July and August: A Novel by Nancy Clark | Fiction | DONNE TEMPO
July and August: A Novel by Nancy Clark
August/25/08 11:14 PM Filed in: Fiction
By Cecei O’Bryon
England
Set during a New England summer in Towne, Massachusettes, July and August: A Novel by Nancy Clark (Pantheon. ISBN-10: 037542329X. $18.25) introduces her readers to Great-Aunt Lily, the maiden aunt of a varied family and the owner of a successful farming operation and vegetable stand.
July
and August lets the reader in on a family as they
converge in Towne for the summer. Ginger, an
aunt, lays dying, Julie, a niece, plans a wedding
with an unseen groom and three nephews – two uber
successful and the third wavering in his plans-
consider finances and romances.
The many grand-nieces and nephews, both biological and chosen find their own strengths. This is a novel of social and family observation set in the grand and sprawling tradition of a family reunion.
Adding to the cast, the characters of the town are included in this varied exploration of the Hill family and it’s extended members.
Those that are not present are almost as fleshed out as those that are. Each person in this novel has differing goals and expectations. It is the roving eye of the observer that allows the readers access to the many plans and perspectives of the Hill family.
Clark does a wonderful job of conveying the many stages of life and the incumbent riches that lie with each choice and age. Remembrances of a wedding that never took place, plans for one that may or may not have the outcome the bride desires, wives without husbands and men without wives these are the engaging tales from every perspective that flesh out the portrait of an established family in the modern era.
Clark cleverly uses the idea of town and the idea of family to allow her readers access to the everyday dramas that make up the saga of our lives.
It is an enjoyable read with lovely descriptions of the inner world of each individual. The youngest and oldest characters are equally developed so the novel speaks to all ages.
Author Biography
Nancy Clark is the author of A Way from Home and The Hills at Home. A native of Massachusetts, she now makes her home in West Wilton, New Hampshire.
Set during a New England summer in Towne, Massachusettes, July and August: A Novel by Nancy Clark (Pantheon. ISBN-10: 037542329X. $18.25) introduces her readers to Great-Aunt Lily, the maiden aunt of a varied family and the owner of a successful farming operation and vegetable stand.
The many grand-nieces and nephews, both biological and chosen find their own strengths. This is a novel of social and family observation set in the grand and sprawling tradition of a family reunion.
Adding to the cast, the characters of the town are included in this varied exploration of the Hill family and it’s extended members.
Those that are not present are almost as fleshed out as those that are. Each person in this novel has differing goals and expectations. It is the roving eye of the observer that allows the readers access to the many plans and perspectives of the Hill family.
Clark does a wonderful job of conveying the many stages of life and the incumbent riches that lie with each choice and age. Remembrances of a wedding that never took place, plans for one that may or may not have the outcome the bride desires, wives without husbands and men without wives these are the engaging tales from every perspective that flesh out the portrait of an established family in the modern era.
Clark cleverly uses the idea of town and the idea of family to allow her readers access to the everyday dramas that make up the saga of our lives.
It is an enjoyable read with lovely descriptions of the inner world of each individual. The youngest and oldest characters are equally developed so the novel speaks to all ages.
Author Biography
Nancy Clark is the author of A Way from Home and The Hills at Home. A native of Massachusetts, she now makes her home in West Wilton, New Hampshire.