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Learning to Haight
2012 Indie Reader Discovery Award Finalist for Literary Fiction.
On the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, young reporter Jack McClure is assigned to write an article about an influential figure from San Francisco's past. A beatnik, a hippie and a one-time movie star, Dean Simmons is anything but an easy interview, but Jack knows that getting to know the "real" Dean is his ticket off the news desk.
Along the way, Jack learns what it means be an activist and to make a name for himself. Learning to Haight is the story of San Francisco and its effect on the young men and women who are drawn there to find themselves.
The city does something to people--what will it do to Jack?
On the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, young reporter Jack McClure is assigned to write an article about an influential figure from San Francisco's past. A beatnik, a hippie and a one-time movie star, Dean Simmons is anything but an easy interview, but Jack knows that getting to know the "real" Dean is his ticket off the news desk.
Along the way, Jack learns what it means be an activist and to make a name for himself. Learning to Haight is the story of San Francisco and its effect on the young men and women who are drawn there to find themselves.
The city does something to people--what will it do to Jack?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2011
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Bardin Williams
3 books2 followersAndrew Bardin Williams is an author and copywriter in New Haven, Connecticut. Inspired by the beats, Andrew strives to provide readers a sense of place in his fiction writing, using real-world locations to create setting, build tension, and develop character.
Andrew recently launched his second novel, Polk Gulch.
His first novel Learning to Haight was launched at the Beat Museum in San Francisco, named a finalist for the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Award in literary fiction, and featured by www.kerouac.com and Dante's Hot Tub on Radio Valencia.
A new member of the New Haven arts community, Andrew is a participant in the "Get to the Point" storytelling series at Cafe Nine and has given a reading at the Institute Library. He is currently documenting the relationship between geography and New Haven based literature through a grant from the Arts Council.
Andrew recently launched his second novel, Polk Gulch.
His first novel Learning to Haight was launched at the Beat Museum in San Francisco, named a finalist for the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Award in literary fiction, and featured by www.kerouac.com and Dante's Hot Tub on Radio Valencia.
A new member of the New Haven arts community, Andrew is a participant in the "Get to the Point" storytelling series at Cafe Nine and has given a reading at the Institute Library. He is currently documenting the relationship between geography and New Haven based literature through a grant from the Arts Council.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 25, 2022
There’s something unnerving when books about a decade you are old enough to remember
In some distinct detail are now referred to as “historical fiction” and often written by people who weren’t even alive in the decade they are writing about. I don’t know how old the author is but from his photograph he looks like someone too young to have lived through the Summer of Love and remember it. For that reason, I approached reading this book with some trepidation.
I needn’t have, though. Whatever his age, Andrew Bardin Williams is an author who really knows the sixties hippie scene and it shows in the plot and characters he created in Learning to Haight. The story is told through the character Jack, a young reporter who is assigned to interview Dean Simmons, a hippie and former movie star in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Summer of Love. It’s a task far harder than Jack ever anticipated and he learns a lot about himself, other people, and life itself along the way as he pursues his story.
This is not your average YA book. Even though it’s fiction, it’s obviously the product of meticulous research by the author. Because of the way the author so capably sets the scene, at times I almost felt like I was in Haight-Ashbury watching the story unfold. Jack is an interesting multidimensional character, yet is still in the process of finding out who he really is and who he wants to be. None of the characters are simple or easy. They are complex people with real life issues. The plot is interesting and well-paced.
No matter if you’re a high school student just looking for a good novel about the sixties or a baby boomer who lived through the era, I highly recommend this book.
In some distinct detail are now referred to as “historical fiction” and often written by people who weren’t even alive in the decade they are writing about. I don’t know how old the author is but from his photograph he looks like someone too young to have lived through the Summer of Love and remember it. For that reason, I approached reading this book with some trepidation.
I needn’t have, though. Whatever his age, Andrew Bardin Williams is an author who really knows the sixties hippie scene and it shows in the plot and characters he created in Learning to Haight. The story is told through the character Jack, a young reporter who is assigned to interview Dean Simmons, a hippie and former movie star in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Summer of Love. It’s a task far harder than Jack ever anticipated and he learns a lot about himself, other people, and life itself along the way as he pursues his story.
This is not your average YA book. Even though it’s fiction, it’s obviously the product of meticulous research by the author. Because of the way the author so capably sets the scene, at times I almost felt like I was in Haight-Ashbury watching the story unfold. Jack is an interesting multidimensional character, yet is still in the process of finding out who he really is and who he wants to be. None of the characters are simple or easy. They are complex people with real life issues. The plot is interesting and well-paced.
No matter if you’re a high school student just looking for a good novel about the sixties or a baby boomer who lived through the era, I highly recommend this book.
March 13, 2012
The story had realism to it. The references to pop culture gave the story a legitimate angle. A lot of the references I knew from my own experiences. I love classic movies. Rebel without a Cause is one of my favorites. Janis Joplin and the San Francisco scene have been documented in various documentaries. In college I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac. All of these are interspersed within the story of Jack. All of them gave me a connection to the story that kept me interested.
Jack is the main character and it is through him that the story unravels. With his restlessness and uncertainty with his life comes a great adventure. Moving across the country to make a huge career change is gutsy. Meeting new people and making connections, even though some of them seem bizarre, keeps the story interesting. How many people are ever truly satisfied with life? How many people actually go out and change their situation? Jack did and that is why I was rooting for Jack. I liked reading about his uncertainty and seeing him push along in spite of those uncertainties.
The book gave me pause for thought. Jack learned from those around him and made his choices. I was putting myself in his position and thinking about what I would do. Then I realized I was reading a great book. To me a great book entertains me but also leaves me with thoughts to ponder. This was not my usual paranormal/YA/romantic read. It was something outside the box for me and I am glad that I chose to read it. It had the pop culture references that kept this history minded person hooked but even better than that a great story was woven throughout. Great characters, great story telling, great read. It’s a win/win.
*I received a copy for an honest review
Jack is the main character and it is through him that the story unravels. With his restlessness and uncertainty with his life comes a great adventure. Moving across the country to make a huge career change is gutsy. Meeting new people and making connections, even though some of them seem bizarre, keeps the story interesting. How many people are ever truly satisfied with life? How many people actually go out and change their situation? Jack did and that is why I was rooting for Jack. I liked reading about his uncertainty and seeing him push along in spite of those uncertainties.
The book gave me pause for thought. Jack learned from those around him and made his choices. I was putting myself in his position and thinking about what I would do. Then I realized I was reading a great book. To me a great book entertains me but also leaves me with thoughts to ponder. This was not my usual paranormal/YA/romantic read. It was something outside the box for me and I am glad that I chose to read it. It had the pop culture references that kept this history minded person hooked but even better than that a great story was woven throughout. Great characters, great story telling, great read. It’s a win/win.
*I received a copy for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews