Maine Books

This book is a charming gift for adults who like to garden, whether they live in Maine or not. The author has a special fondness for cats, and they appear in several of the beautiful illustrations in this book. Above average artwork, and the whole book has a lovingly crafted feel.
Highly recommended.

Wonderful illustrations for a charming journal of gardening which provides many tips for caring for plants as well as one's inner spirit.

I discovered this from a review in the Maine Sunday Telegram. I've tried nature journaling and so can really appreciate Krupinski's effort to document the birds and insects that visited her garden. The book goes beyond that, telling what she planted, and what she learned about pest control, care of roses and specific info on various plants and flowers.
Her artwork makes each page a delight with all the garden creatures (rabbits, bugs, butterflies, birds and cats) and lots of flowers.
The book would be particularly useful to anyone new to gardening in Maine, where the limited growing season and the thin topsoil present challenges.

Most of the time you read mysteries for a quick easy read. This detective team is deep, soulful, and pragmatic all at once. I love the atmosphere this book contains and the ability to inject a realistic soul into the writing. I have only read one other book in the series, but I will be reading more. This is a perfect mystery to discover. You get Amsterdam, philosophy, and a great who done it.

I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

I loved this book. I've loved all the books in the series, but this one really sucked me in. The characterizations and plot descriptions are so realistic I felt as if I were in rural Maine too. Like the last reviewer, and also a foreigner, I found myself giggling at the cultural differences- they are so true! I've recommended this book and author to all my friends- mystery lovers or not, this guy has something for everyone.

This is the first book in a long time that I read with care. Usually I skim through pretty rapidly. I liked his candor and insight into his patients' lives. It was interesting how he managed to intertwine his professional life with his family. I enjoyed his constant concern about the effect of religion on his life and others. His questions about death and dying were good. It has to be of concern for all of us eventually. I recommended this book to our local librarian!

I had some spare time and was browsing through Amazon when I ran across this book. I have owned the hardcopy book for several years, I had purchased it after reading an article in "Life" magazine about Dr. Loxtercamp in which this book had been noted. I found the book most interesting and found myself walking through the area of Maine he practices as he went about journalling his days and his times & thoughts of his personal family time.

I found the man and his story most inspiring. Alot of people in today's medicine either are in the field for the money or find themselves disallusioned with the field because of all the insurance buracracy. I find those people who are in their field because that is where they truly want to be and for the want of helping others to be a rare find.

I could also follow along Dr. Loxtercamp's views and journeys of a small town doctor from working in the medical area. He tells his story compassionately and the reader can feel his humanity for others.

Over the past couple of years, I had looked forward for another publication and writing for Dr. Loxtercamp but sadly never ran across progression of this book. I found myself wanting to know more about how his journey has progressed along in the small town medical practice.

A highly suggested read.

I enjoyed this book a good deal, particularly Loxterkamp's attention to God and faith and the notion of ministering. I admire Loxterkamp's bravery for so much soul-searching over a year of his practice. This is a book to savor for those interested in rural medicine or family medicine. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because I found his writing a bit labored. It's slow-going reading. It's also very much about him, him, him. A good contrast is to read Verghese's In My Own Country. Loxterkamp lacks Verghese's fluid style and attention to others. Despite his efforts to humanize, Loxterkamp presents fairly 2-dimensional portraits of his patients. This book is really more of an interior meditation, albeit a very good one.

After two wonderful books (1942 & 1946) largely about herself and her relationship with the northwoods of Maine, Louise Rich was wise to shift her focus to the strong character, ethics and coping skills of her remote neighbors. My Neck of the Woods is a real treasure.

Louise Dickinson Rich was one of a kind and this is one of her best. This is one of those books that makes you a part of her fascinating and down to earth world.

Having read many of her books about her life in rural Maine, I was disappointed with this one. It is written in the same simple style which is enjoyable to read but the content was not as good. Most of this book is about the various people who lived near the author. Discussions on their personality quirks and the mundain details of their lives are not really all that interesting. The stories are only intersting to those who know these people. I enjoy reading books like this to learn what life is like for others is situations different from mine. I learned nothing new with this one. I am glad I did not read this book first or I never would have read her others.

just a warning though---amazon advertises this book as hardcover but it's a paperback (size of a hardcover but paperback)

He hit the mark dead center with this follow-up to Off Season. Well done! A must read. If you enjoyed the first one, this one will be sure to please you.

This book was a good follow-up to the original. It had a good storyline and plenty of gruesome details. If you liked the original this is a must have sequel.

I actually live in Portland - but I still love this book, and I often turn to it when I'm looking for somewhere new to eat or something new to see. It gives an insiders look into all the different restaurants, bars, beaches, and shopping experiences that you could want. Though a couple of the restaurants he lists are now closed - this book can stand the tests of time. Portland is full of tourists in the summer, so don't worry about sticking out. Just get this book to make sure that you don't miss out on any of the great things the city has to offer.

We just got back from a mini-vacation to Portland and it was one of the most enjoyable trips we've had. A lot of that is thanks to Mr. Barry's handy guide. We've been to Portland previously, but had not seen or experienced it the way we did this time. We would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is going to the area for the first time or even, like us, has been to the area before. We both probably still looked like tourists, but I bet that we experienced many things not normally experienced by other tourists, unless they had purchased this guide.

This book is a little silly. We are told to tip the waitstaff well since they really could be artists (as opposed to a mother trying to support her child?) If you can get past the hype about the city, and it is a great city, the book is well organized and offers solid suggestions for exploring the town. There is a section on the history of the town describing Indian raids and the destruction of the city twice by fire. The final rebuilding in the 1860's and 70's accounts for it's consistent architectural style.

Restaurants by category, wine bars, biker bars, coffee houses, dance spots, theatre, where to hear live music - this book tells all. It is exhaustive enough to provide plenty of suggestions but not overwhelming in it's coverage.

As far as looking like a tourist, don't worry about it. We love tourists, and I picked up a copy myself.

As Peladeau shows, the field of Maine hooked rugs is surprisingly complex. It's certainly more involved and more fertile than ones who know it simply as a category of "Maine hooked rugs" realize. The field is given complexity and richness by different periods, rug makers, regions, and skills. The author brings all these elements out by an uncommon depth of research sustained by an intertwined personal and professional interest. She lectures on aspects of the topic, has organized exhibitions, and collects research materials on it.

Peladeau finds, for instance, that in the 1859 Maine Charitable Mechanic Fair, three rugs were exhibited. But she goes beyond this fact to relate what it says about the field at this moment in its history. That only the few rugs were exhibited indicates "that interest in rugs had waned somewhat..."; and even more, that the small number indicates that interest in rugs at the time "was centered in the Portland area" and other crafts such as quilts and shell box work had come into greater favor. Such continual details and commentary on what they tell about Maine hooked rugs makes for not only informative, but engrossing reading on the field.

Hooked rugs continue to hold appeal for many collectors and others in the antiques' field because they are a genuine folk art with old Maine and New England associations. Rug hooking was a traditional skill passed on to young woman. Hooked rugs served practical and decorative purposes in homes before surviving ones became desirable collector's items as homes became modernized and the frontier and Victorian tastes and skills they represented passed away. This comes through in Peladeau's text where she relates how rug hooking originated in particular places and spread to others; in her portrayals of individual rug makers or hooked-rug businesses; and detailed descriptions on how the rugs were made, which in some passages are specified to the point of reading like how-to instructions. But the visual matter especially imparts the folk-art aura of hooked rugs which makes them perennially appealing. The diary entries, the old pamphlets, the period photos of woman rug makers and old shops where they were made impart a feel for the combination of ordinariness, industriousness, and inventiveness distinguishing folk art. The many photographs of the farm animals, birds, flowers, patterns, and borders of hooked rugs all in varying degrees of primitive style impart this essential quality of such rugs too.

Peladeau's book is for collectors and the like looking for a discriminating understanding of Maine hooked rugs. The rugs always have an appeal for their folk-art appearance and association with Americana and traditional New England crafts. But for readers whose appreciation is enhanced by knowledge of weaves, recognition of regional variations, awareness of stages of development, and the like, Peladeau's book is for them.

I just received this book and initially thumbed through it. I almost sent it back - based only on the pictures of old rugs. I am so used to books based on contemporary rugs that my first thought was that these old rugs were somehow dull, but when I slowed down to read the history I had second thoughts. I started from the beginning of the book and read through it then studied the pictures. It is a wealth of information and an asset to any serious traditional rug hooker's library.

This book is a serious study of Maine's Rug hooking tradition. It is well researched and the stories flow easily and informatively. Color photos and paper quality is excellent. Worthy addition to any American textile/rug library.

Drawing on her Chicago childhood, Sauci Churchill has created a very moving book. Writing with great economy of style, she tells us a lot about her parents with one line:

"My father and mother were linked like the teeth of a zipper,"

and the bittersweet:

"He owned so little there was nothing left
but the Northern Lights,
the march of lemmings to the sea,
the single day a Mayfly lives on land."

and

"There was a peach glow
the night of the lunar eclipse
the night my father was made to dust."

The memories Churchill shares with us are sometimes happy, but often sad, always thought-provoking, and lovingly crafted.

This is a book to be read and reread.

I grew up in the city, and this poetry chapbook brings back so many memories. Sauci Churchill has skillfully created a masterpiece, adding layer upon layer of details, emotional and evocative situations. Each poem has a story to tell, and you want to savor them, one by one.

Having experienced an urban childhood myself, though in a city much smaller than Chicago, I recognize in Sauci Churchill's sharp and skillful poems the days when food (and garbage) smelled stronger, streetcars were noisier, and grown-ups (I thought) knew what they were doing. If James T. Farrell and Saul Bellow had been poets, maybe they would have written verse like "Running Down Division Street." I commend her short, evocative book.

This was a very enjoyable account about the USS Maine and the Spanish-American war in general. As the title entails a fair amount of the book details the fate of the USS Maine and discussion of the review of the causes of its destruction. It was interesting to see how much influence yellow journalism played in the war and the book is rife with examples. It gives a nice overview of the attack on the Philipines and briefly touches on its later occupation. The final naval defeat of the Spanish is given great detail from both sides, although the constant switching of viewpoints of different commanders made me grumble occasionally. The only gripe I could possibly have is that he doesn't give a larger amount of space to the land fighting in Cuba and Puerto Rico. You will get a fair account of the Cuban fight but the Puerto Rico account is the most basic of overviews, so if you are looking for a detailed account look elsewhere. The end closes with personality profiles and ship profiles which are nice but not necessary with the coverage he gives in the main text. Bottom line though it's good stuff.

The Spanish-American war is vividly described, beginning with the sinking of the Maine. Many famous people are involved with the war and Michael Blow weaves a rich story of their actions.

'A Ship to Remember' is an excellent introduction to both the saga of the U.S.S. Maine and the Spanish American War as a whole. In this book, Michael Blow, gives a thorough explanation of the war from political, personal and military perspectives.

Michael Blow, grandson of a crew member of the Maine, begins his narrative with a history of the events which had created such turmoil in Cuba as to attract the attention of the American government and public. He then gives a detailed account of the destruction of the Maine on February 15, 1898. The tale of the investigations examines the theories attempting to explain the explosion and contradicts some myths which many of us have heard. The major issue was whether the Maine was destroyed by an external source, such as a mine, or whether the cause was an accidental mishap internal to the ship. Its Captain, Charles Sigsbee, and much of the American press, always insisted that his command was the victim of a mine. I remember being told in school that the Navy could have very easily determined if the explosion was internal or external, but chose to sink the Maine in deep water before an investigation was concluded. In fact, the vessel was subjected to thorough investigations by both American and Spanish authorities. The American court of inquiry of 1898 concluded that the Maine had been sunk by a mine. Further investigation in 1912 again concluded that the source of the explosion was external. Not until the 1970s did Adm. Hiram Rickover, upon review of the evidence, conclude that the cause of the explosion was internal.

Blow does a good job of analyzing the potential motives of the forces in Cuba which could have attacked the Maine by mine.

The tragedy of the Maine was used by much of the American press to incite the American public, which was already incensed by the Spanish atrocities in Cuba, to demand war. Blow does an excellent job of explaining journalistic agitations and the political maneuvers which lead up to the declaration. He makes clear President McKinley's efforts to seek a peaceful solution to the problem until forced, by political pressures, to ask for a declaration of war.

War having been declared, action first occurred in the Philippines, an unexpected theatre, . The U.S. Navy Asiatic Squadron under Adm. George Dewey had destroyed the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay, giving Dewey command of the Bay, if not the city or archipelago itself. This started the long American debate over what to do with the islands, once the conquest was completed.

With news of a favorable and stable situation in the Philippines, attention switched to the location of the Spanish fleet under Adm. Cervera which had left Cape Verde on April 29, 1898. Until sited near Santiago de Cuba on May 18, speculation about the location of the Spanish fleet was rampant. It was feared from New England to Texas and was reported as being sited as far as the North Atlantic. The fear was so universal that cottages at Newport, Rhode Island were not opened for fear of Spanish attack.

With Cervera in Santiago harbor and the American Army landed in Cuba, that island became the center of attention. The war reached a climax in early July. The American offensive against Santiago was highlighted by the charge of the Rough Riders on July 1. The military pressures against Santiago forced Cervera to attempt to run the fleet out to see against the blockading American forces on July 2. The ensuing running battle resulted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet, ending the Spanish naval threat in the Caribbean.

Toward the end of the book, Blow relates the practical problems presented by the need to return American troops home before tropical diseases accomplished what the Spanish forces had been unable to do. Ample attention is also paid to the political dilemmas in the Unites States created by the conquest of Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

This narrative is livened by revelations of the characters and personalities of the principal personalities involved, both American and Spanish. Excitement is added to the story by the tale of the dash of the U.S.S. Oregon from the Pacific, around Cape Horn, to arrive in Cuban waters just in time to play a major role in the actions of July 2.

I was left with three major impressions of this war from 'A Ship to Remember'. One is the poor state of communications in comparison to those of today. The cable from Manila having been cut by the Spanish, Adm. Dewey was forced to send a ship back to Hong Kong to wire news of the Battle to Washington. This caused a delay of about a week in the relay of the news to Washington. The other surprise was the utter lack of knowledge about the whereabouts of Adm. Cervera. In this day of aircraft and satellite surveillance, it seems incredible that a fleet could be loose on the high seas for three weeks with its location being unknown over a range of several thousand miles, but it happened.

The second impression is of the Spanish American as a largely naval war. The battle of Manila Bay was won by the Navy. The main threat in the Caribbean was the Spanish fleet, which was hunted down and destroyed by the Navy. While the Army did conquer Cuba through its battles around Santiago, it relied on the Navy for transportation and supply.

The third impression is that this was a war in which American territory was in jeopardy. Although it now seems that it was a war limited to Spanish colonial areas, Cervera did have the potential to have attacked any on of many ports along the eastern seaboard.

When I chose this book I was hoping to obtain a general understanding of the Spanish American war. That hope has been fulfilled.

Julie Williamson thought she had landed a dream job as Director of the Ryland historical Society. She was in Maine, only a 2 hour commute from her boyfriend teaching at UMaine, about to get to live in a Victorian mansion rent free, and working in her field. However, within three days she learns that a letter from A. Lincoln to Hannibal Hamlin is missing, that the house won't be available until late fall, and the Assistant Director is a bit miffed because he didn't get the job. The thefts add up to about half a million and the board members seem more interested in keeping a good face to the public than in finding the stolen item. And Julie's still pulling it altogether when a Board member is murdered.

The characters were well drawn and crisp. The small town Maine environment was spot on, including the black flies, summer heat waves, and lack of air conditioning. But best of all the central mystery was engaging and every time I thought I had it figured out there'd be a twist and I had to start lining up the clues again. Even the ending was a surprise and unfortunately if I even attempted to mention a few things it would spoil it for you when you read this book -- and you should read it.

There's some historical information about Maine, but not enough to bog down the plot, even considering that the central character is in charge of a historical society. However, some of the information was a bit new even though I had to take the required Maine History class in high school. I like to learn new bits and pieces of information when I'm reading and if that information comes while I'm being entertained it's just that much better.

This is not a cozy but it's not a thriller either. It's a darn good story that's told in a straight forward narrative with lively characters that I wouldn't mind seeing in a series.

Dr. Julie Williamson has just taken what seems like her dream job -- that of director of a small town historical society in Maine. Her boyfriend from grad school works a few hours away, and they plan to have a commuting relationship each weekend. But Julie's first few days in her new office turn disturbing when a valuable letter cannot be located in the society archives. Said to be a key piece in the collection, the letter was written to local resident Hannibal Hamlin by Abraham Lincoln. An investigative inventory results in even more distressing news: that's not the only item missing. What's Julie gotten herself into? What's going on in this organization? Has the society been the victim of the kind of professional artifact thieves we read about in newspapers? Or -- perish the thought -- is someone local responsible? Trained to be a researcher, who happens also to be a lover of jigsaw puzzles, Julie tries to figure out the identity of the culprit(s) with the help of the local police chief. Her boyfriend Rick is an apt listener who acts as a sounding board for her theories, both over the phone and in in-person visits. The tension only escalates when Julie finds her predecessor dead on the floor of his historic home. Now she has yet another mystery to solve.

In his first published novel, Andrews does a great job weaving the mystery thread. The plot is intriguing enough to carry readers all the way to the final pages. The small-town characters are believable and yet not overly stereotypical. And Andrews, who himself sits on a historical society board, has conveyed accurately (and with tongue-in-cheek wit) the dynamic illustrated by the trustees of a nonprofit organization. He knows of what he speaks! He also provides hints that lead readers to wonder what would happen if this single book became the first in a series. What will the Ryland Historical Society look like after it has recovered from these events? Will Julie stay in Ryland, in Worth's house? And will her professional relationship with the local police chief get personal, with Rick several hours away?

We can only hope this isn't the last we read of Julie Williamson.

This story, set in Maine, has believeable characters, a little murder, quite a bit of intrigue, and excellent pacing. I could hardly put it down and am looking forward to this author's next book.