Summer People [Paperback]

Superficially this thoroughly readable book deals with the triangle of relationships between the three main characters, living in what appear to be idyllic rural Cape Cod surroundings: Willie, an easy-going Southern-born political artist, his wife Susan, mother of two grown-up children and a textile designer with unfulfilled socially upward longings, and Dinah, a passionately committed avant-garde composer, who came into their lives ten years ago as a neighbour and subsequently formed a menage-a-trois with them, which has now unravelled. We learn first about the apparent reason for the break-up (Susan's growing dissatisfaction with her perceived isolation on the Cape from all that she considers intellectually and aesthetically, professionally and materially worthy in life); Piercy then chronicles their lives over the following year from the early winter blizzard that indirectly acted as a catalyst for the break-up to Christmas celebrations enjoyed by members of the various new family structures that have come into existence over that period. It soon becomes apparent that Willie and Dinah are also at an emotional and professional crossroads in their lives and each chapter is written from each main character's perspective. The underlying theme is "family" -blood or otherwise (and particularly their own local community), parent and child and the motivation that this has given each of them to become, or failed to become, what they now are - and as regards the three of them, how this affects their views on art and their take on their own, and the others' artistic talents. One of the things I enjoyed most was trying to work out which of the character(s) had the "right" view on particular events - a psychological detective story. This is particularly well-written in the case of Susan and her perception of what she believes the two main Summer People think of her. The "family" theme follows through also to the Summer People of the title, the seasonal influx of rich tourists from New York and Boston who cause disruption not only to Willie, Susan and Dinah (and ultimately cause the denouement of the book), but generally to the Cape as a whole. The title is also a good metaphor for the disinclination of various characters in the book to be prepared to commit to relationships, or the habit of using other people for their own ends and then discarding them as it suits them, which is a particular feature of the relationships of the two rich New Yorkers, Tyrone, a businessman, and his daughter, Laurie, who comes to spend longer than usual on the Cape at their summer residence to recover from the traumatic end of her marriage . Ironically they find that this behaviour means that either they will never again be remembered purely as a temporary visitor (in Tyrone's case) or else cannot escape from this trait in other people once they return to their normal city environment (in Laurie's case). It also applies to another of temporary Cape-dwellers, Jimmy, the son of Willie and Susan who is hoist by his own petard in his relationship with Laurie, although it's hard to tell who's using whom. One of best aspects of the book is Piercy's detailed and often humorous description of Cape life for the year-rounders: the need to be careful of relationships in a small community where you depend on each other in emergencies, the gossip (an enjoyable part of the book) and the effect of living in an amazing natural environment (eg the 15 mile trip to the laundrette because of the finite aquifers, and need for septic tanks), particularly the feeling of living so close to the sea yet inland at the same time (the ponds), and the flora, wildlife and climate which the characters all appreciate so differently. There is also an excellent insight through the characters of Dinah and Itzak, a virtuoso flautist for whom she commissioned to write, both into the rarefied world of the elite professional musician and also into the sense and importance of being Jewish: one particularly memorable scene is the disastrously funny seder which Dinah hosts for Itzak and other lone Jews in the local Cape community. No seriously heavy feminist dialogue in this one, the characters are properly rounded and oh, and Marge Piercy being Marge Piercy, wonderful small obsessively detailed accounts of food and cats!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, which disturbed me because I really didn't think I was into this type of novel, by which I mean a "detail" novel-you know, one of those books that dedicates itself to the intricacies of life, people's characters and their thoughts. I guess a comparison would be the way Linda Fairstein writes with the main character stopping off at named coffee shops for specified items of food and following detailed routines at home (all described). I'm not complaining-it works as a method, but you've got to be able to cope with it. Marge Piercy writes the book from the point of view of four characters and depending on who each chapter is focused on, that's the name of the chapter, so: Susan, Dinah, Willie and Laurie.

Whilst the book concentrates fairly heavily on Susan's fragmentation, you should also read it for the characters of Dinah and Willie, two people (and lovers) that clearly exemplify people who make the most out of life and all it has to offer, even with the limited horizons of a rural and small-town area such as Cape Cod. They're happy and relaxed characters, who love each other (and Susan) and show warmth and acceptance of others (although Dinah rightly thoroughly dislikes Tyrone). They help the book portray how life is resilient in the face of adversity; and how relationships can mend and change for the better, despite past history and awkwardness. It's worth reading just for this.

I read this book years and years ago and really enjoyed it. I tried to buy it on Amazon but haven't been able to get hold of it. My daughter sometimes goes to the States and I asked her to look for it there but she had no luck either. I'd love to review it but as it's quite some time since I first read it I shouldn't pass judgement.