Jacquelyn Mitchard's novels include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, Cage of Stars, and The Deep End of the Ocean, the first novel selected for the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey.Still Summer, her new novel, is about four friends who ruled the school twenty years ago gathering for an idyllic sailing vacation. Instead, after two days at sea, a single small mistake turns paradise a sun-baked hell.
Mitchard applied the "Page 69 Test" to the new book and reported the following:
On page 69 of Still Summer, Cammie Kyle explains why she feels it's almost her destiny to drive her mother crazy. Lenny Amato advises the girl to cut loose after college and stop being such a goody girl -- as it's obviously a source of resentment. In this context, he mentions his first mate, Michel, whose flirtation with Cammie on 'The Opus' will lead to disaster. He tells tales of the sea, of its amazing peace and power, of the horrible and yet awe-inspiring moments when the kindly mother ocean turns into a punishing madwoman. All of these elements that Lenny describes will shortly comprise his doom; and all the key elements of the story -- Cammie's relationships, Lenny's confidence and the women's friendships -- come together in what is shortly to a be harrowing race to survive. And they are all ready to combust.Read more about Still Summer at Mitchard's website and at the Still Summer MySpace page.
Visit the complete list of books in the Page 69 Test Series.
--Marshal Zeringue
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