Summer of '42

By: Herman Raucher

Narrated by: Braden Wright

A classic coming-of-age story and international best seller.

Captivating and evocative, Herman Raucher's semi-autobiographical tale has been made into a record-breaking Academy Award-nominated hit movie, adapted for the stage, and enchanted for generations.

In the summer of 1942, Hermie is 15. He is wildly obsessed with sex, and passionately in love with an "older woman" of 22, whose husband is overseas and at war. Ambling through Nantucket Island with his friends, Hermie's indelible narration chronicles his frantic efforts to become a man, especially one worthy of the lovely Dorothy, as well as his glorious and heartbreaking initiation into sex.

©1971 Herman Raucher (P)2017 Herman Raucher

Timeless love story beautifully told

What did you like best about this story?

A classic that always feels fresh. Perfect balance of humor and heartbreak. Terrific that an audiobook is now available. The movie is equally good. I am a longtime fan of the author's work and recommend his other novels and films, too.

Narrator detracts from the story

Recently while driving overnight on a 12 hour journey home, I decided to listen to Summer of '42 on Audible. The audio book is just as good as the book I read as a teenager almost 50 years ago. The narrator sounds great reading the script until he changes voices for Hermie, Oscy, and Benji. At that point he sounds like Seseme Street muppets. Kermit the frog, Ozzie Bear and Miss Piggy come to mind. I think Mr Wright should have skipped his exaggerated voices of three teenagers and stayed with his own voice. OBTW, Audible is a great way to stay awake at 3 am.

So great to hear this wonderful classic novel!

If you could sum up Summer of '42 in three words, what would they be?

Powerful, bittersweet, iconic

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hermie is a compelling character because he is on the one hand a typical teenage boy, but on the other he is more sensitive, more caring and introspective than most of his peers.

Have you listened to any of Braden Wright’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

--

If you could take any character from Summer of '42 out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Actually I would love to take Herman Raucher, the author, out to dinner. He is a wonderful writer -- and seems like a wise and witty person. I bet he would make me laugh.

Any additional comments?

I have read Summer of 42 in book form several times, but it's fabulous to have it in audio form!

Timeless beauty - classic!

An incredible story...beautiful and completely engrossing. I read it years ago and never tire of it...this audiobook is as amazing an iteration as the Oscar-nominated film!

I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Great Listen

Follows as well as expands the characters based in the movie. I read the book initially about 50 years ago and it was so much I had forgotten.....Highly recommend