Parenthood
TV Show
The four grown Braverman siblings -- Adam, Sarah, Crosby and Julia -- share the joys, heartaches and...
The Moth and Moon
Book
In the summer of 1780, on the tiny island of Merryapple, burly fisherman Robin Shipp lives a simple,...
LGBT historical gay friends to lovers sailor baker
Agitator (2001)
Movie
thank you – and – fuck you - brother When a young Yakuza torments the customers in a rival...
Twister (1989)
Movie
An oddball family on a Kansas farm are trapped in their farmhouse by an impending storm. The...
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated The Secret of Marrowbone (2018) in Movies
May 14, 2019
The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians
Martin Davidson and Janice Hadlow
Book
An intensely moving account of George III's doomed attempt to create a happy, harmonious family,...
Alone: Britain, Churchill, and Dunkirk: Defeat into Victory
Book
In an absorbing work peopled with world leaders, generals, and ordinary citizens who fought on both...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2672 KP) rated Death Down the Aisle in Books
Oct 29, 2026 (Updated Oct 29, 2026)
While the book took a bit of time with the setup, the mystery delivered in spades. I was turning pages as quickly as possible at one point, and I was surprised by the climax. This ode to romantic triangles in Agatha Christie’s books did inflict Phyllida’s personal life, which I found annoying. The returning characters continue to entertain, and I really hope we see something come from what was set up here. And the suspects developed as the book went along, which made it easy to keep them straight. Now that I’ve caught up on this series, I am going to have to wait to see what happens next to Phyllida and the rest of the regulars.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Summer of '69 in Books
Aug 23, 2019
I just love Elin Hilderbrand's books and this was a really fun one. It didn't feel that much like "historical fiction," despite the 1969 setting, but it was fascinating to get a glimpse of how the late 1960s affected the family and their decisions--especially the females. The time period affects each woman, even Jessie, in their own way. Mom Kate was a tough one to love, at times, ignoring her poor daughter and moaning about Tiger and her own past. But, man, Hilderbrand just comes up with the best family dynamics. She sets an amazing scene, aided by her beloved Nantucket, and before you know it, you are there with her characters, immersed in their drama and daily lives.
For me, the star of this one was young Jessie. I loved how much of the book revolved around her--the points of view vary, but we hear from her a lot, and I couldn't help but love the kid. Nothing like growing up with a slightly absent mom, domineering grandmother, and a bunch of way older siblings, one of whom is at war. She was a breath of fresh air, and of course, Hilderbrand wrote from a teenage point of view perfectly. She gives all Kate's daughters their own unique voice, and it's amazing how each character stands out easily as distinct from one another.
This is not "simply" a tale of a family over a summer, it's captivating and engaging look at a family shaped by historical and domestic circumstances. I certainly enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it. I usually shy away from historical fiction, but I found it quite interesting--great characters and family dynamics as always from our summer novel queen. 4 stars.



