Maine Books

Ever had a dog? A cat? A mouse in the house? Overnight guests? A motorboat?
Found a treasure in the flotsam along the shoreline? Caskie Stinnett's "One Man's Island;Reflections On Maine Life From Slightly Offshore" will perhaps bring a unique perspective to SOME aspect of YOUR life. Humorous, insightful, and provocative this collection of essays from his column "Room With A View" in Down East magazine is by an extraordinary writer who was formerly Executive Editor of "Travel And Leisure" and "Holiday" magazines. A worldwide traveler, he was, as his time lengthened and experience widened, simply in love with Maine and LIFE. I know how he felt. You too soon will.

This edition of Ten Cate has moved this text into a position of being the true definitive reference for dental education. The text is contemporary, makes great strides in standardizing terminology, and provides adequate clinical correlation to this basic science area. The only shortfall is the lack of color micrographs of the histologic sections. While this does not detract from the solidity of the content, beginning students prefer this to B&W.

Charles Scontras is considered the "dean of labor studies" in Maine, and this book is a good example why. The book covers, in very great detail, the founding of the American Federation of Labor in Maine in 1895 to roughly 1910. The book begins where Scontras' two previous books ("Organizing Labor and Labor Politics in Maine, 1880-1890" and "Two Decades of Organized Labor and Labor Politics in Maine, 1880-1900") left off. In many ways, the book is an example of the "old labor history," and focuses heavily on leaders and unions. That is not a criticism, however: These are the best-documented aspects of the labor movement, and union leaders were the most prominent actors in the period.

Scontras does not neglect common workers, however. In many ways, his book is reminiscent of the style of the legendary labor historian Philip Foner, in that he litters his text with terrific, apt details about the state of working conditions in Maine. Scontras' labor history is not one of men in suits in offices in Portland, but "on the ground" labor history -- lobstermen, textile workers, lumberjacks, sausage makers and others who struggled against incredible opposition to form unions and improve their lives. The book contains a wealth of information about Maine at the turn of the century, and is a real resource.

The footnoting is terrific, with sources and comments at the bottom of each page for easy reference. For a footnote hog like me, that was a huge plus. The book also has a large number of photographs, and reproduces key documents, fliers, advertisements and other ephemera throughout. That, too, is a big plus, and gives the reader a real flavor of the times.

The book also contains two important appendices. One is a history of the important and near-forgotten Lobster Fishermen's International Protective Association. The other is a near-complete listing of every union (local, regional and statewide) in Maine, along with information on dues, officers, membership and more. Both are major contributions to labor history in and of themselves, but serve as mere capstones to this otherwise pathbreaking and eye-opening work.

My only criticism of the book is that Scontras sometimes jumps around chronologically. In a paragraph about child labor laws in 1900, for example, the reader may find Scontras dicussing child labor statistics from 1907 or AFL political expenditures from 1914 to help support his point. It's disconcerting. It would be one thing if Scontras were using the "future stats" to document how effective the legislation was, but that's usually not the case. The information is interesting, but serves more as a distraction and raises the feeling that perhaps there isn't as much support for Scontras' arguments as the author would have the reader believe.

Despite this, Scontras' "Organized Labor in Maine: Twentieth Century Origins" is a readable (even exciting), wonderfully detailed and vibrant history of the origins of the modern labor movement in Maine. For anyone in Maine -- and for anyone interested in labor history -- it really is a must-read.

This book has such an interesting number of characters and places that it is hard not to love it. I loved tring to solve Trevor's mystery before he could. I didnt manage it. I got to the very last chapter and still hadnt figured it out. Everyone should read this book.

If you ever wanted to read to be inspired, please read this book about beloved British actress, Liz Smith. No, she's not the American gossip columnist. Liz Smith came from poverty; working dead end jobs; raising two children on her own after a divorce. She started acting at age 50 of all ages. She has become one of Britain's most recognizable figures with roles on Last of the Summer Wine, The Vicar of Dibley as Leticia Cropley, and The Royle Family. She has worked with film directors like Tim Burton and Roman Polanski. She keeps working in her eighties as a professional actress. She probably never thought that acting would provide her with the wealth and happiness that she richly deserved from life.

Our Little Golf Club is a delightful read! Douglas brings to life the charm and quaintness of this prestigous golf course peppered with anecdotes from the Bush and Walker families. This book is a must have for every history buff, golf lover, as well as any one who has visited Kennybunkport and fallen in love with Maine.

This book had me laughing out loud and craving a good beer! I couldn't put it down until finished, and thouroughly enjoyed the whole thing, sad it had to end. Ms. Peavey has a wonderful sense of humour and a fresh perspective on life, especially hers and life in Maine, especially hers, especially her life in Portland, Maine. This book and her other, Maine & Me, are both very funny and enjoyable reads. Mainers will especially appreciate them, of course.

I picked up this book with no preconceptions whatsoever, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not so much the plot, but the "inner thoughts" of the character are absolutely right on. I identify with all of her quirky thoughts and find her immenseley entertaining.

Having many relatives from the Norway, South Paris and Oxford, Maine area it was very interesting to see the photos of that area.

Papa Martel was selected as one of the best 100 Maine books of the first millennium by The Baxter Society (Maine), in association with The Maine Historical Society, University of Maine Orono and Portland, Maine, in 2000. Gerard Robichaud wrote this novel in 1961. But, the cultural immersion described in this heartwarming story about a Franco-American family is more important today then when Robichaud wrote and published his story, because the culture he writes about is quickly disappearing. Robichaud based Papa Martel on his family's experiences while growing up in Lewiston, Maine. Let's face it, most Americans don't know anything about Franco-Americans, except what they read on canned spaghetti. As a culture, Franco-Americans pre-date the arrival of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts in 1620 by 17 or more years, with the first settlement of French arriving in St.Croix Island, Maine in 1604. Nevertheless, Papa Martel is not as much about history as about culture. Robichaud tells the plot in 10 parts, including stories he heard while listening to his relatives talk using their typical animated gestures during family Saturday night soirees or at family reunions. What sets Papa Martel apart, however, is the terrific writing. This book is waiting for a screen-play or, at the very least, a stage adaptation. Read Papa Martel for sheer enjoyment and wind up learning something about Maine and New England's Franco-American culture in the meantime. The re-release of Papa Martel by University of Maine press helped to revive interest in Franco-American culture in the Maine media.