An old man struggles to recall a summer in his youth he spent living in a small English suburb during WWII. It's a beautifully written story rich in contrasts -- class differences, childhood friendship vs. rivalry, loyalty to family vs. country, reality vs. fantasy, the routine of daily life vs. life-threatening adventures -- and brilliantly evocative of the time and place. But what I found most compelling about this book was its deft examination of how memories work, especially with events of life-changing importance. What we perceive as a child may or may not represent reality, but when filtered through years of experience, it's amazing how that perception can be questioned and transformed. If the reality ultimately shines through, as it does for this narrator, it can bring surprising insights.
