What do readers think of The Gypsy Moth Summer by Julia Fierro? Write your own review.

This novel spoke of many complicated truths. It speaks about all the forces that can shape us" where we grew up-whether we are loved by our parents, how class, money and power may caste our fates." Lots of subjects to discuss. So sorry to write that I really did not enjoy the book. Too much sex, violence and poor language. I think I am to old (72) to enjoy this type of novel. I like to think of our young people (and adults) with some morality. Definitely, won't find it in this book on many counts.

It is the summer of 1992 on an island off the coast of Long Island. The story is told from the point of view of six very different characters. Race, sexuality, politics, pollution class, and dying are all topics explored via the characters. This all takes place along with a gypsy moth infestation.

The book was very slow getting started and then raced to a very fast conclusion. The uneven pacing of the book was really problematic for me. The first 1/3 very slow, the second 1/3 really caught my interest. The final third raced to a conclusion leaving me unsatisfied overall with the book.

Set in an a factional American coastal island in the early 1990's, Julia Fierro's second novel is written with a spritely skill that keeps you engaged despite its two-dimensional characters, murky story-telling, and difficult engagement with Big Themes. One is tempted to recommend this as a beach book though several of its characters are so unpleasant that the reader would be likely to toss it aside in the sand, and take in the view instead.

This book had me in a real quandary. I liked the story and the characters. I liked the setting. I liked the author's writing. And that's why I'm giving it a 3. But, I absolutely hated all the cursing and the sex. Then I realized that I'm an "old" lady, and I'm applying the morals and scruples of 50 years or so ago to today's society, and that just doesn't work. It's too bad we've sunk this low, and are striving for an even lower baseline. Thanks, Ms. Fierro, for opening my eyes and giving me the awareness to stay out of the mainstream, and read books that are a little less "modern".

There is a story here. It took too long to get there.

It's about white people who live here on Avalon Island, the haves and the have nots. And of course about the Gypsy Moth.

It's about Grudder Aviation whose elite control the island.

It's about too many islanders suffering from cancers and miscarriages.

It's about a family who might make a difference.

And it's about the life cycle of the Gypsy Moth and it's parallel to the inhabitants of Avalon.

It's a sad story.

This novel has way too much going on plot-wise--troubled teens, mixed-race marriage, a big aviation factory, a maze, cancer, miscarriages, demented 80-year-old; and in the background, the first Clinton presidential campaign, and gypsy moths defoliating the countryside. I didn't finish it because I didn't believe in the characters or care how the plot points all worked out. The author would have done better to narrow her focus, and not roll all the topics she's interested in into one book.

Let me start with what I liked. The setting, the gardens, plants, mazes, flowers all beautifully described. Liked the character Julian, his son Brooks and young daughter. The chapters narrated but Julian were my favorite. Killed the young teen, Mandy but the rest of those outrageous, catty girls were just maddening.

This book tries to cover too much, adds in almost everything someone could find unappealing, objectionable. Animal cruelty, profanity, drug use and alcohol abuse, sexual situations, racial prejudice, an abused wife, entitled, wealthy, obnoxious people and Probably more that I can't think of right now. To be honest, if I wasn't committed to reviewing this book I would have put it down much earlier, and in fact could have done without reading chapter nine at all. As it was, I skimmed the last third of the book and put it down with a great feeling of relief.

The writing is good, this book just wasn't for me but as I always say, the subject matter may not hold the same trigger for you. Possibly you may see something in this that I didn't.

I did not enjoy this book. The author was trying too hard to be contemporary, overdoing it with proper names of retail products. Many descriptions didn't seem to fit the picture, just trying too hard to be off-the-wall. It was interesting to learn about gypsy moths, their history and lifestyle, but it never went anywhere. There was no real plot or climax. Book clubs have their best discussions about books that some members didn't like, so it might work for clubs.