A Thousand Summers : A Novel

by Garson Kanin

Book Overview

Hardcover: 246 pages Publisher: Doubleday (1973) Language: English ISBN-10: B002I9CUP4 Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 0 pound 12.2 ounces This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: B005GSU9QQ
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good Summer Book

Beginning in the spring of 1927, "A Thousand Summers" follows Freeman Osborn, a thirty-something-year-old married pharmacist living in Edgartown, Massachusetts. It's here, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, that Freeman falls in love with Sheila Hanrahan-Van Anda, a married woman who visits him one day with an injured eye. Right away it's love at first sight, so to speak, when Freeman, in a desperate attempt to remove the object, does so by licking her eyeball--which is either an erotic or disgusting gesture, depending on the reader.From that first meeting, Freeman and Sheila have an affair that spans approximately 25 years and takes place all over the globe--from Martha's Vineyard to Paris, London, and Japan. About two-thirds of "A Thousand Summers" is a love story; the remaining third is mainly the aftermath of their relationship and how Freeman copes with it. The book is a little unbelievable in regards to their idealistic relationship. They *never* fight and are endlessly happy being together for years on end. The reader just has to accept these little quirks; otherwise, the story won't be as enjoyable.Overall, "A Thousand Summers" is an easy to read, relatively fast-paced romance (no gratuitous sex scenes here). However, there's no major plot or conflict. In fact, Freeman and Sheila's affair isn't all that shocking or taboo, especially since neither one feels guilty about it, nor do their spouses really care. The ending wasn't too terribly impressive either. After more than 100 pages, the author must have realized that nothing very dramatic had happened and decided to just tack on a separate story line, which didn't have a lot--if anything--to do with their affair. While it's not a horrible book, there are a few flaws that keep me from giving it a "5." It's still worth checking out, though, if you like historical romantic literature.