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Quaker Summer
by
Lisa Samson
Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to discover the life you were meant to live.
Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband--yet still feels miserable inside?
When Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty...more
Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband--yet still feels miserable inside?
When Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty...more
Paperback, 406 pages
Published
April 8th 2008
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
(first published 2007)
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Apr 24, 2009
Stacy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-we-own,
christian-fiction
Wow, I can see why this book was Christianity Today's 2008 Novel of the Year. This book took me a while to get through, but not because of the content, but other things going on (relative in hospital, company at our house, etc). I think I would have flown through this book if I had my "normal" time to read.
It is taking me a while to digest this book. I don't think I can give it a review that will do it justice. I enjoyed it. I found it choppy in writing style, but riveting. I found it challengin...more
It is taking me a while to digest this book. I don't think I can give it a review that will do it justice. I enjoyed it. I found it choppy in writing style, but riveting. I found it challengin...more
I got off to a slow start with this book. The main character was hard for me to feel 'connected' with. I couldn't relate to or understand her compulsion to keep buying things to make herself feel better. But as her heart was softened and she began to grow closer to God, I really began to love her! Here's the paragraph that really hit me:
"And when I cut away the rot from a case of oozing tomatoes that came from only heaven knows where, I experienced euphoria like I'd never known. I knew that at t...more
"And when I cut away the rot from a case of oozing tomatoes that came from only heaven knows where, I experienced euphoria like I'd never known. I knew that at t...more
Not being a typical American Christian myself, I tend to regard Christian fiction with skepticism. Lisa Samson's novels are an exception, as they feature more complex characters and "edgier" plots that most typical Christian fiction. In this novel, Heather, a middle-aged stay-at-home mother, experiences a painful spiritual awakening. Heather is like most of the women that I knew growing up. She married young and sacrificed many of her own hopes, dreams, and ambitions upon the altar of good Chris...more
Heather Curridge has it all: A great family, ritzy lake-front house, possessions aplenty, and enough money to buy more "things" whenever she wants. Her husband is a surgeon, her son goes to a private school. This is the perfect life, what many people aspire to have but never achieve. Heather loves her stuff, she knows she is fortunate...but then why is she feeling so discontent? Shouldn't she be content with her pampered life? And why have the sins of her childhood started to haunt her?
Many peop...more
Many peop...more
This book was voted novel of the year by Women of Faith. The message of the book it great, especially since we live in such a materialistic society where people believe that the objects that they own are what define them as a person. This novel opens both your heart and mind as to how it really should be. Although I didn't find the writing to be great (definitely not to be categorized as novel of the year), the message was. Overall, it was a good read.
Mar 24, 2012
Katieeoh Lacanlale
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christian,
engrossing,
god,
life,
love,
realization,
romance,
young-adult,
women,
faith,
horror,
adult
One word to describe this book: INSPIRED.
I got this book from the Logos Hope book fair last March and to tell you, this book is wonderful. It mainly talks about a mom named Heather Curridge who lives a great life with her loving husband who’s a surgeon, and his 15 year old son. She has everything, all the material things she needs; a beautiful mansion on a vast lake, soapstone countertops, all the clothes, shoes and latest gadgets, everything that money can buy. But Heather wonders if this is th...more
I got this book from the Logos Hope book fair last March and to tell you, this book is wonderful. It mainly talks about a mom named Heather Curridge who lives a great life with her loving husband who’s a surgeon, and his 15 year old son. She has everything, all the material things she needs; a beautiful mansion on a vast lake, soapstone countertops, all the clothes, shoes and latest gadgets, everything that money can buy. But Heather wonders if this is th...more
I find it difficult to say whether this book is 'good' or not, since I'm not much of a literature fanatic and I don't care so much about stylistic considerations. Obviously the opinions about this book vary widely. I can see that the critics have some good points, but regardless, I enjoyed the book pretty much. The many silly conversations and random observations about American culture (especially about evangelical subculture) make for an easy and entertaining read, while the deeper questions an...more
Funny, meaningful, straight-shooting, inspiring, life ain't always pretty, soulful chick lit with a nice stream-of-consciousness twist. I like the characters & their interactions with each other and the theme of seeking both eternal truth and the day-to-day application of faith. The book offers a great, non-preachy answer to Why are we here and what should we do about it?
Most thought-provoking line: Does peace come from freedom or does freedom come from peace? Makes you go, 'Hmmmm' doesn't i...more
Most thought-provoking line: Does peace come from freedom or does freedom come from peace? Makes you go, 'Hmmmm' doesn't i...more
Heather is losing it...she thinks she has to be the perfect wife, perfect mom, have the perfect house, and be the perfect Christian. People come into her world that help her realize that life is about so much more than THINGS and that Jesus really just wants your time, not your money(the church wants this!). I grew up without religion or faith playing a role in my life and as an adult, I've found that I have been searching for something and have been struggling with "what" that exactly may be. T...more
Heather, the main character, and I are living very similar lives. At least when it comes to spiritual lives. Her journey spiritually in this book is very similar to mine the past few years. It was refreshing to read someone else questioning the same things I question. I realize it is fiction but there's reality underneath the fiction. Again, Lisa Samson hits a home run. She faces life head on and doesn't cloak it with "isms" and such. So refreshing! The journey in this book is "simply" this: wha...more
Heather has everything: the perfect husband, kids and house. Why is she so unsettled? Why is it not enough? What does she need to learn? She gets lost with her husband in a not so nice part of town and meets a nun. Then she has a car accident and meets two elderly sisters, one being a Quaker, both with strong faiths in God. So she spends time that summer with the new people in her life and prays for guidance for her husband's career, her faith and the future of her family.
I tried to read this bo...more
I tried to read this bo...more
Heather has everything, and she's not happy. She knows she should be happy -- she compulsively buys name brand everything, she's got a great family, lives in a a great neighborhood -- but she isn't.
For most of the book I thought Heather needed to get over herself and go do something useful. She eventually came to that conclusion herself. What I did enjoy was her and her supporting characters' description of how God does not work in the ways we expect, and sometimes when we are most troubled that...more
For most of the book I thought Heather needed to get over herself and go do something useful. She eventually came to that conclusion herself. What I did enjoy was her and her supporting characters' description of how God does not work in the ways we expect, and sometimes when we are most troubled that...more
Quaker Summer is a wonderful book I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good Christian Chick-Lit. The main character Heather was nothing short of amazing. She possessed many attributes of the average woman, but to see how she went from being a bit on the materialistic side to letting all the unnecessary worldly possessions go in order to own the more important - spirituality. It was nothing short of inspiring to me.
To follow Heather's journey and know that one can be so moved and filled with Chris...more
To follow Heather's journey and know that one can be so moved and filled with Chris...more
Sometimes, a decent book is made really good by a theme and story that connect with the circumstances of the reader's life at that moment in time. For example, when I read "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert for the first time, I have no doubt that I appreciated it so much more because I was recently divorced and could relate so much more intimately to the things she wrote about.
Reading this book, I had the same type of appreciation. I'm at a point in life where I really relate to the doubt an...more
Reading this book, I had the same type of appreciation. I'm at a point in life where I really relate to the doubt an...more
p. 173
The Friends Peace Testimony
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world."
From "A Declaration to Charles II", 1660
p. 220
"Of course my nose has started to run, and every sniff sounds like the winds of a hurricane here in the silent gathering. Most sit with their eyes closed, expecting a thought from God or waiting for someone else to stand and deliver the Spirit's me...more
The Friends Peace Testimony
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world."
From "A Declaration to Charles II", 1660
p. 220
"Of course my nose has started to run, and every sniff sounds like the winds of a hurricane here in the silent gathering. Most sit with their eyes closed, expecting a thought from God or waiting for someone else to stand and deliver the Spirit's me...more
Lisa Samson has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors. In this 2007 Women of Faith Novel of the Year and Christy Award finalist, Heather, the main character, is a well-to-do shopaholic with a terrific kid and married to a handsome surgeon who is nuts about her. She lives in a house that most people only dream of, furnished with the best of everything. On the surface, life is grand. But are all the ‘things’ merely anesthetic for a pain too deep to be faced? In order to find the peace...more
Aug 20, 2008
Weavre
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
if it were better written, Melissa'd like it--but it's not.
Shelves:
quakers
I decided to finish this after all, since my brain was spinning after finishing The Black Hole Wars. This is a treacly-easy read that hasn't gotten any better, but for whatever reason I decided I might as well just see it through. The characters have all the depth of the manufactured stock people from the management books, only the insights shared through them aren't anything remotely novel. The incredibly wealthy bored suburbanite housewife and her even wealthier friends aren't satisfied with a...more
Nov 13, 2007
Kimberly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
christianchicklit
Randomly picked this up at the library the other week. It is part of Thomas Nelson Publishers' "Women of Faith" fiction series. Of course, the "Quaker" in the title grabbed me. Then I noticed reviews saying that it spoke to our culture's addiction to consumerism, and talked about the radical gospel of Christ. Then I opened it and saw the chapter titles are titles of Beatles songs. SOLD.
I'm finding myself reading more and more women's Christian fiction these days. It's surprisingly good.
Samson is...more
I'm finding myself reading more and more women's Christian fiction these days. It's surprisingly good.
Samson is...more
I had a hard time getting into this book. But I was determined to get through it since it was clean and had a "Women of Faith" award. I was interested by those two things alone to continue on. The main character, Heather, seems a little exaggerated in the beginning--I wanted to shake her and say "get a grip!" But during the last half of the book I started to identify more with Heather and could see her as a real character. It is an inspiring story for women, so I would still recommend it.
May 03, 2009
Jessica
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christian-fiction,
read-2009
I give this book 3.75 stars, although I can't bring myself to round up to the four-star rating. First of all, 401 pages was WAY too long. The story could have effectively been told in 300. Secondly, I think part of my let-down is because it was one of Publishers Weekly's Top Books of 2007 and the Women of Faith Novel of the Year that same year, so I totally expected it to be phenomenal. While I enjoyed the ending immensely, the rest went in spurts ranging from sweet to dragging.
Overall, it was...more
Overall, it was...more
I had some difficulty getting into this book. I picked it up at the library because I saw that it was a "Women of Faith" Novel of the Year. I found the premise challenging once I got into it. The main character, Heather, won my heart because she was not afraid to ask difficult questions. I would love to read a book centered around her son, Will. If you are looking for a book that asks Gospel questions, here is a good one.
at first i didn't know why i was reading this book. but then there was a turning point in the book and i could relate. she had some of the same obstacles in her life that i have in mine and then i did't want to put the book down. at the end are group discussion questions. i enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to anyone who tended to be materalistic or needed forgiveness for something way in their past or needed to forgive someone
I tried so hard to get into this book. I got it at a used book store, impressed with the "Women of Faith Novel of the Year" stamp on it, with book credit and felt obligated to read it since I kind of paid for it. But it was so random and jumpy and not clear and after 70+ pages, I just had to give up... Maybe it would be worth sticking it out but I have so many books I WANT to read...
Sep 26, 2009
Melissa Robinson
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christian-fiction
What really makes Quaker Summer stand out from other Christian Fic titles I've read is that Samson focuses not just on individual beliefs or spiritual journeys, but on the importance of LIVING a Christian life, as opposed to simply claiming a set of beliefs. That's a real gap in the genre. I'm always on the look out for Christian fiction that isn't preachy, sappy or plain old poorly written. Quaker Summer is probably the best CF I've found.
Apr 03, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
real-chick-lit
I appreciated the honest struggles of the main character and the growth she had over time. I was disappointed that a few important things that were brought up were never resolved, but overall, I liked it. For me, its depiction of spiritual struggles and growth felt real, i.e. not neat and tidy, but shifting, complicated, and a little mysterious.
Women of Faith Novel of the Year 2007: I think the bar is pretty low. The story kept me interested enough to read to the end, and it's a good message (help the less fortunate), but the writing isn't much. This was sort of a fill-in book between books. It has inspired me to spend the money to buy something to read on my kindle...
Jan 15, 2009
Jennifer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
people-in-new-culture
It was a sweet Christian, God loves you, it will all be okay kind of book. I was hoping for more quaker-ness and that she would learn more from the Quaker ladies. I am coming to some the same decisions as Heather about eliminating extra stuff and spend my time with people and activities that truly fulfill me and bring me joy.
The reviews on this book are quite interesting. It appears to me that your opinion of this book varies as to one's current place in life. For me, it rocked me to the core of my being. It convicted me and caused me great grief. I would have to agree that the actual writing is not fabulous but the story is awesome.
"I guess, for me, I'd rather use more grace for having tried and gotten it wrong than for not having tried at all." -Jace
Strong internal conflict- what does it really mean to follow Jesus' teachings about sacrifice, selfless love, and caring for "the least of these" in America? Authentic, genuine, and real. I loved it.
Strong internal conflict- what does it really mean to follow Jesus' teachings about sacrifice, selfless love, and caring for "the least of these" in America? Authentic, genuine, and real. I loved it.
I would give this 3.5 stars, although I didn't really care for it at first. I couldn't really relate to the main character, but something shifted when I made it about halfway through. Maybe it was the timing, but by the end of this book, I was in tears and asking myself some searching questions. Glad I persevered!
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The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.
More about Lisa Samson...
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25 de Abr 18:40
I hope you like it, and that I didn't lead you astray! :)
Happy Reading :)
27 de Abr 09:16