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SUMMER ISLAND
BY
KRISTIN HANNAH
REVIEWED BY LINDA WICKLUND
 Since
we're in the midst of an early heat wave, I
thought it would be appropriate to review a good
beach read for you. As always, the author tells
us a story of a family who has their share of
"issues" (like most families) and their desire
to heal and to love each other again. No one
does feelings and emotions better than Kristin
Hannah.
The story begins
with Nora Bridge, "the newest sensation in talk
radio" on the air with her show Spiritual Healing
with Nora. Some reviewers mention the purity of
her heart. But, to Nora it's more the impurity of
her heart that makes her successful. You see, the
public doesn't know the real story of her past,
the fact that she walked out on her husband and
two daughters’ years ago.
Nora's youngest
daughter, Ruby, is a struggling comedian who often
uses her famous mother as material for her cynical
humor. She has never forgiven her mother for
leaving them and hasn't seen Nora in almost a
decade. So, when a scandalous secret is discovered
about Nora's past, Ruby is offered an opportunity
to write a tell-all story about her mother.
When Nora's career
blows up from the negative tabloid coverage of her
indiscretion, she is involved in a very serious
car accident. Since she needs a care taker during
her recovery the most unlikely person, Ruby,
reluctantly takes on the job and Nora insists they
spend the time on Summer Island in the lovely old
house where Ruby grew up. What a bitter sweet time
filled with memories of love and joy before she
was abandoned.
As time passes
Ruby discovers that Nora is not the woman she has
hated all these years. She is forced to grow up
and to understand that there were circumstances
she had never known about that caused her mother
to leave and that she desperately wanted to
reconcile with her daughter.
Summer Island is a
lovely novel that is filled with other side
stories like Ruby's teenage love who has never
found anyone like her, and a young man with
terminal cancer who lives on the island and is
like a son to Nora for instance.
The surprising
thing to me was the humor that Ms. Hannah includes
in these emotional story lines. It makes the
story lighter and not at all like a soap opera of
family problems. I've read many of her books and
have always admired her ability to make you feel
that you know her characters on a very personal
level.
Happy Reading!
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