The High Season Summary

The High Season

“A mesmerizing, head-spinning—and sometimes madcap-hilarious—take of have and have-nots.”—People (Book of the Week) NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE AND KIRKUS REVIEWS • “In the smart, breezy, sweet spot between Meg Wolitzer and Elin Hilderbrand.”—Entertainment Weekly No matter what the world throws her way, at least Ruthie Beamish has the house. Located by the sea in a quiet Long Island village, the house is her nest egg—the retirement account shared with her ex-husband, Mike, and the college fund for their teenage daughter, Jem. The catch? To afford the house, Ruthie must let it go during the best part of the year. It’s Memorial Day weekend and the start of what Jem calls “the summer bummer”: the family’s annual exodus to make way for renters. This year, the Hamptons set has arrived. Adeline Clay is elegant and connected—and will never need to worry about money. Before long, she demonstrates an uncanny ability to help herself to Ruthie’s life. Is Adeline just being her fabulous self, or is she out to take what she wants? When an eccentric billionaire, his wayward daughter, a coterie of social climbers, and Ruthie’s old flame are thrown into the mix, the entire town finds itself on the verge of tumultuous change. But as Ruthie loses her grasp on her job, her home, and her family, she discovers a new talent for pushing back. By the end of one unhinged, unforgettable summer, nothing will be the same—least of all Ruthie. Praise for The High Season “Blundell knows the territory. . . . Her account of Ruthie’s coming to grips with a career, a daughter and a community in flux is as touching as it is convincing.”—The Wall Street Journal “A huge page-turner . . . so compelling . . . a classic beach read, but very smart, very intelligently written.”—Us Weekly, Emily Giffin’s Summer Reading Recommendations “An acid-laced domestic drama set during one golden summer on the moneyed, beachy North Fork of Long Island.”—The New York Times “Judy Blundell wields words like an oyster knife in this shimmering story of art, money, and celebrity.”—Helen Simonson, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Before the War “A wry, often hilarious story of a woman trying to keep it together when everything is going so, so wrong.”—Real Simple

The Invention of Wings: by Sue Monk Kidd | Summary & Analysis

The Invention of Wings, a story based on the trials and tribulations of abolitionist Sarah Grimke. This tale paints a fictional landscape of multiple issues during the nineteenth century, including women’s rights and slavery. Critically acclaimed and a New York Times bestseller, the story sets out on a relationship between a young Sarah Grimke and the ownership of “Handful”, a child slave. Kidd highlights the complexity of these two characters based on coping skills and difference of self, based on how both of the young girls were raised. Despite the hardships of being born in a society where women are severely oppressed, and in Handful’s case, into slavery, the two young women fight the odds and grow into formidable and intelligent empowered women while asking the reader to reflect on what it means to develop in a world of oppression. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 11.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} The Invention of Wings, released in May of 2015, is renowned for being a story that touches down to the soul. It speaks upon the hardship of understanding exactly what it means to live a life where everything is set against you for failure. How does one stand their ground when they are expected to be obedient and submissive? How does one follow their dreams in the face of every cynic and naysayer that pecks at one’s self-esteem? Both girls must endure the hardship they have been cursed with simply for being born, whether it means to be a woman or a slave, born into aristocracy and expected to live roles that do not conform to what they desire. It empathizes with those who have a personal struggle and hopes to underline the possibilities to succeed despite such unyielding pressure. When you read The Invention of Wings, you will understand why this story is such a popular book. The story contains something for everyone, and it is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who reads it. Moreover, it fuels a passion for facing injustice when you are fighting a battle everyone expects you to lose. There are no easy or soft moments; everything is a struggle. Thanks to that, however, these young ladies learn what it means to be a fighter, and don’t back down in the face of adversity. It is a heart-wrenching tale that will have you cheering on the sidelines for justice!

National Water Summary 1988-89