Maine Books

Dead of Winter takes you to a small island town in Maine and captures you there until the last page. I found David Crossman's use of small town conversation and gossip an interesting way to reveal clues and information; endearing the small town and its people to the reader. You feel involved in this mystery of whodunit.

I had never been a mystery reader until a friend suggested that I read "A Show of Hands." That captivated me. Then I purchased "Secret of a Missing Grave" and read it with my granddaughter. To date, I have read ALL five of David Crossman's books. I was successful in obtaining an out-of-print book "Murder in A Minor Key." "The Dead of Winter," true to a Crossman book, kept me entranced to the last page. He introduces you to characters that become your friends. His books have also provoked my husband and I to travel to Maine and investigate the islands. The "Maineiacs" are fascinating and remarkable people. All of his books deserve 5 stars. He has an expert technique of telling his stories with humor and suspense. You will not find inappropriate language, or obscene references. This proves that someone with the intellect of David Crossman can write without subjecting us to the ugliness of the world. Many Thanks for your skills.

Bravo, Mr. Crossman for yet another fantastic book.

This blurb is on the Jacket:
Tania Runyan's wise and elegant poems in Delicious Air accomplish small miracles: They alchemize the ordinary into the extraordinary. Whether Runyan is considering mortality, motherhood, the mysteries of the body and soul, or the power of love, her poems are awash with insight and grace--their truths always poignant and moving. Here is a poetic debut to celebrate, a new voice singing its gentle laments and hallelujahs, a poet who "cannot stop leaning over / the verge of possibility"

-- Maurya Simon
This is is my review:
Tania Runyan's Delicious Air is one of the most powerful and beautiful collections I have ever read. This book is a treasure.

-- Leah Maines

An intricate exploration of faith and everyday life that recently won Book of the Year in Christianity and Literature--an honor that Runyan now shares with Umberto Eco and other authors of note.

Mr. Wolff does a wonderful job of describing certain historical snapshots and present-day cultural aspects of coastal Maine. His description of being lost at sea in a horribly thick Maine fog is worth the book itself. Mr. Wolff does not attempt to depict all facets of my home state, but does a commendable job in his usual eloquent manner. In this brief work, he made me laugh, reflect and ultimately, reaffirm the true beauty of Maine and why I'll always live here. Do yourself a favor and read this pleasant and realistic tribute.

I sent this to a sick friend in Maine. She loved it, her husband loved it, and now they are sharing it with others, but only with the promise they will get it back.I will have to get on the list to borrow it.

Monica Wood's story is set in a small town which is affected by the closure of a local paper mill. Wood follows several characters, each with a unique and touching perspective. I cherished this book and often give it as a gift to other readers.

I loved this Maine author! Our book club found many issues to discuss. Monica Wood has a deep understanding of Maine communities. This collection of stories weaves a fantastic tale about a mill community torn apart by a strike and the healing process that ensues. Her characters are appealing and her sense of humor is awesome.

I enjoy this book very much. It is not one that I have read once never to pick up again. I have highlighted may portions of this book as I have found them to be very insightful for my own life as a woman and as a writer. I enjoy her candor and observations. I appreciate her ability to express herself, even during her sadness. It is real. True authenticity seems to be what contemporary women are searching for, and this author has certainly been able to convey that through her words.

This is the second, longest, and most far-reaching of Grumbach's memoirs (I've read them all; this one is a favorite). It delves into Grumbach's past more than the others, detailing various memories of childhood and youth, thereby giving a vivid sense of the rich and unusual life she has led. Reflections on the aftermath of her first memoir (Coming Into the End Zone) are particularly interesting, as are her reflections on the similarities between fiction and autobiography. It's a helpful link for Grumbach fans between the long and often grumpy memoir that came before it and the slim, much more peaceful memoirs that followed it. This may be testimony to the unforeseen benefits that a life change can bring -- at the end of the last memoir Grumbach unexpectedly relocated from D.C. to rural Maine. Very inspiring.

This book is superb. Packed with spectacular photography and interesting essays regarding Mount Desert Island's history, geography, and ecology. The print quality is first rate; kudos to the publisher. A very inspiring volume which reminds us how important it is to have places like Mount Desert Island and Acadia. Highly recommended from a resident of Maine.

I took this book with me last month when our camera club went on a January trip to Acadia National Park. The photography is outstanding and inspirational to say the least! We visited many of the places shown in this book and were able to take wonderful pictures ourselves. This book inspires one to visit Acadia at any time of the year and I highly recommend it to any photographer or persons who are planning a visit to Mount Dessert Island.

This indispensable and comprehensive reference work is offered in a convenient one-volume form. It contains extensive biographical and genealogical data on every family established in Maine and New Hampshire before 1699. Listed are the births, marriages, and deaths of the settlers through the third generation, and sometimes into the fourth. Also included are data on places of origin, residences, wills and deeds, court cases, and highlights of lives and careers.

This dictionary is a thorough introduction to the complete genealogies of the ME./N.H. regions because of the detailed lists provided and totally researched. This will save you a lot of time and give you an excellent working knowledge of the area. The topo is historically accurate. This book is well researched and easy to understand. Colonial Families are well represented and many family names, links, and historical synopsis are provided. It's brief and to the point as any good dictionary should be!

Yes, this book has nothing to do with Italy, but that's how we first came to know Joan O'Neill and her wacky story. Only three things to say: 1. If you are offered this book from a wandering backpacker, DO NOT refuse it. This is a sacred trust (this person will explain what to do). 2. I don't know if the book brings good luck or bad, but we had a terrific time in Rome while in possession of Perfectly Impossible. 3. Respect Guy Macintosh. He's classy, sentimental, wealthy and a lady killer. But do not get on his bad side or he will do awful things to you.

Be wary...

We received our copy of this book in Venice during the summer of 2006 from a friend staying in our hostel. He told us that it had been bestowed upon him by a crazy Frenchman somewhere in Europe. The Frenchman demanded that he pass the book on to someone else as soon as he experienced some unusually good luck. Fortunately, this occured in our presence, and so he passed the book on to us. We continued the chain by passing it on to a couple that we met in Rome after a series of fortunate events. Chances are, if you've ever even heard of this book, it's because some random person gave it to you while you were backpacking across Europe. If this is the case, YOU MUST NOT BREAK THE CHAIN. Sign your name in the book and pass it on when appropriate. You may also want to post an additional review on Amazon.com and clue the rest of us in on the book's current location and condition. And, oh yeah, by the way....the book totally sucks...

These are graceful, searching, finely detailed poems, poems that dare to look into the face of death and find life staring right back at them.

This is a moving book of poems, particularly so for anyone who has ever cared for an ill or aging parent. Judy Kronenfeld's carefully crafted poetry goes beyond chronicling a parent's descent into alzheimer's, delving into the coffer of memory to give us poignant vignettes that illuminate the complexity of the self. I highly recommend this book.

I don't usually go in for this sort of book, but this one caught my eye because the author takes off with a few nuggets and writes whole, full-blown stories that quite often really do make the hair on your arms stand on end. Lots of good murder and madness stories instead of a bunch of filler.

Sheryl Monks' Ghostly Lighthouses From Maine To Florida, a gathering of fifteen folktales about lighthouses from the East coast. While the stories read like fiction, they are derived from reports and followed by directions for the would-be lighthouse visitor not scared off by spooks.