Maine Books

A Year in the Maine Woods

Transport yourself into the natural world and be guided by an expert who writes with acute observation. It made me envy his journey. Almost is a virtual reality experience. The reader can smell the damp leaves, hear the raven, see the moose, etc. A book the reader will return to again and again to share the rich experiences of the author.

I really enjoyed this book -- it is a quiet, at times poetic, reflection on how one man lived within his environment for four distinct seasons. Heinrich reminds us of how richly varied and fascinating our world is and how much we miss every moment that we are too distracted to really see, smell, hear, and touch the natural world. The book inspired me to try to slow down a bit and take a closer look at the plants, animals, birds, and insects in my own back yard.

Heinrich writes about his observations of Maine's animals and plants from winter silences to spring's new growth. It ranges from lyrical descriptions of wild flowers to more than you want to know about decaying carcasses attracting carrion eaters.
I enjoyed reading it while parked in an RV in a Maine campground. My little window on the woods was so limited, making me appreciate his insights and trained eye. Sometimes he is philosophical, and at other times mundane (justifying why he doesn't wash his dishes more often).

Bernd Heinrich a Zoology Professor at the University of Vermont has written many books on natural history or what is now called nature writing. This is the first I've read and have enjoyed it immensely. His style is a mixture of deep zoological knowledge of the animals and plants of the Maine woods and the pure love of being a human being who can appreciate and really live the surrounding natural world. This is what is needed by all people if they want to appreciate their world. Its a delightful book but does not possess the intensity of Jack Turner's "Abstract Wild" or Doug Peacock's Grisly writing. But it doesn't really need it, it is just a man living in the woods for a year through the beautiful summer pestered by black flies and the stunning autumn into a cold winter and the new life of spring. The book is also full of very well drawn animals and plants. The story starts with him driving to his cabin with his pet raven Jack who, being a raven, is independent minded and eventually leaves. Its too bad Jack was truly fascinating. There is much to do including the chopping of wood for the winter, taking care of his apple trees, raven watching to do. Its amazing how beautiful nature is when someone is watching with all his heart and mind. A delightful book.

I've read several of Heinrich's books and have never been disappointed. Some reviewers compare him to Thoreau, favorably or not. While in certain places he does evoke thoughts of Thoreau, that is not what he is trying to do, contrary to what some reviewers seem to think.

As a word-class biologist and naturalist, Heinrich approaches his story of life in the Maine woods from two vantage points. First, as a scientist/naturalist, and then as a long-time resident of the area of Maine he calls home. The two themes are interwoven with a seasonal view of life in his cabin.

Unlike Thoreau, who was an amateur nineteenth century naturalist and literary philosopher, Heinrich has the advantage of being both a keen observer and a trained scientist, albeit one who grew up surrounded by nature before receiving his academic research training as a physiological ecologist. While some might find the detail he presents in places to be too much, those who really wish to learn about combining the powers of observation with scientific insights will be richly rewarded.

I must take exception to the reviewer who termed this book an "ego trip".
Heinrich is hardly parading his vast scientific knowledge for the sake of seeming erudite. The man has garnered numerous scientific and literary kudos, for both his research and nature writing, so I suspect he hardly needs to engage in an "ego trip" by trying to ape Thoreau. In fact, given his vast knowledge of biology, I would say that he strikes a good balance between telling a personal story and presenting scientific facts and insights in the context of his experience.

Having spent a few years in the area of Maine that Heinrich loves and writes about so well, I think that he does a wonderful job capturing both the nature and the lifestyle of rural Maine. If you are the type of person who enjoys taking walks in company of expertise, you will enjoy this book.

I loved everything about this book. The episodic plot. The population of characters. The brilliant writing. I agree with another reviewer that it has something in common with the Grapes of Wrath.

I did find it amusing reading the critique, here, from one of Chute's friends. I truly don't believe Chute would categorize her book that way at all. I see it as an extremely well written portrait of a class of society; written without one iota of prejudice pro or con; written without any moralizing or any higher purpose than story itself. It succeeds because of those things.

I think it would of been better served published as non-fiction. If Carolyn Chute had taking the subject to the next level. It's too real for fiction. And that cover is deceptive as all get out!

Don't be deceived by the cover. This is a story about abusive, ignorant-beyond-belief, incestuous white trash. It's gross. It's sad. It's embarrassing. I didn't find it funny or see any dignity, truth, honor, respect, love or honesty as others did. Not in the characters in the book anyway. Carolyn Chute for writing about them, yes. You want to cry for the children and slap some sense into the women. The human animal at it's cruelest.

I knew a Mexican woman, heroin addict/dealer. She lived in a filthy dive motel with her 2 year old son and white husband. I remember seeing her 8 months pregnant, big as a barn, slamming heroin in the kitchen with her 2 y/o hanging off her leg watching, complaining about how when she gave birth the hospital would keep the baby in order to detox it. She didn't like that. The nerve of anyone messing with HER baby. I almost threw up watching all this. It still and always will make me sick inside. The next morning I went to the Methadone clinic and never looked back. This book brought all that back.

Personally I think men and women like that, some how some way, should be surgical sterilized.

I wonder if I should be even thinking of reviewing this book, given that I have had the very good fortune of being friends with the author for over 20 years now -- we met before "Beans" was published.

However, I also feel that somebody out there should understand that this is a wonderful, honest, painful, loving, remarkable book. Carolyn writes about things she knows, and then gets very up close and personal about it.

This book is an attempt to show those who have never known [or even seen] the lives of people some would term "unfortunate" and others simply disdain, and to show that THESE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. Being poor does not mean that one cannot live with dignity, or honesty, or humor. Being poor does mean that these people are often forced to live in a society that demeans them, insults them, and often forces them into places where they are regarded as nothing but yesterday's garbage.

Let there be no mistake; The Beans are with us, and are not about to go away anytime soon, nor should they. If we have eyes to read and lips to read aloud the story of The Beans, we just might realize that they have much to teach us about truth, honor, respect, and love.

I understand that many people will not understand how on earth I can make this statement because I understand that many people prefer to look for the tawdry and speciousness in environments that they find uncomfortable or even unbelievable.

But this is above all a book of hope. It shows us that everyone lives a life of worth and influence, even if at times some of these "everyones" live lives that are in large part cruel and uncaring. And in that is the challenge of this book; to look below the surface and to see that all of us are part of the Bean family, and that we should value that relationship.

This book is an amazing literary achievement, and this is a statement that I never make lightly -- even if the author happens to be a friend. So read it and try to let its power and honesty confer those qualities in abundance in your lives. You may not find them in your first reading of the book, but trust me -- they're there.

I first read this book years ago on recommendation of a friend. This is a powerful story about "white trash" America, with characters that jump off the page and come to life. To this day I still recommend Chute's book to friends who love to read. Every last one of them has come back and told me how much they enjoyed it. Beans of Egypt Maine is gritty, it's uncomfortable, it's amusing, and it's realistic. This is a damn fine novel.

Carolyn Chute has fictionalized a small Maine town to produce a tale of heartbreak, rage, and even humor. The book is not a series of short stories, but a novel about the rural poor, people who have been forgotten by mainstream America. The prose is simple but definitely not naive. People who believe in a mythical rural heartland, where the barns are painted red and people enjoy the "simple life," will be shocked by this book.

The story takes place in Tinker's Cove, Maine and features Lucy as reporter for the town's paper and an amateur sleuth, this time the victim is a young woman rumored to be the reason for the breakup of the marriage of the town's dentist and his wife. Did the good doctor do it? The police think so and arrest him. But suspicion also hovers over the head of the good doctor's wife, who had been overheard to mouth vile thoughts toward the deceased. Add to this a growing concern over the use of alcohol by local teens, the influx of hard drugs into the tiny coastal town, a police chief whose ideas and attitudes come into direct conflict with just about everyone and Lucy has a lot to ponder and solve. And how she solves the mystery is quite by blunder.

Several years ago, a friend gave me this book to read and I have enjoyed all of Lelie Meier Lucy Stone Mystery books. This is one of my favorites. A great treat for the Holidays!
Thank you,
Kim Sessions
Mesa, Arizona

This Christmas installment starts off with a bang when Lucy hosts the annual cookie exchange. (Hint to people with kids: always be careful when entertaining.)You will have to read what happens.
Joanne Meier does a good job describing her kids and family life. It is very believable.
In all the other books in this series, Lucy is the one who discovers the murder. In this book she didn't. Lucy more than makes up for the excitement at the end with an exciting ending. This book won't disappoint you.

I've read all the Lucy Stone mysteries up to this point and this Christmastime addition is my favorite so far. Lucy tries not to get involved in what is going on, and I was unable to figure out "whodunnit." Lucy's homelife seems to get more and more crazy as her kids get older, adding an interesting aspect to the series. A fun, short read for mystery fans.

It deeply pains me to not be able to give this book 5 stars. This is the 6th book in the series, and I have given flawless, dazzling, 5-star reviews to the other 5 books. "Trick or Treat Murder" was the best; "Mistletoe Murder" (also known as "Mail Order Murder") was one of the best. The other 3 were also wonderful, cozy books.

This book is flat and lacks charm. I found no coziness; I don't like the way Lucy unnecessarily lashes out at her son near the beginning of the book. I no longer like Elizabeth or Toby. They have grown up to be insensitive brats, and Bill is also a jerk.

The title and cover art gives a promising anticipation; however, the book inside does not fill the bill of the beautiful outside appearances.

The one would-have-been cozy scene was ruined by a toilet water leak; Lucy compared the drugs in town to the colonies of insects in her attic (if she has insects in her house, I sure don't want to know about it - that takes away from the potential coziness). So after reading this book, I had no cravings for the wonderful Christmas cookies that are on the cover.

This series was one of my very favorite series. I highly sung its praises. However, I did not find the warmth and coziness in this book that I found in the other 5. If this had of been the first book of this series that I had read, I definitely wouldn't have bothered to read a second one. But because the first 5 were so good, I will read the 7th one, "Turkey Day Murder", and I'm hoping it will be a warm cozy. I hope it will be as good as the Halloween book.

It couldn't be better---funny, informative, clever. Hannah Holmes is a great observer, a great writer.

I look at my yard in a completely different way after reading this book. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and shared many portions of this book with my family (my 9 year old loved it, and the phrase "in my backyard..." has a whole new meaning). I no longer resent my weeds in the same way, appreciate my crows, and am trying to plant more native plants with an eye toward the other creatures that share my space. As a scientist, I'm thrilled that so much information is present in clear, personal, and entertaining writing. This book has changed my life - corny but true...

I really enjoyed the gentle and thoughtful tone of the author and the research regarding our animal neighbors was very interesting

I bought this book based on the many good reviews, and was sadly disappointed. While I commend Ms Holmes on her thoroughness and attention to detail, this book was missing the humour I was looking for. As I was reading this book I kept wishing it had been written by Bill Bryson.

Ms. Holmes conveys the spirit and joy of the true scientist in writing about her backyard biosphere. Carefully researched and referenced, this fascinating story is sure to inspire the reader to examine and appreciate their own surroundings.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone even slightly interested in ecology, the environment or science.

K. Reed

I almost put it down after the first two chapters. I tried to like it--several other women had recommended it to me, and I didn't want to go back to them and say that I hadn't finished it. I won't recommend it to anyone else.

Has this writer never heard of the most famous adage in fiction, "show, don't tell"? If you have to belabor a point, or constantly tell the reader the backstory in lengthy paragraphs that go nowhere, then you aren't doing your job as a writer.

The reader should be able to infer from a well-crafted work what you haven't told them.

The dialogue is stilted and the "epiphanies" aren't.

Many book clubs have chosen this one for their members, and its reputation appears to be growing. I don't quite understand how.

This reads like a first effort, from someone who was published well before they were ready. It's not horrible, but it's not praiseworthy in my opinion, either.

I purchased this book to read for a book club that I am in. Another member had chosen it, and I was willing to give it a try. I am a mystery reader and I guess I was disappointed when there was no big event that happened to drag me into the story and keep me interested. Nice family dynamics, but a little slow.

Heidi is a personal friend of mine, and when she gave me her book, she was so modest about it that I didn't think it would be that good. In fact, I thought from her description that it would be boring. Boy, was I wrong!

This novel totally amazed me. I read it when I was on a trip, and it was so immersed in it, that I looked up and was actually startled to realize I was on a plane. Heidi's characterization is amazing. It's like they are real people!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys general fiction and "a weekend in the life of a family" type books.

Sorry, but more than 80 pages into this book, nothing was happening. I could not get past the wooden dialogue that nobody would actually speak in real life! The dialogue, by turns, was laughable and thoroughly groan-inducing. I kept checking the spine of this book to see if it was designated "junior fiction" by my local library, but no, it was considered to be adult fiction, despite vocabularly and sentence structure suited for most grade-schoolers. I found this book too simplistic and dull to continue.

This book tells the story of how a family really is. Nothing is glossed over, there is no hidden meaning. For the time it took me to read this book, I was engulfed in the Miller family. I was saddened by all that they had to deal with, happy with the promise of a bright future and proud of thier love for one another even if they, at times, did not want to admit it to themselves. Heidi Pitlor has written one hell of a good first novel. She's obviously a talented writer and I look forward to more from her

The Indictment & Trial:
Michael Cecilione's novel THE MUSE centres around struggling actress Johanna Brady. After a part she auditioned for, with her best friend who gets the soap opera role, falls through Johanna is depressed. Her spirits are lifted when she meets author Matt. Matt quickly wins Johanna's heart in a whirlwind romance and invites her to his place in Maine for the winter. The romantic getaway is soon revealed to be a mistake as Johanna is confronted with a dark side of her lover.

The Verdict:
I did not even plan to review this novel. It struck me as entertaining, but unexceptional. Lying in bed the other night I thought about it again out of the blue and realized exactly what an excellent read it turned out to be. It is written from Johanna's perspective a device Cecilione uses quite effectively towards propelling a very twisting, and in some ways twisted plot. The ending and the fact without spoiling anything that the narrator is less than credible lifts this from just another "beach read". There were some editorial glitches and errors that affected my enjoyment to an extent. I was tempted to give it 3 stars based on little irritating inconsistancies, the lying awake thinking about it I realized that is one of the points of a good story. To remain with the reader after the fact, here the author at least in my case suceeded. That has to be interpreted if not as a scorching hot endorsement at least a warm one. There are clues dropped throughout the story to entice the reader to read on and an ending that will ultimately reward those that persevere through the tiny details.

Cecilione should be given credit for at least trying something different, even if he doesn't quite pull it off. A young actress finds that a mysterious visitor appears in her apartment late at night, then, after a chance meeting at a bookstore, goes off to an isolated home in the country to live with a best-selling author, who keeps her prisoner and may or may not have some dark secrets he doesn't want revealed. Along the way, the actress has to deal with a Planter's bag of assorted nuts, any one of whom may or may not be her mysterious visitor. The plot takes its time to get where it's going, and the actress is oddly passive and accepting about these things most of the time. I had made a mental list of things I found wrong with the book, but the ending answered just about all of them. The author pulls off a nice trick ending-- just barely. I think if he had re-worked this novel a little more, he could have had a dynamite thriller.

It defies logic as to how this book ever got published. Unlikeable characters, holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through, and beyond irritating dialogue. The best that can be said about MUSE is that somehow, I read it to the end, so I guess you can say it's a pageturner. But after I was finished, I wished I had those hours back so I could go get a root canal instead.

After reading everyone else's reviews, I feel I must throw in my two cents worth.

I have rated this book 5 stars after a great deal of consideration. I believe it deserves the 5 stars.

I almost threw this book away before I was halfway through. It was dragging; I kept wondering when the story was going to get going toward the back cover description. But I kept plodding along.

This was a mistake. The reader must pay careful attention, especially considering the POV; first person. This is very important to keep in mind.

I made this mistake because I classified this book before I even started it. I enjoy crime thrillers, but most of them are quite predictable.

I classified this book as a crime thriller; but the first half of the book does not read at all like a crime thriller. You do need to read it carefully. There are clues, very hidden ones, the main one being the POV.

The ending is outstanding.

There are, however, some imperfections. The character, Harry Krinkle, took the name from the film 'Taxi Driver', according to Mr. Cecilione. However, Travis Bickle told the Secret Service agent that his name was Henry Krinkle. This was only mildly annoying.

There are some unrealistic parts, but all in all, it's a good read.

Set in New York City, Johanna Brady is a late twenty-something aspiring actress, working for an office temp agency until she can finally get her big break. In the meantime, she's visited by an unusual stalker who expertly breaks into her Queens apartment at night. Oddly, he never hurts her, only wants to talk with her, all the while hidden in the dark behind a ski mask. His identity is never revealed until the final chapter, though. It's a bit of a wait, but I'd advise you not to read the ending beforehand like I did.

Later on, Johanna meets a handsome man, Matthew Lang, a 45-year-old psychological suspense novelist, while checking out one of his books in a local bookstore. From there, they have an ideal relationship with plenty of love and sex to appeal to any romance fan. Shortly after, he invites her to his Maine chalet during the wintertime to be his inspiration, his mythical Muse. However, once they arrive, he becomes a totally different person, turning into this brooding, eccentric alcoholic who must have his privacy at all costs.

This is about where the book starts to lose its edge. Scenes are played over again in the cabin: she becomes suspicious and confronts him, he gets defensive and angry, they later make up (which, curiously, never leads to sex), and the trend repeats itself a few pages later.

The climax, as well, is a bit disappointing, skipping through about a half dozen weak plot twists, until finally settling with a pretty good warped ending. But probably the biggest fault with this novel is how easy it is to identify the killer nearly from the beginning. Don't read the synopsis on the back cover if you can help it, because it reveals more than it should.

Despite all that, I still thought "Muse" was pretty good. I really enjoyed Cecilione's writing style, even though the book was a bit on the lengthy side (480 pages). But it's worth a try if you're into psychological suspense novels.

There is something inherently compelling about Chamberlain's account of the last couple of weeks of combat between the ANV and Grant's army group. The guy was there, in the middle of the worst fighting, and was probably THE most effective Union field general. He was obviously tough, intelligent, resourceful, clear-headed, and his reputation as a combat leader helped him get the most out of his officers and men. It was probably no accident that he was chosen to receive the formal ANV surrender. Grant knew Chamberlain was reliable and would do the right thing without being told. That he could remember this amount of detail so many decades later is another example of his powerful intellect. He apparently had at least one failing. He did not know how to write a clear narrative. I realize that people of that era wrote in more flowery prose than we are used to, but his style really gets in the way of the story he was trying to convey. If you are into history, this is worth adding to your library, just be prepared for a tough read.

For very dedicated civil war buffs only.

Very detailed and drawn-out account of the battles near Appomattox at the of the war. Chamberlain wasn't a Professor of Rhetoric for nothing, and he lives up to the title in this book. I slugged my way through half of the book before giving up. Page after page of flowery decriptions of the heroism and high religious morals, etc., etc. of the fighting men, minute by minute accounts of charges and retreats, which general/commander gave this order, which brigade went this way and that, accounts of who lost their sword and what happenned to the guy's hat, the after-war history of the replacement sword.......it just goes on and on endlessly. It's all so confusing, and there are no good maps included to illustrate the movements of the troops.

Chamberlain was a genuine civil war hero, so we have to forgive him, but he could have used a good editor. If it were pared down to maybe half the length, it would make for an interesting and exciting read. As it is, it's a good cure for insomnia.

Joshua Chamberlain is probably the most famous 'minor figure' of the American Civil War. While history has remembered an amazing number of Civil War generals (quick, name three generals from America's Revolutionary War), Chamberlain never rose to a position high enough to be generally considered important. Except, that is, for his amazing work on July 2, 1863, when his regiment, the 20th Maine, held the left flank of the Union army against repeated Confederate attacks, culminating with a bayonet charge when the regiment ran out of ammunition. For his actions on that day, Chamberlain received the Medal of Honor.

But while Chamberlain's heroism at Gettysburg was amazing and vitally important to the survival of the United States of America, they were hardly the only important actions Chamberlain took during the war. Chamberlain would go on after Gettysburg to be wounded six times, twice declared dead in The New York Times, and rise to the rank of Brevet Major General and division commander. During his time with the Army of the Potomac, Chamberlain had a front row view of the battles that ended the American Civil War, and he was on the field at Appomattox when Robert E. Lee finally accepted the inevitable and asked Grant for terms of surrender. Chamberlain was then selected to accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Given those exploits, Chamberlain had quite a bit to report on, and in The Passing of the Armies he offers his views on the final campaign of the war and the disbanding of the Army of the Potomac. Chamberlain's writing is fascinating, although the style is appropriate to the 19th century and can appear a bit cumbersome to the modern reader. It is nonetheless a gripping read as the reader travels with Chamberlain across the last battlefields of the American Civil War, feeling the excitement and horror of the first industrial war in history. Chamberlain's perspective was at once close enough to feel the heat of the battle yet removed enough that he is able to describe the larger picture relative to the battlefield. All the book is really missing is a few better maps; it can be difficult to follow the battles given the limited maps included in the book. But that is a minor point, and the reader will be caught up in the battles even if unable to place them on a map.

Despite all the excellent books written on the Civil War, only those who actually experienced the war can provide a feeling for what it was like to survive the battles. Joshua Chamberlain's memoirs give the reader an opportunity to actually get inside the head of a true American hero. As such, they are invaluable reading for anyone interested in the American Civil War, war in general, or leadership.

Very few books have been written to which the term "classic" has been almost immediately applied. The Passing of the Armies by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is one of those books. Chamberlain enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and was immediately commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Maine Infantry. In May 1863 he was commissioned Colonel of the regiment and it was this position that he held when the 20th Maine gained renown for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. By the end of the Civil War he had risen to the rank of Major General and he carried shrapnel in his body for the rest of his life as a result of wounds received during the conflict.

Prior to enlisting Chamberlain was a college professor, having graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852. In 1856 he was teaching classes in natural and revealed religion at Bowdoin. By 1861 he added Professor of Modern Languages and in 1862 he had been granted a two year sabbatical to study in Europe when he decided to fight for the Union. After the war he was twice elected Governor of Maine; he became President of Bowdoin in 1876 and in later life he served as a government surveyor during the McKinley Administration.

Chamberlain begins his narrative with the beginning of the final campaign of the Army of the Potomac against Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. It was the spring of 1864 and Union General Ulysses S. Grant had Lee and his army backing up toward what finally became the siege of Petersburg, Virginia. The final campaign began on March 30, 1864 when the two armies clashed along the White Oak Road just southwest of Petersburg. Grant and Lee hurled their troops at each other's line in such a tenacious manner that Chamberlain was surprised when, at the end of the battle, Grant ordered a maneuver around Lee's flank instead of falling back to regroup, as had been the custom of the Union Army after sharp engagements during the preceding years of conflict. The author then goes on to discuss every major action of the campaign through the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, Virginia and the final Grand Review of the Union Army in Washington, D.C.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was not a historian. He wrote in the introduction to the book: "History is written for the most part from the outside. Truth often suffers distortion by reason of the point of view of the narrator, some preoccupation of his judgment or fancy not only as to relative merits but even as to facts in their real relations." In this same paragraph he writes that he will simply tell of things as he saw them.

What Chamberlain did was to write a book that transcended the entire war. He was able to see the participants for what they were; men doing a job as best as they could, given the horrific circumstances. At Appomattox he and his regiment had been assigned to oversee the final act of the surrender, the stacking of arms and the furling of the colors of the Army of Northern Virginia. He ordered his men to snap their muskets to "carry arms," a customary salute, as the Confederate column approached. Confederate General John B. Gordon, at the head of his column, draws his saber, spurs his horse so that he rears a bit, and brings the tip of the blade to the toe of his boot as a return salute. It was a soldier's salute, one that could only come out of the bonds of shared experience.

Chamberlain's narrative at times seems melodramatic, as when he describes a girl dressed in white placing a wreath around his neck during the Grand Review, or when he describes receiving the order that disbanded the army on July 1, 1865: "Ceases to exist? Are you sure of that?" He also uses the text to make a political statement. Chamberlain completed the book shortly before his death in 1915. It was written during a time when the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Civil War was, in some instances, being questioned. Entire regiments had been awarded the medal simply for re-enlisting and some soldiers were still attempting to obtain the medal, often under dubious circumstances. Chamberlain wished to see those who had actually earned the medal keep it, "but let us not behold the sublime spectacle of vicarious suffering travestied by the imposition of vicarious honors."

The Passing of the Armies is part of the pantheon of Civil War literature. It is simply the work of one soldier trying to make some sense out of all he has seen. It is not a self-serving volume, as many books are that are written by high ranking officers. The scholar that wants to experience the conflict without the hatred should read this book.

Obviously this is different from Shaara's works beacuse this is historical non-fiction and reads more like history vs. Shaara's excellent historical fiction novel which is more like a story then this memoir of civil war hero Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain. If your looking for a novel like Shaara's I wouldn't reccomend this book but if you are looking for facts and more about Chamberlain then I strongly reccomend this novel for you.

I read it a while back and lost the book. I searched high and low and finally found it on Amazon. It's one of my favorites, as it's lighthearted and what they consider a cozy mystery. I like the characters and the setting.

I enjoy reading this author Leslie Meier and her books are a favorite of mine.
Thank you
Kim Sessions
Mesa, Arizona

"The door swung open, and Carol Crane staggered out, followed by the two bomb squad members. She was clutching little Tommy tightly to her chest. The students began cheering as Carol ran down the steps, supported by the two helmeted men. A sudden, thunderous boom silenced them, and everyone watched as the first-floor windows ballooned out and shattered." -- From the book

At a recent visit to a local bookstore, I asked the sales clerk if he could direct me to some of his favorite mysteries. I was in the mood for some good mystery fiction, especially "cozy" mysteries.

One of the books he directed me to was Leslie Meier's Back to School Murder. I thought I'd give it a try and just finished reading it.

I wasn't immediately drawn in by the characters, but then I end up enjoying a comfortable rhythm--reading a few chapters here and there. It's a breezy book. The characters, including the main sleuth/housewife Lucy Stone, are quite believable. I'm the type of person that figures out 'whodunnit' early in the game with both books and movies, but I honestly didn't know who actually planted the bomb--or murdered Carol-- until the end.

My only criticism of this book was that the author introduced too many minor characters into the mix, including their first and last names. After awhile, I wasn't sure who I should remember and who was just a "passing through" character--so that was a bit irritating. (Note to the author: a general decription of "passing through" characters would have been sufficient without mentioning their full name and, sometimes, a short bio!)

I didn't have the benefit of reading earlier Lucy Stone books, but the relationship with her husband and kids seems pretty darn realistic to me.

All in all, Back to School Murder was an enjoyable cozy mystery; I plan on sampling more books from this author in the future.

What a read! I have read several others in this series and this is by far the best I have read. Lucy starts working for the paper which is exciting in itself. Then a bomb explodes at the elementary school the first day of class.
Add Lucy going back to school with a handsome professor and the mysterious Lance, a friend to Elizabeth and Toby, and you have a well written interesting installment in the Lucy Stone series.
As usual in this series a surprise ending within a surprise ending.
You will enjoy this book!

Lucy Stone is working at the local newspaper office. She hears about a bomb threat at the Elementary School on the first day of school. She is frightened; her daughter Sara is a student at that school. Lucy rushes over to the school. All the students and faculty are safely outside, except one child. The assistant principle Carol Crane is a heroine and saves that one child by getting him out of the building right before the bomb goes off.

Lucy is determined to find out who planted the bomb, and why they planted it. She has a busy life, working at the newspaper office, taking care of 4 kids and a demanding husband, and taking a night class in Victorian Literature. And trying to solve the bomb mystery, and the murder mystery, on top of all that. I will not tell you who ended up getting murdered; that might slightly ruin the book.

One interesting character is the "strange, mysterious" kid from California.

I like the way Leslie Meier used the "back to school" theme; not only are her kids going back to school, but she also goes back to school (by taking that class in Victorian Literature.)

All the clues are clever and fit neatly together. This book is very well-written and very entertaining.

I thought the dialogues were confusing. I was never sure wich character was talking (although I bought the ebook version, so it might have been a problem with the page setup).
I didn't like Aspen. I thought she was very obtuse. It was obvious that Leigh was not a tree killer, that she was concern about replacing the trees that were cut. Also, if you love trees as much as Aspen says she does, you don't use them to heat your house.
There was no spark between the two main characters. And the thing with Aspen's depression was stupid. I've suffered from depression and I can tell you it's not something that appears, or reappears, overnight.
It was my first book from this author and probably the last.

The focus of this work is, as previously stated by another reviewer, on the environment.

Forests are certainly sacred spaces, so the environmental focus is not the reason for my disappointment.

My disappointment stems from the lack of character development - specifically, the lack of a foundation. We are thrown into the story, meeting both the main characters as quickly as they are introduced to one another. We don't have time to get a real feel for either one of them before their first encounter. Because of this, neither of them felt real to me. I found myself not really caring about either of them.

Having read "Wicked Good Time," I know the author is capable of much better writing. I can only hope that in her future works she returns to her previous style of writing.

32 year old Aspen is a lifetime resident of a tiny, poor, logging community in Maine. She is a local teacher and while drop dead attractive, at the moment, she is single. She has lost all her family but has many terrific friends, one of her closest friend is Cassie. She finds her deepest comfort in her love of nature, especially the trees of the forest.

New to the town is thirty-something Leigh. Leigh is single and a lifetime forester. As women are rare in the business and she happens to be considered the best manager in the company Leigh is fast tracked for great things. While Leigh is new to town, and doesn't know anyone, her sister Brittany arrives and gets her older sister involved in the community.

How these two women overcome their seemingly different views towards their habitat ( and troubling similarity of family backgrounds) will hold your interest. The romance is very passionate and a highlight of reading this book. The book also gets exciting when radical environmentalists come to town and get involved fighting redevelopment plans.

Don't miss the author's other books including-

Finest Kind of Love

This is the first book of Diana Braund I have read. It kept my interest, so I thought it was a good read.

I've always enjoyed Diana Tremain Braund's writing, but her most recent two books have shown us a depth of heart and character that shows growth in an already good author.

Aspen's Embers communicates a sensitive touch, first between legitimate environmental concerns and the real people affected by them. So often, when environmentalists are represented, they are treated as either angelic or demonic, depending on the political leanings of the author. In this case, Tremain Braund convincingly argues the concerns of an environmentalist AND the concerns of the local people whose livelihoods are at odds with environmental goals.

The other sensitive interplay is between likable, three-dimensional characters who find themselves facing difficult choices.

Another in a series of increasingly good books by an author whose work continues to grow in depth and color.

Read this book because it is well written and has interesting characters, not because of the "who done it" aspects as there are few.

i met barbara neely when she came to san francisco earlier this month to promote her new novel. she was warm, ebuillient, and was eager to explain the writing process and signed autographs, without a fuss....

i loved this novel. blanche is an uncommon sluth who proves that mother wit can carry you just as well as book learning. and blanche proves her point nicely as she deals with the vacationers at a maine resort. neely also touches on the issues of racism within the black race ( color consciouness ) and dillemmas between the rich and poor. blanche is not another woman fretting about not having a man, but neely shows blanche to be a desirable, witty and charming woman. neely also points out with uncompromising honesty how blacks do what they can to survive in white society. i also admire neely for the references she makes to the goddess religions and african=american culture. she shows black readers there are other alternatives to christianity....

Blanche White is an extremely dark-skinned african american woman who goes through life without suffering fools well and not caring what others think. The talented tenth, as described by W.E.D Du Bois is " The talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thougth and missionaries of culture among their people... The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men." That has been interpreted over the years as the more people in the race who look, act, and entertain and an old southern republican the better. Blanche goes to Amber Cove to go on a little vacation and to spend time with her kids. Amber Cove is owened by the Talented Tenth. Bright -light-skinned black people who are probably more racist that most bigots. When Blanche gets there she feels madly out of place, she isnt light, she isnt rich, and she doesnt care. the day Blanche gets there she over hears people talking about a woman who died. Along her stay there she meets some wonderfu characters, Mattie, Tina, Hank, Carol , and Stu, her love interest. WHen Hank commits suicide out of the blue he leaves Carol, his wife, damn near catatonic. Mattie, his friend, awe struck and Blanche confused. Blnache among the talented tenth is the struggle that image-concious black people go through to keep themselves considered among the 'Talented Tenth.'

If you've ever been to Martha's Vineyard you will understand how thoroughly she described the African-American society in this book from your own personal experience. I enjoyed how she had trepidation about describing what she did for a living to the upper crust of the community. I enjoyed her personal intuitive tug-of-war regarding the pros & cons of dating a local man. Most importantly, as a woman, she was great at picking up clues and reading human nature. This was generally enjoyable nevertheless one may find it difficult as your personal pain resurfaces when she describes her personal experiences at being teased because she's dark skinned or the negative experiences or teasing of being light-skinned.

Blanche White is without peer in the detective mystery genre. She is a dedicated domestic worker who seems to meander into situations most us strive to avoid. In no small measure (being extremely inquisitive, make that downright nosy), is at the root of all her predicaments. In this outing, author Barbara Neely, through the thoughts of her heavyset heroine, takes intra-racial classicism to task.

Blanche is on a vacation/ research outing amongst upper class blacks in a small resort community on the coast of Maine. She is anxious to see what it is about peer influence that has resulted in perceptible attitudinal changes in her two wards, Taifa and Malik. Once she arrives on site, she is immediately confronted by the not so secret and yet existent stratification of the black community, color consciousness. As with first novel of the series, Blanche happens to fall into a mystery but equally as consistent, that aspect of the book takes a back seat to a wealth of commentary regarding economic disaffectedness and prejudice. The difference is, in this instance it is black against black, or more accurately, light denigration of dark.

This book is as formulaic as the first, and for that matter the third, only the enmity normally directed towards white antagonists has been redirected inwardly against segments of the black community. While much of what Blanche observes and encounters rings true, like the other stories, it is in balance where the book is lacking. As I have noted with the others in the series I have reviewed, fans looking for a well developed mystery may come away disappointed.