Review of Torrid Summer
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Rajnee Varma
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Review of Torrid Summer
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Torrid Summer" by Martha Miller.]
Torrid Summer by Martha Miller is an insightful novel about gender identity and diverse-gender people. It is written in first person from the perspective of an 18-year-old female, Jeannie Baker. She had a difficult childhood. Her father was in prison, and her mother was an alcoholic who abandoned her when her father came home. She was only ten then. She was taken in by her lesbian grandmother. Her mother did not approve but was not angry with her when she came out as a lesbian, fully supported by her grandmother. When her partner, Legs, left her for further studies, Jeannie was heartbroken, depressed, and felt abandoned. She accepted her mother’s invitation and went to Florida for a vacation. She met Lyric, a transgender man, with whom she used to hang out in a gay bar, and learned more about their community. During this summer in Florida, her experience taught her to look at life in a new light.
The author has focused on the emotions rather than the physical aspects of life. Jeannie tries to comprehend her mother’s behavior, always analyzing and contemplating her past and childhood days of loneliness and the lack of love and care a child deserves. She witnesses her mother’s relationship with an abusive man, Charlie. Despite Lyric’s friendliness, her neighbor Mrs. Boyle’s hospitality, and her mother’s attempts to compensate for her past mistakes, Jeannie is homesick and longs to be with her grandmother and her dog. She finds it difficult to forget Legs and move on. All characters are well-crafted and illustrate the diverse nature of human psychology. The story is a powerful account of Jeannie’s vacation and brings out the complexity of being different in a society of set beliefs and accepted practices. Jeannie’s apprehension about her future and her sense of being abandoned surface often in the story, as she feels lonely and insecure. She longs for a permanent partner and a family of her own.
Life for members of the LGBTQ community has always been difficult, and it has been a struggle to be accepted in mainstream society. Author Martha Miller has succeeded in portraying their plight and the need for a better understanding of these marginalized people. The story explores the lives of gays and lesbians, trans people, and their perspectives on intimate relationships. Readers learn about a queen, a drag queen, tricking, cross-dressing, androgynous appearance, and gay culture, and are introduced to the solidarity and camaraderie among the community members. The story portrays crime in the dark alleys, roaming alligators, and hurricanes in Florida. The story also features domestic violence, an abusive partner, and alcoholism. It is intriguing why a woman endures physical violence and still loves the person who inflicts physical and emotional pain. The names, Legs, and Lyrics, are chosen names and not the given names of the characters. This shows a character's desire to establish their identity. The book is educational and meaningful, and there is nothing to dislike about it. The editing is good, and I noticed only a single typo in the whole book. It is remarkably insightful, and there is no reason to deduct a star. My overall rating for the book is 5 out of 5 stars.
It is a very well-written book that is neither offensive nor erotic or vulgar. It emphasizes the need for LGBTQ people to be accepted in society and treated with respect. It is important in life to be understood, to have someone who comprehends your sentiments and accepts you as you are. I would recommend the book to people who like books on social issues. It will help readers understand the emotional needs of LGBTQ people and develop a positive attitude and understanding toward them.
******
Torrid Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Torrid Summer by Martha Miller is an insightful novel about gender identity and diverse-gender people. It is written in first person from the perspective of an 18-year-old female, Jeannie Baker. She had a difficult childhood. Her father was in prison, and her mother was an alcoholic who abandoned her when her father came home. She was only ten then. She was taken in by her lesbian grandmother. Her mother did not approve but was not angry with her when she came out as a lesbian, fully supported by her grandmother. When her partner, Legs, left her for further studies, Jeannie was heartbroken, depressed, and felt abandoned. She accepted her mother’s invitation and went to Florida for a vacation. She met Lyric, a transgender man, with whom she used to hang out in a gay bar, and learned more about their community. During this summer in Florida, her experience taught her to look at life in a new light.
The author has focused on the emotions rather than the physical aspects of life. Jeannie tries to comprehend her mother’s behavior, always analyzing and contemplating her past and childhood days of loneliness and the lack of love and care a child deserves. She witnesses her mother’s relationship with an abusive man, Charlie. Despite Lyric’s friendliness, her neighbor Mrs. Boyle’s hospitality, and her mother’s attempts to compensate for her past mistakes, Jeannie is homesick and longs to be with her grandmother and her dog. She finds it difficult to forget Legs and move on. All characters are well-crafted and illustrate the diverse nature of human psychology. The story is a powerful account of Jeannie’s vacation and brings out the complexity of being different in a society of set beliefs and accepted practices. Jeannie’s apprehension about her future and her sense of being abandoned surface often in the story, as she feels lonely and insecure. She longs for a permanent partner and a family of her own.
Life for members of the LGBTQ community has always been difficult, and it has been a struggle to be accepted in mainstream society. Author Martha Miller has succeeded in portraying their plight and the need for a better understanding of these marginalized people. The story explores the lives of gays and lesbians, trans people, and their perspectives on intimate relationships. Readers learn about a queen, a drag queen, tricking, cross-dressing, androgynous appearance, and gay culture, and are introduced to the solidarity and camaraderie among the community members. The story portrays crime in the dark alleys, roaming alligators, and hurricanes in Florida. The story also features domestic violence, an abusive partner, and alcoholism. It is intriguing why a woman endures physical violence and still loves the person who inflicts physical and emotional pain. The names, Legs, and Lyrics, are chosen names and not the given names of the characters. This shows a character's desire to establish their identity. The book is educational and meaningful, and there is nothing to dislike about it. The editing is good, and I noticed only a single typo in the whole book. It is remarkably insightful, and there is no reason to deduct a star. My overall rating for the book is 5 out of 5 stars.
It is a very well-written book that is neither offensive nor erotic or vulgar. It emphasizes the need for LGBTQ people to be accepted in society and treated with respect. It is important in life to be understood, to have someone who comprehends your sentiments and accepts you as you are. I would recommend the book to people who like books on social issues. It will help readers understand the emotional needs of LGBTQ people and develop a positive attitude and understanding toward them.
******
Torrid Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Martin Shae
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Torrid Summer by Martha Miller is a compelling novel exploring gender identity and diverse-gender experiences. Told from the perspective of 18-year-old Jeannie Baker, the story follows her challenging childhood marked by her father’s imprisonment and her mother’s alcoholism. Abandoned at ten, Jeannie was raised by her supportive lesbian grandmother. After her partner, Legs, leaves for further studies, Jeannie, heartbroken and depressed, accepts her mother’s invitation to Florida. There, she meets Lyric, a transgender man, and learns more about the LGBTQ+ community. Her summer in Florida becomes a transformative experience, offering her a new perspective on life.
Latest Review: Snatched Up to Heaven! by Jemima Paul and Arvind Paul
