With a rare combination of emotional insight, narrative power, and lyrical grace, Justin Cronin transforms the simple story of a dying man’s last wish into a rich tapestry of family love. On an evening in late summer, the great financier Harry Wainwright, nearing the end of his life, arrives at a rustic fishing camp in a remote area of Maine. He comes bearing two things: his wish for a day … his wish for a day of fishing in a place that has brought him solace for thirty years, and an astonishing bequest that will forever change the lives of those around him.
From the battlefields of Italy to the turbulence of the Vietnam era, to the private battles of love and family, The Summer Guest reveals the full history of this final pilgrimage and its meaning for four people: Jordan Patterson, the haunted young man who will guide Harry on his last voyage out; the camp’s owner Joe Crosby, a Vietnam draft evader who has spent a lifetime “trying to learn what it means to be brave”; Joe’s wife, Lucy, the woman Harry has loved for three decades; and Joe and Lucy’s daughter Kate—the spirited young woman who holds the key to the last unopened door to the past.
As their stories unfold, secrets are revealed, courage is tested, and the bonds of love are strengthened. And always center stage is the place itself—a magical, forgotten corner of New England where the longings of the human heart are mirrored in the wild beauty of the landscape.
Intimate, powerful, and profound, The Summer Guest reveals Justin Cronin as a storyteller of unique and marvelous talent. It is a book to treasure.
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With multiple threads that span yesteryear and current day, author Justin Cronin weaves an enticing tapestry that kept me coming back for more. And while each character is strong and believable, the rural fishing camp—a standalone character in its own right—is my favorite. Don’t miss this journey to Maine.
This book really dug deep into all the characters involved, humanized them. We were allowed to connect with them at this juncture of their lives.
I enjoy books that shift perspectives from one character to another, but oftentimes you need to look back a few pages to figure out what’s going on. Cronin keeps a lot of balls in play, and you need to stay tuned in – I didn’t always do that, and occasionally got lost. But I really enjoyed how he pulled the threads together. The reader also feels part of the different families, looking both down from above, and out from within. There are different social classes interacting on different levels, through different time periods. I lived in rural Maine for many years, and so this, too, gave the book a rich flavor for me. It’s a well written book; I’ll search out more by Cronin.
Good story. Quick read.
Loved this book.
This was a fine book.
Can’t say enough about this novel. Outstanding writing. Great characters. Wonderful story. Touching and inspiring.
I recommend this book to friends and family. The journey you are carried on is sad but yet very inspirational.
This book was very hard to put down both while reading it and afterward. It would be a great book club entry.
I couldn’t put it down….
The book was gimmicky, written with flip-flopping voices among the characters, hard to follow because several of the characters were never properly developed. The ending was unfulfilling, several characters seemed to be red herrings, thrown in with a hint of interesting backstory, only to evaporate later or never become more interesting. Additionally, there were gratuitous political references that many would find offensive. In general, I do not recommend this book. I found it a waste of time. Very disappointing
Loved it. Great insight into real life trials and emotions. Fact that the setting is a lake resort in Maine captured my attention as I have family there and love the area.
Very descriptive and authentic.
It was so beautifully written, that I didn’t want it to end. I Loved it!
I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I have suggested the book to many friends and my twenty-Four Book Club gals.
Really lovely, beautifully written, characters to care about, unique story structure. Loved it! Only complaint is the rather abrupt ending that felt rushed & incomplete.
Loved loved loved this book. Have recommended to all my friends.
The journey of this book is captivating.
Incredible writer. Truly beautiful prose !
If you only know Cronin from The Passage trilogy you will be surprised. This novel is wonderful although very unlike the trilogy. Strongly recommend. Excellent writing and a moving story.
Justin Cronin is one of my favorite modern authors, and this is one of his better works. He has created a very original story with some very neat twists and turns, none predictable. It is a great read that I recommended to all of my friends.