1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Royal Victory, August 3, 2005
This review is from: King of Summer (Paperback)
Wayne Wise's KING OF SUMMER is an extremely well thought out, deceptively clever reworking of the King Arthur mythos, defined by vivid imagery and sharp characterization. The adolescent world he relates is individual and specific, yet still familiar even to those of us who have not lived in a similar locale. Appleton, PA and the adjacent Woods frequented by the protagonists of the novel come to life as a place filled with secrets and mystery, yet the story comfortably straddles the line between dark fantasy and its very real world setting.
Artie and his group of friends exist in a world rarely intruded upon by adults; the bulk of the novel concerns their interactions while becoming aware of an age old threat that once again threatens to rise and consume their town. Reading their dialogue and following their very believable behaviors, I was reminded of nothing so much as S.E. Hinton's first four novels, especially RUMBLE FISH and TEX. The notable difference here is that we aren't limited in our overview of these adolescents by a first-person narrative.
I would *almost* recommend this novel for young adults (and actually this might be fine for some), depending on their own level of maturity. The universal topics of isolation, acceptance, social castes and budding (or sometimes overt) sexuality are explored, more to add depth to the characters than to comment on the subjects. Wise does this with an assured, studied and even-handed approach, always letting the reader come to their own conclusions about the characters.
Some characters surprise you with their development. Others do almost exactly what you think they'll do. In this regard, it's like watching your friends teetering over the cusp of adulthood. The author deliberately and patiently gives them each distinct voices, and even the more threatening characters ring true.
KING OF SUMMER is a curiosity in that it is composed of equal parts fear and hope. The semi-delusional behavior of Mark and Henry truly leaves the reader fearing for the physical safety of other characters. Meanwhile, the rough-hewn Vivian finds herself dogged by feelings of confusion - she is arguably the most fascinating figure in the story - all the while seeking her own measure of redemption. KING OF SUMMER is peppered with such subtle characterizations, making the novel that much more enjoyable.
As each character (the bookish Grif, shy and reclusive Tommy, insecure Wren, popular yet slightly restless Ivy) takes steps toward discovering who they are, their friendship and loyalties are tested and ultimately decided by the mettle of a shiny pocketknife's edge.
Timeless, mystical and flowing...to paraphrase the author, it's the kind of first novel glowing reviews are written for!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
It's That good, March 31, 2003
This review is from: King of Summer (Paperback)
Well I finally got a copy of the book and didn't get a chance to read it until I got home late the other night after being out at a club. I took it into the Batroom with me and didn't come out until Nine Chapters had been read. It was that good.
Seriously, Wayne Captures the whole essence of friendships of all sorts. And like the previous review says, if you know your Arthurian Legends, you'll start figuring out whose who. I wasn't sure about Tommy at first but then I saw his last name. I'm still only half way through the book but I'm sure I'll be awed as much at the end as I have through it so far.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Long live the king!!, March 28, 2003
This review is from: King of Summer (Paperback)
Wow! Is this book ever good! If you're a fan of Harper Lee, Stephen King and Sir Thomas Malory (or T.H. White), then you'll love "King of Summer". Wayne Wise has written a completely original novel using the Arthurian themes as a guide and crafted a magical, frightening, suspenseful and heartwarming story. It would be easy to sum up the book with one sentence: that love and friendship can conquer the most hideous of evils, but that would do a disservice to the rich story and characters. Each character is fleshed out three dimensionally and evolves over the course of the story through trial and error. Each has their own good and bad qualities and the line between both blurs throughout the book, yet each character maintains their role in the context of the story. "King of Summer" made me feel nostalgic for my own childhood, when adventures of epic proportions took place in the woods behind my own house. But it is not for the faint of heart. In portraying evil, Wayne doesn't simply tell you how evil the antagonist of the book is. Instead you are shown its ugliness and brutality through several of the characters. But you are also shown the beauty and love that all can aspire to as well. It's hard to talk about "King of Summer" without talking about the characters themselves, but I don't want to give too much away. Suffice to say, Vivian became my favorite. Set in the town of Appleton, Wayne manages to describe the town throughout the course of the story without sounding like a AAA representative and it becomes so vivid and real that you can swear you've driven through it at one time or another. As I approached the end of the book, I found myself really sad that I was coming to the end! I didn't want to leave Appleton or the kids, they had become so real. The trouble is, the book is extremely addictive! I read it to the exclusion of all else and couldn't put it down. Sometimes while reading other books, I may get tired or bored with what I'm reading. I had no chance with "King of Summer"! The pace is crisp and Wayne always gives you just enough in each chapter to make you want to turn the page and find out what's going to happen next. I hope that someday "King of Summer" is made into a movie. If so, I'll be there opening day, first in line!
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