Let's Do the SummerTime Warp Again
Ah, summer. Forget the soaring temperatures and biting mosquitos. We remember the songs, the books, the people and the places so vividly. Just say the word, “summer,” and a catchy tune and a unifiying piece of pop culture spring to mind. Maybe the summer heat bakes these memories so firmly in place, or maybe it’s just that feeling of eternal vacation.
So, take a virtual jump to the left and then a step to the right. Let’s do…
The SummerTime Warp Again
For the next five weeks on the Algonquin blog, we’re paying tribute to the books, movies, television shows, and songs that made summer special — for those of us of a certain age. Follow along from 1976 through 1980, and share with us your summer “Blast from the Past” favorites — no matter what year it might, from 1900 to 2011. Tell us you were reading in your memorable summers. By commenting below, you’ll be entered to win your very own Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock. Now there’s a great way to swing into the heat of summer reading!
July 1976
Movie: The Outlaw Josey Wales. Best line: “Dying ain’t much of a living, pal.”
The Books: Trinity by Leon Uris and The Deep by Peter Benchley. Uris proves that we all can’t get along, while Benchley gave us another reason not to get back into the water.
On the Radio: “Afternoon Delight” by The Starland Vocal Band. Written by John Denver, this song was so brilliant that the band got its own television show. Go figure.
On Television: The Bionic Woman starring Lindsay Wagner. While Steve Austin fights Bigfoot, Jamie Sommers rips phone books in half for a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
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Share your favorite summer reads FROM ANY YEAR in the comments below — and be automatically entered for a chance to win a free Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock.
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That was the summer I started college at the Atlanta College of Art. Right across the street I volunteered for Jimmy Carter’s campaign, at his National Headquarters in Colony Square. I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show grow from a couple of movie goers to a full blown event, in a small art theater near my apartment. I started falling in love with Bruce Springsteen. I started making my way through the Harvard Classics.
When I was a young girl I spent the sunned reading little women loved it felt I was part of the family.
I grew up in a Baptist church-going family, and one Sunday in the summer, my 10-years-older brother was participating in a college youth service. Sitting at the front of the church in the area where the ministers usually were, he glanced up into the balcony and spotted me … but more surprisingly, he spotted one very familiar, block-letter graphic book cover: I was passing the time reading one of my older siblings’ copy of JAWS.
I spent the summer “cutting rugs” in a carpet mill in North Georgia and making a little money for college. I read magazines when I wasn’t sleeping after spending the day in that tremendous heat!
I spent the entire summer going to the beach every morning (with a bodice ripper tucked in the beach bag) because I didn’t have to go to work until early afternoon….it’s the only time I’ve ever had a tan.
I spent a summer with my friend trading a series of books. I gave her the Harry Dresden books and she gave me the Sookie Stackhouse books. We both preferred our own series in the end, but it was a really fun summer.
When I was in 6th grade, I became obsessed with Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody mysteries – probably was too young to read them, but I ate them up!
I would sneak off to read Stephen King novels stolen from my dad’s shelves.