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A Hundred Summers Paperback – April 1, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Dashing football hero Nick Greenwald is catapulted into the rarified milieu of Park Avenue penthouses and Ivy League campuses in the uncertain days of the Great Depression when he falls in love with Lily Dane. The meeker (though more polished), moral, and beautiful best friend of Zeldaesque flapper Budgie Byrne, Lily is immediately smitten with Nick’s determination and strength, an attraction the manipulative Budgie doesn’t encourage, though she doesn’t necessarily discourage it, either. After all, Nick is Jewish, and Budgie is confident that Lily’s socially conservative family will never condone the match. They don’t, and Budgie profits from the rift, marrying Nick on the rebound, while Lily nurses her broken heart. Seven years later, the Greenwalds turn up at Seaview, Rhode Island, the perennial summer enclave for the Danes, Byrnes, and other WASP stalwarts, and their renewed presence in Lily’s life unleashes a storm of unexpected consequences. Williams’ sweeping saga of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption trenchantly examines the often duplicitous nature of female friendships and family expectations. --Carol Haggas
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“Sparkles like the New England summer sun.”—Karen White
“It is what every beach book should aspire to be—smart and engrossing.”—Elin Hilderbrand
“[A] great summer read.”—People
“Will keep the reader so engrossed, multiple applications of sunscreen will be required.”—USA Today
“A wonderfully evocative atmosphere of hot and hazy days, shimmering parties, and lazy afternoons on the beach. Add in a little romance, a lost love, and a family mystery, and you’ve got the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the hot sand.”—Examiner.com
“A candidate for this year’s big beach read.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] fast-paced love story.”—O, The Oprah Magazine
“Summer of 1938: A scandalous love triangle and a famous hurricane converge in a New England beach community. Add in a betrayal between friends, a marriage for money, and a Yankee pitcher, and it’s a perfect storm.”—Good Housekeeping
“It is what every beach book should aspire to be—smart and engrossing.”—Elin Hilderbrand
“[A] great summer read.”—People
“Will keep the reader so engrossed, multiple applications of sunscreen will be required.”—USA Today
“A wonderfully evocative atmosphere of hot and hazy days, shimmering parties, and lazy afternoons on the beach. Add in a little romance, a lost love, and a family mystery, and you’ve got the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the hot sand.”—Examiner.com
“A candidate for this year’s big beach read.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] fast-paced love story.”—O, The Oprah Magazine
“Summer of 1938: A scandalous love triangle and a famous hurricane converge in a New England beach community. Add in a betrayal between friends, a marriage for money, and a Yankee pitcher, and it’s a perfect storm.”—Good Housekeeping
More About the Author
A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York and London hiding her early attempts at fiction, first on company laptops as a corporate and communications strategy consultant, and then as an at-home producer of small persons. She now lives with her husband and four children near the Connecticut shore, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.
Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beatrizwilliamsauthor, and on Twitter at @bcwilliamsbooks.
Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beatrizwilliamsauthor, and on Twitter at @bcwilliamsbooks.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
107 of 112 people found the following review helpful
By
Tina Says
VINE VOICE on April 11, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
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In 1931 two socialite college girls, Lily Dane and Budgie Byrne, attend college football games to watch Budgie's boyfriend play. Lily meets Nicholsen Greenwald at a game, and the two are instantly struck by each other. Their courtship is marred by the fact that Nick is Jewish, and when Lily attempts to introduce him to her parents they are adamant that Lily end the relationship.
Things have always seemed a bit easier for Budgie whose boyfriend, Harrison, is eventually cast aside for a different boyfriend, a pattern that repeats itself often in Budgie's life.
Now 1938, Lily is summering at Seaview, the beach house her family has vacationed at for generations. Budgie will be arriving shortly at her family's beach house, and Lily is nervous for her arrival since the two haven't spoken in years. In addition, Budgie is now Budgie Greenwald, having married Nick, who had once been the love of Lily's life.
The chapters alternate setting between 1931 and 1938 and I raced through each chapter in order to discover what occurred between Lily and Nick that ended what appeared to be a perfect love affair. As I read secrets were revealed - enjoyable especially since I didn't foresee any of them in advance. I fell in love with Nick, a gentleman from the book's beginning and wanted both he and Lily to find happiness.
The cover of this book perfectly captures this time period, which in addition to the 1930s setting, also is marked by the Hurricane of 1938 that swept away entire beach communities like Seaview where Lily and Budgie had summer homes.
A Hundred Summers left me with a book hangover; every title I have picked up since hasn't held much appeal.
Things have always seemed a bit easier for Budgie whose boyfriend, Harrison, is eventually cast aside for a different boyfriend, a pattern that repeats itself often in Budgie's life.
Now 1938, Lily is summering at Seaview, the beach house her family has vacationed at for generations. Budgie will be arriving shortly at her family's beach house, and Lily is nervous for her arrival since the two haven't spoken in years. In addition, Budgie is now Budgie Greenwald, having married Nick, who had once been the love of Lily's life.
The chapters alternate setting between 1931 and 1938 and I raced through each chapter in order to discover what occurred between Lily and Nick that ended what appeared to be a perfect love affair. As I read secrets were revealed - enjoyable especially since I didn't foresee any of them in advance. I fell in love with Nick, a gentleman from the book's beginning and wanted both he and Lily to find happiness.
The cover of this book perfectly captures this time period, which in addition to the 1930s setting, also is marked by the Hurricane of 1938 that swept away entire beach communities like Seaview where Lily and Budgie had summer homes.
A Hundred Summers left me with a book hangover; every title I have picked up since hasn't held much appeal.
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By
Ms Winston
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on April 15, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
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Ever since I heard about the New England hurricane of 1938 I have been fascinated by it -- those of us who live along the East Coast today are thankful that the National Weather Service, the Hurricane Center, and the Weather Channel can keep us updated almost to the minute as to when a hurricane will strike. In 1938, folks were not so lucky. And into the literal hurricane comes Hurricane Budgie back into the life of our heroine Lily Dane, bringing with her Lily's former love, Nick Greenwald, now Budgie's husband.
The book alternates between 1931/2, when Budgie and Lily are great college friends, and Lily is in love with Nick, and 1938, when the September hurricane resolves many issues. There are secrets to be solved, and one of the biggest is why Nick left Lily, and how he ended up married to Budgie years later. We also need to resolve the issue of who is the mother of Kiki, five years old in May of 1938 -- is she Lily's sister or her daughter? Kiki is actually one of the weakest parts of this novel, as proof that the author, Beatriz Williams, cannot write realistic dialog for children. If you were not told that Kiki is not quite six years old in 1938, you would probably think she was an older teenager. At one point, Kiki says, speaking of herself: "Let the child have her fun," which is rather improbable dialog for a child not even in 1st grade. And it only gets worse later in the same chapter, when Kiki sees a man who is a stranger to her: "Well, hello. I haven't seen you around before." Anyone who is a parent or grandparent can recognize that most five year old children do not talk this way. And there is not really much to my mind that is terribly remarkable about Kiki that would make her sound that mature.Read more ›
The book alternates between 1931/2, when Budgie and Lily are great college friends, and Lily is in love with Nick, and 1938, when the September hurricane resolves many issues. There are secrets to be solved, and one of the biggest is why Nick left Lily, and how he ended up married to Budgie years later. We also need to resolve the issue of who is the mother of Kiki, five years old in May of 1938 -- is she Lily's sister or her daughter? Kiki is actually one of the weakest parts of this novel, as proof that the author, Beatriz Williams, cannot write realistic dialog for children. If you were not told that Kiki is not quite six years old in 1938, you would probably think she was an older teenager. At one point, Kiki says, speaking of herself: "Let the child have her fun," which is rather improbable dialog for a child not even in 1st grade. And it only gets worse later in the same chapter, when Kiki sees a man who is a stranger to her: "Well, hello. I haven't seen you around before." Anyone who is a parent or grandparent can recognize that most five year old children do not talk this way. And there is not really much to my mind that is terribly remarkable about Kiki that would make her sound that mature.Read more ›
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52 of 66 people found the following review helpful
By
Quirky Girl
VINE VOICE on July 18, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
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Even if you add in "historic" events, a well-to-do family, racism, - this story, if told today, is nothing more than a Jerry Springer show.
Budgie is the well to do girl, who guys adore, who seems to have it all, including the man her best friend (Lily) loves. There is a switching of partners. And Budgie ends up with Lily's "one true love" and Lily becomes engaged to Budgie's old flame.
There is nothing about Budgie in the whole (almost 400 pages)to make the reader her like her one bit. And then, suddenly (SPOILER) - we learn in the last few pages, in a few sentences, that Budgie was molested by her father. It's just kind of thrown in there. Oh, by the way, here's why I've been a mean girl all my life. Then she gets swept away a hurricane. Wow, how convenient. Now Lily can finally marry the man of her dreams! And, even though Nick was married to Budgie - (SPOILER)he only had sex ONCE with her and that was prior to their marriage. Uh huh. Ok.
I read this book by the pool, and more than once someone asked me what was wrong because I had a scowl on my face. "This book is so freaking ridiculous!" Was always my answer. As least I got a good tan.
This book is NOTHING like Gossip Girl. At least with GG, the "mean" characters were somewhat empathetic. The only character that came close to being likeable was Nick - but that's not to say I ever came to like him.
Flat. Dull. And explanations thrown in at the very end like someone suddenly remembering to add salt to a stew - and by then, it's far too late.
Hated This.
Budgie is the well to do girl, who guys adore, who seems to have it all, including the man her best friend (Lily) loves. There is a switching of partners. And Budgie ends up with Lily's "one true love" and Lily becomes engaged to Budgie's old flame.
There is nothing about Budgie in the whole (almost 400 pages)to make the reader her like her one bit. And then, suddenly (SPOILER) - we learn in the last few pages, in a few sentences, that Budgie was molested by her father. It's just kind of thrown in there. Oh, by the way, here's why I've been a mean girl all my life. Then she gets swept away a hurricane. Wow, how convenient. Now Lily can finally marry the man of her dreams! And, even though Nick was married to Budgie - (SPOILER)he only had sex ONCE with her and that was prior to their marriage. Uh huh. Ok.
I read this book by the pool, and more than once someone asked me what was wrong because I had a scowl on my face. "This book is so freaking ridiculous!" Was always my answer. As least I got a good tan.
This book is NOTHING like Gossip Girl. At least with GG, the "mean" characters were somewhat empathetic. The only character that came close to being likeable was Nick - but that's not to say I ever came to like him.
Flat. Dull. And explanations thrown in at the very end like someone suddenly remembering to add salt to a stew - and by then, it's far too late.
Hated This.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By
Bookpuppy
on August 24, 2013
Format: Hardcover
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Sophomoric writing, grammatical errors all over the place and truly awful, florid prose. Felt like I was reading some turgid soap opera from the 40s! Author doesn't have an ear for dialogue (can't imagine anyone would speak like these characters, even in the 1930s) and the things that come out of the six year old Kiki's mouth sound like a 40 year old! Had hoped to like this, but I grew increasingly exasperated with the stupidity of the main character, Lily. Hard to believe that she hadn't figured out, over six years (!) what everyone was whispering about. What a dummy! Also, the character at the center of the main plot development is truly a non-player for the entire book...and even once her import to the plot is revealed (about 10 pages from the end), she again disappears into the background! Actually, the author pretty much telegraphed the big plot reveal very early on in the book..and the plot "device" of constantly skipping between 1931 & 1938 didn't help. Stunned that so many liked this.
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