Judy Blume is best known as a children's/ young adult's writer. She was an integral part of my childhood reading, and though I was young, I knew I connected to her characters in a different way than ones written by other authors. I had seen, in the last few years, that she had written for adults, but had not picked up any of the new books (of which there are three). I was nervous that she would, somehow, not be able to write for adults the same way she was able to write for children. I didn't want to be crushed; I wanted to remember her as was.
I need to formally apologize to Judy. Judy, I'm sorry for doubting you. I'm sorry that after such a woonderful, fulfilling relationship throughout the '80's and early '90's I deserted you, fearful that you couldn't live up to your previous greatness. I was wrong, and because of that I have missed out. For eleven years I have seen Summer Sisters on the shelves of book stores and passed it by. Therefore, for eleven years, postponed getting to know Vix, Caitlin, Bru, Gus, Maia, and the rest. I am sorry, please forgive me.
How had I forgotten that Blume's writing is so relevant, so real, so relatable? One minute your laughing because it seems as though she has stolen pages from your diary, and the next you are crying for the same reason. Her books are the epitome of reading to know yourself better. Because the stories she creates are so familiar, the reader finds herself having parts of her own life articulated in a way she's never been able to do before. Whether it's wishing you had boobs and not being able to grow them fast enough (Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?) to knowing the pains and joys of friendships that formed who you are, yet have a hard time fitting you once you are actually formed (Summer Sisters).
***Spoiler Alert: the rest of this review contains spoilers***
In all honesty, the Prologue made me almost put it down (though I couldn't, could I, because I'd chosen it for our July book club) out of fear that it would be too dramatic. The first few
chapters made me feel the same way. I have known Caitlins. The friends who seem so cool,
so fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants that all that you want is for them to like you, to make you feel
validated-- only to step back years later and realize there was really nothing very special at all,
besides how specially troubled they were.
But by the sixth or seventh chapter I was hooked. I wanted to see what happened to Caitlin and Vix, to find out what drama occurred between them to make this story exist. I related more to Vix, not because of where she came from, or even where she ended up going, but because of her personality. I've always leaned towards the practical side; the one who was intrigued by people like Caitlin, but who never really wanted to be them. But, as we find out in the end, maybe nobody would really want to be Caitlin. Not even Caitlin. And although Vix annoyed me, to some extent, for not sticking up for herself on certain occasions, I could relate. "Caitlin isn't someone to get over. She's someone to come to terms with... you can't deny they ever happened. You can't deny you ever loved them, love them still, even if loving them causes you pain" (348). Haven't we all had people in our lives that fit this description? Couldn't we all feel the stab (with only slight shock) when Caitlin didn't get out of the car when Tim was being inappropriate, or when she tricked Vix on her 17th birthday, or when Caitlin chooses Vix's birthday to marry Vix's first love?
I felt sad and irritated at Caitlin's insatiable need for attention from the opposite sex and for her never being proud of Vix, but instead constantly trying to get her to be more Caitlin-esque. I was strangely gratified when we hear from Gus's point of view, on page 302; his disgust of Caitlin and his desire to not even mention that he had seen her. It's also interestingly satisfying at the end, when we realize that Caitlin does realize how obnoxious she's been; yet, at the same time, it's profoundly sad that she couldn't figure out, or didn't know how, to find a way out of it... to make herself feel whole, and end up thriving instead of her ultimate fate.
Vix ends up being the hero of the story. The one who, ultimately, has the strength and character to end up happy and fulfilled. She; who also didn't take the easy route, though maybe a route less self-mutilating than Caitlin's. Vix survived a childhood filled with duty instead of love, unnatural loss in the form of losing a little brother, and hard work to drive herself to (and through) Harvard. She turned down a proposal that most other women would have taken out of love, and romantic fantasy, because, even at the young age of 22, she was clear enough to realize the reality of the important questions; "Do you marry someone because the sex is good? Do you marry someone because you know, deep down, he's a decent person, even if you can't talk about the same books" (283-4)? Blume leaves out other, more obvious, questions here such as; Do you marry someone because you have been with them for five years? Because they were your first love? Because you do love them still? Because other people love them, and love them for you? Caitlin would have, I'm almost sure of it. But not Vix. Vix ended up with something so much better; Gus.
All of my raves about Vix's characer aside. I still cried at the end. I started welling up when Caitlin declares that she will be going out on her sailboat to decide about the new proposal. (I had thought, a few chapters previous when she dropped Maizie off at Abby and Lamb's, that we would find out a similar fate had caught up to her.) And though sad, I thought it was an appropriate ending. Maybe the only kind that would have been worthy of Caitlin.
Five Coconuts
xo,
The Coconut Librarian
Scary Shmary
As claimed numerous times, I'm not into scary things... books, movies, people, places. I get scared easily. I learned that young, and am smart enough to not push myself and ruin months of good nights' sleep. However, I am told about books sometimes that I would love to read-- but that I wish weren't so scary. This is where I need your help, readers. I know it's still August, but in October I'm going to want to read a not-too-scary-but-just-scary-enough-to-be-fun book (or books). So, I'm starting now... tell me which ones you recommend. I have recently been told about the Sookie series. (I'm still debating if they would be too creepy for me.) Those of you who like the Twilight series, might enjoy this more grown up version of Vampire chronicles (from what I hear). We have learned that, apparently, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is not so scary, but more of a suspense novel. And I have just been asked to read Stalking Susan... though some of the reviews about this murder mystery have said it's creepy and scary. Two words not in my reading vocabulary. Anyone who reads it, let me know what you think.
So, now I want to hear from you. Not just for me, but also for the people who love scary novels, and will never find a full review of a bona fide one here.
You can leave your reviews of scary books in the comments section of this post. When we get closer to October, as we are all getting in the mood for something to get us ready for Halloween, I will pick up this topic again to look at what are the best books in this genre.
So let it out, don't be shy...
xo,
The Coconut Librarian