Summer of '69

Hilderbrand’s opening chapters introduce the Foley-Levin family and its four main narrators through alternating close-third points of view that explore their emotional struggles. This choice of narrative focus allows a wider view of the family’s dynamics over time. For example, during the summer of 1968, Jessie views newly married Blair as sophisticated and worldly, whereas just a year later, Blair is pregnant and considers herself a failure. Blair’s observations of her stoic mother during the Christmas season of 1968 contrast with the Prologue, set in the spring of 1969, showing the emotional effect on Kate when Tiger is drafted. This technique of alternating views enhances the novel’s sense of reality. Kirby observes that Kate’s despair causes her to ignore Jessie, which shows that Jessie’s feelings of isolation are more than teenage angst. The narrative both confirms and challenges the past perceptions of Kirby as the irresponsible sister as she and Blair talk about communicating with Angus. This rounds out the characters, giving them more depth and creating greater sympathy.

The tumultuous events of the era affect all four, as they worry about the risks that Tiger faces in Vietnam. Kirby’s arrests for protesting and her interest in the civil rights movement as well in Blair’s adjustment from a self-sufficient feminist to the more traditional role of wife and soon-to-be mother form groundwork for discussion about how much the times are changing. The portrayals of Wilder Foley, Scottie Turbo, and Angus Whalen hint at abuse of patriarchal power. Tiger’s first letter conveys the tough realities of military service. Jessie alludes to the prominent assassinations of political figures, showing why it might seem that the “rest of the country is going haywire” (63). These larger events and social concerns make Kate and her daughters feel that their domestic problems are comparably frivolous. Because of this—as well as deeper family dynamics—they often don’t articulate their concerns or honestly relay their experiences. This, in turn, isolates them from each other.

Kate’s early point of view reveals that her all-consuming despair stems from her hidden conviction that Tiger’s deployment is a punishment for Wilder’s suicide. Unable to reveal this, she isolates herself in self-blame. This, plus the hint that her first husband was neither “kind” nor “good,” provides a clue to the reason for Kate drinking too much in later chapters, which deeply affects everyone around her. As a young teen, Jessie struggles with bodily changes, whether she’s liked by her friends, and feelings of abandonment as she heads to Nantucket. Jessie is deeply invested in her Jewish heritage and how this bonds her with her father, David, whose Jewishness doesn’t seem acceptable to her grandmother or the elite on Nantucket. Jessie’s personal vulnerabilities and her worry for Tiger lead her to act out, shoplifting to appear cool to her friends and to glean some feeling of control. Hilderbrand sets up how the charge Jessie gets from stealing might become a detrimental coping mechanism similar to Kate’s drinking.

Kirby has a reputation as irresponsible, despite her desire to be a social activist. While she projects a confident, iconoclastic personality on the outside, inwardly Kirby feels that she’s a disappointment. Her problematic relationship with Scottie Turbo causes her to feel shame. Because of damaged self-esteem, Kirby constantly looks for new starts and sublimates her insecurity. However, as evident with Dr. Frazier, her tendency to not fully reveal the truth may make it impossible for her to move forward. Similarly, overwhelmed by her husband’s mental health condition, his possible affair, and her pregnancy, Blair broods in resentment—but feels too guilty to reveal or act on it. Consequently, she seeks escape, sometimes positively (going back to school) and sometimes not (fixating on Joey). Her inability to communicate her real needs to Angus keeps her stuck.

Downplaying their problems and worries leads to each character’s feeling isolated, which connects to one of the book’s main themes: Maturity and Responsibility. Overtly symbolized by the Tree of Life necklace that David gives Jessie, the theme is evident in the characters’ avoidance behaviors because they obstruct maturity and responsibility. While all the characters long to be mature, they struggle over what to be responsible for and thus often act immaturely. Hilderbrand sets up the notion that at any age, maturity requires accepting the consequences of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions.