The House on Rockaway Beach

By Lou Pastina

I don’t often do book reviews, but I recently found myself drifting in and out of a 1,200-page book that was fascinating to read, but frustrating in that it never ends! It is about the history of New York, and I love that subject, but the details are so intricate that I find myself with eyes drooping on summer days. So, I looked around the house for something more fun and easier to read, and my eyes came upon a book that my wife had and was now available for reading. There are many creative and artistic people on the peninsula, and we are blessed to have many authors living here. I have read Rusty Kearney’s books; and Tom O’Callaghan’s; and even read the Best Dressed Man in Rockaway’s book. They do a great job of painting a picture of our idyllic little paradise, even if the stories sometimes contain murder and general mayhem.

Sometimes, though, it takes someone from outside the community to really capture the “feel” of this place. And I found that to be the case of Emma Burstall’s fictional novel that uses Rockaway as its backdrop. Emma is the sister of a local yogi and has visited Rockaway many times. She tells the story of two sisters and their lives, and how a house was left to them by their estranged grandmother in the hope that it might mend some family dramas that have occurred in the past. I found the descriptive language used by the author to be beautiful and poetic. And I loved the way she developed her characters and interrelated the side stories to tie-in to the general story. I found this book to be the perfect antidote to the 1,200-page tome, and the perfect by-the-ocean read on a sunny day at the shore.

It also evoked strong feelings about my own siblings and how we grew up and whether my perspective was always the correct one. Having recently sold a long-time family house, it brought to the surface emotions around confronting the inevitable tasks that life brings to our doorsteps, whether we want them or not. I am not going to give away the full storyline or the ending but suffice it to say, that I was pleased in a way that would want me to pursue another book by Ms. Burstall. The reflections that she shares through her storytelling brought me full circle with things that we must face in life: family, work, self-worth, love, friends, a place that you can call home. These are strong currents that run through all of us, and at the beach, we are blessed with so many long-time residents with families that stretch back generations, that we can tap into and find joy with. I recently went to a neighbor’s birthday party and the outpouring of love was special, because the neighbor was special. He was a lifeguard, a coach, a neighbor, a son, a brother, a husband, a father…the list goes on, but you get the idea. His life has had an impact on others. And luckily, we get to recognize that. I think this book in some way highlighted the importance of that for me. It’s important to recognize, support and nurture those around us. It not only benefits others, but it benefits us too because it enriches our souls. What a wonderful thing.

So, not to get too deep here, but I would highly recommend “The House on Rockaway Beach” as a very good summer read, especially for Rockawayites, who will appreciate the surroundings. I will warn you however, there are some spicy moments towards the end. And for the guys who might say, hey that’s really a women’s book, I say, it might be time to get in touch with your feelings! Proof positive, I live with a yogi too!