Oh How we love to hate our parents!

Parents and children have a love/hate relationship. No? Maybe? Sometimes?

Children think they know everything they need to know, especially in their view of their parents. Ok, maybe their view of their parents when they are a child. (Although the view usually changes as the child matures).

Parents are not perfect. Children are not angels.

So, if you are looking for a book on perfection and angels, don't read this book. If you are looking for a story about the trials of relationships between mothers and daughters, then give this one a try.

If you read the first 25 pages, I would venture to say that you will be hooked and MUST finish the book.

The author of this book is Kristin Hannah. I have never heard of this author (I usually visit and revisit books by the same author). If her style of writing in all her books remotely resemble that which is displayed in this book, then it is worth the money (or time) spent to buy/check-out her other books. (I personally checked out "On Mystic Lake" yesterday but have not had a chance to open it yet).

Essay on "Summer Island":
The story centers around three primary characters:
Nora Bridge - the mother
Ruby Bridge - one of Nora's daughters
Caroline Bridge - the other daughter of Nora

It also has 2 secondary characters:
Dean and Eric Sloan
(Ruby and Caroline grew up with these boys)

A few of the other characters:
Lottie (the Sloan's housekeeper)
Rand - Ruby and Caroline's father, Nora's ex-husband.
Gere - Caroline's husband

Nora, Rand, Ruby and Caroline were a happy little family. That is what Ruby and Caroline thought, until one day their mother casually states that she is leaving and asks if anyone is going with her. Nora ends up leaving alone.

This act devastates Ruby, Caroline and Rand. The girls become concerned for and defensive of their father. Naturally, they learned to hate their mother. Especially Ruby.

Nora moves on with her life. She becomes a nationally syndicated novelist/radio personality. She has done well for herself, but this does not make up for what she did to her children. Until one day, the axe comes down. Nora is exposed for an indiscretion. She ends up in an automobile accident and requires care for at least a week upon being discharged from the hospital.

Caroline is married with two children of her own. Her lifestyle is somewhat on the upper class side, but descriptions about her family are limited. The point is, it appears she has survived the trauma she has lived with as a result of her mother walking out of her life as a teenager.

Ruby is a want-to-be comedian. She is a broke and un-employed comedian. Ruby cannot maintain a relationship, much less a 'gig'. Her life seems to be a mere existence. Her food for living is the hatred of her mother.

Caroline and Ruby actually visit their mother in the hospital and Caroline talks Ruby into being the 'nurse' that Nora needs. Caroline thinks this is the opportunity for both of them to work through the dysfunctional relationship. Why not, Caroline has a limited relationship with Nora.

Eric is dying of Cancer. He is gay and his family disowned him. He hasn't talked to his family in years. The one person from his childhood that he maintains a relationship with is Nora. She visits him daily in the hospital. Eric decides to go to the family home on the San Juan Islands to live out his final days. He contacts Dean and his parents to ask them to visit and explain he was dying.

Nora decides to go to their family retreat home on the islands to hide out and recover from her accident. Yes, Ruby decides to take on the task, although bitterly.

Prior to the accident, Ruby was approached to write an expose on her mothers life for an inquiring tabloid. She takes on the challenge because she needs the money and she hates her mother.

End of Summary.

Now, that should be enough to have you interested in the entire story. You can venture to make guesses as to how the story goes, but you will have to read it to find out how it actually ends.

This much is for sure...
Oh what tangled webs we weave!
Yes, in real life. In reading the book I got a sense of warmth and discovery. And that is absolutely all I am going to say.

When you are searching for a good story, pick up this one.
"Summer Island by Kristin Hannah"

Fantastic!