Changing Times

Blog #1 Changing Times

I hadn’t even looked at the publication date when I realized that the 17th Summer took place in the 40’s or 50’s. The Morrow family sweated it out during the summer as there wasn’t any air conditioning.Mrs. Morrow plays the traditional role as housewife and mother which was a reflection of the times. The only black person in the book is the stereotypical entertainer. The Morrow’s marriage seems stable.The man goes out to earn a living as a salesman while the mother tends to the home. Though Angie has her first beer with Jack Duluth there aren’t any drugs or late nights out for Angie who is respectful of her parents wishes though she shows signs of wanting to explore her surroundings with boys. The story focuses on kissing and good values though that might not be the case with Lorraine and her sometime boyfriend Martin.

Jack Duluth displays good family values driving the bakery truck for his family.When his family decides to move he doesn’t rebel but agrees to go with them.I don’t understand why Tony Becker disappears so suddenly and without a fight in the story.She seemed to like Tony more until he just vanishes from the picture.I too was waiting for something to happen in the story as it seemed to drag on and on. I do like that the college she was attending was just “college” and not a brand school to captivate the audience as is the case with Norah who is attending an Ivy league school.So often branding creeps it’s way into pages as if an Ivy League degree is not only a selling point or enticement but a salvation as if one has reached the promised land.I enjoyed the fact that the language was clean as opposed to Nick and Norah.

Angie comes from a stable home whereas there isn’t much mention of Norah’s mother. Norah keeps in touch with her affluent father even during the late night hours.This is reflective broken homes of today at an alarming rate.Ity is reflective of leniency of the times between parent and offspring. Though Nick and Jack play games of sorts throughout the story-Jack dancing with his former girlfriend and Nick trying to attract Tris- they are both good hearted characters.

The tender moments are creative.Jack asks Angie to marry him after they pick grapes in darkness while looking for wood for the campfire. Both Angie and Norah are somewhat morally sound as they are monogamous in their relations.I agree with the student who said that Angie was unhappy being an outsider and it was through Jack that she became an insider and a little more sure of herself.We can see through Angie how important teen acceptance really is.Norah believed in Nick’s work and was terribly attracted to him.In the end both Angie and Norah chose college over their lusts and loves.

Nick and Norah is far more advanced for the times.Norah lost her virginity to Taj and is in pursuit of Nick. I did find the language offensive in the Infinite Playlist though it can be expected with the punk rock crowd. Tris and Norah have known each other since elementary school when she “fucked up her dolls in 5th grade.”The language is understandable though heavy.I once dated a woman who constantly referred to herself as a “Connecticut Bitch.”I have also witnessed some heated catfights with similar if not worse dialogue than Nick and Norah.

While we find the 17th Summer boring it may have been an exciting and instrumental tool for youth to learn from during the 40’s.