Last Days of Summer Updated Ed: A Novel

Wonderful, wonderful story. Gave it to my 89 year old father for Christmas (did the math and he was about the same age as the main character and grew up in the same general area of NYC) He loved it and said it brought back memories.

I bought this book accidently. I groaned when I read it was a "coming of age" "baseball" novel. If you're avoiding this book because you think it's about baseball, DON'T. If you're avoiding it because you think it's about a boy "coming of age," DON'T. It is about those things, don't get me wrong, but mostly, it's about deep human connections and loyalty and audaciousness and humor. I just loved this read. I literally guffawed out loud. I'm not kidding. Don't miss it.

This is my all time favorite story! It will have you laughing out loud, as well as moving you to tears. It is just a wonderful and moving story about friendships and living with heart. The story is told through notes from the characters to each other, thereby letting you understand how each one is thinking. I highly recommend this book. I have read it many times, and even though I know the story, I find myself moved each and every time I pick it up! Last Days of Summer is a must read!

If you were ever threatened by a bully and needed a big brother to come to your rescue, read this book. If you have ever played baseball (or wish you did), read this book. And if you want to remember the extreme joys and terrible sorrows of growing up, read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Steve Kluger's Last Days of Summer is an epistolary novel set in the early 1940's about twelve-year-old Joey Margolis who is desperately in search of a hero. Despite the fact that Joey lives in Brooklyn amid rabid Dodger fans, he finds his hero in the young rookie third baseman for the rival New York Giants, Charlie Banks. Charlie is little more than an overgrown kid himself, and the two make an improbable and poignant pair as they help each other grow in ways that neither expects.

Once you read the first page, you'll be hooked and have to devour the book in one sitting. I laughed out loud at every page and, as Mr. Kluger surely intended, I cried at the end. The first thing I did after reading Last Days of Summer was call my father and tell him to read it.

The novel is woven together through letters, telegrams, postcards, notes, matchbook covers from famous New York nightclubs, ticket stubs, report cards and newspaper stories. The reader experiences the story through these evidentiary artifacts, and it makes for an easy, enjoyable journey. Joey's correspondents include his Japanese American best friend Craig Nakamura, major league baseball players, nightclub singers, famous actors and actresses, and even Eleanor Roosevelt! It seems improbable, but Kluger makes it eminently believable from start to finish.

Last Days of Summer is the kind of novel you'll want to re-read again and again.

Sin of Omission

Tear-jerker. My father recommended it. It's a great slice of life for the pre-WWII era. Cute story but the tear-jerker ending you will spot about a mile off. But some of the stops along the way are quite amusing. Fast read - you can read it in under 3 hours.

Very moving coming of age story- incorporates many events of ww2 in a heart rending context yet with much humor. Very worthwhile read- could not put it down. Highly recommend. Interesting way for young people to learn about the war and a difficult reminder for those of us that were closer to it.

A sweet, funny heartbreaker that holds your hand to make sure you're okay at the end. How Steve Kluger is not a national best seller with everything he writes makes me feel sorry for everyone who hasn't discovered him.

Could not stop laughing, then crying and finally smiling. One of the best reads in 2013...maybe the past five years or so. Not sure I am ready for another Kluger novel for a while. I have to take a little more time to think about Joey and Charlie.

This is my favorite novel! It is a captivating story of a young boy growing into manhood. It is a great book for the busy person who needs a little retreat for the mind. Ladies...be sure to have a box of tissues on hand!

When my book club chose this book I almost groaned out loud. Precocious 9 year olds, written in letter format and baseball? How much worse could this get? I was hooked on the first page when 9 year old Joey has a letter from Franklin D. Roosevelt thanking him for his support. The book follows the relationship between Joey and professional baseball player Charlie Banks. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. Joey grows up as different personal and world events shape the world around him. This is a great book for sitting on the beach or just relaxing. It reads very quickly and is very entertaining.

The book, LAST DAYS OF SUMMER is a wonderful read for all ages. I was able to get 3 used books, they came in perfect condition and in record time. I was very pleased w/ the service as I had a deadline. The books were gifts.

I recently discovered (upon reading Syrup by Maxx Barry) that a unique writing style can do wonders for a book. This book was defintely unique, with the story being told through letters, notes, interviews, programs, and various correspondence between the characters of the story. I really enjoyed that aspect of it, but I also quickly realized that this book was more than just a novelty.
About a third of the way through the book, I formed a pretty strong impression of what I thought was going to happen at the end, but instead of that making me less interested, it made me more interested. I kept reading until I was finished to see if my impression was right. I didn't know if I wanted to be or not.
Along with the unique perspective, this book provides a compelling story about growing up when it must have been a very difficult time to grow up. It really made me appreciate my relatively easy childhood of the 70's and 80's. It also shows, however, that even in such a difficult time with so many bad things going on in the world, there are good things too. And if you work hard enough to achieve your goals, then anything is possible.
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone.

This novel is fanciful, over the top, very moving, and extremely funny, told in a series of letters, postcards, telegrams, and other documents. Very reminiscent of E.L Doctorow's more somber and conventionally written "Worlds Fair"--if you've read one then you should also read the other. Both are coming of age stories set in the '30's and '40's about a Jewish boy in New York City.

Last Days Of Summer is a hilarious, heartwarming and touching story about a smartass kid named Joey Margolis and a blue-collar Rookie baseball player named Charlie Banks. The entire story is told through letters, newspaper articles, and telegrams as well as other means of written communication. The relationship between the two starts out as something more along the lines of hate but quickly buds into something more, Charlie becomes the father that is missing from Joey's life in an extremely unconventional way, and Joey allows Charlie to show a more gentler, loving side of himself that his long-time on and off again girlfriend Hazel McKay has never seen before. It takes place during WWII and follows the times accurately. It's a quick witty read that had me laughing and crying. I breezed through it in two days and periodically open it up just to laugh some more.

It takes real talent to convey sarcasm is writing...Mr. Kluger is a master! This book was recommended to me by a friend who used to work in a book store and the publisher's rep recommended it to her. What a fabulous story and wonderful characters! I'm purchasing a copy today to give a friend for a birthday gift. This book is a must for any avid reader.