We are introduced that primroses that bloom in the darkness, cicadas that shed their skin as the Curtis siblings wish they could shed their past, an array of subtle images capturing the intense heat and intense pressure of small town prairie life.
These initial flashes made me feel I would enjoy this novel, but it just didn’t match the hype for me. Small things kept snagging my attention and pulling me out of the story – a reference to “granny curtains”; snatches of dialogue that felt lifted from a country and western song; a reference to the era that the novel was set in (close to the end) despite no previous indication it was set then… After an evocative beginning, I felt it dragged in the middle, and then wildly escalated to a far darker place than had been indicated in the first 80% of the book.
It was obvious from the first visit of a smarmy sweaty Reverend to Lizzie on the eve of Jasper’s return where this tale of small town revenge was going. What would set it apart is how we got to that point, and while it is atmospheric and captures small town claustrophobia, it’s also too slowly paced. We spend a lot of time seeing through Jasper’s eyes, and while there are “well that was creepy” moments in his internal monologue there was nothing that pointed to the severity of his oft-hinted crime. I couldn’t help feeling, as we escalated towards the conclusion, that we would have been better off not seeing through his eyes at all if we were to get a half picture of the kind of man he is. The middle of the book is a bit bogged down with character building – so to not have a sense of one of the main characters, and to not give a hoot about another (I’m talking about you, vacuous Katie!) at the end of it is a big failing for me. I felt the book fell between two stools – it couldn’t decide if it was literary fiction or crime fiction, and ended up a not totally successful version of either.
The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan is published by Penguin UK. I received a copy of this book in return for an impartial review.
February 4, 2016
I can only start by saying what a wonderful and captivating book this truly is. I don't want to give too much away in my review due to the nature of the story however, obviously I feel the need to elaborate on the blurb so that people understand what a fascinating read this book is.
As explained in the description, the book is about Jasper Curtis who comes home from jail to live with his sister Lizzie and her two daughters Katie and Joanne. It is the story of their struggle and plight in forgiveness of Jasper, of not only the family, but of an entire town who seem reluctant to allow Jasper to live among them once again.
It is a story of character progression, challenging the way in which we view different people and how we see the world around us in terms of good and evil. You have Jasper, the evil, vindictive character who we should all hate but find ourselves feeling somewhat sorry for throughout this story. You have Lizzie, the sister (and mother) who just wants to keep her family together. Katie, the older sister, out to protect Joanne and keep her popularity within the community. And by no means least, you have Joanne, the character we all want to be, that innocent child who sees everything which such beauty and wonder, a truly inspiring figure of only eleven years old.
The book progresses as Jasper tries to live out a normal life. However, something is always lurking in the shadows, be it his past or his dark nature or inappropriate thoughts and feelings. It is clear that he tries to rub the town up the wrong way, so to speak, even though he continuously claims that he isn't looking for trouble. And you see the lovely relationship between him and Joanne blossom as all of his other relationships crumble away.
As I came to the end of the story (and one cannot argue against the climatic nature of this ending however, I will keep it well hidden from you), I found myself so angry and so emotional about the outcome. But, this is what I want from a book, I want to feel that emotion towards characters, I want to be happy when they are happy, scared when things all go wrong and sad when the true nature of people results in an outcome no one really wanted. This book made me feel all those emotions and I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read it early through the goodreads giveaway.
Yes, the book has some faults: lack of chapters (although there are breaks) is not ideal and I found at the beginning (only the first couple of pages) that the tense seemed a little off and confusing at times (it sort of flitted between present tense and past tense but it settled down pretty quickly into the standard past tense for most novels). However, these few small failings did not detract from the amazing story and for anyone who enjoys thrillers I would very much recommend this book. Hand on heart, one of the best thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading, and I never saw that ending coming.
As explained in the description, the book is about Jasper Curtis who comes home from jail to live with his sister Lizzie and her two daughters Katie and Joanne. It is the story of their struggle and plight in forgiveness of Jasper, of not only the family, but of an entire town who seem reluctant to allow Jasper to live among them once again.
It is a story of character progression, challenging the way in which we view different people and how we see the world around us in terms of good and evil. You have Jasper, the evil, vindictive character who we should all hate but find ourselves feeling somewhat sorry for throughout this story. You have Lizzie, the sister (and mother) who just wants to keep her family together. Katie, the older sister, out to protect Joanne and keep her popularity within the community. And by no means least, you have Joanne, the character we all want to be, that innocent child who sees everything which such beauty and wonder, a truly inspiring figure of only eleven years old.
The book progresses as Jasper tries to live out a normal life. However, something is always lurking in the shadows, be it his past or his dark nature or inappropriate thoughts and feelings. It is clear that he tries to rub the town up the wrong way, so to speak, even though he continuously claims that he isn't looking for trouble. And you see the lovely relationship between him and Joanne blossom as all of his other relationships crumble away.
As I came to the end of the story (and one cannot argue against the climatic nature of this ending however, I will keep it well hidden from you), I found myself so angry and so emotional about the outcome. But, this is what I want from a book, I want to feel that emotion towards characters, I want to be happy when they are happy, scared when things all go wrong and sad when the true nature of people results in an outcome no one really wanted. This book made me feel all those emotions and I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read it early through the goodreads giveaway.
Yes, the book has some faults: lack of chapters (although there are breaks) is not ideal and I found at the beginning (only the first couple of pages) that the tense seemed a little off and confusing at times (it sort of flitted between present tense and past tense but it settled down pretty quickly into the standard past tense for most novels). However, these few small failings did not detract from the amazing story and for anyone who enjoys thrillers I would very much recommend this book. Hand on heart, one of the best thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading, and I never saw that ending coming.
May 19, 2016
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]I kind of hate reviewing The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan as I have mixed feelings about it. So I’m just going to spew out what I loved and what I disliked with a huge disclaimer. I’m not the biggest fan of literary fiction so that has biased my opinion.
First Line of The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan:
What I Loved about The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan
Beautiful writing. I always admire words that are strung together in such a way that the words seem to sing and that is the feeling I got here.
Very atmospheric. I could feel the sun baking the prairie, feel the menace in the air, and all the unspoken words of the tight-lipped characters were screaming to be heard.
Sense of Danger: There is a secret at the heart of the book and we are left to guess for a lot of the book just what Jasper had done to end in prison for 10 years. I felt very tense as at times, I wanted to believe the best of Jasper and this made me really get into the head of his sister who felt the same.
Intriguing Characters: They are very believable and even though I have nothing in common with any of them, I felt I understood a little of just who they were.
So that all sounds great, right. But that’s not the full story for me and that’s leads me on to:
What I didn’t love so much about The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan:
Overly descriptive: It’s a slow, meandering book that is very heavily weighed down with descriptions. I think less would have been more. Yes they were beautiful, yes they added to the atmosphere but they also halted the progression of the plot for me.
Slow Pace: Caused by the above and this caused me to start skimming. Which makes me feel like a philistine when I’m reading such beautiful words. But I’m being honest, that’s what I ended up doing.
Overall the way I feel about this book is the way I feel about most literary fiction. I do appreciate it to a certain extent and like to read the occasional one but I wouldn’t like a stable diet of them.
Who should read The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan?
I think this would work better if you are a fan of literary fiction. Also if you like descriptive writing and atmospheric reads, then you might also like this.
Thanks to Penguin Ireland for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
First Line of The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan:
"July flies call in the humid evening, song thick as heat, rolling in uneven waves across the lawn to wash up tuneless on the front porch."
What I Loved about The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan
Beautiful writing. I always admire words that are strung together in such a way that the words seem to sing and that is the feeling I got here.
Very atmospheric. I could feel the sun baking the prairie, feel the menace in the air, and all the unspoken words of the tight-lipped characters were screaming to be heard.
Sense of Danger: There is a secret at the heart of the book and we are left to guess for a lot of the book just what Jasper had done to end in prison for 10 years. I felt very tense as at times, I wanted to believe the best of Jasper and this made me really get into the head of his sister who felt the same.
Intriguing Characters: They are very believable and even though I have nothing in common with any of them, I felt I understood a little of just who they were.
So that all sounds great, right. But that’s not the full story for me and that’s leads me on to:
What I didn’t love so much about The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan:
Overly descriptive: It’s a slow, meandering book that is very heavily weighed down with descriptions. I think less would have been more. Yes they were beautiful, yes they added to the atmosphere but they also halted the progression of the plot for me.
Slow Pace: Caused by the above and this caused me to start skimming. Which makes me feel like a philistine when I’m reading such beautiful words. But I’m being honest, that’s what I ended up doing.
Overall the way I feel about this book is the way I feel about most literary fiction. I do appreciate it to a certain extent and like to read the occasional one but I wouldn’t like a stable diet of them.
Who should read The Last Days of Summer by Vanessa Ronan?
I think this would work better if you are a fan of literary fiction. Also if you like descriptive writing and atmospheric reads, then you might also like this.
Thanks to Penguin Ireland for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 11, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from Penguin Random House Ireland in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Days of Summer follows a family dealing with upheaval when a uncle who has been in prison for 10 years is released and comes back into the family home. Now Lizzie is trying to accept her brother Jasper is back, while wondering if he's the same man she grew up with while her oldest daughter Katie remains fearful and wants nothing to do with him. The youngest girl, Joanne, ends up forming a bond with Jasper but trouble is only around the corner.
This was a lot more dark than I thought it would be. Based on the cover and description, I thought it was a summery novel about a man acclimatising back into normal family life and the family moulding itself back together. And while it's kind of that, it also isn't. Jasper is not a man who went to prison for something he didn't do. He wasn't wrongfully accused or convicted of a crime, nor does he ever show remorse for the heinous crime he did commit (you learn what he did eventually, though it's heavily hinted through. Hint, it's really bad). Jasper is scary. He's scary in a way that you don't when he'll snap and I found myself fearing for Lizzie and her girls in case he snapped at them and did something awful.
Lizzie's acceptance of her brother being home was interesting. She wasn't totally happy but she never said he wasn't welcome. She opened up her doors for him, and made sure he had a place to go. Yet, she is afraid of him around her daughters despite being happy enough to have him in the home.
I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone who might be triggered at mentions or flashes of violence, particularly violence towards women. Jasper definitely seems to have a grudge against beautiful women and his thoughts aren't always nice, and are often downright creepy and disturbing - even his thoughts about his nieces. Despite his good relationship with Joanne, his obsession about the 'woman he could see within her' was a bit much for me at time.
One of the strongest bits in the book is the setting I think. There's a huge emphasis on the rural area, the prairie and how each member of the family feels about it and loves it in each their own way.
The ending was a bit of a ride, and quite horrifying as well in a weirdly satisfying way.
The Last Days of Summer follows a family dealing with upheaval when a uncle who has been in prison for 10 years is released and comes back into the family home. Now Lizzie is trying to accept her brother Jasper is back, while wondering if he's the same man she grew up with while her oldest daughter Katie remains fearful and wants nothing to do with him. The youngest girl, Joanne, ends up forming a bond with Jasper but trouble is only around the corner.
This was a lot more dark than I thought it would be. Based on the cover and description, I thought it was a summery novel about a man acclimatising back into normal family life and the family moulding itself back together. And while it's kind of that, it also isn't. Jasper is not a man who went to prison for something he didn't do. He wasn't wrongfully accused or convicted of a crime, nor does he ever show remorse for the heinous crime he did commit (you learn what he did eventually, though it's heavily hinted through. Hint, it's really bad). Jasper is scary. He's scary in a way that you don't when he'll snap and I found myself fearing for Lizzie and her girls in case he snapped at them and did something awful.
Lizzie's acceptance of her brother being home was interesting. She wasn't totally happy but she never said he wasn't welcome. She opened up her doors for him, and made sure he had a place to go. Yet, she is afraid of him around her daughters despite being happy enough to have him in the home.
I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone who might be triggered at mentions or flashes of violence, particularly violence towards women. Jasper definitely seems to have a grudge against beautiful women and his thoughts aren't always nice, and are often downright creepy and disturbing - even his thoughts about his nieces. Despite his good relationship with Joanne, his obsession about the 'woman he could see within her' was a bit much for me at time.
One of the strongest bits in the book is the setting I think. There's a huge emphasis on the rural area, the prairie and how each member of the family feels about it and loves it in each their own way.
The ending was a bit of a ride, and quite horrifying as well in a weirdly satisfying way.
May 6, 2016
This cover promised a beautifully hot, lazy summer's day but this book is a whole lot darker than expected. It tells the tale of a family struggling to cope with the aftermath of a terrible crime. Jasper has just been released from a ten year jail service and has headed back to his home town, to where his family still live. His sister Lizzie lives a quiet life on her own with her two girls, teenager Katie and eleven year old Joanne.
We know from the start of this book that Jasper committed a terrible crime and that he shows no remorse for what he did. He has returned home even though he knows it won't be easy. I disliked him immensely. He had no redeeming qualities and the way he called all women "bitches" actually made my skin crawl. His sister Lizzie had a misguided sense of family loyalty that just wound me up, in fact apart from Joanne I really disliked everyone in this book! But to write a book that creates such a strong feeling in its readers takes great writing skill and its hard to believe this is a debut novel at times. Vanessa Ronan brings to life the hot and claustrophobic atmosphere of summertime in an American small town that's hiding behind its religious beliefs. The Reverend plays his part well and was another character I got very frustrated, with especially at the end!
This is a very dark and sometimes graphically violent book and I found it very tough to read at times. The way it is told without chapters, also means there is no natural break when it does get difficult to read. Vanessa Ronan writes such beautifully descriptive prose and it worked well for her style of storytelling although I found that it lacked dialogue sometimes for a few pages and then when characters spoke they did so in short and sharp sentences. Saying that, this technique lent itself well to its setting and added an air of menace and suspense throughout. This is not a book I could say I enjoyed as I found the subject matter very uncomfortable especially when it exploded in a crescendo of violence towards the end.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
We know from the start of this book that Jasper committed a terrible crime and that he shows no remorse for what he did. He has returned home even though he knows it won't be easy. I disliked him immensely. He had no redeeming qualities and the way he called all women "bitches" actually made my skin crawl. His sister Lizzie had a misguided sense of family loyalty that just wound me up, in fact apart from Joanne I really disliked everyone in this book! But to write a book that creates such a strong feeling in its readers takes great writing skill and its hard to believe this is a debut novel at times. Vanessa Ronan brings to life the hot and claustrophobic atmosphere of summertime in an American small town that's hiding behind its religious beliefs. The Reverend plays his part well and was another character I got very frustrated, with especially at the end!
This is a very dark and sometimes graphically violent book and I found it very tough to read at times. The way it is told without chapters, also means there is no natural break when it does get difficult to read. Vanessa Ronan writes such beautifully descriptive prose and it worked well for her style of storytelling although I found that it lacked dialogue sometimes for a few pages and then when characters spoke they did so in short and sharp sentences. Saying that, this technique lent itself well to its setting and added an air of menace and suspense throughout. This is not a book I could say I enjoyed as I found the subject matter very uncomfortable especially when it exploded in a crescendo of violence towards the end.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
March 25, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Mid-July in Texas. Cicadas shed their dry summer skins, the scent of roses hangs heavy in the still air, and a woman sits alone on her porch at dusk, watching the empty, merciless prairie, its light falling to darkness. He's coming home. Upstairs, Lizzie knows, her daughters are safe in their beds. Joanne, still young enough to smile at strangers, one last summer of childhood left in her. Katie, already a beauty, the first flush of womanhood blooming on her skin. Both sleeping soundly. But out beyond the boundary of their land, the townspeople sleep fitfully. Too many have heard that Jasper is coming back - folk who know him of old, who remember what he did - men who will make it their business to see he doesn't stay too long round these parts...
*3.5 stars*
Do not be fooled by the front cover of this book. Probably one of the poorest choices of covers I have come across. This book is dark, very dark. It is violent. It is confronting. None of those things did I envision from that front cover...
But what a fascinating book it is. From the sense of place (which is very strong, one of the things I truly appreciated about this story), to the mystery behind Jasper's crimes, this story tugged hard at not just the part of me that loves a good story, but at the part of me that identifies with small towns, the part of me that knows that guy named Jasper, the part of me that knows that family that have to deal with that kind of upheaval. And that is a very good thing, in my opinion.
However, what let me down here was the pacing. The story was sluggish, all the interesting tidbits about Jasper's crimes were drawn out at a snail's pace, like dying from a thousand cuts. It was painful. Not sure if a shorter story would have fixed that problem. I think it would have just been disjointed otherwise.
Was this a great story? Yes, indeed. Was it well executed? Not so much. (In my opinion.)
Paul
ARH
Mid-July in Texas. Cicadas shed their dry summer skins, the scent of roses hangs heavy in the still air, and a woman sits alone on her porch at dusk, watching the empty, merciless prairie, its light falling to darkness. He's coming home. Upstairs, Lizzie knows, her daughters are safe in their beds. Joanne, still young enough to smile at strangers, one last summer of childhood left in her. Katie, already a beauty, the first flush of womanhood blooming on her skin. Both sleeping soundly. But out beyond the boundary of their land, the townspeople sleep fitfully. Too many have heard that Jasper is coming back - folk who know him of old, who remember what he did - men who will make it their business to see he doesn't stay too long round these parts...
*3.5 stars*
Do not be fooled by the front cover of this book. Probably one of the poorest choices of covers I have come across. This book is dark, very dark. It is violent. It is confronting. None of those things did I envision from that front cover...
But what a fascinating book it is. From the sense of place (which is very strong, one of the things I truly appreciated about this story), to the mystery behind Jasper's crimes, this story tugged hard at not just the part of me that loves a good story, but at the part of me that identifies with small towns, the part of me that knows that guy named Jasper, the part of me that knows that family that have to deal with that kind of upheaval. And that is a very good thing, in my opinion.
However, what let me down here was the pacing. The story was sluggish, all the interesting tidbits about Jasper's crimes were drawn out at a snail's pace, like dying from a thousand cuts. It was painful. Not sure if a shorter story would have fixed that problem. I think it would have just been disjointed otherwise.
Was this a great story? Yes, indeed. Was it well executed? Not so much. (In my opinion.)
Paul
ARH
May 5, 2016
SHE CAN FORGIVE. THEY CAN’T FORGET’
The Last Days of Summer is a debut novel by Vanessa Ronan. Published by Penguin Random House UK/Penguin Ireland, its release date is 5th May 2016.
‘After ten years in the Huntsville State Penitentiary, Jasper Curtis returns home to live with his sister and her two daughters. Lizzie does not know who she’s letting into her home: the brother she grew up loving or the monster he became.
Teenage Katie distrusts this strange man in their home but eleven-year-old Joanne is just intrigued by her new uncle.
Jasper says he’s all done with trouble, but in a forgotten prairie town that knows no forgiveness, it does not take long for trouble to arrive at their door…’
I received my copy of The Last Days of Summer through a Facebook competition run by Dubray Books. I was delighted, as I have heard so much about this book and it was on my radar as one to get.
The Last Days of Summer is a book based in a small town in the prairie in the state of Texas. From the beginning I could feel the uncomfortable, intense heat of the prairie sun jumping off the pages.
There are four main characters in this novel and we are introduced to them gradually in the opening chapters. Lizzie is the main female. She is the sister of soon-to-be released convict Jasper Curtis. Lizzie has two young daughters, Katie & Joanne, both dealing with the arrival of their uncle in completely different ways.
Jasper Curtis – Did I like him? No. Jasper is a very violent man who on release from Huntsville Penitentiary, arrives back to his sister’s house with a sense of entitlement. There is an air of righteousness about him, an air of trouble.
Lizzie Curtis, his sister, is quite a sad character. She is very clear that her loyalty, no matter what he has done, lies with Jasper. Although not happy with his presence in the house, she is also very much a family person & Jasper is family.
Katie, is her eldest daughter. Aware of the past history of her uncle, she distrusts him completely and no longer feels safe in her environment. Katie is at an age where she wants to leave and spread her wings but she sees the return of her uncle as an impediment to that. Katie loves to be loved. She is an atypical beauty with lots of friends and an ‘important’ boyfriend. She is prepared to go to any length to keep her dreams alive.
Joanne is Lizzie’s youngest at eleven. Joanne is oblivious to the dangers of her uncle. She is unaware of his history of violence and is therefore very welcoming of Jasper. Their relationship is beautifully depicted as the novel develops. There is an innocent quality to Joanne, one that you hope will remain with her throughout. Jasper, himself, sees this also in Joanne, affectionately calling her ‘Doe-Eyes.’
On Jasper’s return the locals are not happy from the get-go. After the atrocity he carried out, they have no forgiveness in their hearts for him. Jasper is trouble and no matter what Lizzie chooses to do, the town will not & can not accept him. Lizzie becomes more of an outsider than she ever was. She is very conscious of the looks, the venomous hatred & the general lack of empathy from the community. With some great lines throughout, her feelings towards the falseness of certain members of the community is quite evident. ‘”Oh! Yes!” Mrs Gordon smiles. “Your mother was such a fine woman Elizabeth. You know, I still remember her in my prayers.” Lizzie feels her insides bristle. She’s never liked this woman. The hurtful gossip that she spreads hidden behind that saintly smile. “That’s mighty kind of you Regina, But I’d appreciate it if you’d let my mother rest in peace awhile. She must be awfully tired receiving all those prayers of yours. The way I see it, there’s more livin’ need our help than dead ‘n’ prayers just waste our breath.” The smile falls from the other woman’s face. “That’s a rather unholy perspective, Elizabeth.” …….”I ain’t had much time for faith”‘
Lizzie is a very strong character, a person who you feel was handed a very rough set of cards. Both parents are dead, her husband left her not long after Jasper’s incarceration & she struggles daily to keep food on the table. With Jasper’s return, her life takes another turn for the worse.
As I progressed through the book, I must admit to having my curiosity seriously piqued. What did Jasper do? It is only in the latter section of the book that we are finally made aware of the full extent of the horrors he inflicted. Lizzie recounts childhood memories in various parts where we see the warped, sick mind of a younger Jasper. Yet, unbelievably, she sticks by him. She seems to see something in him that is salvageable. I think that, though he may have done terrible things, Lizzie sees that ability to cause harm in all humans. “‘This is what I want in life,” he says at last. “What is?” “I want to feel human again. I want to feel close enough to normal.” “Ain’t one of us normal around here, Jasper.” A smile tickles his lips, but does not quite reach his eyes. “Wouldn’t that be funny, then, if I could be the first?”‘
There are parts of the book toward the end that I found quite disturbing. I was not expecting it to be so upsetting. Jasper does find himself in a fight for his life with locals. There is almost something gladiatorial about the way the community gathers into one unit against him. A change has settled on a small town community & it will never be the same again.
The Last Days of Summer is a psychological thriller. The suspense & the build up devoted to a particular scene is very well done, creating a vivid image in your head. The main drawback for me, though minor, was the lack of chapters. A chapter is a feature of a book I personally like. It closes off a scene while preparing me for what is to come. When I am reading, I like a stopping point to rest my book & my mind. Without these stops, the story has no break. Again just a personal quibble!
Would I recommend this book. Yes I would. It is a great debut novel & I look forward to further novels by Vanessa Ronan.
Let me know what you think.
Til Next Time
Mairéad
xx
Biography of the Author:
Vanessa Ronan was born in Houston and in her 28 years has lived in Texas, Mexico, New York, Edinburgh, and Dublin, where she now lives with her Irish husband. Among other things, she has been a dancer, a PA, a barmaid, a literature student, a dance teacher, and now, a writer. Home-schooled by her literature teacher parents, Vanessa began writing as soon as she learned the alphabet. The Last Days of Summer is her first novel. (Courtesy of Penguin)
The Last Days of Summer is a debut novel by Vanessa Ronan. Published by Penguin Random House UK/Penguin Ireland, its release date is 5th May 2016.
‘After ten years in the Huntsville State Penitentiary, Jasper Curtis returns home to live with his sister and her two daughters. Lizzie does not know who she’s letting into her home: the brother she grew up loving or the monster he became.
Teenage Katie distrusts this strange man in their home but eleven-year-old Joanne is just intrigued by her new uncle.
Jasper says he’s all done with trouble, but in a forgotten prairie town that knows no forgiveness, it does not take long for trouble to arrive at their door…’
I received my copy of The Last Days of Summer through a Facebook competition run by Dubray Books. I was delighted, as I have heard so much about this book and it was on my radar as one to get.
The Last Days of Summer is a book based in a small town in the prairie in the state of Texas. From the beginning I could feel the uncomfortable, intense heat of the prairie sun jumping off the pages.
There are four main characters in this novel and we are introduced to them gradually in the opening chapters. Lizzie is the main female. She is the sister of soon-to-be released convict Jasper Curtis. Lizzie has two young daughters, Katie & Joanne, both dealing with the arrival of their uncle in completely different ways.
Jasper Curtis – Did I like him? No. Jasper is a very violent man who on release from Huntsville Penitentiary, arrives back to his sister’s house with a sense of entitlement. There is an air of righteousness about him, an air of trouble.
Lizzie Curtis, his sister, is quite a sad character. She is very clear that her loyalty, no matter what he has done, lies with Jasper. Although not happy with his presence in the house, she is also very much a family person & Jasper is family.
Katie, is her eldest daughter. Aware of the past history of her uncle, she distrusts him completely and no longer feels safe in her environment. Katie is at an age where she wants to leave and spread her wings but she sees the return of her uncle as an impediment to that. Katie loves to be loved. She is an atypical beauty with lots of friends and an ‘important’ boyfriend. She is prepared to go to any length to keep her dreams alive.
Joanne is Lizzie’s youngest at eleven. Joanne is oblivious to the dangers of her uncle. She is unaware of his history of violence and is therefore very welcoming of Jasper. Their relationship is beautifully depicted as the novel develops. There is an innocent quality to Joanne, one that you hope will remain with her throughout. Jasper, himself, sees this also in Joanne, affectionately calling her ‘Doe-Eyes.’
On Jasper’s return the locals are not happy from the get-go. After the atrocity he carried out, they have no forgiveness in their hearts for him. Jasper is trouble and no matter what Lizzie chooses to do, the town will not & can not accept him. Lizzie becomes more of an outsider than she ever was. She is very conscious of the looks, the venomous hatred & the general lack of empathy from the community. With some great lines throughout, her feelings towards the falseness of certain members of the community is quite evident. ‘”Oh! Yes!” Mrs Gordon smiles. “Your mother was such a fine woman Elizabeth. You know, I still remember her in my prayers.” Lizzie feels her insides bristle. She’s never liked this woman. The hurtful gossip that she spreads hidden behind that saintly smile. “That’s mighty kind of you Regina, But I’d appreciate it if you’d let my mother rest in peace awhile. She must be awfully tired receiving all those prayers of yours. The way I see it, there’s more livin’ need our help than dead ‘n’ prayers just waste our breath.” The smile falls from the other woman’s face. “That’s a rather unholy perspective, Elizabeth.” …….”I ain’t had much time for faith”‘
Lizzie is a very strong character, a person who you feel was handed a very rough set of cards. Both parents are dead, her husband left her not long after Jasper’s incarceration & she struggles daily to keep food on the table. With Jasper’s return, her life takes another turn for the worse.
As I progressed through the book, I must admit to having my curiosity seriously piqued. What did Jasper do? It is only in the latter section of the book that we are finally made aware of the full extent of the horrors he inflicted. Lizzie recounts childhood memories in various parts where we see the warped, sick mind of a younger Jasper. Yet, unbelievably, she sticks by him. She seems to see something in him that is salvageable. I think that, though he may have done terrible things, Lizzie sees that ability to cause harm in all humans. “‘This is what I want in life,” he says at last. “What is?” “I want to feel human again. I want to feel close enough to normal.” “Ain’t one of us normal around here, Jasper.” A smile tickles his lips, but does not quite reach his eyes. “Wouldn’t that be funny, then, if I could be the first?”‘
There are parts of the book toward the end that I found quite disturbing. I was not expecting it to be so upsetting. Jasper does find himself in a fight for his life with locals. There is almost something gladiatorial about the way the community gathers into one unit against him. A change has settled on a small town community & it will never be the same again.
The Last Days of Summer is a psychological thriller. The suspense & the build up devoted to a particular scene is very well done, creating a vivid image in your head. The main drawback for me, though minor, was the lack of chapters. A chapter is a feature of a book I personally like. It closes off a scene while preparing me for what is to come. When I am reading, I like a stopping point to rest my book & my mind. Without these stops, the story has no break. Again just a personal quibble!
Would I recommend this book. Yes I would. It is a great debut novel & I look forward to further novels by Vanessa Ronan.
Let me know what you think.
Til Next Time
Mairéad
xx
Biography of the Author:
Vanessa Ronan was born in Houston and in her 28 years has lived in Texas, Mexico, New York, Edinburgh, and Dublin, where she now lives with her Irish husband. Among other things, she has been a dancer, a PA, a barmaid, a literature student, a dance teacher, and now, a writer. Home-schooled by her literature teacher parents, Vanessa began writing as soon as she learned the alphabet. The Last Days of Summer is her first novel. (Courtesy of Penguin)
August 10, 2017
A handful of contradicting thoughts!
The story, spiced by a southern accent, revolves around Jason’s return and the emotions that it brings to the community. The community where everyone knows each other, where faith and religions can dictate their own mandate, where revenge is a high priority.
I admit that the very slow pace of which the events unraveled made it tedious to power through, but the writing was vivid and descriptive, making me feel and see everything, making it so easy to roll the clips in my head.
What kept me going in the beginning was the mystery. Through most part of the book we are left guessing what crime did Jason commit. The Author only reveals the details very late into the story. At some points, I felt like even the mystery was not enough anymore to make me continue. But I’m glad that I did!
The story picks itself up once we get some more information and the ending is very different from the slowness of the rest of the novel.
The story, spiced by a southern accent, revolves around Jason’s return and the emotions that it brings to the community. The community where everyone knows each other, where faith and religions can dictate their own mandate, where revenge is a high priority.
I admit that the very slow pace of which the events unraveled made it tedious to power through, but the writing was vivid and descriptive, making me feel and see everything, making it so easy to roll the clips in my head.
What kept me going in the beginning was the mystery. Through most part of the book we are left guessing what crime did Jason commit. The Author only reveals the details very late into the story. At some points, I felt like even the mystery was not enough anymore to make me continue. But I’m glad that I did!
The story picks itself up once we get some more information and the ending is very different from the slowness of the rest of the novel.
August 29, 2017
I took this book with me on my summer holiday, hoping for a good page-turner with a good tense atmosphere and some emotional heft. In some ways it did deliver, but in others I found it a let down. It started off strong, evoking the oppressive heat of the Texan summer and the parched earth of the prairie. Ronan painted a clear picture of the lonely Curtis house and the tension of Jasper's return. The language was poetic at times, but about halfway through it became riddled with cliches and repetitions, sometimes with cliches being repeated ('more beast than man', oh god, cringe). For this reason I began to get kind of tired of the book and just wanted to find out what the hell Jasper actually did and get it over with. But when that moment finally came, it was jarring, and not in a good way.
Firstly, the context in which we finally learn of Jasper's crime made no sense to me.
If this book had had better editing and a better ending, I would've given it an extra star.
Firstly, the context in which we finally learn of Jasper's crime made no sense to me.
If this book had had better editing and a better ending, I would've given it an extra star.
April 30, 2016
She hopes he's done with trouble but it trouble done with him?
Ten years to repent
Ten years to forgive
Ten days for revenge
The Last Days of Summer is told in four different points of view, over a short period of time and Vanessa Ronan's skilfully and vividly creates not just her characters, but also an almost oppressive, suffocating sense of place with her words.
Ten years ago Jasper Curtis committed a terrible crime, he's been locked away, but now he is free. His sister Lizzie adored her brother when they were growing up and reflects on her memories whilst preparing to take him in and give him a home. Yes, she knows that Jasper did an awful thing, but she hopes that during the past ten years he may have changed from the evil criminal, to the brother she loved so much. Lizzie's neighbours have long memories, nobody could ever forget what Jasper Curtis did and it's clear that there will be no welcome home party thrown by the townspeople.
Jasper Curtis is not a nice character at all. Whilst his sister Lizzie is prepared to start afresh, to look to her heart and find understanding, and maybe forgiveness, Jasper displays none of this. He's dark and deep and quite convincingly terrifying, and I'm positive that he knows it. Is it a form of self-preservation, a way to shield himself from the attacks that are inevitable? Or .... is the guy just evil?
There's a feel of Cormac McCarthy about The Last Days of Summer; that slow, sweltering feeling, exacerbated by the description of strong, shimmering heat and a sense of foreboding that never stops.
Nestled in between the characters who are full of hate and vengence, is Joanne, the youngest daughter of Lizzie and a spark of light and hope and joy. She's full of the innocence and acceptance that only youth can bring, and she's the absolute star of the story, bringing a little bit of respite from what could be a quite overpowering story at times. Joanne's older sister, Katie is full of teenage angst, wary of this unknown uncle, desperate to impress a boy, and it is her actions that provide the powerful and shocking conclusion to this story.
Vanessa Ronan's writing is almost poetic at times. Sometimes a book can be all plot, often the characters take over a story, but The Last Days of Summer is a perfect blend of a dark story with a strong plotline that leads to a furious and very convincing ending combined with perfectly drawn characters who each appear real, with flaws and vulnerabilities galore. Dealing with forgiveness, fear, family and redemption, The Last Days of Summer is a very fine debut from a very skilled author.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Ten years to repent
Ten years to forgive
Ten days for revenge
The Last Days of Summer is told in four different points of view, over a short period of time and Vanessa Ronan's skilfully and vividly creates not just her characters, but also an almost oppressive, suffocating sense of place with her words.
Ten years ago Jasper Curtis committed a terrible crime, he's been locked away, but now he is free. His sister Lizzie adored her brother when they were growing up and reflects on her memories whilst preparing to take him in and give him a home. Yes, she knows that Jasper did an awful thing, but she hopes that during the past ten years he may have changed from the evil criminal, to the brother she loved so much. Lizzie's neighbours have long memories, nobody could ever forget what Jasper Curtis did and it's clear that there will be no welcome home party thrown by the townspeople.
Jasper Curtis is not a nice character at all. Whilst his sister Lizzie is prepared to start afresh, to look to her heart and find understanding, and maybe forgiveness, Jasper displays none of this. He's dark and deep and quite convincingly terrifying, and I'm positive that he knows it. Is it a form of self-preservation, a way to shield himself from the attacks that are inevitable? Or .... is the guy just evil?
There's a feel of Cormac McCarthy about The Last Days of Summer; that slow, sweltering feeling, exacerbated by the description of strong, shimmering heat and a sense of foreboding that never stops.
Nestled in between the characters who are full of hate and vengence, is Joanne, the youngest daughter of Lizzie and a spark of light and hope and joy. She's full of the innocence and acceptance that only youth can bring, and she's the absolute star of the story, bringing a little bit of respite from what could be a quite overpowering story at times. Joanne's older sister, Katie is full of teenage angst, wary of this unknown uncle, desperate to impress a boy, and it is her actions that provide the powerful and shocking conclusion to this story.
Vanessa Ronan's writing is almost poetic at times. Sometimes a book can be all plot, often the characters take over a story, but The Last Days of Summer is a perfect blend of a dark story with a strong plotline that leads to a furious and very convincing ending combined with perfectly drawn characters who each appear real, with flaws and vulnerabilities galore. Dealing with forgiveness, fear, family and redemption, The Last Days of Summer is a very fine debut from a very skilled author.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
April 23, 2016
First of all, many thanks to the Publisher for approving my request for an ARC via Netgalley.
The Last Days Of Summer will be released on 5th May 2016.
This book had my attention from the very beginning and held it until the very end. Not an easy read by any means, given the subject matter, but well written and thought provoking. I found myself wondering what I would do in the same situation. I guess you never know until you're faced with such decisions.
Jasper finds himself a free man after serving ten years in prison for a horrific crime. We're not told what that crime is for quite a while though. There are hints along the way and you know it's going to be horrendous, but you're not quite sure.
Jasper's Sister, Lizzie, has decided Jasper should move back home with her as the house is half his anyway since their mother died. However, Lizzie has two daughters, a teenager Katie, and 11 year old Joanne. Everyone in the town thinks she must be mad to have him living with them, including the Vicar. She worries she might be making a mistake herself, but he is her brother after all. She doesn't truly believe he would be a danger to her or her daughters, but hopes he doesn't prove her wrong. She has given up on praying.
Jasper insists he is done with trouble, but needless to say he isn't welcomed back with open arms and it isn't long before people are seeking their revenge. I thought I knew where the story was leading, as it's obvious the town folk aren't going to just get used to Jasper being back, but I was horrified by just how far they were willing to go to seek their revenge!
I found this story gripping, quite disturbing in places, but also quite emotional. It's a very descriptive book. I could totally picture myself sat on Lizzie's porch, overlooking the prairie watching the sun set. I wouldn't like to find myself in her shoes though.
Blog post - https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
The Last Days Of Summer will be released on 5th May 2016.
This book had my attention from the very beginning and held it until the very end. Not an easy read by any means, given the subject matter, but well written and thought provoking. I found myself wondering what I would do in the same situation. I guess you never know until you're faced with such decisions.
Jasper finds himself a free man after serving ten years in prison for a horrific crime. We're not told what that crime is for quite a while though. There are hints along the way and you know it's going to be horrendous, but you're not quite sure.
Jasper's Sister, Lizzie, has decided Jasper should move back home with her as the house is half his anyway since their mother died. However, Lizzie has two daughters, a teenager Katie, and 11 year old Joanne. Everyone in the town thinks she must be mad to have him living with them, including the Vicar. She worries she might be making a mistake herself, but he is her brother after all. She doesn't truly believe he would be a danger to her or her daughters, but hopes he doesn't prove her wrong. She has given up on praying.
Jasper insists he is done with trouble, but needless to say he isn't welcomed back with open arms and it isn't long before people are seeking their revenge. I thought I knew where the story was leading, as it's obvious the town folk aren't going to just get used to Jasper being back, but I was horrified by just how far they were willing to go to seek their revenge!
I found this story gripping, quite disturbing in places, but also quite emotional. It's a very descriptive book. I could totally picture myself sat on Lizzie's porch, overlooking the prairie watching the sun set. I wouldn't like to find myself in her shoes though.
Blog post - https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
May 6, 2016
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
I love a book that intrigues me and makes me want to read it and The Last Days of Summer was exactly this.
With Jasper's release from prison and returning to his small town in Texas, I was constantly left in suspense as to what it was that he had done. What was so terrible that the townspeople despised his return so much? With the constant narrative movement between characters we slowly start to learn more about Jasper and the other people that they interact with. Each of their emotions was palpable and you get a very intricate insight into each of their thinkings and feelings very well. I felt like I knew their every secret, their every desire and exactly who they were.
There was something close and claustrophobic about reading this and this was further emphasised by the blistering heat and humidity of where the book is set. It was a lot darker that I had anticipated and the author leaves very little to the imagination in her descriptions, it's explicit in it's detailing. Vanessa is brilliant at creating not only a vivid setting, but a palpable one, I felt like I was right there in Texas in amongst the characters and you could sense the tension between them.
What I found as well was that not knowing what Jasper had done initially made him a very hard character to judge. At times I felt almost sorry for him and the way that he wanted to avoid trouble. Like his twelve year old niece Joanna, who also knows nothing about what he did, you will find yourself torn. I liked the not knowing though as it compels you to read on and I found myself consumed by the story as I was reading.
A vivid and suspenseful debut from Vanessa Ronan.
I love a book that intrigues me and makes me want to read it and The Last Days of Summer was exactly this.
With Jasper's release from prison and returning to his small town in Texas, I was constantly left in suspense as to what it was that he had done. What was so terrible that the townspeople despised his return so much? With the constant narrative movement between characters we slowly start to learn more about Jasper and the other people that they interact with. Each of their emotions was palpable and you get a very intricate insight into each of their thinkings and feelings very well. I felt like I knew their every secret, their every desire and exactly who they were.
There was something close and claustrophobic about reading this and this was further emphasised by the blistering heat and humidity of where the book is set. It was a lot darker that I had anticipated and the author leaves very little to the imagination in her descriptions, it's explicit in it's detailing. Vanessa is brilliant at creating not only a vivid setting, but a palpable one, I felt like I was right there in Texas in amongst the characters and you could sense the tension between them.
What I found as well was that not knowing what Jasper had done initially made him a very hard character to judge. At times I felt almost sorry for him and the way that he wanted to avoid trouble. Like his twelve year old niece Joanna, who also knows nothing about what he did, you will find yourself torn. I liked the not knowing though as it compels you to read on and I found myself consumed by the story as I was reading.
A vivid and suspenseful debut from Vanessa Ronan.
July 13, 2019
Many of the lower reviews I've read have said that the plot was slow, and that they couldn't get into the book. I disagree. The writer has some real skill. However, this story doesn't make sense to me. What's the point beyond following how a family copes with having a violent rapist in the household? The town had every right to hate this guy. The oldest sister began as an admirable, hardworking, and devoted sister, only to morph into a spoiled, unintelligent brat. To me, the plot seemed pointless, brutal, and predictable...in the sense that what else could be expected from this type of violence? I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, like maybe he was protecting someone and was innocent. And at the end, I asked the same question as the parole officer, how DID they let this dude out? The only thing I can guess is that we see the violence and capability for kindness that some carry in a parallel way (but then again, I still question as to why anyone would want to read and root for such a heinous crime). I read many books for entertainment, but for some I read to identify or learn from the human experience. If the characters learn nothing from the depths of their despair, how can I? And last but not least, I haven't seen any trigger warnings in reviews. The victim does receive revenge, but at the highest cost possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2016
Thank you to the Author/Publisher for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I wanted to like the book I really did but sadly it was not meant to be!
I gritted my teeth and I skim read it to nearly the end because the writing style didn't do it for me. The story went into far too much detail trying to build the plot that it actually bored me to tears yet I still understood why some people would like it. If you are into long-winded character building (which I usually love) this might be a book that you would enjoy but for me, I wanted to DNF at 20%, I just can't seem to not finish a book once I have started it.
Don't get me wrong once you get into over more than 80% of the book it really does pick up giving you what you wanted to know and then the action started to happen, but for me, it was a little too late. I think I would have enjoyed the book if it missed majority of the start out.
Sorry again I wanted to love it I really *sad sigh*
I wanted to like the book I really did but sadly it was not meant to be!
I gritted my teeth and I skim read it to nearly the end because the writing style didn't do it for me. The story went into far too much detail trying to build the plot that it actually bored me to tears yet I still understood why some people would like it. If you are into long-winded character building (which I usually love) this might be a book that you would enjoy but for me, I wanted to DNF at 20%, I just can't seem to not finish a book once I have started it.
Don't get me wrong once you get into over more than 80% of the book it really does pick up giving you what you wanted to know and then the action started to happen, but for me, it was a little too late. I think I would have enjoyed the book if it missed majority of the start out.
Sorry again I wanted to love it I really *sad sigh*
February 24, 2016
Brilliantly written descriptions of somewhere in western Texas. Could taste the air through the writing. Details make the story vivid in every single sense.
Be prepared for a bumpy ride. From the first page, ominous foreboding keeps a level of suspense - not to be resolved until the end.
In full disclosure, this author is my husband's daughter. But I wouldn't be writing this review at all if I didn't find the book incredibly compelling.
It will be available for sale in UK, Canada on May 5th. Don't know when it will be available the states, but keep an eye out for it. It's exquisite.
Be prepared for a bumpy ride. From the first page, ominous foreboding keeps a level of suspense - not to be resolved until the end.
In full disclosure, this author is my husband's daughter. But I wouldn't be writing this review at all if I didn't find the book incredibly compelling.
It will be available for sale in UK, Canada on May 5th. Don't know when it will be available the states, but keep an eye out for it. It's exquisite.
December 8, 2020
This is a quite atmospheric book about how hard is the way back after a crime into the community that will simply not have you.
This summer, Jasper is coming back after 10 years in a prison for a crime. We do not know which crime, only that is was ugly and there are some very hard feelings in the community, and even his own family is torn. His sister Lizzie accepts Jasper back into the family home, yet the tension is present. This is going to be one, long, hot summer under the parching sun and the flames of unforgiveness and revenge.
The story is told by 4 narrators - Jasper, Lizzie and her daughters - teenager Katie and 11-year-old Joanne.
Mixed feelings. The atmosphere is a big plus here - the storytelling is vivid and plastic and you get all the conflicting emotions of people caught in this complicated situation. THe motive is also very human - is there a way back from great hurt? If not, is there at least a way how to live in neutrality, if not in peace? The characters are multidimensional (if some of them unlikable) and their struggles are believable.
Yet, the storytelling is not enough here in my opinion. There are also other questions to discuss (mostly after the last chapters), many whys - and truly, what kind of a community is this. The message about the value of forgiveness gets a bit hidden under all of the unnecessary ugliness which undermines not only the rightness/wrongness, but also points at the much more hidden darkness which goes unaddressed. Because in the community like this anything is possible, and this dark truth about this common evil is painfully missing.
Trigger warnings for violence and sexual violence.
This summer, Jasper is coming back after 10 years in a prison for a crime. We do not know which crime, only that is was ugly and there are some very hard feelings in the community, and even his own family is torn. His sister Lizzie accepts Jasper back into the family home, yet the tension is present. This is going to be one, long, hot summer under the parching sun and the flames of unforgiveness and revenge.
The story is told by 4 narrators - Jasper, Lizzie and her daughters - teenager Katie and 11-year-old Joanne.
Mixed feelings. The atmosphere is a big plus here - the storytelling is vivid and plastic and you get all the conflicting emotions of people caught in this complicated situation. THe motive is also very human - is there a way back from great hurt? If not, is there at least a way how to live in neutrality, if not in peace? The characters are multidimensional (if some of them unlikable) and their struggles are believable.
Yet, the storytelling is not enough here in my opinion. There are also other questions to discuss (mostly after the last chapters), many whys - and truly, what kind of a community is this. The message about the value of forgiveness gets a bit hidden under all of the unnecessary ugliness which undermines not only the rightness/wrongness, but also points at the much more hidden darkness which goes unaddressed. Because in the community like this anything is possible, and this dark truth about this common evil is painfully missing.
Trigger warnings for violence and sexual violence.
April 17, 2020
This was going to be a two-star book until the last few chapters ruined what little enjoyment I got out of this book.
But even without that, the story was totally unrealistic. The reader is drip-fed information about Jasper's crime very slowly, which I actually liked because it ramps up the tension, although it stretched credibility a bit that Joanne would know so little about a crime that, apparently, the whole town has been talking about for years. However, when the whole thing is finally revealed (in an awkward and not very believable scene), it undermines the whole premise. It just doesn't ring true at all.
But even without that, the story was totally unrealistic. The reader is drip-fed information about Jasper's crime very slowly, which I actually liked because it ramps up the tension, although it stretched credibility a bit that Joanne would know so little about a crime that, apparently, the whole town has been talking about for years. However, when the whole thing is finally revealed (in an awkward and not very believable scene), it undermines the whole premise. It just doesn't ring true at all.
August 30, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Looking at the cover, I was expecting something a little like The Girls, which was one of my recent favourites. It was completely different, but there was one thing that was similar - the claustrophobic feeling of a scorching summer. Descriptions so evocative that you could feel the air burning your throat.
The pace felt slightly odd - the start was so slow and drawn out, a whole lot of nothing going on, and yet there was a background intensity of evil, fear and threat.
The hints of what Jasper had done, and what he MAY have done become clearer as the story progresses. The ways that the three women/girls deal with his arrival into their home are so different that it makes it difficult for the reader to decide a 'side' to be on. His sister wary but supportive, her oldest teenage girl angry and resentful and 11 year old Joanne, who never really knew her father - curious, accepting and ready to love her strange quiet uncle.
The book describes living in a small Texan prairie town with nothing really going on, although I couldn't get a feel for WHEN this was set - I'm not sure if that was intentional.
It's not for the faint-hearted though - there are some gritty descriptions of some not-very nice goings on towards the end - the menace having been hinted at throughout amongst the descriptions of the shimmering heat.
Looking at the cover, I was expecting something a little like The Girls, which was one of my recent favourites. It was completely different, but there was one thing that was similar - the claustrophobic feeling of a scorching summer. Descriptions so evocative that you could feel the air burning your throat.
The pace felt slightly odd - the start was so slow and drawn out, a whole lot of nothing going on, and yet there was a background intensity of evil, fear and threat.
The hints of what Jasper had done, and what he MAY have done become clearer as the story progresses. The ways that the three women/girls deal with his arrival into their home are so different that it makes it difficult for the reader to decide a 'side' to be on. His sister wary but supportive, her oldest teenage girl angry and resentful and 11 year old Joanne, who never really knew her father - curious, accepting and ready to love her strange quiet uncle.
The book describes living in a small Texan prairie town with nothing really going on, although I couldn't get a feel for WHEN this was set - I'm not sure if that was intentional.
It's not for the faint-hearted though - there are some gritty descriptions of some not-very nice goings on towards the end - the menace having been hinted at throughout amongst the descriptions of the shimmering heat.
May 11, 2017
I obtained this book from NetGalley for free. This is my review:
This is the darkest book I have read in a long time, it charts what happens when a convict is released from prison back to a community that will not accept him.
The writer attempts to get inside the minds and motivations of people filled with hatred and a lust for violence. This would be too grim and dark to be a book I could enjoy but for the fact that the writing is so nuanced. Family loyalties are explored, as is tenderness, the need to protect and a partially understood need for redemption.
The characters are fascinating, particularly the dysfunctional family of Lizzie, Katie, Joanne and Jasper; I was also fascinated by the least Christlike preacher you could imagine, who uses a sermon on forgiveness to argue that some sins are too large to be forgiven! Yet even Rev Gordon is a three-dimensional character with some kindness mixed in with his rush to judge and condemn.
Because characters are so multi-layered, I think they will live on with me for some time - the fact that not all the crime in the book is resolved adds to this. And even in chilly Scotland you can feel the heat of the book's Texan summer.
This is the darkest book I have read in a long time, it charts what happens when a convict is released from prison back to a community that will not accept him.
The writer attempts to get inside the minds and motivations of people filled with hatred and a lust for violence. This would be too grim and dark to be a book I could enjoy but for the fact that the writing is so nuanced. Family loyalties are explored, as is tenderness, the need to protect and a partially understood need for redemption.
The characters are fascinating, particularly the dysfunctional family of Lizzie, Katie, Joanne and Jasper; I was also fascinated by the least Christlike preacher you could imagine, who uses a sermon on forgiveness to argue that some sins are too large to be forgiven! Yet even Rev Gordon is a three-dimensional character with some kindness mixed in with his rush to judge and condemn.
Because characters are so multi-layered, I think they will live on with me for some time - the fact that not all the crime in the book is resolved adds to this. And even in chilly Scotland you can feel the heat of the book's Texan summer.
July 23, 2022
3,5 ⭐️
Ksiazka ogolnie rzecz biorac z poczatku skupia sie glownie na motywie zycia na prerii i mozemy dostrzec liczne opisy przyrody, ktore sa bardzo przyjemnie i ladnie napisane. Z czasem, gdy dochodzimy poza polowe ksiazki, fabula przybiera ciemniejsze barwy i sprawia, ze zaczyna sie watpic w to, czy dobrze ocenilo sie niektorych bohaterow. Jestem ogromna fanka tego, jak zostawila przedstawiona Joanne, ciesze sie, ze jej postac pojawila sie w ksiazce, poniewaz zdecydowanie zasluguje ona na uwage. Gdyby ksiazka skonczyla sie 50 stron przed faktycznym zakonczeniem, bylabym w stanie dac wyzsza ocene, jednak przez to co stalo sie pod koniec opowiesci ciezko mi dac wiecej niz 3,5/5, poniewaz z niespecjalnie brutalnej i trudnej fabuly nagle zostalam zasypana wydarzeniami, ktore ciezko bylo mi zapomniec przez kolejne dni. Kupujac ksiazke nie bylam przygotowana na cos takiego i musze przyznac ze bylo to cos na prawde niespodziewanego i trudnego w odbiorze. Czytajac zakonczenie czulam obrzydzenie do niemal kazdej postaci w ksiazce oprocz wczesniej wpomnianej Joanne. Zaczynajac ksiazke nie bylam przygotowana na COS TAKIEGO pod koniec. Tak czy inaczej ksiazka byla poczatkowo przyjemna, napisana ladnym jezykiem. Wszystko co poczatkowo sadzilam o tej ksiazce uleglo drastycznej zmianie na ostatnich 50 kartkach, ale mimo to 3,5/5.
Ksiazka ogolnie rzecz biorac z poczatku skupia sie glownie na motywie zycia na prerii i mozemy dostrzec liczne opisy przyrody, ktore sa bardzo przyjemnie i ladnie napisane. Z czasem, gdy dochodzimy poza polowe ksiazki, fabula przybiera ciemniejsze barwy i sprawia, ze zaczyna sie watpic w to, czy dobrze ocenilo sie niektorych bohaterow. Jestem ogromna fanka tego, jak zostawila przedstawiona Joanne, ciesze sie, ze jej postac pojawila sie w ksiazce, poniewaz zdecydowanie zasluguje ona na uwage. Gdyby ksiazka skonczyla sie 50 stron przed faktycznym zakonczeniem, bylabym w stanie dac wyzsza ocene, jednak przez to co stalo sie pod koniec opowiesci ciezko mi dac wiecej niz 3,5/5, poniewaz z niespecjalnie brutalnej i trudnej fabuly nagle zostalam zasypana wydarzeniami, ktore ciezko bylo mi zapomniec przez kolejne dni. Kupujac ksiazke nie bylam przygotowana na cos takiego i musze przyznac ze bylo to cos na prawde niespodziewanego i trudnego w odbiorze. Czytajac zakonczenie czulam obrzydzenie do niemal kazdej postaci w ksiazce oprocz wczesniej wpomnianej Joanne. Zaczynajac ksiazke nie bylam przygotowana na COS TAKIEGO pod koniec. Tak czy inaczej ksiazka byla poczatkowo przyjemna, napisana ladnym jezykiem. Wszystko co poczatkowo sadzilam o tej ksiazce uleglo drastycznej zmianie na ostatnich 50 kartkach, ale mimo to 3,5/5.
July 24, 2025
I picked up this book in a Book Exchange box in Hofn, Iceland. I left behind Night Road by Kristin Hannah.
A woman and her two girls live on her family’s land outside of a small Texas town. Her brother has now served ten years of his sentence and he’s back coming home because he has no other place to go. Her childhood memories make her sympathetic to his plight and she goes to pick him up, making sure she is late to send him a subtle message.
We are privileged to his thoughts, and he does have darkness and violence in him. He has problems with women, and we gradually learn what he did to end up in prison.
He says trouble is behind him, but the town sees differently. He is made to feel very unwelcome. The Reverend visits the home before he arrives to try to dissuade his sister from letting him in. He then preaches forgiveness to his congregation, but says some things/people can’t be forgiven.
The only person who seems to like him and wants to be his friend, is his 11-year-old niece. She wants to know the reason he went to prison, but everyone around her is protecting her innocence by keeping it secret. Secrets inevitably get out, though.
The book sort of has a happy, or at least satisfying, ending.
A woman and her two girls live on her family’s land outside of a small Texas town. Her brother has now served ten years of his sentence and he’s back coming home because he has no other place to go. Her childhood memories make her sympathetic to his plight and she goes to pick him up, making sure she is late to send him a subtle message.
We are privileged to his thoughts, and he does have darkness and violence in him. He has problems with women, and we gradually learn what he did to end up in prison.
He says trouble is behind him, but the town sees differently. He is made to feel very unwelcome. The Reverend visits the home before he arrives to try to dissuade his sister from letting him in. He then preaches forgiveness to his congregation, but says some things/people can’t be forgiven.
The only person who seems to like him and wants to be his friend, is his 11-year-old niece. She wants to know the reason he went to prison, but everyone around her is protecting her innocence by keeping it secret. Secrets inevitably get out, though.
The book sort of has a happy, or at least satisfying, ending.
October 25, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book, but for the most part I felt conflicted (in a good way?). I would side with Joanne some of the time and like Jasper and want him to be good and the other times I would side with Katie, just proves that life is not always black and white.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be adding Vanessa Ronan to my list of must read authors.
**** I had to stop reading at the 'rabbit' section as it made me feel sick, took me about 10 minutes before I could pick up the book again.****
I really enjoyed this book, but for the most part I felt conflicted (in a good way?). I would side with Joanne some of the time and like Jasper and want him to be good and the other times I would side with Katie, just proves that life is not always black and white.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be adding Vanessa Ronan to my list of must read authors.
**** I had to stop reading at the 'rabbit' section as it made me feel sick, took me about 10 minutes before I could pick up the book again.****
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