elliemcc11's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. Really appreciated - as soon as I saw the book and read the blurb I was keen to read it.
The backdrop of the story is a devastating hurricane (I'd never heard of it but the 'real' story is told by the author in the final pages), and as you read references are made to the barometer changing, which indicates a storm is brewing. This also reflects the general mood of the time. Set in 1930s Florida at the time of racial tensions, this books tells the story of an attack on a white woman, and the assumption is that it is by a black man. It becomes clear that what was first thought might not be correct and I really liked how the story unfolded.
I studied American History at university and so was aware that during WW1 black and white men fought on the same battlefields. They fought in different troops but there was a new level of acceptance. What I probably was less aware of was what happened when the troops returned home. Along with the impending hurricane, there is also the backdrop of The Great Depression, which left most struggling. Many of the troops were unable to work (for mental or physical reasons) and were left homeless. As a consequence of demands made on Government, work parties were organised to build roads, railways etc. One such camp was set up in this fictional town on the Florida Keys. It was effectively a shanty town, with poor sanitation etc. The camp again saw troops mixing and getting on with the job in hand. But it caused issues within the towns, as witnessed in this novel.
I was surprised, as appeared to be the author, to hear that northern Florida experienced lynchings and killings of black men, and after the "crime" was committed Henry, the black man in question, absconded with Jimmy, a white young man, as "hostage," to avoid such a fate. Henry fled north to be free, and it was interesting to see how Henry and Jimmy formed a close relationship, with Jimmy even getting Henry out of a difficult situation.
Mid-way through the book the hurricane began to take full effect. The writing is really descriptive and it must be such a scary experience. Pressures were put on the town shelter, and again there were racial tensions, and the black people fled to open train carriages to shelter. The sheer weight of wind and water meant the town shelter was destroyed and the community pulled together and had, in a way, to forget about colour, and concentrate on survival.
I enjoyed this book on a number of levels; it is very readable, and educational.
The backdrop of the story is a devastating hurricane (I'd never heard of it but the 'real' story is told by the author in the final pages), and as you read references are made to the barometer changing, which indicates a storm is brewing. This also reflects the general mood of the time. Set in 1930s Florida at the time of racial tensions, this books tells the story of an attack on a white woman, and the assumption is that it is by a black man. It becomes clear that what was first thought might not be correct and I really liked how the story unfolded.
I studied American History at university and so was aware that during WW1 black and white men fought on the same battlefields. They fought in different troops but there was a new level of acceptance. What I probably was less aware of was what happened when the troops returned home. Along with the impending hurricane, there is also the backdrop of The Great Depression, which left most struggling. Many of the troops were unable to work (for mental or physical reasons) and were left homeless. As a consequence of demands made on Government, work parties were organised to build roads, railways etc. One such camp was set up in this fictional town on the Florida Keys. It was effectively a shanty town, with poor sanitation etc. The camp again saw troops mixing and getting on with the job in hand. But it caused issues within the towns, as witnessed in this novel.
I was surprised, as appeared to be the author, to hear that northern Florida experienced lynchings and killings of black men, and after the "crime" was committed Henry, the black man in question, absconded with Jimmy, a white young man, as "hostage," to avoid such a fate. Henry fled north to be free, and it was interesting to see how Henry and Jimmy formed a close relationship, with Jimmy even getting Henry out of a difficult situation.
Mid-way through the book the hurricane began to take full effect. The writing is really descriptive and it must be such a scary experience. Pressures were put on the town shelter, and again there were racial tensions, and the black people fled to open train carriages to shelter. The sheer weight of wind and water meant the town shelter was destroyed and the community pulled together and had, in a way, to forget about colour, and concentrate on survival.
I enjoyed this book on a number of levels; it is very readable, and educational.
melfurious's review against another edition
4.0
A really addictive read. The only reason it got 4 stars for me was that it ended so abruptly! I could have kept reading for another 200 pages
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
4.0
Set in the small town of Heron Key, Florida in 1935 everyone is preparing for the 4th of July barbecue. Missy, maid to the Kincaid family, feels she has wasted her life pining for Henry, who went to fight on the battlefields of France. Now he has returned with a group of other desperate, destitute veterans.
After the barbeque, a white woman is found badly beaten and suspicion falls on Henry. Tensions rise, just a gigantic storm heads their way.
I loved this read – it was very evocative. The descriptions of the heat, food and living conditions took me right there. And the descriptions of the hurricane were truly terrifying!
I love an historical novel and this one, based on real events, covers racial issues and tells the story of the WW1 veterans and how they were treated when they returned to America. I also love disaster films so this was the perfect book for me!
After the barbeque, a white woman is found badly beaten and suspicion falls on Henry. Tensions rise, just a gigantic storm heads their way.
I loved this read – it was very evocative. The descriptions of the heat, food and living conditions took me right there. And the descriptions of the hurricane were truly terrifying!
I love an historical novel and this one, based on real events, covers racial issues and tells the story of the WW1 veterans and how they were treated when they returned to America. I also love disaster films so this was the perfect book for me!
kath61's review against another edition
5.0
This atmospheric, terrifying and yet moving book drew me in straightaway. I loved the cleverly drawn characters and no matter how much you read about racism in the Deep South it was yet again shocking to read. The natural disaster was handled with historical and dramatic truth and the way the author drew together the strands was subtle yet satisfying.
daynpitseleh's review against another edition
3.0
Note: Advanced reader's copy
This book is pretty good. It tells the tale of a small community in Florida where a group of veterans are working on a bridge project. When a woman is brutally beaten, suspicions fall to the veterans. And all of this occurs as a terrible hurricane approaches. The depictions of the characters are skillful, and the book is (thankfully) mainly dialect free. I was interested in the story and curious to find out who was the attacker. A nice writing style is clouded y the nonsensical actions the characters take and the fact that main characters are pretty much indestructible. The depictions of the storm's aftermath are particularly powerful, but I feel like the book just lacked the oomph it needed.
This book is pretty good. It tells the tale of a small community in Florida where a group of veterans are working on a bridge project. When a woman is brutally beaten, suspicions fall to the veterans. And all of this occurs as a terrible hurricane approaches. The depictions of the characters are skillful, and the book is (thankfully) mainly dialect free. I was interested in the story and curious to find out who was the attacker. A nice writing style is clouded y the nonsensical actions the characters take
Spoiler
(I don't believe that Henry would have come back)sazzzberry's review
I did not finish this. Nothing wrong with it, I just put it down and don't want to pick it up again.
It was a book club read or I would not have gotten past the free sample. It just never grabbed me. I do have to say some said it was like the help which I hated and I completely disagree.
It was a book club read or I would not have gotten past the free sample. It just never grabbed me. I do have to say some said it was like the help which I hated and I completely disagree.
ellenhomstad's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This has been sitting on my shelf forever. I was gifted it yeaaaars ago and simply forgot about. When I now decided to pick it up it made a way bigger impact on me than what I had anticipated.
Dealing with topics such as racial segregation, injustice against veterans and the consequences of the biggest hurricane to have ever hit the US mainland, I can still say that even though it is a fictional account, it is also well researched and I learnt so much. I really want to read more historical fiction because of this!
I feel like I can’t quite give it 4 stars, as the story was quite slow to start off and there were too many characters to keep track of (or care about). Still, this went above what I expected and I’m suuuuper happy I didn’t just leave it as a dust collector on my shelf.
Dealing with topics such as racial segregation, injustice against veterans and the consequences of the biggest hurricane to have ever hit the US mainland, I can still say that even though it is a fictional account, it is also well researched and I learnt so much. I really want to read more historical fiction because of this!
I feel like I can’t quite give it 4 stars, as the story was quite slow to start off and there were too many characters to keep track of (or care about). Still, this went above what I expected and I’m suuuuper happy I didn’t just leave it as a dust collector on my shelf.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was chosen as part of the Richard and Judy Summer Reads 2015 here in the UK and as I’m a bit of a devoted follower of the club I knew I was going to read it soon and was very much looking forward to it. It had already attracted the attention of my biblio-radar after I read a few positive reviews online but I was still surprised about how much I actually enjoyed this book and as it’s also a debut novel (wow!) I predict great things for this author.
The story could be classed as a historical fiction novel as it takes place in 1935 and is based on an actual event – a devastating hurricane which hit Florida and the surrounding areas with a bang and is still the strongest and most intense hurricane to make landfall in the United States in recorded history. Our story begins in the fictional small town of Heron Key, a close community where everyone knows everyone else and unfortunately, usually their private business too. Just before the Second World War, racial inequality is still rampant and our black characters are often found in positions of servitude such as our main female Missy who works for a wealthy white man and his wife as a nanny/general dogsbody, helping them take care of their young baby.
Then we have the black war veterans who have finally been called back to the USA not to give thanks for their efforts during the First World War or to receive a promised bonus, but to help build a bridge. They are housed very inadequately in a camp unprotected from the scorching Florida heat and worked to the bone, many turning to drink to find a way of escape. The community are planning their annual July 4th barbecue, an event to which both whites and blacks are invited (as long as they keep to their side of the beach, of course), yet there is a simmering undercurrent of tension and anger which finally blows when Hilda Kincaid, Missy’s mistress, is brutally attacked and hovers close to death. Immediately, blame falls on the veterans, in particular a young man called Henry who is Missy’s love interest but is still trying to find out who he really is after the traumas he experienced in battle.
There are so many characters to get to grips with in this novel and all have their own personal troubles or tragedies to deal with. At no time though did I feel confused over who was who and what happened to which person as it was just delightful to read a story with so much going on. By the time the hurricane hits, the community is a melting pot of anger, fear and loathing and the disaster ends up bringing out the best and the worst in everyone. I absolutely loved the descriptions the author used as they painted such a vivid picture:
“People caught in the open were blasted by sand with such force that it stripped away their clothing”.
Of course the reality is that not everyone survives this monstrous occurrence but amidst the sadness and devastation, we are still allowed a teeny glimmer of hope for the future and it is certain that some will learn from their mistakes. One positive thing that emerged from the tragedy was the fate of the veterans – in that it was realized that they were never really given a chance to survive despite having had warnings that a hurricane was on its way.
From an outstanding beginning to a tense and suspense-filled ending this was my perfect kind of book. It was something that told an excellent story with all the right mix of love, horror and excitement to keep me turning the pages. I definitely learned a few things from this novel and it made me want to go and research the actual event a bit further, a true sign that the story had really got to me. The characters are all fantastic and I felt that some of them really got under my skin and had me questioning the world a little differently. It was also fascinating to learn that Ernest Hemingway was there at the time of the hurricane and later wrote an angry magazine article railing at the treatment of the veterans, so I think I’ll leave the last words to him, he says it all:
“It is not necessary to go into the deaths of the civilians and their families since they were on the Keys of their own free will; They made their living there, had property and knew the hazards involved. But the veterans had been sent there; they had no opportunity to leave, nor any protection against hurricanes; and they never had a chance for their lives”.
For my full review please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
The story could be classed as a historical fiction novel as it takes place in 1935 and is based on an actual event – a devastating hurricane which hit Florida and the surrounding areas with a bang and is still the strongest and most intense hurricane to make landfall in the United States in recorded history. Our story begins in the fictional small town of Heron Key, a close community where everyone knows everyone else and unfortunately, usually their private business too. Just before the Second World War, racial inequality is still rampant and our black characters are often found in positions of servitude such as our main female Missy who works for a wealthy white man and his wife as a nanny/general dogsbody, helping them take care of their young baby.
Then we have the black war veterans who have finally been called back to the USA not to give thanks for their efforts during the First World War or to receive a promised bonus, but to help build a bridge. They are housed very inadequately in a camp unprotected from the scorching Florida heat and worked to the bone, many turning to drink to find a way of escape. The community are planning their annual July 4th barbecue, an event to which both whites and blacks are invited (as long as they keep to their side of the beach, of course), yet there is a simmering undercurrent of tension and anger which finally blows when Hilda Kincaid, Missy’s mistress, is brutally attacked and hovers close to death. Immediately, blame falls on the veterans, in particular a young man called Henry who is Missy’s love interest but is still trying to find out who he really is after the traumas he experienced in battle.
There are so many characters to get to grips with in this novel and all have their own personal troubles or tragedies to deal with. At no time though did I feel confused over who was who and what happened to which person as it was just delightful to read a story with so much going on. By the time the hurricane hits, the community is a melting pot of anger, fear and loathing and the disaster ends up bringing out the best and the worst in everyone. I absolutely loved the descriptions the author used as they painted such a vivid picture:
“People caught in the open were blasted by sand with such force that it stripped away their clothing”.
Of course the reality is that not everyone survives this monstrous occurrence but amidst the sadness and devastation, we are still allowed a teeny glimmer of hope for the future and it is certain that some will learn from their mistakes. One positive thing that emerged from the tragedy was the fate of the veterans – in that it was realized that they were never really given a chance to survive despite having had warnings that a hurricane was on its way.
From an outstanding beginning to a tense and suspense-filled ending this was my perfect kind of book. It was something that told an excellent story with all the right mix of love, horror and excitement to keep me turning the pages. I definitely learned a few things from this novel and it made me want to go and research the actual event a bit further, a true sign that the story had really got to me. The characters are all fantastic and I felt that some of them really got under my skin and had me questioning the world a little differently. It was also fascinating to learn that Ernest Hemingway was there at the time of the hurricane and later wrote an angry magazine article railing at the treatment of the veterans, so I think I’ll leave the last words to him, he says it all:
“It is not necessary to go into the deaths of the civilians and their families since they were on the Keys of their own free will; They made their living there, had property and knew the hazards involved. But the veterans had been sent there; they had no opportunity to leave, nor any protection against hurricanes; and they never had a chance for their lives”.
For my full review please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
h2o5o5's review
4.0
Take a microcosm of society and place it on an island in time of upheaval including the Great Depression and Jim Crow; add hundreds of outsiders, WWI veterans, still shell-shocked and suffering PTSD; and mix well - in the form of "the storm of the century", at least for the one little island.
Under a Dark Summer Sky, released as Summertime in the UK, is a fictionalized account of the Labor Day Hurricane which devastated Key Largo in 1935.
Very impressive debut novel.
Under a Dark Summer Sky, released as Summertime in the UK, is a fictionalized account of the Labor Day Hurricane which devastated Key Largo in 1935.
Very impressive debut novel.