Genre: Memoir-style Fiction
Released: 04/24/2014
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Available Formats: Paperback, Kindle eBook
I've always harbored a deep sort of love for the freewheeling counterculture of the 1960s. Over the years, this affection has manifested as a festering nostalgia for a time which I was born far too late to participate in. Because of that it's little surprise that a book like this easily grabbed me by the ears, refusing to let go until the final page.
In this semi-autobiographical novel, author Rocky Gregory introduces us to Wilbur "Will" Hinklemeyer, a young man who has just spent his final years as a minor enrolled in a military school for juvenile delinquents. With his newly granted freedom, but with the threat of a Vietnam draft haunting him, Will is looking to score some big fun, enlisting his best friend Skip for a bombastic summer spree.
Their adventurous trip across the country culminates with endless partying in a sexual smorgasbord, a good time exemplifying one of the most carefree subcultures in American history.
In an unusual turn for books set in the Flower Children era, there was hardly any drug use--in fact, I can't immediately remember any at all--only plenty of alcohol. It was an interesting change to see the perspective of someone who was involved with the hippie movement but who was less extreme than many--on the fringes of the fringe, as it were.
The scenic descriptions were broad and well-mastered, steeping the tale in an atmosphere both magical and ephemeral, satisfying my wistful longing for the 60's zeitgeist in a very pleasing way. This novel was an enjoyable peek into a teenage mind during the mid-20th century, and will be enjoyed by young adults and mature readers alike.
ONE GROOVY SUMMER: A SUMMER ADVENTURE FROM 1968 is available at Barnes and Noble.com, Abebooks.com, and Amazon.com.
~Assena V
A version of this review previously appeared on the Dog-Eared Dragon Facebook Page, Goodreads.com, and Barnes and Noble.com on March 31, 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment