Congrats Melanie
on the recent release of
California Golden!
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
Historical Fiction, 368 pagesPublished August 8, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Two sisters navigate the turbulent, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and longing for a family they never had, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife.
Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky A-Go-Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donelly is breaking the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport--and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of her unconventional lifestyle.
The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother's absence--physically, when she's at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she's at home. To escape questions about Carol's whereabouts--and chase their mom's elusive affection--they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy shows a natural talent, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water.
As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger's relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger--desperate for a community of her own--is tugged into the vibrant counterculture of drugs and cults. Through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood.
A gripping, emotional story set at a time when mothers were expected to be Donna Reed, not Gidget, California Golden is an unforgettable novel about three women living in a society that was shifting as tempestuously as the breaking waves.
My thoughts about California Golden ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First line—"The surf giveth, and the surf taketh away—thus said the Surf God every morning, noon, and night in his church, which was the universe, the planet, California, the beach, the waves. On this holy day, the surf would most definitely giveth."
When I think of historical fiction, I think of books written about wars and events that happened way far back in the past. A book written about a time that I remember is not what I would normally think of as historical fiction. That being said, California Golden is about a time in the somewhat way back past and captures the feel and culture of that time splendidly. I guess I'm just having a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around how much time I have personally spent on this rotating planet but that's my own personal problem.
California Golden, along with being a true snapshot of the lifestyles of the 50's and 60's is also a heartwarming, yet heartbreaking, story of family dynamics and the expectations of women at that time. The storyline covers so much of what was going on at the time—women's rights and/or duties, the Vietnam war, drugs, love, and hippies—all things we shouldn't forget about. This is a great story that rolls that all up together for a very enjoyable, memorable tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for the fabulous characters and the great story, but also for my stroll down memory lane that helped me remember what times were like back then. I highly recommend California Golden!
I received an ARC of California Golden from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
About the author
Melanie Benjamin is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, as well as the national bestseller ALICE I HAVE BEEN, and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB, THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE, MISTRESS OF THE RITZ and THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD. Her next novel is CALIFORNIA GOLDEN, a dazzling saga of mothers, daughters and sisters set in the vibrant surf culture of 1960s California. It will be out in August 2023. ~ Goodreads
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