Summer's Path by Scott Blum

Summer's Path Reviews

• 
  Suzanne

  I don't recall how I ended up with this book in my Audible library, but I just finished listening to it and hope I didn't pay for it.
• 
  Wendy

  I'm not really sure how this one ended up on my Kindle, but it somehow did in it's entirety...not just a sample. I'm at a loss for words exactly what it was about this book that I loved. I know there is so much more to the story and am very excited to read the next one in the series to see where Don and Roberts journey take them.
• 
  Debbie

  The diagnosis of cancer left Don with only a few months to live. Not wanting to leave his wife Suzanne with the insurmountable medical bills, he contemplated ending his own life with the help of a spiritual advocate. Making the decision was a tough one, but actually doing it may have been even more difficult if his new friend Richard hadn’t been there to help his transformation from what he was enduring to what would set him free to finish his life’s journey.
  
  Um, OK. As a contemporary fiction, the concept of the story is interesting jus not executed well. The spiritual aspect has a few good points and ideals, but it is wrapped up in contradictory and occasionally offensive theories.
  
  This is one book that I am just relieved to have finished, I will not be reading the next book. This was an audio book and the rating / review is based solely on the work / words written by Scott Blum, not the voice. The narrator did not do any good for the story. Many times that should have been a sad statement, the narrator sounded happy and cheerful. There was and excitement in her voice for everything from a playful day at the park to writing a suicide letter. Not a great combination.
  
• 
  Kohl Gill

  It's rare that I'm actually offended by a novel. This is the worst audible.com purchase I've made so far. I only got through half of it. I had to stop because, like terrible new-age fads like
  The Secret, the story perpetuates the idea that disease - in this case, cancer - is caused by bottled-up emotions and can be cured by emotional manipulation. This notion is not just scientifically highly dubious, but also quite damaging to cancer-affected folks
  who end up avoiding real treatment and blaming themselves.
  
  The reader, bless her heart, also pauses for 2 beats between speakers, which doesn't sound like a lot, but really grates on your nerves after a while.
  
  Stay away.
• 
  James

  Very new age... The writing is considerably poor and the story is even worse. I used the audio book version because it was free, but even at that price it was too costly. I will never get those 4 hours of my life back...
• 
  Liz

  Oh my god! I can't believe I wasted four hours of my life on this book. No wonder it was free. I don't think it could have been worse. The narrator was awful and the storyline was so saccharine it was painful.
• 
  Stephanie

  I picked this book up for free from Audible a while ago. I've been trying to burn through my already downloaded books, so this filled an afternoon's drive nicely. It's unfortunate that the book wasn't very good.
  The story is about Don, who's dying of cancer. He was laid off, and his wife didn't want to get married before he was diagnosed, so he has no health insurance. While sleeping, he gets a visit from Robert, who claims to be a sort of Angel of Death. Supposedly Robert is there to help Don get his things in order before he dies. While Don prepares for death, Robert cooks up an alternate plan that could help Don and Robert both.
  The writing in the book is only so-so. Maybe it's because I audiobooked it, but Blum uses “instinctively” over and over again. Sometimes you'll get it a couple times in the span of a few minutes. It gets annoying. Also, the book is written in a plodding, uninspired way for the first few chapters. There's a lot of introspection, not a lot of action. It's very passive, and not very interesting. More than halfway through the book, the author derails the story to give us an “As you know, Bob...” diversion into his personal spiritual beliefs. This goes on for quite a while, and it's woven into the book in a way that would make it interesting.
  In addition to the plodding storytelling, there's a bunch of things the author does that just don't make any sense. The book was written in 2009, and is set in Oregon, with an author who lives in Oregon. We have the Death with Dignity Act. Don didn't need to die in pain, or suffer, or even consider killing himself in a terrible way. I know the things he considered were so his wife wouldn't have to deal with his body, but there were a lot of options he could have explored, but he didn't even think about it. Also, in the story, Robert takes a 3 week old puppy away from its mother, and expects it to do fine. You can't do that! Not without buying bottles and puppy formula and all this stuff. Robert doesn't.
  Skip this book. It's just not worth it.
• 
  Sher

  Like many other reviewers, I downloaded this book from audible because it was free. I listened to it because it happened to follow in my playlist the book that I had just finished.
  
  I started out thinking, Ho-hum, but then I got very interested in it when I realized it was about alternative healing. I believe in that stuff to a point, but have very strong convictions about the purpose of life, where we came from and where we are going. As the book progressed and its teachings crossed what I believe to be true, it lost my interest.
  
  I did not think it was a total loss. There were some great parts about it that really got me thinking. But overall, it was just too unbelievable. The narrator was adequate, but not great, for one thing. I for sure won't be getting the sequel.
• 
  Kathy

  Mildly intersting concept, but horrendously written. When I say horrendous, what I mean is it totally lacks imagination and creativity. The author took a theme, and then gave it dull, unimaginative characters who lack a grasp of any kind of intellectual vocabulary. Like it was written by a teenager with a 2.5 GPA.
• 
  Dasarae Dibella

  Was not a story I would read or really recommend. There were some 'ah-ha' moments that I thought was written well, but overall I thought the story went on and on and I debated several times to just stop. I did finish it and would not give a 1 star because I respect authors and just because I didn't enjoy it doesn't mean someone else won't. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
• 
  Aniruddha Das

  An absolutely terrible book. Why I even bothered finishing this book, I'll never know! But I do know that this was an absolute waste of time and a complete waste of money. The whole concept of diseases existing because of suppressed feelings of a soul from various lifetimes was too much to bear. I wish I could UN-READ what I've read because this book has scarred me for life.
• 
  Zelma

  Eh, What to say, I gave up half way though. I thought this was Christian fiction but it was not the case. Not into this type of spiritualism through meditation or the phony bologna that is you get sick because of your actions. UGHHHH I have MS and I have had people tell me I got it because I WILLED it. Things like this irritate me. Needless to say I was not thrilled with this book.
• 
  Sabrina

  This book had the potential to be good, but then started to read more like a self help book on inner enlightenment and then got even more preachy and new agey. I would say if you aren't already into that kind of stuff, you probably wouldn't enjoy this book.
• 
  Lauren

  I could not put this book down until I finished it to find there was a sequal and had to go run to the store to buy it! This brings a very thought provoking perspective to how the spirit and body evolve.
• 
  Heather

  Worst drivel I have ever heard. I listened to the the first 10 minutes and couldn't stand any more. The writing is horrible and the narration tedious at best.
• 
  Mark Junk

  Made it 1/2 way. Just did not like this story, it feels like the story was trying to preach to me but failed miserably at it.
• 
  Wes Burkett

  something free on the kindle
• 
  Sarah

  I'm giving the benefit of the doubt in saying that perhaps I've got a really bad abridgement, but it's bad.
• 
  Mrs. Kenyon

  This is a mediocre book with a terrible narration. I will NOT be listening or reading to the rest of the series.
• 
  George

  What is this I don't even...What did I just read? It started off pretty sad and morbid and then just got weird from there.
• 
  Joseph

  The situation (a cancer stricken man with limited financial resources) is a relatable and poignant one. But where it fails to resonate with the reader is in how the man deals with the situation - in a new-agey out-of-body/out-of-species experience, complete with a potentially imaginary "transition" guide that has this subject contemplate the oddest strategies for facing reality by in fact escaping it. The melodramatic dialogue and at times irrelevant details do not help matters.
• 
  Dennis Crotts

  I have to say how I enjoyed this story and plan to get other books or audibles from him. This a story of a man given a second chance after finding he will die in 3 to 5 months from cancer but the catch he gives his body to another and he takes the body of a puppy.
  It is well told and the narrator keep involved and thinking about the action and how it effects other.
• 
  James Tomasino

  The author tried shoving a lot into this short story but they didn't all fit right. Details stand out, characters don't. The elements that feel pulled in from life do more to highlight the falseness of the rest rather than grounding things. Meh.
• 
  Cindy Crocker

  Great way to start the new year
  
  Went into this read without expectations and am so glad. Now I understand why some difficult memories have been popping up. Looking forward to the next in this series.
• 
  mandy cottingham

  Thought provoking
  
  Very interesting couldn't put it down. Really really thought provoking but not heavy it was an easy read . very good.
• 
  Dandelionsmom

  Weirdest book read to date. Well crafted and even when I thought I might stop reading I couldn't because I was so curious as to what would happen next!