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Description edit
It’s the summer of 1964 in Ocean City and the region seethes in racial unrest. The Vietnam War escalates. The Beatles lead the British Invasion in the takeover of rock-and-roll. It is the Age of Aquarius, and against this backdrop, Tom Delaney loses his college scholarship just a year before... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Thomas Delaney: Delaney is the protagonist and narrator of the story. Raised in a Catholic Orphanage he earns a scholastic scholarship to Georgetown University. Because of an indiscretion with an coed and alcohol he is expelled in his Junior year. He goes to Ocean City to earn enough money to pay for his final year of school.
- Jack Walker: Real name is John E. Walker. Jack is a petty criminal with no conscience. He meets Delaney on their first night in Ocean City. Jack sees Delaney's positive personality characteristics as well as his naiveté and recognizes his usefulness for Jack's own manipulative purposes.
- Wendy Morrison: Wendy, a beautiful college bound surfer quickly becomes Delaney's love interest. Blonde, tanned, beautiful, smart and athletic, she is as interested in Delaney and he is in her. She teaches him to surf and introduces him to the Civil Rights Movement.
- Misty Vail: Misty is the beautiful counterpoint to Wendy. Her raven black hair and pale white skin and knowledge of the predictive impact of the stars offers dark but serious competition for Delaney's romantic interests. However, Misty Vail is able to offer Delaney something Wendy can't.
- Goldie: The Negro busboy at the surfer bar hangout of Delaney and Jack, Goldie suffers verbal abuse from racist Jack Walker. His threats of retaliation are viewed as hollow and he is discounted by Jack as weak.
First Sentence edit
Filled with rage, rage and self-loathing, I slammed the door behind me with a resounding crack that echoed like a rifle shot in the empty corridor.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Consequences of Actions: In the opening scene, protagonist, Tom Delaney is suffering the consequences of his actions. It is a thread that ripples through the novel and repeated mistakes of judgement by Delaney and other characters lead to consequences that can be both expected and unexpected.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Michael J. Tucker (Author)
Subjects edit
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Books with Additional Background Information edit
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