Farewell Summer
by Ray Bradbury
List Price:
Our Price: $3.95
You Save: $4.04 (51%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.95 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Ray BradburyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-30
ISBN: 0061131555
Number of pages: 222
Publisher: Harper
Book Reviews of Farewell Summer
Book Review: An Inspired and Lyrical Reflection on the End of Childhood
Summary: 5 Stars
This short novel is a sequel to Dandelion Wine. Published almost half a century later it forms, with Something Wicked This Way Comes, a trilogy of novels that were inspired with Ray Bradbury's childhood years in a small town of Waukegan, Illinois. The Farewell Summer is a deeply personal and intimate reflection on coming of age and commencement of initiation into the world of adulthood. The novel takes place over course of just one October, and follows a group of kids as they come in conflict with adults in fictional Green Town. The book presents a very humane look at the way that several adults, especially the much older ones, deal with what would today be termed delinquency. They understand that "boys will be boys," and yet they try to help with a smooth transition into the adulthood.
Bradbury has been known primarily for his science fiction books, but in this novel and a few others he shows his ability to convey deeper messages of life in a much more "realistic" and conventional form. His writing is very lyrical and at moments poignant. Even though this is a very short novel, it contains a lot of inspired and moving writing. It has a lot of cross appeal, and even if you are not a fan of ray Bradbury you are bound to enjoy this beautiful gem. I certainly hope that this book does not signal the end of his extensive opus. We can all learn more about life from this unique and brilliant author.
Summary of Farewell Summer
In the deceiving warmth of earliest October, civil war has come to Green Town, Illinois, an age-old conflict pitting the young against the elderly for control of the clock that ticks their lives ever forward. The graying forces of school board despot Mr. Calvin C. Quartermain have declared total war on thirteen-year-old Douglas Spaulding and his downy-cheeked cohorts. The boys, in turn, plan and execute daring campaigns, matching old Quartermain's experience and cunning with their youthful enthusiasm and devil-may-care determination to hold on forever to childhood's summer. Yet time must ultimately be the victor, as life waits in ambush to assail young Spaulding with its powerful mysteries?the irresistible ascent of manhood, the sweet surrender of a first kiss . . .
Historical Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Historical Books
Pirate Latitudes: A Novelby Michael Crichton
Harper; Published: 2009-11-24; Roughcut; Book
Best price: $2.44
Price in other shops:
The Master Butchers Singing Club: A Novelby Louise Erdrich
Harper Perennial; Published: 2004-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.83
Price in other shops:
The Last Witchfinder: A Novelby James Morrow
William Morrow; Published: 2006-03-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
Zorroby Isabel Allende
HarperAudio; Published: 2005-05-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $3.05
Price in other shops:
The Hot Kid: A Novelby Elmore Leonard
William Morrow; Published: 2005-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.89
Price in other shops:
The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series #1)Mass Market Paperback; Book
Bones of the Hills (Conqueror, Book 3)by Conn Iggulden
Harper Collins Canada; Published: 2008; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $44.70
Marchby Geraldine Brooks
Penguin Books; Published: 2006; Paperback; Book
Emperor (Emperor 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2003-06-07; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.80
Girl With a Pearl Earringby Tracy Chevalier
Harper Collins Audio; Published: 2002-06-17; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $86.82
Similar Books and other products
Let's All Kill Constanceby Ray Bradbury
Avon; Published: 2003-12-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Talesby Ray Bradbury
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2005-04-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops:
Something Wicked This Way Comesby Ray Bradbury
Avon; Published: 1998-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.74
Price in other shops:
From the Dust Returnedby Ray Bradbury
Avon; Published: 2002-09-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.64
Price in other shops:
Now and Forever: Somewhere a Band Is Playing & Leviathan '99by Ray Bradbury
Harper; Published: 2008-07-29; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.70
Price in other shops:
Dandelion Wine (Grand Master Editions)by Ray Bradbury
Random House; Spectra; Published: 1985-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.32
Price in other shops:
Summer Morning, Summer Nightby Ray Bradbury
Subterranean Press; Published: 2010-12-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.18
Price in other shops:
The Halloween Treeby Ray Bradbury
Yearling; Published: 1999-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.42
Price in other shops:
Something Wicked This Way Comesby Ray Bradbury
Harper Voyager; Published: 1999-06-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Dandelion Wineby Ray Bradbury
Avon Books; Published: 1999-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops: