"Summers' End" Trivia Quiz

Answer: 2

Young Deanna marries a much older Marc-Edouard after her globe-trotting father dies and leaves her penniless. Though passionate at first, the Frenchman makes it clear he wants a calm, controlled marriage. Deanna then settles into the idea of giving him the son he wants so badly.

The couple experience two tragic losses after each of their sons is born. It isn't until a very vibrant and healthy daughter is born that the two can celebrate parenthood. While Marc-Edouard is disappointed at first, he quickly falls in love with his baby girl.

Answer: 3 months

It is clear right away that Deanna's husband is frequently gone on business trips. While they live in California, he is often in Europe representing his clients. The novel starts off with Deanna feeling the neglect and alienation from both her husband and fifteen-year-old daughter.

The three month business trip leaves her feeling more saddened and lonely, but Marc-Edouard placates her somewhat by showing her some genuine affection before he leaves. He also has the smarts to feed her ego a bit by acting as though he may be jealous to leave her for so long.

Answer: Ben Thompson

Deanna initially meets Ben during her walk alone on the beach in Carmel. They talk of her resemblance to a Wyeth painting. The next day Deanna accompanies Kim to her appointment, which happens to be with Ben Thompson. Their interest in each other becomes apparent to Kim, who approves of Deanna stretching her wings.

Answer: Chantal

Danielle Steel offers the reader a look at the man's perspective, of which I already feel little sympathy. I read on and learn that Mr. Duras has been seeing his lover, Chantal, for five years. She is twenty-nine years old, a former runway model, and now owns her own modeling agency. Though Chantal could never make him a firm commitment in the past, she now displays a distaste for their affair, and hopes to push him into leaving Deanna.

Answer: Diabetes

Chantal is a diabetic, who decides to forgo her insulin. It seems as though she does it just to get Marc-Edouard's attention. It happens right after she throws down the ultimatum about their relationship. She tells him she is tired of being his secret mistress and that another man has ask her to marry him.

Answer: motorcycle

Pilar discusses this with Deanna briefly at the start of the novel. Then, Deanna hears from Marc-Edouard that he's allowed Pilar to buy it while in Paris. The news stresses Deanna, but she is used to Pilar, Marc-Edouard, and his mother over-riding all of her influences.

Answer: Yes

Ben Thompson owns the gallery in which Deanna agrees to show her work. She chooses eleven paintings and sells seven that first night, and two more shortly thereafter. The first seven made $8000! Marc-Edouard has tolerated Deanna's artistic talents during their marriage, but had made it clear from the outset that he would not allow her to pursue art as a career. Deanna tells Ben that her husband considers all artists "hippies", and showing work as "vulgar". Thanks to Ben's influences, support and love, Deanna defies her hubby and starts to show her life's work.

Answer: an airport

Deanna arrives in Paris to be with Pilar, after Pilar is severely injured on her motorcycle. Marc-Edouard's mother convinces Deanna to meet him at the airport, but when she arrives at the gate she discovers her husband is not alone. Deanna perceptively realizes that Chantal is not a new or short term relationship.

Answer: he admits to a vasectomy

His initial reaction to the news is to lie and claim the baby. After Deanna collapses and is treated at the hospital, Marc tells her she is two months pregnant. The time frame indicates it would most likely be his baby and not Ben's, but Deanna is not sure. She decides to end her affair with Ben and stay with Marc.

Answer: Kim gives him the address

After Deanna leaves Marc, she stays with Kim for awhile. Then, she finds a small home in Sausalito and moves into it. While doing business with Ben, Kim finally admits that Deanna is divorcing Marc and tells Ben how to find her. He goes to her home and finds her around five months pregnant with his child, and then they reunite! In a nice turn of poetic justice, Marc's own love life is totally disrupted when he discovers that his lover Chantal has also been seeing his business partner Jim Sullivan. I felt little sympathy for Marc during the read, as he shut down Deanna's dreams, cheated on her for years, and then planned to claim Ben's child for his own. Marc's plans were to take the baby to France and then not allow Deanna to take the child back to America. I think Marc got exactly what he deserved.