“That Summer” is the loud voice of many repressed women, an excruciating scream that asks to be heard. It’s a story about facing unhealed wounds, and gaining the power to move on.
“That Summer” is a complete twist, a novel that speaks many women’s reality and personal experiences. Brought together by a common name and a similar e-mail address, the turn of events proves to be unsusceptible and intriguing. A past can never be too dark. A friendship born out of a coincidence… or out of an “incident”?
Table of Contents
The Narration
The story is narrated subjectively, most of the chapters being told from the two protagonists’ point of view. This story is unique and a complex reading experience.
It offers the readers a chance to see the action from a different and quite unexpected angle; the perspective of two side characters, which are vital, I think, for the course of events.
What I appreciated best was the inner perspective. It’s a story written by a woman for women. She offered a voice to many who have been “silenced” by society or life. While this novel is not literally feminist, it’s realistic and intriguing, presenting a great part of women’s experiences in the outer world.
What other great books have you read from Jennifer Weiner? Leave a comment and share your experience.
It was exceptional to have the chance to read as well a few chapters told from a daughter – ungrateful and selfish – and husband’s – misogynistic and manipulative – perspective. They highlight so well the untold statements of this story: many women’s sacrifices making a home out of a house – even though, sometimes, they’re rewarded with not even a “thank you”. Therefore, all those few chapters, thoughtfully written, contribute so much to the moral of this unusual summer reading.
Trigger Warnings
- Misogynism
- Sexual assault
- Sexism
- Gaslighting
Lessons for the young generation
First of all, I admire “That Summer” for its several lessons, which were dedicated to all young women. I liked very much that there are approached several “sensible” themes, like gaslighting and misogynism; themes which affect intentionally or unintentionally if not people’s lives in general, women’s for sure.
Which is another book that made you excited with its authentic perspective? Let me know in the comments.
There’s nothing more important in this novel than the self-confidence a woman brings in each of her daily experiences. I strongly believe that this particular quality defines every woman’s attitude, appearance and social position – the confidence with which she walks, talks and thinks.
Attention, spoilers! Daisy was self-confident enough to move on and fight, in the end, for the person she could’ve been and whom she still could be. She was a proof of strength and determination; becoming resistant to her husband’s tries of gaslighting and manipulating her, Daisy won – maybe not really a “battle”, because there were none, but she won her own life back: the “freedom” to think and feel authentically. It’s never too late to fight for your dreams and happiness; and I LOVED that this book is so encouraging regarding this!
Women, generally, find in their inner resources the strength to move on – from bad experiences or toxic situations. It’s a generally known fact that you’re the only constant of your life. Moving on and finding happiness is your own responsibility; most of the time, the biggest help comes from yourself.
Attention, spoilers! Diana was sexually abused, thing which not only changed the course of her life, but destroyed, for a long time, her smile and hopes. She was changed forever, but, later on, had to make a choice: find the strength to move on and fight for the joyful life which was stolen from her, or let herself be dragged inside her own darkness and anger.
“That Summer” speaks out about the big part of society which is ruled by the unwritten – and unlogical – “rule” that anything’s possible when in the right “acquaintance”. The narrator expresses therefore, through the course of the protagonists’ discussions, its disgust regarding the situation.
It’s easy to describe Daisy’s family in 3 simple words: betraying, selfish and ungrateful. I highly disliked the way Daisy was designed to appear a victim in her own family – as she couldn’t realize her surroundings and judge the situation for herself. She let her husband contour her whole life; he changed her name, contested all her decisions and made a cute thoughtless little “doll” out of her.
Two different lives under one name
Attention, spoilers! The contrast between the two women was very fruitful. Jennifer Weiner did an amazing job in showing that differences are, most of the time, the ones that unite people best. No matter how different, in appearance, Daisy and Diana became friends because of their similar mentality. True power hides in the differences between people. Those are the ones that make us unique.
It’s really interesting the way this novel speaks the truth, more or less, without calling it out loud. Actions speak louder than words, and irony is way more suggestive.
Attention, spoilers! Diana made up her whole appearance, which ended up in dictating the way Daisy reported herself to her – the social status, the career and personal achievements. Regardless of Diana’s initial lies, she was seen as successful, intimidating and a radiating person. Daisy couldn’t help but compare herself to Diana – to her or, actually, to some appearances.
Upside Down
I found the denouement pretty disappointing. I loved the book as an overall, but the ending was still surprisingly basic. It had a thriller potential – bringing impatience and mystery -, but the author turned it all upside down in the very end. She gave away a shocking and memorable ending for a mature and realistic one.
What to choose between a memorable fictional dénouement and one inspired by real life? Let me know what your choice would be.
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Other Jennifer Weiner books
Standalones
- “The Summer Place”
- “Good In Bed”
- “Big Summer”
- “Mrs. Everything”
- “In Her Shoes”
- “The Breakaway”
- “Goodnight Nobody”
- “Little Earthquakes”
- “Best Friends Forever”
- “All Fall Down”
- “Fly Away Home”
- “The Next Best Thing”
- “Then Came You”
- “American Girls About Town”
- “The Half Life”
- “Everyone’s A Critic”
- “The Truth About Nigel”
- “Who Do You Love”
- “Recalculating”
- “A Memoir of Grief (Continued)”
- “The Half Life”
- “Swim”
- “Oranges From Florida”
- “Off Season”
- “Dog People”
- “Disconnected”
- “The Guy Not Taken”
Book Series
- “The Littlest Bigfoot” series
- “The Littlest Bigfoot” (1st)
- “Little Bigfoot, Big City” (2nd)
- “The Bigfoot Queen” (3rd)
- “Cannie Shapiro” series
- “Good In Bed” (1st)
- “Good Men” (1.5)
- “Certain Girls” (2nd)
Non-fiction
- “Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing”
Books to Movies
- “In Her Shoes”
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More information
- Read an excerpt from “That Summer” by Jennifer Weiner
- Jennifer Weiner’s background and education
- Read a brief presentation of the novel’s topic
- Read the book review of “That Summer” written by The Washington Post
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𝑨 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
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