Now is the season for "beach reads" books. I always think of romance novels following in this category. When I was a teenager, I read many books written by Barbara Cartland. I must have reached my quota of stories about pure damsels being wooed by strong suitors, for now I shy away from this genre. No, the book that is my summer read is We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates.
This title has been on my radar for years. The past tense of the verb was what stuck in my brain. I was accustomed to present tense: We are Marshall, We are Family, We are the World. However, this book's title seemed to have a hint of regret and sadness, which at the time didn't appeal to me at all. A few years later, I remember hearing that a Lifetime movie was produced based on the book. This fact served as a testament that it must be a true tearjerker and I once again steered clear.
Recently, I saw this hard cover book at Savers on three separate occasions. Its position on the bookshelves changed each visit, but its bold black and white dust cover was always prominent. I took this as a sign to stop eluding it and I purchased this book.
As I read, it beckoned me to tuck in and stay for a spell, not whiz through the pages like the balmy breezes outside. Each chapter brings me closer to finding out what's going on in the main story line. (I know something bad has happened to the teenage daughter at the Valentine's Day dance by the crumbs of clues) Yet at the same time, retracts and gives more information on the other characters' backgrounds. (All of the siblings' births, how the parents met, the main narrator spotting a deer in the middle of the night) Ms Oates has expertly perfected the art of the side bar.
For me I prefer my summer reads not to be a light sorbet, but like a meaty hamburger, hot off the grill, savoring the nuances of the smokey flavor.
This title has been on my radar for years. The past tense of the verb was what stuck in my brain. I was accustomed to present tense: We are Marshall, We are Family, We are the World. However, this book's title seemed to have a hint of regret and sadness, which at the time didn't appeal to me at all. A few years later, I remember hearing that a Lifetime movie was produced based on the book. This fact served as a testament that it must be a true tearjerker and I once again steered clear.
Recently, I saw this hard cover book at Savers on three separate occasions. Its position on the bookshelves changed each visit, but its bold black and white dust cover was always prominent. I took this as a sign to stop eluding it and I purchased this book.
As I read, it beckoned me to tuck in and stay for a spell, not whiz through the pages like the balmy breezes outside. Each chapter brings me closer to finding out what's going on in the main story line. (I know something bad has happened to the teenage daughter at the Valentine's Day dance by the crumbs of clues) Yet at the same time, retracts and gives more information on the other characters' backgrounds. (All of the siblings' births, how the parents met, the main narrator spotting a deer in the middle of the night) Ms Oates has expertly perfected the art of the side bar.
For me I prefer my summer reads not to be a light sorbet, but like a meaty hamburger, hot off the grill, savoring the nuances of the smokey flavor.
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