One Summer by David Baldacci

My choice for a fast reading  interlude as I continue through Condi Rice's technical book.  Here is another  Baldacci gem, published in 2011, 333 pages hardback which I whizzed through in 3 evenings.  It is a good story, aptly named and a great summer read although different from Baldacci's writings of intrigue.  It reminds me a bit of his wonderful early work "Wish You Well" after which he named his foundation to combat illiteracy.  That book is not published any longer but if you find it get it.   One Summer is a story of a family, terminal illness, tragedy, miracles, obstacles and life and people who do all they can for you as well as those who do all they can against you.  I say little about the story line so that I do not spoil it for you. 


Back cover


Two passages stood out to me:  the first on page 247, "Because life doesn"t work that way.  You can do everything perfectly.  Do everything that you think you're supposed to be doing.  Fulfill every expectation that other people may have.  And you still won"t get the results you think you deserve.  Life is crazy and maddening and often makes no sense.....People who shouldn"t be here are and someone who should be here isn"t.  And there's nothing you can do about it.  You can"t change it. ...It has nothing to do with desire and everything to do with reality which often makes no sense at all.... "

And the second on page 319, " Lizzie and Jack had been meant to be together forever if ever two people were.  Only sometimes life doesn't match what should be.  It just is.  And people have to accept it, no matter how hard it may be....You should respect the past.  You should never forget the past.  But you can"t live there."   An excellent emotion evoking book, another winner by Baldacci.   Four stars ****