Review of The 13th of Summer
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Tomy Chandrafrost
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 947
- Joined: 02 Mar 2024, 00:02
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 69
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tomy-chandrafrost.html
- Latest Review: There and Back There Again by Andrew Alsup
Review of The 13th of Summer
In the early part of this book, it feels a bit slow because I didn't fully understand the background of the story. As someone born in Southeast Asia, I needed to read more about the Dust Bowl event, Black Blizzard, and the effects of the Great Depression briefly before I could fully immerse myself in this reading.
The book is themed as historical fiction with a touch of romance and many sad stories. Set in South Dakota, Central America, the book tells the struggles of the people there facing a decade-long climate crisis.
The details in the story are well described to depict the conditions, with children always advised to stay indoors, relentless blowing sand dust, drought, and poverty haunting the community there.
Our main character, Betty, lives and grows up as a young girl with many siblings, managing their farm there.
Growing up during dust storms, economic crises, and droughts is not easy. Our main character has to face unexpected sorrows in the story and continue to struggle with her daily life.
Her daily life as a girl, with household routines and farming, is well explained, as if we were truly living with Betty at that time.
Despite their various difficult circumstances, there are many moments of happiness together, resilience, sincerity, and how the townsfolk unite against the capitalists in those difficult conditions.
I am impressed with how the author portrays Betty's father as a complex figure who tries to remain strong even though he has to lose his beloved child several times. Even when losing two of his children towards the end of the story, he keeps it all to himself and chooses to cry alone.
This book is easy to read and has an amazing, flawless, and perfect editing.
I give this book a 5 out of 5 because of the character portrayal, which I find well-developed and complex despite the fairly simple theme of the story. Each character has internal struggles that we can read about in the book, portrayed well so that we can empathize with their feelings.
The shortcomings of this book may be the lack of explanation about the context of the story at the beginning for people who do not understand the events of famine, the Great Depression, and the black blizzard at that time. In the early part, the plot also feels somewhat slow and less interesting.
Nevertheless, the story starts to become interesting when the crisis begins and the characters struggle together as a caring and helping family.
The end of the story also leaves a bittersweet impression, which I think is in line with the theme of the story, which teaches us that life does not always have a happy ending but needs to be accepted because it is the complexity of life that makes the story interesting to tell to our grandchildren.
This book is good for people who enjoy themes of nostalgia, historical fiction, family, and the struggles of life.
******
The 13th of Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tomy Chandra
-
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 144
- Joined: 24 Apr 2024, 12:06
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 15
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-david-awunor.html
- Latest Review: Alpha Buddies Land by Donna Marie Rink
- Priya Murugesan
- Posts: 570
- Joined: 27 Jan 2020, 01:51
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 50
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-priya-murugesan.html
- Latest Review: Beating Death (resubmission) by Sean O’Banion
- Tomi Ahmed
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 235
- Joined: 24 Feb 2024, 08:03
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 28
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tomi-ahmed.html
- Latest Review: A Killer Within by Rosemarie B. Smith
- Reading Device: B00I15SB16
- 2024 Reading Goal: 35
- 2024 Goal Completion: 40%
- Dana Lawrence Lohn
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 147
- Joined: 17 Mar 2024, 08:26
- Favorite Book: The Upstairs Delicatessen
- Currently Reading: In the Garden of Beasts
- Bookshelf Size: 30
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dana-lawrence-lohn.html
- Latest Review: The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti
- 2024 Reading Goal: 75
- 2024 Goal Completion: 20%
- Cristina-Ioana Toader
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 377
- Joined: 16 Feb 2023, 09:19
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 64
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cristina-ioana-toader.html
- Latest Review: The Foundlings and Fisherman from Tumby by Phillip Leighton-Daly
- Rajaee
- Posts: 88
- Joined: 19 Feb 2024, 12:31
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 2
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rajaee.html
- Latest Review: Wisdom by Arun mago
- Martina Sette
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 358
- Joined: 04 Oct 2023, 06:47
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 64
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-martina-sette.html
- Latest Review: The Struggle for Justice and Truth by Tomas Cudzis
- 2024 Reading Goal: 30
- 2024 Goal Completion: 153%
- Gerry Steen
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 1211
- Joined: 08 May 2023, 20:08
- Currently Reading: The Impossible Mock Orange Trial
- Bookshelf Size: 205
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gerry-steen.html
- Latest Review: Self Love : Journal Your Journey by Natalie Bears
- MAHAD BAIG MIRZA
- Posts: 325
- Joined: 30 Dec 2023, 09:12
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 33
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mahad-baig-mirza.html
- Latest Review: Play Golf Better Faster: The Little Golf Bag Book by Kalliope Barlis
- 2024 Reading Goal: 20
- 2024 Goal Completion: 60%
- Gayatri Tripathi
- Posts: 149
- Joined: 05 Jul 2023, 10:10
- Favorite Book: E M P Honeymoon
- Currently Reading: Neither Safe Nor Effective (2nd Edition)
- Bookshelf Size: 25
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gayatri-tripathi.html
- Latest Review: Stevie Tenderheart Books - Billy Jack (The Great Escape) by Steve William Laible
- 2024 Reading Goal: 100
- 2024 Goal Completion: 13%
Your dedication to understanding the historical context of the Dust Bowl, Black Blizzards, and the Great Depression is commendable. This effort undoubtedly enriched your reading experience, allowing you to fully appreciate the struggles and resilience of the characters in South Dakota.
The way you describe the novel's setting and atmosphere—children advised to stay indoors, relentless sand dust, drought, and poverty—paints a vivid picture of the harsh conditions faced by the community. Your description of Betty's life, from her household routines to managing the farm and dealing with personal sorrows, brings her character to life. It's clear that the author succeeded in creating an immersive and emotionally engaging narrative.
The portrayal of Betty's father as a complex figure who remains strong despite immense personal loss is particularly poignant. Your empathy for his character, and for the family as they navigate their hardships, highlights the author's skill in developing well-rounded and relatable characters.
Your critique about the initial lack of historical context for readers unfamiliar with the era is valuable feedback. This observation underscores the importance of providing background information to help readers fully engage with the story from the beginning. Despite this, your review indicates that the novel's pace and interest level pick up as the crisis intensifies and the characters' resilience shines through.
The bittersweet ending, which aligns with the story's theme of life's complexities, is a fitting conclusion that adds depth to the narrative. Your recommendation for readers who enjoy themes of nostalgia, historical fiction, family, and life's struggles is well-founded.
Overall, your review beautifully captures the essence of the book, emphasizing its emotional depth, historical richness, and the well-developed characters that drive the story. Thank you for sharing your experience and insights, which will surely help other readers appreciate this novel's merits.
- RJ Reviews
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 525
- Joined: 30 Jun 2023, 12:28
- Currently Reading: Weep For Love
- Bookshelf Size: 81
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rj-reviews.html
- Latest Review: Always Losing Something by Max Green
- Reading Device: 1400697484
- 2024 Reading Goal: 24
- 2024 Goal Completion: 112%
- Charmaine Mahlangu
- Posts: 369
- Joined: 04 Dec 2021, 23:09
- Favorite Book: Defining a free man from a black stream
- Currently Reading: Save the Last Bullet for God
- Bookshelf Size: 95
- 2024 Reading Goal: 500
- 2024 Goal Completion: 18%
-
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 149
- Joined: 01 Apr 2024, 15:06
- Currently Reading: Entanglement
- Bookshelf Size: 19
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ludovica-peruzzi.html
- Latest Review: Blockhead by Kyle J.S. Bardell
- Jenna Padayachee
- Official Reviewer Representative
- Posts: 345
- Joined: 14 Jul 2022, 10:37
- Currently Reading: The Kybalion
- Bookshelf Size: 59
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jenna-padayachee.html
- Latest Review: The Unfakeable Code® by Tony Jeton Selimi
- Signature Addition: Jenna Padayachee
I am already resonating with Betty's father in that he " chooses to cry alone."
Betty's life is interesting, and clearly, there is much to learn from her, considering how she deals with her challenging environment and life circumstances.
I believe a book like this can only be a reference point for identifying with gratitude for where we are and the things we can proactively do to take care of our environment.
I appreciate your mention of the shortcomings of the book as well, in terms of the basic background information required to enjoy and connect with the author's story.
Congratulations to the author!