Search - The Big House : A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home

The gentleman has a way with words! The long, interesting story of a family history and the house it was lived in. This is NOT a story about what might have happened in a house - this IS the story of the house and it's obvious that the author is deeply in love with the house and his family history. Presented beautifully.

Who would like this book: 1) people who have had a summer place like in the movie of the same name; 2) readers who dig tales of Eastern Elite families ; 3) readers into end of an era stories of WASPs living shabby genteel in romantic decline; 4) Cape Cod residents and tourists; 5) adults that remember childhood fondly; 6) readers who like narratives that weave history and personal family history.

I first read this from the library. Then I went out and bought a copy of my own. This is a wonderful book. And a great one for summer reading. This American summer home is very upper class and my roots are very middle class, and yet it brought back all kinds of memories of our summers spent in a small rented cottage. The themes of family and growing up and attachment to place are universal. It is a book I want to read again and again. It is touching and real and well-written.

Loved this book. I've always been fascinated by the wealthy WASP culture and this delivers a heaping dose of it! Lot of history too of the area. Very interesting.

This was a delightful book about one man's memories of a family summer home on Cape Cod. The characters came to life through his memories of years ago when he was a child enjoying his summers.