Review of Sophistries of Summer Days

[abby benton]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sophistries of Summer Days" by Jenny Lofters.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Sophistries of Summer Days by Jenny Lofter is an evocative, complex story that leads the reader down many different paths. It begins with a naive young teenage girl, Cherrimina, and follows her life to maturity through a series of often shocking events. She explores relationships and sexuality through both her own experience and her observation of those around her. Cherrimina feels a strong connection to the physical place of her home, and she also explores how that connection defines her.

Most of the book is set in the Caribbean, and Lofter is skilled at bringing that to life. She uses excellent imagery and beautiful phrasing. It is obvious that the author has intimate knowledge and understanding of the life and culture there. It is easy to slip away to a different land whilst reading. I was particularly drawn to the way that Cherrimina interacted with her physical environment.

I felt almost lulled into a sleepy state at times while reading, as if I were lying on the beach on a tropical island. This was a false sense of security however, and did not prepare me for a number of shocking events in the story. These were often tragic and abrupt - and really drew me in as a reader and I felt this was very authentic because many life-changing events don’t have any build-up to them.

I really liked the confidence that Cherrimina eventually managed to obtain over her life. Even though there were many difficult moments, I felt that it was a hopeful story and not despairing.

The novel covers a large period of Cherrimina’s life, and while the story has a nice shape and closes well, there were times towards the end where things felt skimmed over and slightly contrived. This was perhaps because of the large number of characters and the author could only give ‘snapshots’ of different times and places. I sometimes wished I knew a little more about them.

Overall, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I gave it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I think it has been carefully designed and Lofter is an obviously skilled writer. The book was exceptionally well-edited.

This book would appeal to those who enjoy coming-of-age stories, historical fiction and unique settings.

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Sophistries of Summer Days
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