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The Summer of 1974
New from the author of The Lonely Tree and the Olivia series.
Two strangers from opposite sides of the globe, both at a crossroads in their lives, meet in Rome. They could hardly be more different, so why do they feel so connected?
Gavrielle Rozmann (daughter of Ilana Rozmann from The Lonely Tree) is on leave from a career in the Israeli army. After suffering personal loss and the general trauma of the Yom Kippur War – and the horrific terror attacks that followed it, she is also dealing with a personal crisis. Born an orphan, she has received information that a man in Florida might be able to help her find the father she has never known. Should she get on a plane for Florida? Instead, she boards one for Rome – for a vacation and time to think. There she meets Charlie Freeman (from Whatever Happened to Mourning Free?).
Charlie, a young black man, has just graduated from the University of Michigan and Charlene, the white woman who has given him a home, has big plans for him. She believes he could become a true leader, following in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
But her plans have little to do with the future he envisions for himself. What better place for a student of art and architecture to take time for reflection than the open air museum called Rome?
These two strangers – who seem to have absolutely nothing in common – discover they share a basic reality that other people may find difficult to understand. The Summer of 1974 draws you into the lives of believable, well-developed characters. People you care about, even when you don’t approve of their actions. Though set in a specific historical/political context, this book is about personal relationships – love, friendship, and family.
Two strangers from opposite sides of the globe, both at a crossroads in their lives, meet in Rome. They could hardly be more different, so why do they feel so connected?
Gavrielle Rozmann (daughter of Ilana Rozmann from The Lonely Tree) is on leave from a career in the Israeli army. After suffering personal loss and the general trauma of the Yom Kippur War – and the horrific terror attacks that followed it, she is also dealing with a personal crisis. Born an orphan, she has received information that a man in Florida might be able to help her find the father she has never known. Should she get on a plane for Florida? Instead, she boards one for Rome – for a vacation and time to think. There she meets Charlie Freeman (from Whatever Happened to Mourning Free?).
Charlie, a young black man, has just graduated from the University of Michigan and Charlene, the white woman who has given him a home, has big plans for him. She believes he could become a true leader, following in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
But her plans have little to do with the future he envisions for himself. What better place for a student of art and architecture to take time for reflection than the open air museum called Rome?
These two strangers – who seem to have absolutely nothing in common – discover they share a basic reality that other people may find difficult to understand. The Summer of 1974 draws you into the lives of believable, well-developed characters. People you care about, even when you don’t approve of their actions. Though set in a specific historical/political context, this book is about personal relationships – love, friendship, and family.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2019
118 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Yael Politis
13 books57 followersI grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, in the house on the cover of Book 3 of the Olivia series, not far from the location of Olivia's farm.
While studying at the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, I spent two summers in Israel and ended up coming back to make my life here. Since then I've spent a lot of time traveling between the Middle East and the Midwest, loving both my homes.
While living on Kibbutz Ein Tsurim I learned the story of the Etzion Bloc during Israel’s War of Independence – from people who had lived through it. It was many years before I dared to try to put it down on paper. At that time, fantasies aside, I considered writing nothing more than a hobby.
I did, however, post the first chapters of The Lonely Tree on a writers' workshop run by the London Arts Council. There it received a Book of the Year award and Holland Park Press of London asked to see the complete manuscript. Not long afterwards I received an email from them. “We want to publish your book.” Hey, you never know when a fantasy is going to come true.
For years I had been researching the backdrop for Olivia's story and based many of the details in the Olivia Series on letters and journals passed down through my family, over seven generations of lives lived in the American Midwest. I also received a great deal of information and insight from my sister Martha, who lived with her husband in a modern log home, hunted her own land, cut her own firewood, and was as independent and stubborn as Olivia. Then self-publishing happened. The prospect of being able to publish that story independently was a great motivator, and I finally completed and published the five books of the Olivia series.
While studying at the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, I spent two summers in Israel and ended up coming back to make my life here. Since then I've spent a lot of time traveling between the Middle East and the Midwest, loving both my homes.
While living on Kibbutz Ein Tsurim I learned the story of the Etzion Bloc during Israel’s War of Independence – from people who had lived through it. It was many years before I dared to try to put it down on paper. At that time, fantasies aside, I considered writing nothing more than a hobby.
I did, however, post the first chapters of The Lonely Tree on a writers' workshop run by the London Arts Council. There it received a Book of the Year award and Holland Park Press of London asked to see the complete manuscript. Not long afterwards I received an email from them. “We want to publish your book.” Hey, you never know when a fantasy is going to come true.
For years I had been researching the backdrop for Olivia's story and based many of the details in the Olivia Series on letters and journals passed down through my family, over seven generations of lives lived in the American Midwest. I also received a great deal of information and insight from my sister Martha, who lived with her husband in a modern log home, hunted her own land, cut her own firewood, and was as independent and stubborn as Olivia. Then self-publishing happened. The prospect of being able to publish that story independently was a great motivator, and I finally completed and published the five books of the Olivia series.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 21, 2023
Immediately relatable
Gavrielle Rozmann's character was something easy for me to relate to. She is desperate to belong somewhere, to someone she can call family, not counting her grandmother who appears somewhat detached.
Gavrielle is young, intelligent but nearly friendless. Having served in the IDF and experienced her fair share of war trauma, she is keen to find out who her biological father is. Her quest takes her to Rome first, then to Sharm-al-Sheikh, and then finally to the US.
She finds a friend on the journey, she finds her dad too, but most importantly she finds out that who she is remains unchanged at the core, dad or no dad. And she figures where and to whom she wants to belong.
The story is interesting, thrilling and funny (thanks to Charlie Freeman, she boy she meets in Rome). The writing is engaging, but could have been copy-edited better.
Also, I didn't understand why the author chose to name 2 Yemeni women the same across her books (Amos's mom and Gavrielle's colleage in Sharm are both Yemeni and are both called Rachel).
Also, I was looking forward to read about the interaction between Leah (Tonia's mom) and Mrs. Rozmann but such a natural and closure-type episode was dropped.
What was also intriguing was the author failed to mention whatever happened to Amos's mom and aunt who used to live with them in that large house. This book was not strictly a continuation of the previous one 'The Lonely Tree', but it did pick up more or less from where the previous one left, and shares some characters, so it would have been nice to know what happened to other familiar characters.
Even so, this story was also thoroughly enjoyable, and I will soon be checking out the boxset of the Olivia series by the same author, it's available on KU!
Gavrielle Rozmann's character was something easy for me to relate to. She is desperate to belong somewhere, to someone she can call family, not counting her grandmother who appears somewhat detached.
Gavrielle is young, intelligent but nearly friendless. Having served in the IDF and experienced her fair share of war trauma, she is keen to find out who her biological father is. Her quest takes her to Rome first, then to Sharm-al-Sheikh, and then finally to the US.
She finds a friend on the journey, she finds her dad too, but most importantly she finds out that who she is remains unchanged at the core, dad or no dad. And she figures where and to whom she wants to belong.
The story is interesting, thrilling and funny (thanks to Charlie Freeman, she boy she meets in Rome). The writing is engaging, but could have been copy-edited better.
Also, I didn't understand why the author chose to name 2 Yemeni women the same across her books (Amos's mom and Gavrielle's colleage in Sharm are both Yemeni and are both called Rachel).
Also, I was looking forward to read about the interaction between Leah (Tonia's mom) and Mrs. Rozmann but such a natural and closure-type episode was dropped.
What was also intriguing was the author failed to mention whatever happened to Amos's mom and aunt who used to live with them in that large house. This book was not strictly a continuation of the previous one 'The Lonely Tree', but it did pick up more or less from where the previous one left, and shares some characters, so it would have been nice to know what happened to other familiar characters.
Even so, this story was also thoroughly enjoyable, and I will soon be checking out the boxset of the Olivia series by the same author, it's available on KU!
February 20, 2019
Great to see another book from this talented author from Israel, whose writing I enjoy very much.
One of her many strengths that make her stories so good is the detailed research that goes into them. Again in this one that’s true. So besides connecting with the well-drawn characters and caring about them, I learned something about the history and politics of the setting, the Middle East. She weaves in, well and simply, that context, which adds to understanding of the story without dragging down the flow at all.
The central character is a strong female — yay — who is sleuthing some family history, and I very much enjoyed the literary technique used of letting us into her mind and heart by showing us in first person what she’s thinking and feeling. Then in a supporting role is a character from Michigan who makes his reappearance from an earlier book, and I was glad to “be with him” again.
Will definitely be watching for the next in the Gavrielle series or any other volume from Yael Politis!
It was an honor to have been given an advance look at the manuscript and to help with copyediting pre-publication. Full disclosure: she’s a friend from my Michigan hometown decades ago, with whom I reconnected in recent years via social media. She’s a great novelist. More disclosure: I wasn’t compensated for that work; I would not give it five stars if I didn’t find it to be worthy. Commended, as are all of Yael’s novels.
One of her many strengths that make her stories so good is the detailed research that goes into them. Again in this one that’s true. So besides connecting with the well-drawn characters and caring about them, I learned something about the history and politics of the setting, the Middle East. She weaves in, well and simply, that context, which adds to understanding of the story without dragging down the flow at all.
The central character is a strong female — yay — who is sleuthing some family history, and I very much enjoyed the literary technique used of letting us into her mind and heart by showing us in first person what she’s thinking and feeling. Then in a supporting role is a character from Michigan who makes his reappearance from an earlier book, and I was glad to “be with him” again.
Will definitely be watching for the next in the Gavrielle series or any other volume from Yael Politis!
It was an honor to have been given an advance look at the manuscript and to help with copyediting pre-publication. Full disclosure: she’s a friend from my Michigan hometown decades ago, with whom I reconnected in recent years via social media. She’s a great novelist. More disclosure: I wasn’t compensated for that work; I would not give it five stars if I didn’t find it to be worthy. Commended, as are all of Yael’s novels.
July 16, 2019
I enjoyed this book more so than The Lonely Tree. I loved the characters from the Mourning Free and Olivia stories so combining the two themes into this book was a clever idea.
I liked the characters and it was a nice story. A little tension, a little mystery but just a good solid story with well developed characters. Some we had met before and some were new.
The settings are very well described so you can feel a part of the story. I loved when the workers had a dance party in the desert, it was so vividly written.
Gavrielle is a nice strong female character that you can appreciate and get behind. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I liked the characters and it was a nice story. A little tension, a little mystery but just a good solid story with well developed characters. Some we had met before and some were new.
The settings are very well described so you can feel a part of the story. I loved when the workers had a dance party in the desert, it was so vividly written.
Gavrielle is a nice strong female character that you can appreciate and get behind. I look forward to the next book in the series.
July 12, 2021
The Summer of 1974
Author Yael Politis has one again "hit the ball out of the park." I absolutely love her work. Gavriell & Charlie are two completely different people, one from Israel, one from America; however life has dealt them so much the same circumstances, they can be & are the best of friends.
The greatest of storylines presented by the very best of characters. I've read Ms Politis' other books, were I younger, I would insist on owning her books for my library. She is the best of Authors; knows how to put "life" into words, so you live the story she's telling.
Author Yael Politis has one again "hit the ball out of the park." I absolutely love her work. Gavriell & Charlie are two completely different people, one from Israel, one from America; however life has dealt them so much the same circumstances, they can be & are the best of friends.
The greatest of storylines presented by the very best of characters. I've read Ms Politis' other books, were I younger, I would insist on owning her books for my library. She is the best of Authors; knows how to put "life" into words, so you live the story she's telling.
March 2, 2022
This historical fiction book continues the theme in the Olivia series of exploring complicated relationships between racially diverse individuals. Yael Politis' books ring true because the author lived and researched in Israel. It was interesting to see a viewpoint of a fictional Israeli of the Arab-Israeli War of 1973. I have vivid memories of it since my husband was stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean at that time. I look forward to reading more books by Yael Politis.
March 5, 2019
A Great Read
I knew I had to read this book, because I have read every book Yael Politis has written. All of her books are wonderful and you learn so much. I was 24 in 1974 so it was easy for me to relate to the time period. I highly recommend this book and you definitely won't be dissapointed.
I knew I had to read this book, because I have read every book Yael Politis has written. All of her books are wonderful and you learn so much. I was 24 in 1974 so it was easy for me to relate to the time period. I highly recommend this book and you definitely won't be dissapointed.
June 1, 2020
I think i want to read every book written by Yael Politis. Her writing is beautiful and her research is excellent as to time and place and events. Her stories are spellbinding and hold you all the way through so that you don't want it to end or at least look forward to what will happen in the characters lives from than on. I recommend it anyone that enjoys reading about life.
June 23, 2019
Well written story set both in & out of Israel just around the time of her independence, about 2 young people drawn together when they meet on holiday.
June 4, 2020
Entertaining and educational! I love the way Politis reveals honest inner dialogue as well as narrative dialogue that includes clever vernacular.
May 2, 2022
Love love loved this book!!
Such a great story. Yael has such a way with words. This was a book I couldn't put down. My family came second this weekend because mom had a book!
Such a great story. Yael has such a way with words. This was a book I couldn't put down. My family came second this weekend because mom had a book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews