I've had a Lisa Wingate itch lately, and so was pleased to find the Blue Sky Hill series. I do admit it feels a bit weird to be reading summer books in December, but well, there you go. Lisa is just one of those authors you can sit with and enjoy during any season. Her writing style possesses a rhythm that still makes me feel warm and cozy.
Besides her rhythm and lyrical prose, Lisa knows how to create an unexpected story. I didn't know for several chapters whether I was going to like A Month of Summer. Rebecca Macklin read as a selfish, almost paranoid, and stereotypical person (driven, hard-charging, Silicon Valley snob type). Plus, there were elements I have seen done badly, even by my favorite authors, such as a main character with an intellectual disability and the environment of nursing homes and elder care. However, I can safely say Lisa blew me out of the water. At the very least, she turned my expectations on their heads.
I've mentioned before that Lisa doesn't do tropes, or rather, she does the unexpected with the tropes you prepare yourself to see. A Month of Summer is no exception. For instance, Rebecca is an unlikable lead at first, but she gradually becomes easier to sympathize with, because the reader gets to see her grow. Teddy does have intellectual disabilities, and so he's limited in self-expression and self-determination. For instance, he does engage in the childlike speech and actions that unfortunately, abled people stereotype people with disabilities as having. But Teddy also has interests of his own, and real talents, like with his garden. Communication impediment or not, he understands and responds to others' needs. He legitimately needs 24-7 care but is treated like a person.
The environments and associated plot threads were also a surprise. I expected the stereotypical depressing nursing home, the miraculous periodic recoveries from dementia, and so forth. However, except for Betty, no one in the nursing home was abusive. It was actually full of real characters, as in people I wanted to get to know and will remember for a long time. Claude and Ouita Mae are the two big ones, but I wouldn't have minded meeting more residents, even the woman who did nothing but moan. (Because, why was she moaning? What was her name? What else was important about her)?
I loved the way Lisa explored caregiver relationships in A Month of Summer, and the types there are. When you think "caregiver," you might automatically think of someone caring for people like Hanna Beth or Edward or Teddy, and those relationships get a lot of depth here. Lisa draws an especially deep, non-preachy contrast between good caregivers like Mary and Ifeoma vs. bad ones like KayKay. But she also plumbs the depth of parent/child relationships, caregiver/employee and family member, and person/community. I especially enjoyed Rebecca and Mary's relationship, because it seemed like the absolute wrong thing, but worked out so well.
That's another thing I loved about A Month of Summer--there's no "system." Of course, you know Social Services, nursing care conglomerates, and the like exist. They are in place when it's appropriate, such as with Hanna Beth, who has to live in a facility for her health. But otherwise, Rebecca, Teddy, Edward, Hanna Beth, Mary, Ifeoma, and others form their own circle. They take care of their own. They work to understand each other, to reconcile, to find some form of love. They don't need paperwork and red tape and "proper channels." As I said, it's a breath of fresh air. It almost feels spiritual.
Speaking of spiritual, I commend Lisa on it here. As usual, it's subtle; if you weren't looking, you wouldn't find it. And no, you're not going to find Christian-ese, family devotional time, or even much Scripture-based writing in A Month of Summer. What you will find, is the process of forgiveness and reconciliation. What you will find, is the truth setting people free. You will find people searching for real peace, and even if they don't mention the name Jesus, finding it in Him (as the One who holds it all together when we fall apart).
I did find it odd that Rebecca's conflict with Kyle, especially her suspicions of him cheating, were literally not wrapped up until the last scene. I loved how Rebecca discovered how much she'd slipped into her mother's old role of the scorned wife, but I would've liked to see her realizing that throughout the book. And while I don't think any of Lisa's plot elements came out of left field, I did think they left some unanswered questions, like how exactly Rebecca and Kyle were going to deal with KayKay, or family life from here on, or their marriage? I didn't mind some ambiguity, but for me there was just a smidge too much.
That said, A Month of Summer was a wonderful surprise for me. When I finished it, I immediately started the next book and am enjoying it. I absolutely recommend this book no matter the season.
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Josie
Really disliiked all of Lisa wingates books. The seller ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 20, 2018
