Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly: Audiobook Review

Seventeenth SummerSEVENTEENTH SUMMER by Maureen Daly Audiobook Review
Publication Date: October 27th 2009 by Simon Pulse (first published 1942)
Rating: – Poor |

Book Summary: Until the summer before college, Angie Morrow didn’t really date. Her mother didin’t like her to go out much. But no one — not even Angie’s mother — can resist the charm of strikingly handsome Jack Duluth. His good looks grab Angies’s attention from the moment in June when Jack throws Angie a smile at McKight’s drugstore. And on their first date sailing under the stars — when Jack leans in and whispers to Angie, “You look nice with the wind in your hair,” the strange new feeling s begin. Tingles, prickles, warmth: the tell-tale signs of romance. It’s the beginning of an unforgettable summer for Angie, full of wonder, warmth, tears, challenge, and love.

Maureen Daly had created a love story so honest that it has withstood the test of time, winning new fans for more than six decades. Today, this classic is enjoyed by many who think of it as the quintessential love story, and as a glimpse of love in the 1940’s; a refreshing alternative to modern love stories, reflecting the beauty and innocence of new love.

Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly Audiobook Review:

  • The pacing overall was just too slow for my liking. I’m glad that I did pick this one up in audiobook format rather than print because I do not think I would have been able to read through this.
  • SEVENTEENTH SUMMER by Maureen Daly felt dated. Okay, this novel was written in 1942, so it makes sense. However, there is an outstanding difference in dating practices between the 1940’s and today so from the standpoint of a contemporary novel, SEVENTEENTH SUMMER read as a little childish.
  • There is nothing quite special about the protagonist, Angie Morrow, that made her a memorable character. She was just there.
  • The romance was frustrating and it lacked romantic suspense. Jack was quite open about his feelings, and it was just Angie’s tendency to overanalyze everything that made it difficult for the two of them. There was no questioning that Jack liked Angie so it was frustrating to read about.
  • It is a pivotal novel in the YA genre because some can say that this is one of the first novels of the genre. I’m glad I read it, but I didn’t really like it. It’s just not my cup of tea.

 

About the Author

Maureen Daly, a writer whose first novel, “Seventeenth Summer,” anticipated the young-adult genre by decades when it appeared in 1942 and has endured as a classic coming-of-age story, died on Monday in Palm Desert, Calif. She was 85 and made her home in Palm Desert.

Find the Author

Website | GoodReads

1 Comment

  1. 1940s? I’ll pass. It’s a shame, though, because the cover is cute. Funny thing is that the cover also looks really contemporary, despite it being set in a not-so-contemporary period.

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