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Summer of '77: Beaches, bars and boogie nights in Ibiza
A holiday can change everything…
…it did for Fred.
He went on a two-week break with three friends to the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 1976. It was so enjoyable they all vowed to come back for the following season.
In April 1977, Fred returned to Ibiza, alone, in pursuit of his dream.
Behind him, he left his family, his girlfriend, and a promising career in banking.
Challenges lay ahead.
This would be no holiday.
He needed a place to stay and to find work that would sustain him through the next six months.
This true to life memoir follows 21-year-old Fred’s adventures as he acclimatises to living abroad. In a time before instant communication, he keeps in touch with family and friends by letter. They are his lifeline to home.
If you enjoy reading about people’s life-changing experiences, then this book is for you.
Get it now.
…it did for Fred.
He went on a two-week break with three friends to the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 1976. It was so enjoyable they all vowed to come back for the following season.
In April 1977, Fred returned to Ibiza, alone, in pursuit of his dream.
Behind him, he left his family, his girlfriend, and a promising career in banking.
Challenges lay ahead.
This would be no holiday.
He needed a place to stay and to find work that would sustain him through the next six months.
This true to life memoir follows 21-year-old Fred’s adventures as he acclimatises to living abroad. In a time before instant communication, he keeps in touch with family and friends by letter. They are his lifeline to home.
If you enjoy reading about people’s life-changing experiences, then this book is for you.
Get it now.
- GenresMemoir
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2019
45 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Robert Fear
19 books37 followersBorn in Leicester in 1955, Robert's family moved to Surrey when he was 11. He was educated at Reigate Grammar School. After this he worked in a bank in the city for several years before getting the travel bug. Fred, a nickname he got at school, stuck throughout his travels and has remained with him to this day. His travels took him to Ibiza for the summer of 1977, hitch-hiking around Europe in 1978 and the USA and Canada in 1979. During this time he also settled and worked in Germany. Fred's Diary 1981 was written during the 158 days he spent travelling around Asia.
These days Robert is happily settled in Eastbourne, East Sussex where he lives with his wife and three cats. He works as a software consultant and has been able to combine work with some travel during the past fifteen years, having visited countries as far apart as Australia, Singapore, Ghana and Suriname.
Additional background information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/fredsdiary1981
These days Robert is happily settled in Eastbourne, East Sussex where he lives with his wife and three cats. He works as a software consultant and has been able to combine work with some travel during the past fifteen years, having visited countries as far apart as Australia, Singapore, Ghana and Suriname.
Additional background information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/fredsdiary1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 17, 2020
Plenty of sunshine, sex and sangria!
Books are not just words, paper, and nice-looking covers. They are powerful representations of ideas and philosophies that are just waiting to be heard. Some books are revolutionary, some are reserved; while some are just waiting for the right reader to absorb their words and connect on a more personal level. Books offer expertise, perspective, encouragement and inspiration; they can change your life if you let them! So, pull up a chair, pick up SUMMER OF ‘77: BEACHES, BARS AND BOOGIE NIGHTS IN IBIZA, and allow yourself to live through the eyes of its author, Robert Fear.
Honesty is the key factor for writing a successful memoir. SUMMER OF ‘77 by Robert Fear is a candid and honest look into the authors life as he explores holidaying as a youngster in 70s Spain. As you’d expect from a young man in his twenties living away from home, there’s plenty of sunshine, sex and sangria within its pages! Not for the faint-hearted, but an interesting read, even so.
A literary genre that entails writing about previous events in your life, such as certain life lessons, fascinating stories, miraculous recoveries or rescues, or any other intriguing personal experiences, this book will appeal to those who have lived through that decade. I’ve no doubt that it will also appeal to the younger generation offering insights as to how people communicated without internet or mobile phones.
People write memoirs to fixate, analyze, share, or rethink past events. This book refers to important and significant moments in the authors life. Recommended.
Books are not just words, paper, and nice-looking covers. They are powerful representations of ideas and philosophies that are just waiting to be heard. Some books are revolutionary, some are reserved; while some are just waiting for the right reader to absorb their words and connect on a more personal level. Books offer expertise, perspective, encouragement and inspiration; they can change your life if you let them! So, pull up a chair, pick up SUMMER OF ‘77: BEACHES, BARS AND BOOGIE NIGHTS IN IBIZA, and allow yourself to live through the eyes of its author, Robert Fear.
Honesty is the key factor for writing a successful memoir. SUMMER OF ‘77 by Robert Fear is a candid and honest look into the authors life as he explores holidaying as a youngster in 70s Spain. As you’d expect from a young man in his twenties living away from home, there’s plenty of sunshine, sex and sangria within its pages! Not for the faint-hearted, but an interesting read, even so.
A literary genre that entails writing about previous events in your life, such as certain life lessons, fascinating stories, miraculous recoveries or rescues, or any other intriguing personal experiences, this book will appeal to those who have lived through that decade. I’ve no doubt that it will also appeal to the younger generation offering insights as to how people communicated without internet or mobile phones.
People write memoirs to fixate, analyze, share, or rethink past events. This book refers to important and significant moments in the authors life. Recommended.
June 24, 2023
Fun in the Sun
I haven’t travelled much so when I started reading this memoir, I had to look up where Ibiza was and how Robert got there taking various methods of transportation from his home.
Once I had that all straight I was ready to begin the story of his summer of 1977. Robert had visited Ibiza previously and now had returned to temporarily find lodging and work plus have lots of fun. Meeting people (especially girls I might add) came easily for him and the book includes photos showing a young, handsome, blonde and friendly guy.
Reading about his adventures while there, left me with a sense of a person who loves life, people and lives each day to the fullest.
He was very open and honest of his sexual encounters during that time period so this old lady was a bit taken aback by this but realize it’s part of his story.
A read to remember.
I haven’t travelled much so when I started reading this memoir, I had to look up where Ibiza was and how Robert got there taking various methods of transportation from his home.
Once I had that all straight I was ready to begin the story of his summer of 1977. Robert had visited Ibiza previously and now had returned to temporarily find lodging and work plus have lots of fun. Meeting people (especially girls I might add) came easily for him and the book includes photos showing a young, handsome, blonde and friendly guy.
Reading about his adventures while there, left me with a sense of a person who loves life, people and lives each day to the fullest.
He was very open and honest of his sexual encounters during that time period so this old lady was a bit taken aback by this but realize it’s part of his story.
A read to remember.
September 14, 2019
I enjoyed it so much!
This was a very enjoyable memoir. Well-presented and polished, this is written from letters etc. the author has kept from his time working a summer season in Ibiza when he was 21. I love memoirs written from diaries and letters. Good to see actual extracts from the letters included here, also pictures of memorabilia of his trip, eg. a ferry ticket.
He says, the summer that changed his life. Intriguing. And what followed was certainly honest and revealing.
After leaving school Robert Fear worked in a bank. He'd holidayed in Ibiza before and looked forward to going back there. He wanted to go abroad for six months. This trip was in 1977, a few years before his 1981 trip covered in his earlier book, ‘Fred's Diary 1981: Travels in Asia’. I do like diary format and enjoyed his other travel book. But I know some don't enjoy that format as much. I like the way this is written and it will perhaps have wider appeal. I can see how his writing has matured since his other book. I think it is his best book yet.
I started this straight away, even though I was 70% of the way through a true crime book. I found it interesting, and quick, easy reading.
I liked the links to YouTube-eg. the Boogie Nights track (and others). Atmosphere. Sort of like a book soundtrack. Being a musician, it really added to it for me. Some World News at the time is included, via a letter from his father.
Another trip of a lifetime, an important time in his life, not just a short holiday, but a whole season in these parts. Certainly varied adventures! Lots of things happen in these few months. Not repetitive at all.
A fun book. Many people I know have worked abroad for a summer season, or a year. At holiday resorts, or nannying. A scary experience for me, so not one I would have had the courage to do. Fair play to those who do, and when they write of their experiences, to let us have a nosy-it can be very entertaining!
I like the way this is written. It's been very easy reading. Entertaining and enjoyable.
I read many selling up and moving abroad memoirs. This is a little bit different for a change. A young man, widening his travel, working a season in Spain. You would imagine work, play, sleep, and that it would be repetitive. It's not. It’s an honest, revealing, and thoroughly entertaining account of a memorable time in the author's life.
This was a very enjoyable memoir. Well-presented and polished, this is written from letters etc. the author has kept from his time working a summer season in Ibiza when he was 21. I love memoirs written from diaries and letters. Good to see actual extracts from the letters included here, also pictures of memorabilia of his trip, eg. a ferry ticket.
He says, the summer that changed his life. Intriguing. And what followed was certainly honest and revealing.
After leaving school Robert Fear worked in a bank. He'd holidayed in Ibiza before and looked forward to going back there. He wanted to go abroad for six months. This trip was in 1977, a few years before his 1981 trip covered in his earlier book, ‘Fred's Diary 1981: Travels in Asia’. I do like diary format and enjoyed his other travel book. But I know some don't enjoy that format as much. I like the way this is written and it will perhaps have wider appeal. I can see how his writing has matured since his other book. I think it is his best book yet.
I started this straight away, even though I was 70% of the way through a true crime book. I found it interesting, and quick, easy reading.
I liked the links to YouTube-eg. the Boogie Nights track (and others). Atmosphere. Sort of like a book soundtrack. Being a musician, it really added to it for me. Some World News at the time is included, via a letter from his father.
Another trip of a lifetime, an important time in his life, not just a short holiday, but a whole season in these parts. Certainly varied adventures! Lots of things happen in these few months. Not repetitive at all.
A fun book. Many people I know have worked abroad for a summer season, or a year. At holiday resorts, or nannying. A scary experience for me, so not one I would have had the courage to do. Fair play to those who do, and when they write of their experiences, to let us have a nosy-it can be very entertaining!
I like the way this is written. It's been very easy reading. Entertaining and enjoyable.
I read many selling up and moving abroad memoirs. This is a little bit different for a change. A young man, widening his travel, working a season in Spain. You would imagine work, play, sleep, and that it would be repetitive. It's not. It’s an honest, revealing, and thoroughly entertaining account of a memorable time in the author's life.
December 10, 2019
Clubbing '77 style in Ibiza!
After spending two weeks in Es Cana, Ibiza, Spain in 1976, Fred and his mates aim to return in 1977.
Fred remained determined and was the only one to do so. Although, his mates have plans to join him at some point. He arrives right before the height of the tourist season and returns to a familiar pub to drum up some work and a place to lay his head.
Fred settles in quickly and things start falling into place. He visits places he remembers from the year before and spends time soaking up sand and sun before starting in as a laborer.
Things heat up as the tourist season starts and he begins bartending. Which comes with its own set of problems.
Written with intense honesty about this time of his life and it takes you back to a time of carefree abandon of the 70's. Being of the same age as Fred, I remember this time well.
I was glad that Fred saved all the letters he received from England from that time and he includes them in his story well. Some from his family, girlfriend at the time of arrival in Ibiza and from girls that he meets in Ibiza that return to England.
An enjoyable read that flows very nicely.
After spending two weeks in Es Cana, Ibiza, Spain in 1976, Fred and his mates aim to return in 1977.
Fred remained determined and was the only one to do so. Although, his mates have plans to join him at some point. He arrives right before the height of the tourist season and returns to a familiar pub to drum up some work and a place to lay his head.
Fred settles in quickly and things start falling into place. He visits places he remembers from the year before and spends time soaking up sand and sun before starting in as a laborer.
Things heat up as the tourist season starts and he begins bartending. Which comes with its own set of problems.
Written with intense honesty about this time of his life and it takes you back to a time of carefree abandon of the 70's. Being of the same age as Fred, I remember this time well.
I was glad that Fred saved all the letters he received from England from that time and he includes them in his story well. Some from his family, girlfriend at the time of arrival in Ibiza and from girls that he meets in Ibiza that return to England.
An enjoyable read that flows very nicely.
February 13, 2020
I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of this book. I've read and enjoyed other books by this author - I think this one is my favorite so far. 'Fred' as he's known visits Ibiza, Spain with his mates in 1976 - they vow to return the following year - Fred returned and stayed - luckily he'd made some useful contacts and so found work and somewhere to 'kip'. Fortunately, Fred retained letters he written and received from that time - these were included effortlessly in his memoir. Well told, well written - a good holiday read.
March 12, 2020
This memoir is an interesting mix of adventure, responsibility, freedom and fun. Travel to Ibiza, work to pay your bills, take time to enjoy all that life on a holiday island has to offer, fall in love regularly and dodge the shysters. Oh and remind yourself never to invite your friends to share accommodation you have paid a bond for. Never. Loved it!
August 20, 2023
Beaches, Bars, and Boogie-Nights in Ibiza
With ‘Summer of ‘77’ Robert Fear recalls a period when charter flights and package holidays were still a novelty. Greenpeace was active, and he gives the reader a small insight into the impact tourism had on the environment.
Also, this was a period when people believed in free sex and had little compunction about booze and drugs. Hippies and beatniks had a field day, and many followed their lead.
Fred (Robert Fear’s nickname) has left a steady job to travel and explore the world. His experiences in different seasonal jobs are varied, but he finds new ways to enjoy life. Charming and good-looking, he has no trouble scoring with the women, and he takes the reader through his experiences with lightness and humour.
The narrative includes letters from friends and family. Reading those made me ponder the fact that letter writers don’t always show great talent for writing. Still, their letters bring variation and depth to the patchwork of stories and memories.
‘Summer of ‘77’ was an entertaining read, but it also touched on the political situation in Spain after Franco. That rounded off the memoir. All in all, Robert Fear made you think about the choices people make.
With ‘Summer of ‘77’ Robert Fear recalls a period when charter flights and package holidays were still a novelty. Greenpeace was active, and he gives the reader a small insight into the impact tourism had on the environment.
Also, this was a period when people believed in free sex and had little compunction about booze and drugs. Hippies and beatniks had a field day, and many followed their lead.
Fred (Robert Fear’s nickname) has left a steady job to travel and explore the world. His experiences in different seasonal jobs are varied, but he finds new ways to enjoy life. Charming and good-looking, he has no trouble scoring with the women, and he takes the reader through his experiences with lightness and humour.
The narrative includes letters from friends and family. Reading those made me ponder the fact that letter writers don’t always show great talent for writing. Still, their letters bring variation and depth to the patchwork of stories and memories.
‘Summer of ‘77’ was an entertaining read, but it also touched on the political situation in Spain after Franco. That rounded off the memoir. All in all, Robert Fear made you think about the choices people make.
June 19, 2020
“Summer of ‘77” is a slice into Mr. Fear’s life when he was 21 years old. After taking a vacation to Ibiza, Spain, Fred, his nickname, went back the next year to stay six months. He walked away from his job and girlfriend and found a place to live and work. I loved being back in the 70s, it was such a different time. I could imagine being on the island and walking through the streets with Fred. There was hard work involved, but also a lot of partying and enjoying female company. This is a journey of a young man who was determined to explore more than his corner of the world. I not only loved seeing this through his eyes but being able to read the letters he received from back home. I felt that gave a balanced perspective. This was a page-turning read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
October 19, 2019
I’ve read quite a few of Fred’s books now, and this is probably my favourite. Fresh, funny, and extremely well-edited/written, it tells of a summer of love and coming of age which shaped a young man’s future in a way that mirrors my own experience. While Fred was climbing ladders and doing up the Bee Gee’s villa on Es Cana in Ibiza, I was shinning up ladders on an Israeli kibbutz. Also, I managed to do a Club 18 to 30 holiday – of which there is much mention – on Ibiza myself, though the lethal Hierbus aniseed and herb liquor which lays Fred low on one occasion wiped the memory of my whole trip.
I really liked how the author collates his experiences as a bar man on Es Cana for six months alongside letters from home and personal reflections on life in the 70s. Wages were low, but so were prices, and we take so much for granted nowadays. Who remembers the bread strike of 1977? And who remembers Marc Bolan going to the top of the hit parade just after he died?
This is another fascinating time capsule from the pen of Mr Fear, and I would totally recommend it. Written in almost diary format – lots of little chapters with a rotating cast of characters – it benefits from great dialogue (g’wan Fred, turn it into a screenplay!) and fine descriptive passages on the island Fred tours by moped. Speaking of which, I laughed out loud at Jasper Carrot singing ‘Funky Moped’! Though all is not fun and laughter, there are hard knocks too, and Fred has some hard decisions to make…
I really liked how the author collates his experiences as a bar man on Es Cana for six months alongside letters from home and personal reflections on life in the 70s. Wages were low, but so were prices, and we take so much for granted nowadays. Who remembers the bread strike of 1977? And who remembers Marc Bolan going to the top of the hit parade just after he died?
This is another fascinating time capsule from the pen of Mr Fear, and I would totally recommend it. Written in almost diary format – lots of little chapters with a rotating cast of characters – it benefits from great dialogue (g’wan Fred, turn it into a screenplay!) and fine descriptive passages on the island Fred tours by moped. Speaking of which, I laughed out loud at Jasper Carrot singing ‘Funky Moped’! Though all is not fun and laughter, there are hard knocks too, and Fred has some hard decisions to make…
September 15, 2019
Fred decided to work for a year before going to college and got a job at a bank but the pay was so good he ended up working there for 3 yrs. Back in the good ole days before tourism became such big business Fred and some of his mates went to Es Cana, Ibiza for a summer holiday. Of course they all loved it there and made a pact to return the next year. In '77 when Fred went back before his friends he realized that he would have to get a job and was fortunate enough to work as a laborer on a construction site--with a tan and muscles with his blond hair he was a "chick" magnet. This book is written so you feel like you are there among friends. I am amazed that Fred is still alive and would think that his liver is pickled. One thing he realized is going on vacation for 2 weeks is nothing like going when you have to work to live there. I love the letters from home that he adds and the one from his dad with current events was very interesting. This is a great book that will make young ones wish they were around back in an easier time. I highly recommend this book.
September 26, 2019
I was interested to read this book as I too was addicted to Ibiza and specifically to Es Cana, where this book takes place. Easy to read, honest, and strangely addictive, it is hard to put down once you start reading. As a teenager or young adult of the 70s it will bring back memories, some good, some OMG moments - did I really do that? The lust for travel, for experiences, for leaving the humdrum life of the UK as a young adult are all brought to life. Highly recommended for a few hours reliving the feelings of youth, freedom and recklessness.
November 3, 2019
An entertaining read.
This is an amusing memoir of life on the island of Ibiza for Robert (Fred) during the Summer of 1977.
He tells of his various jobs, the friends and conquests he made along the way, as well as some sight-seeing adventures. The reader is transported to this popular holiday resort to share these experiences with him.
This is an amusing memoir of life on the island of Ibiza for Robert (Fred) during the Summer of 1977.
He tells of his various jobs, the friends and conquests he made along the way, as well as some sight-seeing adventures. The reader is transported to this popular holiday resort to share these experiences with him.
June 20, 2023
Summer of '77: Beaches, bars and boogie nights in Ibiza by Robert Fear is unabashedly & unapologetically everything you imagine and then some!
1977: First commercial flight of the Concord; Elvis died; Star Wars opened; and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was playing everywhere in my hometown. But for “Fred,” aka the author Robert Fear, it was a year that began with a seminal pivot away from a predictable and narrow banker’s 9 to 5 life in the UK to an expansive and liberating horizon of possibility for fun and sun on Ibiza. Who wouldn’t choose the later? But then again, who among us is actually brave enough to leave good and steady employment, a girlfriend, and supportive family to live out that dream? Not I. Yet, I feel enriched (and a bit inebriated) by tagging along on this fascinating adventure in Robert Fear’s memoir … carpe diem, and all that!
Here is a young man flinging himself into another culture, finding work, making ends meet, but also drinking in (literally and figuratively) everything Ibiza has to offer. Fred wanted a fully immersive experience, and he was willing to work hard for that. Construction, bartending, every job he took on was a means to an end. His work ethic and sense of responsibility and reliability is praiseworthy. And as my abuelo used to say, “we should work to live, not live to work.” This author exemplified this edict in 1977.
One might imagine him — a white guy (blond, blue-eyed, tanned, muscled, mmmmhmm) — as privileged, wealthy, even entitled. But they would be wrong. Fred’s gratitude is an undercurrent throughout every adventure, every encounter. And underpinning this summer fling in a far-flung paradise, is the grounding effect of letters to and from his home. They provided a strong foundation for his youthful abandon and defiance of limitations.
This reader is grateful that, unlike Icarus, Fred survived his time in the sun and his transition from boyhood to manhood. Highly recommend.
1977: First commercial flight of the Concord; Elvis died; Star Wars opened; and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was playing everywhere in my hometown. But for “Fred,” aka the author Robert Fear, it was a year that began with a seminal pivot away from a predictable and narrow banker’s 9 to 5 life in the UK to an expansive and liberating horizon of possibility for fun and sun on Ibiza. Who wouldn’t choose the later? But then again, who among us is actually brave enough to leave good and steady employment, a girlfriend, and supportive family to live out that dream? Not I. Yet, I feel enriched (and a bit inebriated) by tagging along on this fascinating adventure in Robert Fear’s memoir … carpe diem, and all that!
Here is a young man flinging himself into another culture, finding work, making ends meet, but also drinking in (literally and figuratively) everything Ibiza has to offer. Fred wanted a fully immersive experience, and he was willing to work hard for that. Construction, bartending, every job he took on was a means to an end. His work ethic and sense of responsibility and reliability is praiseworthy. And as my abuelo used to say, “we should work to live, not live to work.” This author exemplified this edict in 1977.
One might imagine him — a white guy (blond, blue-eyed, tanned, muscled, mmmmhmm) — as privileged, wealthy, even entitled. But they would be wrong. Fred’s gratitude is an undercurrent throughout every adventure, every encounter. And underpinning this summer fling in a far-flung paradise, is the grounding effect of letters to and from his home. They provided a strong foundation for his youthful abandon and defiance of limitations.
This reader is grateful that, unlike Icarus, Fred survived his time in the sun and his transition from boyhood to manhood. Highly recommend.
January 13, 2022
It is always interesting to read about the experiences that played a part in shaping someone’s life in a significant way. In this enjoyable little memoir, we see things from a young man’s perspective when he throws in his job and travels to Spain to work there for a season. It will resonate with those old enough to have lived through the 1970s who can remember what the Balearic Isles were like before they became overly commercialised.
The book was particularly interesting for me as Santa Eulalia is a familiar place that I, too, fell in love with after my first visit, so much so that I returned there for five years in succession (early 2000s).
Robert Fear paints a colourful picture of the island itself, the network of helpful friends he made and how this chapter in his life had a big impact, inspiring him to travel further afield. There are no great revelations to distinguish his season abroad from that of many like-minded young men of his age, seduced by the idea of some sun, sex and an endless round of partying on foreign soil. But what stands out is his determination to do whatever was necessary in order to realise his dreams. Rather than give up when his funds were low and his venture seemed destined to fail, his resolve strengthened. I admire the way he refused to be defeated and tackled some gruelling jobs that involved long hours and poor pay in order to fund his expenses (being reminded of the cost of living at that time was another interesting factor). We share the rough and the smooth and watch the author’s confidence grow as he manages to overcome the obstacles.
A light-hearted read that is well edited and flows along easily - an ideal book for anyone wishing to put their feet up and escape from the gloomy British winter.
The book was particularly interesting for me as Santa Eulalia is a familiar place that I, too, fell in love with after my first visit, so much so that I returned there for five years in succession (early 2000s).
Robert Fear paints a colourful picture of the island itself, the network of helpful friends he made and how this chapter in his life had a big impact, inspiring him to travel further afield. There are no great revelations to distinguish his season abroad from that of many like-minded young men of his age, seduced by the idea of some sun, sex and an endless round of partying on foreign soil. But what stands out is his determination to do whatever was necessary in order to realise his dreams. Rather than give up when his funds were low and his venture seemed destined to fail, his resolve strengthened. I admire the way he refused to be defeated and tackled some gruelling jobs that involved long hours and poor pay in order to fund his expenses (being reminded of the cost of living at that time was another interesting factor). We share the rough and the smooth and watch the author’s confidence grow as he manages to overcome the obstacles.
A light-hearted read that is well edited and flows along easily - an ideal book for anyone wishing to put their feet up and escape from the gloomy British winter.
May 17, 2020
Freedom, adventure, fun and responsibility
I was gifted this book as a prize
I remember this year all too well but for very different reasons...I got married...discovered I was pregnant with my 1st child....Elvis Presley died..what a difference to Roberts Summer of ´77.
As a young man with testosterone running high Fred leaves his family and girlfriend behind to follow his dream and fulfill the promise he made to himself the previous year. He was determined to work and have fun...he had highs and lows....life wasn´t always easy but he had fun. Fred lived life to the full not only working hard but he playing hard and enjoying his romantic encounters.
Through his writings I could imagine what Ibiza was like, this was the good old Ibiza before all the clubbing days. Having lived in Spain and having first hand experience of the sudden storms and devastating floods I know how damaging they can be.
Thank you Robert for making me chuckle and bringing back happy memories of my own, my halcyon days were back in 1974 in Blackpool not quite the same as Ibiza!!
I was gifted this book as a prize
I remember this year all too well but for very different reasons...I got married...discovered I was pregnant with my 1st child....Elvis Presley died..what a difference to Roberts Summer of ´77.
As a young man with testosterone running high Fred leaves his family and girlfriend behind to follow his dream and fulfill the promise he made to himself the previous year. He was determined to work and have fun...he had highs and lows....life wasn´t always easy but he had fun. Fred lived life to the full not only working hard but he playing hard and enjoying his romantic encounters.
Through his writings I could imagine what Ibiza was like, this was the good old Ibiza before all the clubbing days. Having lived in Spain and having first hand experience of the sudden storms and devastating floods I know how damaging they can be.
Thank you Robert for making me chuckle and bringing back happy memories of my own, my halcyon days were back in 1974 in Blackpool not quite the same as Ibiza!!
March 17, 2021
Spain and Portugal always are my two favourite holiday countries, so any memoirs
about them always attracts me very much. The 'Summer of 77' written by Robert
'Fred' Fear absolutely didn't let me down.
I loved the short, clear and chronological chapters and the lovely old pictures as
well. It was written very fluently and I read it easily because the story could interest
me from the beginning until the end. It was so wonderful to learn about his
adventures in Ibiza.
Of course, I want to give this amazing book a 5 * rating. I highly recommend
'Summer of 77' to all readers who like memoirs about Spain and especially about
Ibiza!
about them always attracts me very much. The 'Summer of 77' written by Robert
'Fred' Fear absolutely didn't let me down.
I loved the short, clear and chronological chapters and the lovely old pictures as
well. It was written very fluently and I read it easily because the story could interest
me from the beginning until the end. It was so wonderful to learn about his
adventures in Ibiza.
Of course, I want to give this amazing book a 5 * rating. I highly recommend
'Summer of 77' to all readers who like memoirs about Spain and especially about
Ibiza!
September 30, 2020
Those fun memories!
This entertaining story of 21-year-old Fred, a blonde, blue-eyed Brit who returned to the Spanish tourist island of Ibiza he’d visited the year before, had me laughing, commiserating and remembering my own youthful travels through Europe.
I was astounded at the detail the author recalled from those days. Beautiful imagery caught the charm of the island. His characters, real people who helped him find work, and whose kindness made him feel like a comfortable, integral part of their society, accepted and liked him as he was. His love and care for them comes through clearly, as does his emotional investment in every one of the girls he falls for despite the transient and brief nature of their time together. The news articles and letters to and from home add depth and perspective to the story and reminded me that this is a memoir that reads like a fictional novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and frankly honest account of Fred’s adventures in Ibiza and beyond. I give it five stars and recommend it to anyone who has ever been 21.
This entertaining story of 21-year-old Fred, a blonde, blue-eyed Brit who returned to the Spanish tourist island of Ibiza he’d visited the year before, had me laughing, commiserating and remembering my own youthful travels through Europe.
I was astounded at the detail the author recalled from those days. Beautiful imagery caught the charm of the island. His characters, real people who helped him find work, and whose kindness made him feel like a comfortable, integral part of their society, accepted and liked him as he was. His love and care for them comes through clearly, as does his emotional investment in every one of the girls he falls for despite the transient and brief nature of their time together. The news articles and letters to and from home add depth and perspective to the story and reminded me that this is a memoir that reads like a fictional novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and frankly honest account of Fred’s adventures in Ibiza and beyond. I give it five stars and recommend it to anyone who has ever been 21.
December 27, 2020
A well written easy read. The hilarious adventures of ‘Fred’ on his summer season of discovery in Ibiza. I’ve no idea how he had the energy to work so hard and party harder!
September 24, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir from Robert (aka Fred) Fear! As he took me along with him on the many adventures he had in Ibiza during the summer of 1977, I never lost interest or got bored. That summer changed the author's life. It was not all roses. He had to work hard at different jobs to make ends meet. He slept in a tiny room and shared a bathroom with other tenants. But the magic of the island outweighed the discomforts. Mr. Fear gave me an inside view of moving to a foreign place and becoming a local. He immersed himself in the culture, the people, and the jobs he had to work in order to stay the entire summer. It became apparent throughout the story, that he grew through the experience. His confidence increased and his determination to have more adventures grew. This is a well-written memoir. The author made me feel as if I was there with him. I found it to be highly interesting and entertaining. Anyone who loves to read true stories will surely enjoy this one!
July 12, 2021
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of those days in Ibiza...a lot of partying, but a lot of hard work as well...how did Fred do it all !?!?!
June 30, 2020
Author Robert Fear portrays his youth as, Fred, fulfilling his dreams of traveling and working in Ibiza after a prior two-week holiday with friends. Replaying scenes from the 70s was a poignant reminder of the carefree times afforded to the young. Eating, drinking, working, fighting, and having fun.
Robert paints a richly textured picture of the sights and sounds of tourists on the island over the season. His memories of friends he made, lessons learned, and opportunities he created are vibrant.
The writing is appealing in part due to the amusing anecdotes along with the entertaining style. Young people want acceptance and confidence in themselves. One of his forays into love and play was shared with when he met a nursing student, Cathy.
“The girls smiled as I continued, ‘Friends found it difficult to understand why I wanted to give up such a good career and risk it all by coming here. My parents tried to dissuade me, but my mother supported me, once she knew I had my heart set on it. It confused my younger brother and sister, though, and most of my friend.’
Cathy gushed, ‘It’s a brilliant thing to do.’
I sensed her sexy body close to mine and became aroused.
Monica looked at her empty glass. ‘Anyone want another drink?’
We nodded in agreement. Monica and Janine made their way to the crowded bar for refills.
Cathy whispered in my ear, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but it’s my last night, and I’d love to spend it with you. The other two are heading off to the disco in a while. My roommate, Ann, is with her Spanish fella, so we can have the room to ourselves. Are you up for it?’
My eyes widened. I stuttered, ‘Sounds fantastic.’”
One specific inclusion that caught my attention was the letters. These messages sent to and received from family and friends were charming. In those times, letters helped people keep in touch and share their experiences. No instant messaging, social media platform posts, email, or cell phone calls were available. The Internet wasn’t even on DARPA’s drawing board yet so if you wanted to talk to someone you either waited by the phone, went to see them in person, or wrote a detailed letter. Seeing the letters and cards coupled with Fred’s reactions to them added to this delightful memoir.
Recommended reading for adults interested in the 70s. It will highlight memories or make you wonder what your parents did. It will capture the imagination and keep you turning pages to the end.
Robert paints a richly textured picture of the sights and sounds of tourists on the island over the season. His memories of friends he made, lessons learned, and opportunities he created are vibrant.
The writing is appealing in part due to the amusing anecdotes along with the entertaining style. Young people want acceptance and confidence in themselves. One of his forays into love and play was shared with when he met a nursing student, Cathy.
“The girls smiled as I continued, ‘Friends found it difficult to understand why I wanted to give up such a good career and risk it all by coming here. My parents tried to dissuade me, but my mother supported me, once she knew I had my heart set on it. It confused my younger brother and sister, though, and most of my friend.’
Cathy gushed, ‘It’s a brilliant thing to do.’
I sensed her sexy body close to mine and became aroused.
Monica looked at her empty glass. ‘Anyone want another drink?’
We nodded in agreement. Monica and Janine made their way to the crowded bar for refills.
Cathy whispered in my ear, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but it’s my last night, and I’d love to spend it with you. The other two are heading off to the disco in a while. My roommate, Ann, is with her Spanish fella, so we can have the room to ourselves. Are you up for it?’
My eyes widened. I stuttered, ‘Sounds fantastic.’”
One specific inclusion that caught my attention was the letters. These messages sent to and received from family and friends were charming. In those times, letters helped people keep in touch and share their experiences. No instant messaging, social media platform posts, email, or cell phone calls were available. The Internet wasn’t even on DARPA’s drawing board yet so if you wanted to talk to someone you either waited by the phone, went to see them in person, or wrote a detailed letter. Seeing the letters and cards coupled with Fred’s reactions to them added to this delightful memoir.
Recommended reading for adults interested in the 70s. It will highlight memories or make you wonder what your parents did. It will capture the imagination and keep you turning pages to the end.
February 15, 2020
Bravo for Summer of ’77: Beaches, Bars and Boogie Nights in Ibiza.
The author, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Brit, grabbed a bunch of memories in the single season he spent working on the tourist island of Ibiza in Spain.
He did a thorough job in painting the picture of his life as a twenty-one-year-old who broke away from his family’s expectations to follow his youthful dream of living and working abroad.
I found three threads that interwove throughout the memoir –a young man open to “island life” filled with romance, and a live-for-the-day attitude. Though that was the most pervasive thread, it could not dispel Fear’s sense of responsibility that constantly showed through. The author wanted to prove he could be relied on in every job he took on. This was seen in the consistent ties he built with those he lived and worked among. The third thread was genuine gratitude—for work, friendships and opportunities. I guess there was a fourth as well – postal communication, which he relied on and also revealed more about his relationships.
I liked seeing the ease in which he struck up friendships on the island. I also enjoyed, the occasional one-liners of humor that appeared out of nowhere. Also, there was a time when the morning after consuming too much of the local (amnesia-inducing) brew, the author realized he had made a grave error. His uncharacteristic response cracked me up! That scene played itself out well. I was glad he included it.
This is a 5-star memoir that will likely stay with me. I highly recommend it.
The author, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Brit, grabbed a bunch of memories in the single season he spent working on the tourist island of Ibiza in Spain.
He did a thorough job in painting the picture of his life as a twenty-one-year-old who broke away from his family’s expectations to follow his youthful dream of living and working abroad.
I found three threads that interwove throughout the memoir –a young man open to “island life” filled with romance, and a live-for-the-day attitude. Though that was the most pervasive thread, it could not dispel Fear’s sense of responsibility that constantly showed through. The author wanted to prove he could be relied on in every job he took on. This was seen in the consistent ties he built with those he lived and worked among. The third thread was genuine gratitude—for work, friendships and opportunities. I guess there was a fourth as well – postal communication, which he relied on and also revealed more about his relationships.
I liked seeing the ease in which he struck up friendships on the island. I also enjoyed, the occasional one-liners of humor that appeared out of nowhere. Also, there was a time when the morning after consuming too much of the local (amnesia-inducing) brew, the author realized he had made a grave error. His uncharacteristic response cracked me up! That scene played itself out well. I was glad he included it.
This is a 5-star memoir that will likely stay with me. I highly recommend it.
November 23, 2019
Robert Fear's memoir of his summer on Ibiza is a real trip down memory lane. For those of us who recall the seventies and those who'd like to know, the flavour and colour of this memoir give a very accurate image of what life was like for a young man in those halcyon days of yore.
Written in an engaging and light-hearted style, the young Fred (as he's known) balances making a living on Ibiza with a social life that would have had me finished, not to mention coping with the several young ladies who became enamoured of him. This was the time when love was easy, something I'd forgotten really as it wasn't long after that the whole AIDS scare turned people's ideas around and the notion of free love became a thing of the past. Fred also takes some exploratory trips and his descriptions of the journeys, the towns he visited, and the places he stayed are colourful and evocative of the places and time as well.
The book is interspersed with letters from home filled with the news of both his family's activities and also of the time. They make a great 'historical' backcloth to his stories of island life. However, the most appealing aspect of this memoir is Fred himself, who comes across as kind, generous, charming and responsible, despite his obvious love of fun and frolics.
All in all, I enjoyed Summer of 77 very much as it often had me smiling, and sometimes chuckling out loud over Fred's exploits. A recommended read for dreary winter days.
Written in an engaging and light-hearted style, the young Fred (as he's known) balances making a living on Ibiza with a social life that would have had me finished, not to mention coping with the several young ladies who became enamoured of him. This was the time when love was easy, something I'd forgotten really as it wasn't long after that the whole AIDS scare turned people's ideas around and the notion of free love became a thing of the past. Fred also takes some exploratory trips and his descriptions of the journeys, the towns he visited, and the places he stayed are colourful and evocative of the places and time as well.
The book is interspersed with letters from home filled with the news of both his family's activities and also of the time. They make a great 'historical' backcloth to his stories of island life. However, the most appealing aspect of this memoir is Fred himself, who comes across as kind, generous, charming and responsible, despite his obvious love of fun and frolics.
All in all, I enjoyed Summer of 77 very much as it often had me smiling, and sometimes chuckling out loud over Fred's exploits. A recommended read for dreary winter days.
September 19, 2019
What a terrific read this is. Written retrospectively about the time he spent in Es Cana, Ibiza in 1977. How many of us have gone on holiday and thought ‘I’d love to live here ‘or ‘I must come back here’? Well, as a young, adventurous man Fred did just that. He had to find accommodation and of course find work. He worked as a labourer on a building site and then as a waiter in a bar. Neither of these were easy jobs at all. It certainly wasn’t all fun in the sun although there was definitely a fair bit of fun to be had.
Fortunately the author had kept a diary of his time there as well as the many letters he received from family and friends at home. It was great to see these incorporated into the story as well as some excellent photos of Fred as a handsome young man. No wonder the girls liked him! As well as that there are links to music and other relevant information from that time. Excellent stuff.
It’s well written, in a diary form and it’s also very honest and entertaining. It was a life changing thing to do as it gave him the urge to travel the world and seek further adventures. Highly recommended.
Fortunately the author had kept a diary of his time there as well as the many letters he received from family and friends at home. It was great to see these incorporated into the story as well as some excellent photos of Fred as a handsome young man. No wonder the girls liked him! As well as that there are links to music and other relevant information from that time. Excellent stuff.
It’s well written, in a diary form and it’s also very honest and entertaining. It was a life changing thing to do as it gave him the urge to travel the world and seek further adventures. Highly recommended.
January 30, 2020
Summer of ’77: Beaches, bars and boogie nights in Ibiza by Robert Fear is an interesting account of his adventures and experiences at the young age of 21, when I was expected to study and complete my post graduation. His supportive parents, reckless nature and carefree attitude combined with the determination to accept challenges helped him enjoy a long work cum vacation at the island that he had visited earlier with his friends.
Whenever we go to a fantastic place to spend a few days away from work, we may return with lovely memories and a yearning to go again. Probably this was the motivation that made Fred throw away a promising career and a steady girl friend to go again to Es Cana, Ibiza a beautiful Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is his honest and straightforward style of disclosing all that makes this book fascinating. Some anecdotes are quite humorous; girl friends come and go but life was not all that easy. This is a light-hearted read that reveals a lot about people and their escapades. It inspires you to enjoy life.
Whenever we go to a fantastic place to spend a few days away from work, we may return with lovely memories and a yearning to go again. Probably this was the motivation that made Fred throw away a promising career and a steady girl friend to go again to Es Cana, Ibiza a beautiful Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is his honest and straightforward style of disclosing all that makes this book fascinating. Some anecdotes are quite humorous; girl friends come and go but life was not all that easy. This is a light-hearted read that reveals a lot about people and their escapades. It inspires you to enjoy life.
October 17, 2019
Rich, racy and risqué!
In warm, sunny places like Ibiza, the sexual revolution was purring along in overdrive. If you are an unfortunate like me and missed it, Robert Fear’s intimate memories and confessions will tantalise and tempt you with what might have been, even permit you to enjoy that period vicariously. If you lived those warm summers of sun and seduction, it will bring back warm memories.
Post the twin freedoms that followed the ‘pill’ and Britain’s entry into the Common Market, Mediterranean beaches drew the brave and the beautiful, the lovely and the lusty, the ardent and the adventurous.
Robert Fear takes you there and shows you exactly how it was. Sunshine, work, friends, beers, bars and beaches – and all those nubile and oh-so-beautiful young people pursuing the same mission that has stimulated men and women since Eve offered Adam a nibble on her fragrant little apple.
In warm, sunny places like Ibiza, the sexual revolution was purring along in overdrive. If you are an unfortunate like me and missed it, Robert Fear’s intimate memories and confessions will tantalise and tempt you with what might have been, even permit you to enjoy that period vicariously. If you lived those warm summers of sun and seduction, it will bring back warm memories.
Post the twin freedoms that followed the ‘pill’ and Britain’s entry into the Common Market, Mediterranean beaches drew the brave and the beautiful, the lovely and the lusty, the ardent and the adventurous.
Robert Fear takes you there and shows you exactly how it was. Sunshine, work, friends, beers, bars and beaches – and all those nubile and oh-so-beautiful young people pursuing the same mission that has stimulated men and women since Eve offered Adam a nibble on her fragrant little apple.
July 15, 2020
Not a challenging read at all, but if you love Ibiza you’ll love this book. I had a tears at the end; “once you get Ibiza fever, you never lose it”.. how true.
November 15, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Summer of 77, Beaches, Bars and Boogie Nights in Ibiza’. It didn’t disappoint. I’ve heard so much about Ibiza, but I was unable to visit when I had the opportunity while living in Germany in the 80s. It was the legendary go-to place for people who wanted to get wild and party. It sounded a lot like spring-break in Cancun Mexico, albeit more sophisticated. Robert aka Fred shows us that even back then, there was a world of adventure just outside your door and slightly left of your comfort zone.
Reading Robert Fear’s memoir confirmed for me that all I’d heard about Ibiza was true. The narration of his own two week holiday with his friends was descriptive and stunning. His return to Ibiza alone to work for 6 months integrated him into the scene and now we know more about the backend stories of the events. He immersed himself in the Ibiza culture; I think that’s the best way to really know the place and the people.
What happens in Ibiza stays in Ibiza, right? Luckily for us, this book is an honest accounting of Fred’s work, his finances, and his affairs. It’s possible to live the Ibiza experience vicariously through Fred’s intimate storytelling. His letters from home were grounding. His recounted details were colorful and intriguing by contrast. Both were engaging and well written. His book is a time capsule unearthed from the summer of 1977. I love the familiar songs and the bands he mentiones that I haven’t thought of in a long time. It brings out the melancholy and nostalgy of those years. I highly recommend this ‘coming of age’ memoir. Fear’s book shows how that even in these times there is an alternative world of opportunities, travel, and exploits when you pursue your dreams!
Reading Robert Fear’s memoir confirmed for me that all I’d heard about Ibiza was true. The narration of his own two week holiday with his friends was descriptive and stunning. His return to Ibiza alone to work for 6 months integrated him into the scene and now we know more about the backend stories of the events. He immersed himself in the Ibiza culture; I think that’s the best way to really know the place and the people.
What happens in Ibiza stays in Ibiza, right? Luckily for us, this book is an honest accounting of Fred’s work, his finances, and his affairs. It’s possible to live the Ibiza experience vicariously through Fred’s intimate storytelling. His letters from home were grounding. His recounted details were colorful and intriguing by contrast. Both were engaging and well written. His book is a time capsule unearthed from the summer of 1977. I love the familiar songs and the bands he mentiones that I haven’t thought of in a long time. It brings out the melancholy and nostalgy of those years. I highly recommend this ‘coming of age’ memoir. Fear’s book shows how that even in these times there is an alternative world of opportunities, travel, and exploits when you pursue your dreams!
October 17, 2021
This book is about the human urge to break out of the box we’re born into and expand our horizon. It also helps to have a safe haven of family and friends to return to, to regroup financially and emotionally.
Fred is a 21-year-old who has a hunch that life is more than plodding away at a secure bank job. He takes off to a Spanish island in search of an answer. Such an adventure can make or break a person, and there are times when I don’t know which way it’s going for Fred.
The story shows that for such a venture to succeed, you need to have a come-what-may attitude combined with serious planning. One without the other can spell failure. Another attribute Fred demonstrates to work well is his ability to connect with people. The British expat community embraces the congenial young man and helps him get on his feet.
A trait I admire in Fred is his gentleness toward the opposite sex. In spite of his many escapades, I don’t see him as a crass predator. The relationships are mutual and Fred has nothing but fond memories and respect for each paramour. They’re all transients like him, free of inhibitions while vacationing on an island far from home.
The author talks about his ups and downs with diary-like details. I feel I’m right there with him.
Fred is a 21-year-old who has a hunch that life is more than plodding away at a secure bank job. He takes off to a Spanish island in search of an answer. Such an adventure can make or break a person, and there are times when I don’t know which way it’s going for Fred.
The story shows that for such a venture to succeed, you need to have a come-what-may attitude combined with serious planning. One without the other can spell failure. Another attribute Fred demonstrates to work well is his ability to connect with people. The British expat community embraces the congenial young man and helps him get on his feet.
A trait I admire in Fred is his gentleness toward the opposite sex. In spite of his many escapades, I don’t see him as a crass predator. The relationships are mutual and Fred has nothing but fond memories and respect for each paramour. They’re all transients like him, free of inhibitions while vacationing on an island far from home.
The author talks about his ups and downs with diary-like details. I feel I’m right there with him.
November 8, 2020
Robert Fear’s Summer of ‘77 was an entertaining read during this pandemic. It was nice to be able to take a vicarious excursion to the island of Ibiza with him. He was, during the summer of 1977, a young, brave, and adventurous young Englishman who chose to quit his banking job and spend six months on the island of Ibiza. He found work with a construction company lifting heavy cement and later advanced to bartending.
He never gave up hope about finding work nor did he ever consider going home when the going got rough. His character further developed, he met plenty of girls and drank much booze as youth should do while young. He was altered, forever changed, and emerged more confident as he finally made his way back to England, vowing to expand his adventures globally
He never gave up hope about finding work nor did he ever consider going home when the going got rough. His character further developed, he met plenty of girls and drank much booze as youth should do while young. He was altered, forever changed, and emerged more confident as he finally made his way back to England, vowing to expand his adventures globally
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