Summer: Edith Wharton

A beautiful story - most enjoyable

This is the first Edith Wharton novel that I've read, and it has certainly roped me in. I've purchased a few more of her books and looking forward to reading them. The characters are wonderfully depicted and whether you grow to love or loathe them, you're truly acquainted with each of their personalities. Wharton's descriptions of scenes, feelings and behaviour are so vibrant and captivating. Although the story itself is rather slow-paced, it unfolds in an engaging way and had me gripped from start to finish. I don't know what other editions of this book are like - they may be better or worse - but I was pleased with this free kindle version that I purchased. I didn't encounter any problems; it seemed without faults as far as I could tell.

So beautifully written. Times haven't changed so much. Neither have folk. Pity there isn't a sequel because I'd love to know if Charity found real love in security and a family.

I am still listening to this CD, and reading the book at the same time. I like the reader, Lorna Raver, very much. The atmosphere reminds me of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, although there's no similarity in the characters, so the book transports me back to those days when most young girls' literature came from North America ('Girl of the Limberlost', the Anne books, etc.) The heroine, the fierce Charity Royall, is in the tradition even if she hasn't read very much. For this is the story of a Librarian in a one-horse town who doesn't know her books, except for 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and Longfellow, which are the only ones anyone asks for. Anyone, that is, except a fresh good-looking young man who has come to North Dormer from the city. "Have you a card catalogue?" he asks. A WHAT ? she retorts. There are some amusing moments, but one feels it is building up to a certain amount of turmoil, and it would be marvellous to listen to this while driving on a long, lonely journey. I haven't seen the ending, but am very engaged by the way the story is shaping

This is a sad yet beautiful Novella about Charity a seventeen-year old's dreams and growth into a sort of adulthood. The characters are well drawn, and believable, in believable situations, and I feel it is one of Wharton's better novels that often seem to ramble on.

It's some book that make you dislike a character but yet fall for her over time, that can make you never want to live in a forgotten little place like that while all the time making you love to feel the sun on your face, marvel at the butterflies and smell the flowers on the mountain. Very clever. This is the story of Charity Royall, a young, bored girl in a backwater town. When a stranger arrives, things start to get more interesting for her. I don't want to write any more than that for fear of spoiling the book, but sufice to say there are some surprises, some home-truths and some pretty tough times in store. I really liked this book; Wharton delivers some wonderful prose that draws you in to this little world.

Edith Wharton is a much under-rated author who seems to be undergoing something of a revival in critical circles. This is a lovely bitter-sweet little novel written in her usual engaging prose.

I loved this book, Edith Wharton is an amazing storyteller and this book is no exception. The story itself is gripping but it's also the way that Edith describes the surroundings that really makes this book come alive. It's one of my all-time favourite books.

[Note: do not read the spoiler review by "George & Georgia Eliot" on this site before you read the book (I'm glad I didn't) since the reviewer reveals the plot line even in the title of the review. Hey, thanks a lot. Don't you know you're supposed to put "spoiler alert" on things like that?] As for SUMMER itself, it was a delightful surprise from Wharton. One of the few books in which she actually admits that her characters have sex (oh, my) and actually does it tastefully and in strict accordance with the characters' natures and the plot itself. The ending was a stunning surprise, and this from a huge Wharton fan, who found this book accidentally for the Kindle. Thank you, those who made this book available for free, but I would've paid to read this one. SUMMER is one of the best books Wharton ever wrote. Thumbs up on character development, irony, plot, dialogue, etc. Great read. 5*

this is a very bad edition of wharton's work, almost as if it were run through google translate with random words scattered about nonsensicaly

Ich liebe dieses Buch !!! Der Schreibstyl von Edith Wharton ist unglaublich schön. Sie hat eine Kunst die Landschaft/Umgebung zu beschreiben, dass man glaubt, man wäre selbst schon da gewesen. Habe schon das nächste bestellt.

Good

本作品はよくニューヨークを離れた舞台、20世紀初期のニューイングランドの寒村で展開されることや、主人公が上流社会出でないことから『イーサン･フローム』と比べられる。しかしながら、作品のテーマは後者よりもさらに突き詰めているように思える。 主人公のチャリティー･ロイヤルはウォートンと同じ女性でありながら、教養も礼節もお金も無いような正反対の人物である。それにもかかわらず作者はチャリティーの気持ちや行動を読者が同情できるように描くことに成功している。 本著はそんな田舎娘のチャリティーと都会出身、教養もある男ルシウスとの間の関係を著したものだ。二つの全く違う世界から来た二人の関係はウォートンの作品を読んだことがあるものならば一筋縄に行かないのは必至であると予想がつくだろう。 ここまでなら『イーサン･フローム』でも取り上げられている。『サマー』が抜きんでているところは焦点を若い女性の初恋に当てることによって、出版当時の1917年には考えられなかった程女性のセクシュアリティーについて書いていることだ。ここで逆にチャリティーがウォートンが普段描く教養溢れる女性でないことが手伝って、より素直に題材を扱うことができている。特筆すべきはチャリティーが自分のおかれている状況がどのようなものであって、行動を起こさなければどのような結末が待っているかしっかりと理解できていることだ。 初恋の初々しい喜び、さらにはニューイングランド地方の夏の風景の描写が合わさっている本著はウォートン好きのみならず、女性問題、21世紀初頭ニューイングランドの生活などに興味がある方にもお勧めしたい。 最後にウォートンの作品中、十八番の上流階級を描いたものの中でも同じように女性、そして抑え気味だが女性のセクシュアリティーに焦点を当てたもので『歓楽の家』があるので、まだお読みになっていない方にはお勧めしたい。