Traveling Light [Hardcover]

Katrina Kittle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2000

A dancer-turned-school teacher encounters a string of bad luck in the form of a career-ending injury and the slow death of her brother but slowly to come to terms with life and relationships and discovers how fortunate she really is.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Summer Zwolenick, the narrator of Kittle's debut novel, is a 26-year-old Ohio schoolteacher who has just enough charismatic mettle and emotional depth to keep the book from falling into the niche of sentimentalized stories in which an angelic young man with AIDS provides meaning and hope to his grieving and equally angelic family. Once a rising ballet star, Summer suffered an injury three years ago and now teaches high school near her suburban Dayton hometown, where she has relocated to be close to her beloved brother Todd, who is slowly dying of AIDS. Her love for her gay sibling is the only thing Summer is sure about, since she resents her mother, is ambivalent about her job and is frightened to take the plunge into marriage with her lover, Nicholas. Todd was a successful soundman in L.A.'s film industry and has come home to die near his parent's horse farm, with his handsome actor boyfriend, Jacob, at his side. Jacob is unfailingly supportive, as is Todd's live-in nurse, Arnicia. These and other characters are sketchily drawn, vehicles only for an assortment of social issues: a sister, Abby, is a battered wife; Arnicia is an African-American who spouts sassy, irreverent wisdom; Grandma Ann spent time in a concentration camp during WWII; Summer has problems at school with a gay youth and a homophobic troublemaker. Still, Summer's character is fully rounded, and part of her indecision about Nick stems from her idealization of the love between Todd and Jacob, who "had something better than I had ever known. And I wanted it more than anything." With Summer's story as the centerpiece, the book is absorbing and readable. In the end, her love for her brother moves the tale beyond cliche. Agent, Liz Trupin-Pulli. 7-city author tour. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The characters in this uneven first novel from Ohio writer Kittle are laden with superficial traits and not developed into complex, multilayered individuals with real motivations. Summer, an ex-ballet dancer whose career was cut short by a riding accident, is now a high school teacher. Her brother Todd, a former movie technician and world traveler, is dying of AIDS and (we are constantly told) has a magnetic personality. Also caring for Todd are his lover, Jacob, a gorgeous soap-opera star; and Arnicia, a beautiful African American nursing student. Meanwhile, Todd and Summer's older sister is battered by her rich physician husband. Summer feels pressured to marry her handsome boyfriend, Nicholas, even though it seems obvious to the reader that given Todd's imminent death, it's a bad time. The only real character of substance is Todd's disease: Kittle's narrative skill shines through as she describes how AIDS destroys his vitality and comes to dominate the household of caregivers with its presence. The detailed depictions of some homosexual encounters and Todd's deteriorating medical condition contrast starkly with the ensemble of shallowly developed characters. For larger fiction collections.
-Reba Leiding, James Madison Univ. Lib., Harrisonburg, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1ST edition (April 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446524808
• ISBN-13: 978-0446524803
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,631,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katrina Kittle lives in Dayton, Ohio, where she teaches English and theater at the Miami Valley School.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming, Heart breaking, and Beautiful!, March 27, 2000

By 

John S Pieza (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traveling Light (Hardcover)

It's generally thought that the story of a man or woman "coming of age" is about their struggle to define themselves and their place in the world when they are young and moving into adulthood. Certainly that is true. But the process is one that never really ends. Things like injury, illness, or tragedy can force us to re-examine our lives and our place in the world.

Such is the story of Summer Zwolenick. An injury to her ankle has ended her promising dance career. Her brother is slowly losing his fight with AIDS. Her grandmother is losing a battle with cancer. Her new life as a teacher at a small-town school seems ungratifying to her. There is a lot to force her to re-examine who she is and where she's going. And she's made a promise to her brother. It's this promise that Summer is struggling to fulfill through out the book.

In her book, Kittle, manages to weave a heart-breaking tale of Summer's effort. The book is wonderful. The characters are rich and real. The book moves easily and effortlessly (sometimes impossible to put down). Summer's journey is touching, brazen, and thought provoking. It's examination of Summer's effort helps us to understand the delicate beauty of life and love and relationships. I highly recommend this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent relationship drama, March 31, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traveling Light (Hardcover)

Summer Zwolenick believes that winter has permanently established a lifetime residency in her soul. Only three years ago, Summer made it into the New York Times as a rising ballet star, but her dreams ended with an injury. She returned to her Ohio hometown to teach school. Summer's brother Todd went to Hollywood only to return to the family horse farm to die from Aids. Even her relationship with Nicholas, who vows he loves her, seems lacking to the depressed Summer, who wakes up every morning wondering if Todd died and if not when will her beloved sibling leave her.

As Summer struggles with life and death, Todd's partner Jacob teaches everyone in the area how to love and be supportive of someone you care deeply for. Summer begins to understand what her father meant when he told her "travel light" as Jacob and Todd teach her what it's all about.

TRAVELING LIGHT is an excellent relationship drama that showcases a new talent, Katrina Kittle, for sub-genre fans to enjoy. The story line centers on Summer's comprehending life's meaning through her mentors, Jacob and Todd. Though the myriad of other subplots tie back to the main story line, they are engaging in of themselves. They add other social issues that somewhat negate the force of the prime tale. Still, Ms. Kittle demonstrates a wonderful ability to relate a complex novel that never turns too maudlin or preachy as she focuses on how fortunate we are in our seemingly darkest winter when we share love.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and Inspiring, April 11, 2000

By 

Monica Schiffler (Dayton, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traveling Light (Hardcover)

Although I sobbed my way through many chapters (especially the final few), this is, overall, quite an uplifting book. The lessons that Summer learns from her brother's illness and experiences are educational for all of us. Especially the key lesson referred to in the title: Travel light. In other words, get rid of all the excess baggage you're lugging around with you and focus on what's really important in life--doing what you enjoy and spending quality time with the people you love.

Some of the descriptions of the effects of AIDS on Summer's brother, Todd, are difficult to read; however, they must be included in order to fully appreciate the depth of the love between Todd and his partner, Jacob.

An excellent first novel! Can't wait to read the next...