The Summer that Melted Everything is a newly released novel by debut author Tiffany McDaniel. She has stepped into the literary arena with a lyrical and powerful novel about good, evil, and the devil himself. Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.
The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel
Published by St. Martin's Press on July 26th 2016
Genres: Literary Fiction
Pages: 320
Format: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.
Sal seems to appear out of nowhere - a bruised and tattered thirteen-year-old boy claiming to be the devil himself answering an invitation. Fielding Bliss, the son of a local prosecutor, brings him home where he's welcomed into the Bliss family, assuming he's a runaway from a nearby farm town.
When word spreads that the devil has come to Breathed, not everyone is happy to welcome this self-proclaimed fallen angel. Murmurs follow him and tensions rise, along with the temperatures as an unbearable heat wave rolls into town right along with him.
As strange accidents start to occur, riled by the feverish heat, some in the town start to believe that Sal is exactly who he claims to be.
While the Bliss family wrestles with their own personal demons, a fanatic drives the town to the brink of a catastrophe that will change this sleepy Ohio backwater forever.
McDaniel’s writing is beautiful. Never before have I highlighted so many quotes in a novel. To me, the following passage hints perfectly at the story you will read, and it glimpses her exquisite writing:
“But did you know that in Wisconsin, there is a lake, a wondrous lake, called the Devil? In Wyoming, there is a magnificent intrusion of rock named after the same. There is even a most spectacular breed of praying mantis known as the devil’s flower. And a flower, in the genus Crocosmia, known simply as Lucifer.
Why, upon hearing the world devil, did I just imagine the monster? Why did I fail to see a lake? A flower growing by that lake? A mantis praying on the very top of a rock?
A foolish mistake, it is, to expect the beast, because sometimes, sometimes, it is the flower’s turn to own the name.”
This is gut-wrenching tale of prejudice, sorrow, betrayal, and hope. You will be transported to Breathed, Ohio in the mid-80’s during the most sweltering months of summer. In that unbearable heat you’ll be forced to bear witness to the full spectrum of human behavior: from the most horrific crimes to the greatest feats of kindness.
Unfortunately, literary fiction is not my favorite genre (simply because it’s using a lot more words to move the plot forward). If I enjoyed the genre more, I think that this book would have easily have made its way to my all-time favorites. I can say with certainty that it is one of my favorite literary novels that I’ve read. The setting is vivid, the characters step off of the page, and the writing is simply perfect. This book is as sticky as skin in the Ohio heat of 1984, and I’m still pulling pieces of this story off of me. It’s a novel I’m unlikely to forget.
“She was an acutely strange religious woman who used the Bible as a stethoscope to hear the pulse of the devil in the world around her.”
“But up close, the trees were scorched, the grass was dead, and the boys were on the verge of tears with the belts of those morals tightened around their necks, threatening to hang them if they dared step off the stool of masculinity.”
I would highly recommend this novel to any lover of literary fiction.
“So to defend the devil means defending the good of the bad.”
Have you read or heard of this novel? If not, what are your thoughts? What are some of your favorite contemporary literary fiction novels?
But the novel here: Amazon. Barnes & Noble. The Book Depository.
A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.
luvtoread
Great review! This book sounds really amazing!
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Thanks! I hope you entered the giveaway for commenting – good luck 😀
luvtoread
I did 🙂 Thanks
Amy
This sounds great! Love discovering an author with their debut novel 🙂
thebandarblog@gmail.com
I know! You just really want to root for that author and help their book become successful! Good luck in the giveaway (assuming you entered)! (:
Sara Strauss
Literary fiction isn’t my thing either most of the time, but there are always books that are the exception. This one sounds really interesting!
~Sara
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Yes totally agree, and it’s always fun to find the books that are the exception! Thanks for stopping by (:
Alise (Readers in Wonderland)
While I do like those quotes, I like to have a book that has strong pacing as well. It seems like this one could be a total hit or miss for me, Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Single Vegas Girl
Great review! This book sounds interesting.
Single Vegas Girl
http://singlevegasgirl.blogspot.com/
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by! (: And good luck on the giveaway!
Huriyah
You’re so right about the highlighting haha, I had my pink highlighter on me most the time! Glad you enjoyed this book too 😁
thebandarblog@gmail.com
There are so many excellent quotes!!
Fatma S
ive heard fantastic things about this! I thought it was YA for some reason…
thebandarblog@gmail.com
I thought it was prior to reading it, too (maybe something about the cover?), but DEFINITELY heavier and an adult book 😀 Good luck on the giveaway!
Sue S
Sounds like a great novel.
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Yes! Good luck on the giveaway! If you win I hope you enjoy it (:
Tori @ InToriLex
I’ve heard such rave reviews from everyone about this, hope its good!!
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Indeed & Good luck on the giveaway! If you win I hope you enjoy it!
Kensie
You are so eloquent! Great review.
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Thanks Kensie! And thanks for stopping by – good luck with the giveaway!
Chelsea hall
I’ve heard amazing things about this book!
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Yes! Good luck in the giveaway – if you win, I hope you enjoy it 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
Chelsea @ Sparkles & Scribbles
I first heard about this on River City Reading (I think) and it looks ahmazing. Perfect for this sweltering weather we’ve got going on haha!
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Hahaha yes it’s sweltering where I live, too!! Good luck on the giveaway!
deertalesblog
I found your bookstagram account and blog because I’m a bone season advocate too! your blog is beautiful and this giveaway is awesome, super interested in this book now ☺️
thebandarblog@gmail.com
Thank you! Yay! I keep finding and following advocates, too. Lol.