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The Winter People: A Return to Cape Cod
- GenresNonfiction
173 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2020
Everyone has their own “summer place”. A place that becomes a tradition, every year returning for a week or two, or perhaps even longer, or just long enough to forget all the stress and problems that are left behind. For the author and his family, their summer place was Cape Cod.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book: a man returning to a place he loved in the summer to discover what it is like in the winter, once the summer people like he used to be, have fled. However, the book hints at more than just this simple premise.
There is an underlying sadness in the author’s words, particularly when he writes about the summers spent with his children. So, curious as I am, I researched the author, only to find out that he had divorced his wife, explaining why the family’s summers in Cape Cod came to an abrupt end. Once I discovered this, the book became more meaningful to me, as the “summer place” that the author once knew, seemed different than memory recorded, though the author stood in the same places he had stood with his family, and spoke with people he remembered seeing.
In addition, there is also an underlying theme of over-commercialization, which I thought was interesting, considering I had been to Cape Cod a good amount of times, and have seen the effects of it firsthand.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. At first glance, it appears to be a simple memoir, but I promise you, there is something deeper and something charming about this novel.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book: a man returning to a place he loved in the summer to discover what it is like in the winter, once the summer people like he used to be, have fled. However, the book hints at more than just this simple premise.
There is an underlying sadness in the author’s words, particularly when he writes about the summers spent with his children. So, curious as I am, I researched the author, only to find out that he had divorced his wife, explaining why the family’s summers in Cape Cod came to an abrupt end. Once I discovered this, the book became more meaningful to me, as the “summer place” that the author once knew, seemed different than memory recorded, though the author stood in the same places he had stood with his family, and spoke with people he remembered seeing.
In addition, there is also an underlying theme of over-commercialization, which I thought was interesting, considering I had been to Cape Cod a good amount of times, and have seen the effects of it firsthand.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. At first glance, it appears to be a simple memoir, but I promise you, there is something deeper and something charming about this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2022
The author paints pictures with his words. If you are a lover of Cape Cod, like I am, you will recognize many places the author visits and describes. If you have not been to Cape Cod, reading this book will make you visit, and more than once!
June 2, 2024
4.5/5
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January 20, 2026A very dated take on Cape Cod. Unexpected anecdotes. Somewhat intriguing. Never been, so I don't know what it's like.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews