Maine Books

The only problem with this book is that it is about 150 pages too long.

"The Unquiet" was haunting, well written, and a bit creepy (in the best sense). Mr. Connolly always tells a good tale, and this book is no exception. His writing just seems to get better and better. Highly recommended!

I was given this book as a gift and once I did get around to reading it, well just couldn't put it down. The subject matter is one I would never have selected myself but it did weave an incredible tale. Connolly is a very skillful writer and keeps the reader turning every page. I will read another of his works. His mastery of weaving fiction and non-fiction brought so much more to this read. Living in Maine I could identify with all the locations and even remember seeing the "guesser" of the Old Orchard Beach Pier at his craft. This is a great book and nothing short of an incredible thriller.

John Connolly's recurring protagonist, Charlie Parker, is a former NYPD detective-turned Maine PI with a very troubled past, who has a penchant for getting drawn into violent cases that involve various supernatural elements. This is Connolly's seventh Parker story (counting the novella "The Reflecting Eye," which is contained in the short story collection NOCTURNES.)

In THE UNQUIET, Parker agrees to help out a lady named Rebecca Clay, who is being stalked and harassed by an ex-con. The con in question (an old hitman named Frank Merrick) is asking about the lady's father, a child psychologist who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances a while back; Ms. Clay claims to know nothing about what happened to him, but Merrick won't take `no' for an answer. What seems at first like a simple protection job soon leads Parker into the dark world of child abuse and exploitation. As always in the Parker novels, the gay odd couple of Angel (a white thief) and Louis (a black hitman) assist Parker and also provide some comic relief. The strange, disturbing character called `the Collector,' who first appeared in "The Reflecting Eye," returns in this novel, too.

Connolly, as usual, writes extremely well, combining a lyrical, literary inflection with a hardboiled/noir style, and also blending the genres of crime fiction and supernatural horror - all with plot and settings backed up by extensive research. Characterization and dialogue, which are always good in the Parker novels, are superb in this one.

I thought that the previous Parker novel, THE BLACK ANGEL, faltered a bit, but THE UNQUIET shows Connolly and Parker back in peak form, with a lean, taught narrative. The ending was great - rather low-key by Connolly standards, but perfect for the story, and with a good twist.

This is actually the least violent Parker novel so far, too, but Connolly proves he can handle more subtle storytelling just as well as he can handle shootouts and gore. Like THE BLACK ANGEL (and in contrast to the earlier books in the series, which were almost exclusively 1st-person narratives from Parker's perspective), a fair amount of this story is not told from Parker's perspective; however, I thought Connolly did a bit better with the non-Parker POV parts in this book than in ANGEL.

If you're a fan of hardboiled crime, supernatural horror, dark thrillers, or any combination thereof, or even if you're just someone who appreciates good, original writing, you'll enjoy the Parker stories. I just finished reading this book for the second or third time while waiting for my copy of Connolly's latest, THE REAPERS, to arrive; I highly recommend THE UNQUIET and the entire Parker series, though I urge anyone new to it to read the books in order - trust me, they'll make more sense and you'll get more out of them that way. Start with EVERY DEAD THING, and you may become hooked like I am.

John Connolly is a very unusual writer. He lives in Ireland, but for some reason has decided to set his novels in America, choosing Maine of all places. The series of novels that he's produced, for the most part, is an extremely creepy one, detective novels. The main character is a private eye, a former NYPD homicide detective with a truly haunted soul, his wife and young daughter having been killed while he was out getting drunk after a fight with his wife. The first four books Parker has been featured in are very good, and also very violent. This fifth book in the series is more atmospheric, cerebral, reflective, but it's still very good.

Parker's hired by a woman who's being stalked by a dangerous character. The woman, Rebbecca Clay, is the daughter of a semi-famous individual, a child psychologist who disappeared several years before amid allegations that he'd assisted in molesting the patients he'd been treating. When he meets the individual in question, Parker's immediately struck by how dangerous he is, how menacing, and how certain he is that Clay's daughter knows something about where he's gotten to, and Merrick is very insistent that she tell everything she knows.

Parker is an interesting character, and of course he comes with the lethal and amusing sidekicks Louis and Angel, a gay hit man and his gay thief partner. As Parker moves through Connolly's lethal, cold, bleak landscape, he discovers that there are secrets in the woods of Maine and that there are people who are willing to kill to keep them buried.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, as I have all of the Parker novels. I only docked a start because I found the ending a bit anti-climactic. I would recommend reading these books in order, but this is definitely a good entry into the series.

Very good story. I enjoyed readint it. My granddaughter will hopefully enjoy it also.

This book won the Newberry Honor book for a reason. In my opinion it should have been the Winner. This is a thougthful, well written book. It is full of great characters in a thought provoking story. Seeing the story of Malaga Island and the town of Phippsburg through the wise young eyes of Turner Buckminster was brilliant. Gary Schmidt is a master at telling the story of "adolescents turning their face toward adulthood." I heard Gary say those very words last week when I heard him speak at a local community dinner. I was very moved by all he talked about. It is clear that he is a gifted storyteller on paper and in voice. Lizzie Bright tells an important story about ignorance, prejudice and growing up. As an adult who loves to read well written juvenile fiction, I am looking forward to more great books by Gary Schmidt.

I bought this book for class. It was very well written. The ending was hard to deal with, but it was excellent and a good background to the history of Malaga Island. I would suggest this for anyone who likes a good read. This also good for educators to introduce race relations in Maine.

I found this a good read, I'm sure kids will enjoy it and not see too far beyond the quick moving plot and the somewhat typical good-guys/bad guys village.

As an adult reader, I did not enjoy the very modern camera angle the author used. There were some historical inaccuracies & modern biases that stuck out. (Lobstering was not a very honored or in demand profession at that time period--lobsters were the poor man's food. As a matter of fact, it was such a looked down upon food source, they fed it to prison and asylum inmates by the boat load. Schmidt could have used that as a device to get the main character to the asylum if he had researched it a bit more. Instead, he relied on a modern perception.)

The main character's clearly an example of "what if a kid from today was back there in time."

I picked this book up from the children's section because of its setting -- a town on the Maine coast in 1912. Any sentimental notions I had of a cozy read about my home state were soon shredded. "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" tells the true story of a sad blot on Maine history -- the eviction of a 125-year-old settlement of African Americans from an island off the town of Phippsburg. The town's ship-building industry was dying and the town fathers wanted to build a resort hotel on the mainland bluff overlooking Malaga Island; the "squatters' shacks" were not deemed a suitable landscape for that development.

Thirteen-year-old Turner Buckminster is new in town, the minister's son, lonely and isolated. He finds Maine an inhospitable venue compared to his former life in Boston, until he is befriended by Lizzie Bright, granddaughter of the Malaga Island minister. Though his father, influenced by the town's hatred of the islanders, forbids it, Turner becomes close to Lizzie and continues to spend time on the island.

One of the finest sub-plots of the book is Turner's relationship with crusty old Mrs. Cobb. He is sent by his father to play hymns on her organ and read to her, as punishment. Mrs. Cobb is obsessed with her eventual death and with having someone hear and record her last words. Turner hesitates to play hymns that might feed her obsession with death, but her favorite is "I Have Some Friends Before Me Gone." Mrs. Cobb turns out to be a wonderful friend to Turner -- and to Lizzie Bright.

Gary D. Schmidt writes about the natural landscape with poetic joy. The sea breeze is woven through the story like an unnamed supporting character: "He watched the day begin to settle into sleep. It yawned out a white fog the sea breeze carried in close to shore and left hovering there." The book is full of rich imagery of the sky, the sea, the land. You can almost hear the little cat feet of the fog.

By comparison, the characterization is somewhat shallow. Aside from the redemption of Turner's father, of Mrs. Cobb, and of Turner's arch-enemy Willis Hurd, the characters show little movement throughout the book. School Library Journal pegs the book for grades 6-9. If that age group is expected to value the lyrical representation of the natural world, they might also value more differentiation and growth in the characters.

In addition, the themes of discrimination and avarice are somewhat heavy-handed in presentation. Other reviewers of this book have noted that the characters are polarized: the townspeople totally intolerant and the Malagans the archetype of innocence.

These are the reasons I've given four stars rather than five. However it's a beautifully written story and a highly appropriate recipient of the Newbery Honor Medal. I recommend it for family reading and discussion.

As the Author's Note points out, you can take a field trip past Popham Beach to Phippsburg, but you won't see any hotels overlooking the strait to Malaga Island -- they were never built.


Linda Bulger, 2008

Book Review for the Preservationist
Many different shades of red, brown, and green glaze across the wanting cover. Every animal drawn to the very last detail running out of the monstrous boat. There, aloft a little hill lays the mightiest ark of them all. It breaths new life that will hopefully stay for along time and begin the new society. The animals scurry around trying to sniff out the new land, making there new territories, and making sure that none of the other animals come near. It is a true survival story. The book talks about what Noe and his family had to do to survive the horrific flood. The preservationist is Noe. He is the chosen one who is in charge of creating the new society for the world. The Preservationist, written by David Maine, is a magnificent book to read. It has great symbolical elements and has a great plot that flows nicely with the book.
The book takes place in the Middle East. That is about all the book gives you about the setting. It doesn't go into much detail about it. We also learn that this happened a long time ago. The main character is Noe, the preservationist. He got chosen out of everyone in the world to head up the building of the ark that would save him and his family from g-d's flood. G-d wasn't very happy with all of the members of the world, so he decided to kill them all by creating a flood that no one could survive. To help Noe build the ark, he gets all of his sons and their wives to come to his homeland and help him create it. He sends them out on very long treks and hikes to get either the
materials they need to build the boat, or the animals that g-d has told them to put on the boat, so when they get to land, they can start life all over again. One of the big arguments that the family had was; what order should the animals go into the boat. They had built three decks worth of storage room for the animals, but they needed to make sure that the animals went in the right way so that they wouldn't tip over and drown. They worked through it by Noe finally making the decision.
The rain clouds had finally come and so they all got into the boat and waited. It took 2 weeks until the rain finally came, but it wasn't enough for the flood. They waited for awhile longer and finally it rained the holly rain and g-d created the flood. They all safely got onto the boat and started floating away, watching everyone die, not being able to do anything. One of Noe's daughters in law took this very hard. It was very difficult for her to watch them all die in front of her. Noe said it was g-d's will and that this was their fate. She finally got over it and understood.
While they were on the boat, they changed so much. They were on the boat for over a year. Sometimes they didn't even talk to each other during the day. It got so boring some times that they would just sleep for the whole day if they weren't doing their daily choirs. One of the more sad parts of the book was when Noe went into his horrific stages. He would go in and out of consciousness. One of Noe's sons took charge while he was out of it. Noe finally got better and went back to work. It was truly a team effort. If one person didn't do there job, then all would go wrong. Every single person on that boat needed to be doing something most of the time. Surprisingly enough, they did work

all together. They did this probably because if they didn't, they knew that they would all die. Also, they never really argued a lot. I know with me, if I'm with one person for a really long time, there is bound to be an argument waiting to happen. While on the ark, no body ever got into an argument. The book's description of things is really good. The author did a really good job of slowing the book down and then describing a situation or event in full, so that one could totally understand it a lot better then if he didn't. I really didn't see anything that I didn't like. It really did a great job of writing this, the way I would like it.
One great symbol in this book is the ark. The ark definitely represents an important part. It represents life. Noe's family is the only people left. They are the ones who will have to start society back up. Another symbolical element in the book was the animals. The animals symbolize hope. I mean, g-d isn't going to tell you to take all of these animals for you to just drown in the middle of the sea, right? Having the animals mean that they are going to find land and be able to start society back up again.
The book definitely connects to modern life. Life is all about survival. We earn money, eat food, drink water, do well in school, and respect other people to survive in the world. Noe and his family being on the ark is simply a means of survival. They have to be on the ark to survive the flood. To save their lives! This book is for any ages really. I thought it was a great read and was very interesting.

The Preservationist
David Maine
ISBN: 0-312-32847-8
230 pages

My background is this: for many years an intense faith in the story told in the bible's pages, then a total loss of faith & belief, and now a solid un-knowing. I hold no belief but I don't rule out the possibility of believing.

THE PRESERVATIONIST is an entertaining, interesting, thought-provoking story and suitable for persons of (biblical) faith as well as persons without faith. Regardless of your spiritual status or belief, the story told here is worth reading - as is the story in it's original form as found in the book of GENESIS.

The bible account is fairly straightforward. Reading it first or having a prior knowledge of it will make the genius of THE PRESERVATIONIST much more apparent. It takes a well known story of mankind's past and transforms the faceless, colorless, personality-free characters & events into something easy to identify with.

The characters are very diverse in their personalities. The characters are marked by equal parts of reverence & irreverence, grit, flaws & strengths. They are real. Anytime a story of the past is retold with characters WE can identify with it takes the story from a cold distant telling and makes it OUR OWN. One we could visualize struggling through and getting past. THAT is what this book does so well.

If you are a person without faith in the bible account, you will be entertained. If you are a person WITH faith in the biblical account you may be surprised to find your faith & appreciation strengthened.

I just got finished reading The Preservationist by David Maine. It's a creative re-telling of the story of Noah from the time of God's call to build an ark to when he and his family went their seperate ways to go and re-populate the Earth.

I think what I like about the book so much is how the author uses his imagination to fill in the gaps in the story of Noah.

Moses gave his best attempt at the re-telling of the story of Noah and the flood. A man who lived to be 950 years old and yet Moses only tells the story in a few pages. Hitting the high and low points rather casually.

As I'm learning to approach Scripture in a non-traditional way, one of the thing that most excites me is the possibility of using imagination to fill in the gaps. Not that it makes it true. Or real. But when the imagination is brought into the gaps and spaces of Scripture that remain silent, it opens up a place of creativity. If nothing else it's a great creative exercise.

Taking us outside the world of blacks and whites . . . scientific, analytical words. And into the realm of real lives.

What was the rest of Noah's life like? What was his family like? Did they believe Noah and God? Did they think it was fake? Were they resentful? Were they mad at God? What did their wives think? What did they experience? The animals? What conversations were had between Noah and his children . . . his skeptics . . . his attackers?

David Maine does this with his book. Using his imagination to craft the story of Noah around what has been shared with us in Scripture. Filling in the gaps with missing pieces of the story. He mixes the spirituality and agnosticism of the family with the faith and call of Noah. The consequent tension that this creates and how it turns everyone's life upside down.

The end result is an excellent piece of fiction that was not only excellent literary entertainment . . . but a new theological possibility for approaching Scripture.

In this retelling of the familiar Genesis story of Noah and the Great Flood, Maine's use of multiple narrators gives supernatural material very human dimensions. The biblical "details" of the ark, the deluge, and the gathering of the animals are kept and enlarged upon right along with each human's story (each human in Noe's (Noah's) family, that is.)

The women in the story are particularly strong characters--a pleasant surprise considering the patriarchal resource from which it's drawn. They become the true human instruments of Noah's successful voyage. The supernatural aspects are nicely juxtaposed with the mundane aspects of cramped quarters, human appetites, unpleasant smells, filth, and toil. I highly recommend this novel.

Noe and the Flood retold in a completely refreshing way. Powerful language. Short, well-crafted sentences. Gentle humor. Characters you come to know and love. All in a slim book for a long weekend. Enjoy!

I purchased this book from the reviews I read. I will start with what I did like. The story between Angela and her Grandmother Nonna. The rest I thought was so un-realistic. I finished it quickly but there was no depth or real emotions for the main character Angela. I wanted to like it, but I found the writing a little trite. There are great recipes, so for that it gets 3 stars.

Reading about Angela's escape to Maine brought upon one of those deep from the bottom of my stomach rising to my lips laughs! This "Jersey Girl" escapes to Maine, unexpected love and an initially scary but very comfortable "wood-stove" bearing cottage! This is what I needed to read about: possibility, new beginnings and the purest, most unadulterated way to cook fine Italian food. Grab the paperback for a great beach read, or as a road map to your own escape.

I loved this book. Please bring us a sequel! The characters are great. I laughed out loud so many times, and unfortunately related a bit too much. I loved how the author incorporated recipes into the narrative. Very well done.

Kline starts off strong, but ultimately the lack of real conflict makes for a dull, not very compelling read. Angela Russo's misguided quest for love coupled with her catastrophic work blunder initially draw the reader in. However, once Angela reaches the island, things fall into place a little too easily. The only conflict I could see was the slight discomfort in Angela's own mind about the drastic changes she's made. Her family disapproves of her decisions but are grudgingly supportive. When she's called home for a family emergency, I thought, finally the conflict would come. But it still doesn't materialize. Kline's situations lend themselves to drama and discord, if she were only to utilize them.

The supporting characters also do not live up to their potential. When Flynn is introduced, he has a fresh, original voice. Midway through the novel, though, he morphs into the stereotypical crotchety gay sidekick. Kline misses an opportunity to add interest and depth by refusing to explore Flynn's relationship with Lance and instead resorting to a banter-fest between these two ex-lovers.

The revelation of the tragic pasts of two minor characters seem to be little more than an attempt to add much-needed drama. But these characters and their secrets aren't important to the plot. The manner in which these secrets are revealed is anti-climatic. All in all, the reader wonders why the author is wasting her time on irrelevant subplots instead of fully developing the main storyline.

I am a newbie to Baker Kline, but was given this book by a great friend. I had sworn off all "chick lit", as I find most of it drivel, and was disappointed in the cover's likeness to Laura Moriarty's latest snooze fest, the Rest of Her Life. Do not be misled! Baker Kline is a serious writer with a real grasp of the life of young women today. Although Angela Russo (protagonist) is a New Yorker (by way of New Jersey), she is easily identifiable to people from all geographical regions. Further, the Maine setting, while compelling, is incidental. The point of this novel, as I see it, is what happens when you "go off the grid". Angela's original motivation is inherently flawed, but her learning along the way is poignant--it will apply to anyone who has ever questioned one's place in the world.

I also loved Baker Kline's use of food in this book. While it is not a cook book/memoir as in Amanda Hesser or Ruth Reichl, it introduces food into each situation naturally--it is totally uncontrived. Think Laurie Colwin if she merged her Home Cooking recipes with one of her novels-- heartwarming, authentic, and raw.

In terms of other authors with whom one could compare Baker Kline (from reading only this one book, I'm currently reading her first, Sweet Water), I think she has the accessibility of Jennifer Weiner, the intellect of Elinor Lipman, and the timeliness of Sue Miller.

A final observation about this book--I loved the fact that I had absolutely no idea what Angela looked like. Her appearance was entirely irrelevant to the story, and this omission, was fresh and made her more accessible to me.

I loved this book and am so looking forward to reading all of Baker Kline's work.

Within the first ten pages of this book, I knew Bob, I knew Rocky, I understood their marriage, and I felt her palpable grief at his death.

And then she got better... bit by bit.

This is a story of getting better. Rocky has a very Rocky path to health. Along the way, she and some others rescue each other. Melissa (a girl with some mental issues), Tess (a woman with some physical issues), and a dog named Lloyd are the central casting in this story, and they all tell the story, and they all heal each other.

It may seem like typical chick lit - in fact there is even an evil man in the background. But there are some great male characters here, too, not the least being Bob, mostly in memory, but the idea that good men exist is quite obvious.

I liked the way some chapters switched voice. I liked the underlying mystery, but most of all I liked the healing. A very good read.

(*)>

What a wonderful book! I couldn't put it down. The characters were constantly evolving and wonderful.

Any animal lover will completely gobble up this book, but even those not so familiar with our furry friend's charms will find nothing but gems within the 278 pages of this book.

The main character, Rocky, as she is appropriately nicknamed, is dealing with a devastating loss. Her husband dies suddenly and she takes a leave of absense from her job to move to a coastal Maine island to work as an animal control warden---a far cry from her normal career as a psychologist. It proves to be one of the best moves she has ever made. As a result, she grows both emotionally, psychologically and even spiritually due to the loving good-naturedness of a lost black lab who is suffering a loss of his own.

This beautiful creature pulls at least 10 people together and splendidly puts them exactly where they should have been a long time ago: on track.

I really wish the book had no ending as I could have continued to read it indefinitely.

I really hope Ms. Sheehan will write a sequel, it was simply that good. I literally cried and was so moved during some of its chapters and I found myself feeling so fulfilled in the end....yet wanting more information of what was to come.

Highly recommended!!!!!

My father died on February 27 2008. I'm inclined towards reading a lot of vampiric chic lit at this point in my life and just randomly picked this book up at a local bookstore. I had a doctor's appointment last week and didn't want to be reading Kim Harrison's The Outlaw Demon Wails sitting in the doctor's office (it is a very, very fun book but seemed somewhat undignified under the circumstances) so I took Lost and Found with me instead and then almost burst into tears in my gynecologist's office reading the first chapter since my own grief over my father's death is still so close to the surface.

As a dog trainer, I am extremely picky about reading anything written in a dog's voice, always holding it up to my two perfect examples of Watership Down (yeah they're bunnies but for speaking from an animal's POV it just cannot be beaten) and Donald McCaig's Eminent Dogs and Dangerous Men (about dogs in heaven.) The pieces of Lost And Found written from the dog, Loyd's, POV are honestly that good.

I finished the novel as quickly as possible so that I could give it to my mother to read but I cautioned her about the first chapter and put a bookmark at Chapter 2 for her and gave her a brief summary of the events of Chapter 1 so that she didn't wind up crying in her own doctor's office or at the pool or wherever.

Lost And Found is truly an extraordinary book. The characters are very real and well drawn (both human and canine!) and there is true growth for all of them throughout the novel. I know that it spoke to me specifically because of my recent loss and because of my lifetime obsession with dogs but both my mother and I already have people in mind to whom we want to lend or give this book.

Rarely do I get so excited over a book that I buy extra copies and pass them out but that was my reaction to "Lost and Found". Author Jacqueline Sheehan wrote a beautiful, sensitive, and insightful book about loss, grief, and letting go. When a psychologist's life is shattered in one moment, she escapes to the solitude of an island off the coast of Maine in a desperate attempt to hide from her pain.

When Rocky (short for Roxanne) takes the job of animal control officer, she gets involved with a lovable dog who begins to melt her frozen heart. Rocky becomes embroiled in a young girl's silent agony, a new friend's personal challenges, and the mystery that could endanger her own life.

I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish. The characters were so real, the writing precise, and the story riveting. In a couple of chapters, Sheehan writes from the dog's perspective, delivering a new insight into the human-canine friendship.

After finishing this book at 2 a.m., I wrote the author and begged her to continue the journey of these characters (and she responded that she is considering it). Then I ordered three more copies to pass along to a dog lover, a mystery fan, and a hopeless romantic. They will each love "Lost and Found" because each will "find" something to make them smile.

LOST AND FOUND tells the story of a young widow in agony and denial who rescues a wounded Labrador retriever with separation anxiety of his own. It is a novel of contradictions --- just enough coincidence to be realistic, but with characters a bit too contrived. However, anyone who has taken care of or been healed by an animal can appreciate the theme and identify with the miracle of instant bonding.

Fortunately, the ending was not tragic and left enough of our protagonist's fate to the reader's imagination. After finishing this book, you will either want to hug your dog immediately or adopt one at the local animal shelter.

One of my favorite books of all time, one I was sorry to get to the end of. This is a collection of short stories which adds up to a kind of novel, since Olive Kitteredge shows up in all of them and is the main character in several. Strout's writing is luminous and gorgeous; her dialogue sounds real, her descriptions of the landscape build the mood appropriately--understated, in language that is original and vivid. The mood is often painfully melancholy, but not always:

"She leaned forward, peering out the window: sweet pale clouds, the sky as blue as your hat, the new green of the fields, the broad expanse of water--seen from up here it all appeared wondrous, amazing. She remembered what hope was, and this was it. That inner churning that moves you forward, plows you through life she way the boats below plowed the shiny water, the way the plane was plowing forward to a place new, and where she was needed."

Strout portrays characters who sound like people you know. It's been said in the reviews: Olive sounds like a monster in the beginning, but by the book's end, you've gotten close to her soul and you can't get enough of her. She's a prickly woman: no-nonsense would be an understatement. In her heart is a mixture of love and great bitterness; overall, she's a stoic, disliked by many in her small northeastern town, and the feeling is mutual. But some of her acquaintances do know her well enough to appreciate and value her, and her husband--the devoted, also stoic, Henry--indeed loves her even though she most often behaves harshly toward him, annoyed by his unflappable sweet nature. She has her reasons for the sharp edges.
The story would seem to be irredeemably sad, but keep reading. Strout's other book, Abide With Me, was about pain and redemption, and that theme is repeated here, only much more readably.

Elizabeth Strout has created a wonderful character in Olive. She is acerbic, a royal pain to herself and others, and often just terribly wrong. But she is also touchingly vulnerable. I've used the last story in the collection with a short story group of (mostly) older people. They were moved.

I have little patience with short stories, but I found Olive Kitteridge profoundly moving. Elizabeth Strout provides glimpses of Olive through the eyes of her neighbors and townspeople and as the protagonist of several stories. I grew to love Olive and wept and laughed with her as her adventures mirrored so much of my own life. Strout subtly, gently, and easily finds the reader's inner soul and flaws as Olive and others wend their ways through seemingly mundane yet complicated day-to-day routines.

I found this book has some very beliveable truisms- a type of insight into the human condition that I appreciate. I looked forward to picking it up and reading it. That said, it is another book that is really multiple intertwined stories and some of the side stories were a touch dry and dull. I also felt the book was a little depressing. If you are in the mood for a more melancholy read this is a fine pick. Like I said, I liked it, but I didnt close the book and say- wow! that was great! Its probably a 3.5 star rating. Good perspective, just sad, and the the side stories are occasionally distracting.

I do love the author's insights into the working of the human mind. The filter of writer and reader barely registers, the thoughts are so intricately expressed and recognizable as true. That's the best part of this book. (That, and the scene in which Olive takes revenge on her new daughter-in-law!)

I had read in reviews of Abide With Me that readers were disappointed in the lack of action or apparent reason to keep reading that book. I don't agree with that assessment, but I do think this book goes overboard in the other direction. Something dramatic happens in everyone's story in this book, and it's always something awful.

I became weary of the accidents, deaths, murders, near-drownings and suicides, eating disorders, infidelities and divorces, cruelties spoken and thought, the relentless dying of hope and possibility.

The structure of the book is also problematic if you start by thinking that you're reading a novel. I quickly came to care about individual characters only to have them crushed, or never to hear of them again after a chapter ended. And, as with most fiction, I didn't feel that many of the characters were believable, maybe only the title character. Even Olive steps out of character in the last scene of the book, which I imagine is supposed to be uplifting, but I found ridiculous.

I'm in the midst of my life, and maybe this is what's to come. If so, at least it will be just my story I'm living and I won't be weighted down with the knowledge of everyone else's pain. It's too overwhelming. The characters could have used a little of the faith of their Abide With Me counterparts to temper the despair.

Victoria Rowell has created a jewel of a book that will be relevant to all. She is first and foremost an artist. Her art has taken many forms, including dancer and actress, and she can certainly add gifted author to her list of talents and accomplishments. Ms. Rowell has created a personal and family history in "The Women Who Raised Me". It is at times awe-inspiring, brutal, and beautiful. She tells a complex, heart-rending story that flows off the page as though a mosaic is being created. Every aspect of the hardcover book, from its format to its unique cover art with a fold-out photo gallery, reflect the care and thought that went into this true-life saga. This is a story that will inspire and never be forgotten by its readers. Humanity, grace, realism, grit. It is all here..

This memoir is a testament to one woman's love and adoration for all of the woman who took part in raising her. I had the privilege of meeting Victoria Rowell at her book signing. She was deeply passionate, and determined to give back to all of the woman, living or deceased, who loved her and guided her in her walk through life. Life as a biracial child of black and white was difficult for victoria but it was not long before she found the love and acceptance of several woman who, during her formative and teenage years, feverishly encouraged, prepared, and nurtured her. Victoria soon found her niche for dancing and then later acting which eventually propelled her into stardom. This book is written with love, intelligence, and diction. She is clear and poetic in her writing. This book is a wonderful, easy flowing memoir, not drama packed, but just enough sauce to keep you interested. Loaded with photos and also includes information about foster care.

Victoria Rowell, film and television actress, chronicles her life as a foster child in her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir. Rowell was the product of a blue-vein, old money Caucasian mother, whose family were Mayflower descendants, and an unknown black man. Her mother, Dorothy Collins, suffered from mental illness exhibiting schizophrenia. There were six children, three boys and three girls, all from different fathers. When Rowell was three months-old she was taken in as a foster child by Bertha Taylor, who wanted to adopt her but was not allowed to because of the state of Maine's statutes regarding interracial adoption. Little Vicki was only two years-old when she was taken away from her and placed in the home of a black woman, Agatha Wooten Armistead. Her two older sisters, also, both biracial, were taken in by Agatha.

Under Agatha's care, Rowell thrived in a loving, extended family in rural Maine. Bertha came from a family of formidable women with austere backgrounds. Agatha encouraged Rowell's love of dance and purchased a how-to book so that when she had her first audition at eight years-old, though she was self-taught, her natural talent netted a scholarship to a prestigious dance program. At age 17, she received a scholarship to ABT, American Ballet Theater, thus starting an illustrious career that would lead her into modeling, commercials and eventually television, most notably an actress on The Young and the Restless and Diagnosis: Murder.

Along the way, Rowell had an on again, off again relationship with her mother, Dorothy, who finally died in 1983. She also had other temporary and foster mothers of various backgrounds before she became an emancipated minor. Each of these women left something precious with her that she treasures to this day. Rowell married in her mid-twenties and had a daughter and later had a son with Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis's mother also became a role model and mentor as well as Latonya Jackson, wife of Samuel L. Jackson, as did other women who came into her life. But it was a turning point in 2002, that caused Rowell to retreat and reassess her life. That is when she also began to research her background which was the beginning of her life story.

Part family history, memoir and inspirational guide, Rowell gave a credible account of the racial and social history of Maine, the story of her childhood navigating the foster care system, of the women who were so vital in her growing years, learning to love and accept herself and the monumental act of forgiveness--of herself and others. I met Rowell last fall when she was promoting her book in Oakland and she struck me as a warm, down-to-earth woman who is fiercely dedicated to her cause, foster care rights and her love of the arts. Though the middle of the book moved a little slow, I recommend to those who enjoy memoirs and stories of perseverance.

Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub

Fantastic! Amazon should permit a 10 star rating for The Women Who Raised Me. This is a moving and beautifully written testament of perseverance and determination against all odds. I thank Ms. Rowell for writing and sharing such an inspiring story of her life. Also, what's really important is that the Women Who Raised Me brings issues surrounding foster care to light. If you are looking for a fullfilling story please read the Women Who Raised Me and you will not be disappointed. This `hard-to-put-down' page-turner is well worth your time and investment. I highly recommend The Women Who Raised Me as required reading for high school and college students enrolled in social studies, art, and literary courses. Ms. Rowell I wish you continued success in all your endeavors to improve the state of foster care through your outstanding creative talents.

Carla McManus
Sisters and Brothers of Hotlanta Bookclub
http://www.sistersbrothers.com

In a splendid and glorious memorializing of a company of women who contributed to her growth, opportunities and eventual success, Victoria Rowell has created a grand gesture of epic proportions.

Her story, told with grace and honesty, reveals the multi-layered character she became as a result of the fostering and mentoring she received...as she describes it, like the piecing together of a quilt.

In successive foster homes in the state of Maine, from infancy, Victoria Rowell sets an example of triumph over adversity. Despite the early deprivation of a "biological mother", she grew in a positive direction through experiences that many would find challenging, at the very least. And yet, with the help of her foster mothers and mentors, social workers and others along the way, she faced every challenge, excelling as a ballet dancer and later as an actress, a mother, and then as a creator of her own network of support for foster youth by founding the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan and serving as a spokesperson for the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services.

While in LA recently, attending Book Expo America, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Rowell while signing copies of her book. I felt very honored to be in her presence for a brief time and want to congratulate her on her many accomplishments, including this wonderful book.

ARUNDEL is quite simply the finest historical novel that I have ever read.
It is also one of the finest works of American fiction, period.

Telling the little-known American Revolution episode of Benedict Arnold's raid on Quebec, the bulk of the novel concerns the harrowing journey that his men made through the frozen wilds of Maine, a story of hardship and devotion that readers will never forget. But the revelation here for readers unfamiliar with Kenneth Roberts is the prose, as sturdy and timeless as the landscape-- the old-fashioned storytelling coupled with a sober command of men's aspirations and justifications in momentous times. Roberts' dialogue is so sharp and clever that his characters never seem antiquated.

Reading this incomparably moving and exciting novel will open a world of historical fiction in Kenneth Roberts' catalog that will reward readers for a lifetime. Highest Recommendation!!

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing! It was so good, that I had to put it down for a while, go and do something else while I let it digest. Wonderful stuff.

After a bumpy start -with a rather mushy love scene between the 10 year old Mary Mallinson and Steven Nason- the book really gets into gear - with a real bang. Literally. A rude Frenchman and his Indian cronies shoots Mary's dad, takes the daughter, and carries her away to Canada. Steven Nason and his father follow them, hoping to reclaim the young girl, but are turned back when the boy gets a tomahawk through his head. Fortunately - for both him and the plot - he survives... but vows not to give up on his search for Mary Mallinson - even when his father gets pushed into frigid water by a maniacal priest, dies of pneumonia, and his son is obliged to take over his responsibilities.

The characterization is amazing! There's Cap Huff, Benedict Arnold, Phoebe, John the Wishy-Washy, Marie du Sabrevois - even Steven Nason himself is a complex character. If there was one fault in the book, it was Roberts' obsession with explaining over and over the day-to-day going-ons of the Maine Native Americans. After a while, I found I didn't care too much how bear meat was cooked, how loud a medicine man could howl, and the various Indian geneologies.

Besides that minor flaw - I must admit, I *do* have a short attention span - the book was excellent! Read it, I promise you'll enjoy!

The saga of the colonial assault on British Quebec in 1775 has received precious little press. Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown have received much more publicity, which is fine; but in this novel Kenneth Roberts has tilled fallow round and raised a bountiful harvest.

The story is narrated by Steven Nason, a Maine resident with a fervent attachment to his home in Arundel. His tale begins innocently, set amidst the daily issues of the northern frontier- the French, the native Americans, and the tempestuous British colonists as they strive to hold ground in early America. Only gradually are Steven, his family, and his Indian friends drawn into the contest of nations that will in time lead to the formation of the United States.

The assault on Quebec really happened, and the story is full of brilliant cameos, including a fierce Daniel Morgan, a jaunty young Aaron Burr, and a still-untried George Washington. But the real historical hero of Arundel is Benedict Arnold, seen before his infamous betrayal of the continential cause. Here he is energetic and charismatic as he leads the first foray against the British in the New World. Steven's vision of Arnold is more generous than history usually gives that founding father, without reverting to blind hero worship- indeed, a few incidents hint at Arnold's eventual frustration with the incontinent buerocracy of his fellow leaders and his prickly sense of honor. But this future struggle fades as Steven describes the difficulties of the expedition across the wilderness of Maine, and the trial of the seige of Quebec. Roberts has done some fantastic research, so that the landscape and people that Arnold and Nason travel amidst vibrates with vivid depictions of the Height of Land, the French inhabitants of early Canada, and the rugged and beautiful Maine coastline.

Best of all, Roberts has brilliant prose, so rarely discovered today; Steven's narrative unfolds like a fireside tale on a cold winter night in Maine, calling to mind all the struggles and zeal of those early patriots who forsook home an hearth to seek a free nation. Through it all runs the shining thread of Steven's lost love, Mary, and his fast friends Cap Huff and Phoebe Marvin, who accompany Steven on his adventures. The fictional characters are vivid and lifelike, breathing color and feeling into the already thrilling journey. If you have any interest in how a wrinkle in history can become a terrific novel, this is your book.

This tale revolves around Benedict Arnolds famous march to Quebec through the brutal Maine Wilderness.

This novel weaves a fun story of love lost and revenge attempted.

It's name comes from the name of the main characters village of Arundel south of Portland in Maine. Frankly, the novel has little to do with Arundel so I think the novel was misnamed but that is my humble opinion.

I'm under the impression that most of the history is close to accurate. Really, it's no matter. I was after a good yarn and I got it in spades in this fine book.

What I liked was that though the story deals with Arnolds march to and attack on Quebec, it seems to be a story on the periphery of those events. It has wonderful characters like flinty Aaron Burr and lovable lout Saved from Captivity Huff (better known as Cap Huff)Steven Nason the hero of our story and his employee/Business partner Phoebe the female captain of their trading sloop. Also the Native American characters like Jataqua and Natanis among many others were simply wonderful.

The way Mr Roberts paints the picture of the trek to Quebec was nothing short of masterly. My imagination trudged through this half frozen swamp of trials, tribulations and death with these brave people. Amazing experience.

I was dreading the parts about the attack on Quebec. I know what happens and thought it might bore me. It didn't. They fought but then went their own way and had there own adventure.

It really was a terrific story. I read it shortly after Eckert's Frontiersmen and found it nearly as satisfying, which is a tall order.

This is a powerfully written, beautiful novel about friendship and adventure; about war, hard times, romantic love; and it is a glimpse into the American Revolution from a point of view that strikes me as authentic.
The book is clearly a labor of love. Like the very best of historical novels, it takes the reader to a different place, and makes us care about the people and the events from the inside.
I rate this as one of the 3 best historical novels I've read: "War and Peace" and Thomas Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon" are the other two: I can't give any book higher praise than that.

Although I am a committed hard-boiled mystery reader, Thomas Cook writes mysteries which are well beyond most in character development and psychological drama, i.e., very well-written novels which happen to be mysteries. Places In The Dark is no exception.

It is the story of two brothers with contrasting outlooks on life, each reflecting one of their parents. The younger, William / Billy, identifies strongly with his Mother in his zest for experiencing life with all of its messy emotions and becomes the newspaper editor. The older, Cal, identifies strongly with his Father in applying logic and reason to everything to the point of robbing it of its joy and becomes, what else, a lawyer [ :>) ].

A young woman with a mysterious past and an enigmatic presence, Dora March, moves to their small town and captures William's heart; William is murdered; the woman leaves town, and Cal is obsessed with guilt, the desire to avenge his death by solving the mystery, and the desire to find Dora. No need to spoil it for you. Very highly recommended!

Many of Thomas Cooks novels are beautifully written and include captivating and fully drawn characters. Unfortunately, Cook seems capable of writing only one kind of book--a story told in flashbacks. His books never proceed in a linear fashion. Read one or two of his books and you've basically read them all.
It's a shame that Cook doesn't deviate from his flashback formula because he is truly an excellent writer.

In addition to the formulaic plot device, *Places in the Dark* also suffers from cardboard characters whose motives and lives are never fully examined.

This author is superb. I would call his books melodramas, as opposed to thrillers. They are passionate love/hate stories, with, yes, murder and mayhem, but they read like soap opera/potboilers. The thing is, there are so many soap opera/potboilers that are as boring as...well...soap, and his aren't. I loved this particular tortured tale except for one thing: the character of Billy seemed a bit lacking. He was too much "one-way," too "good" and actually a little dim, not just as a character but in personality as well. It's obviously a Cain and Able story (read: Cal and Bill). And Dora, the mystery woman, is well fleshed-out (for a mystery woman). But I couldn't care that much about Billy. He just - well - bored me. Also, the ending, while it came as something of a surprise, was something of a let-down. My thought was, "And so the point of all this was.....?????" Still, Cook is a masterful writer; vivid. For all the flaws, he's among our best popular novelists.

This was my first introduction to Thomas Cook and it will definitely not be my last. The book is centered around a mysterious woman, Dora March, who appears out of nowhere in a small town in New England, and dramatically affects the lives of two brothers that fall under her spell. One brother, the editor of the local newspaper, falls in love with her and hires her on at the paper after her rich, elderly employer dies. The older brother, a lawyer and the local prosecutor, is wary of the woman and his brothers relationship with her, and seeks to uncover the mysteries of her past. Before he can do so, the woman skips town in the wake of the apparent murder of the younger brother. The story is presented as a series of flashbacks that flesh out the interrelationships between the brothers and the young woman and casts light on the mysterious events that lead to the expiration ot the younger brother and a cast of other characters. Eventually the loose ends dovetail as the author masterfully, and cleverly, unveils the shocking denouement that had me in awe of his expert abilities. I'm not one that easily surprised and am usually quite wary of anytime I have to suspend disbelief, especially when the tables are turned in a thriller. Not so this book - it was so refreshing to have the rug masterfully, and expertly, pulled from beneath with nary a glass falling from the table. Excellent!

Reading books is a wonderful and, at times, a boring process. It seems that one must read so many books that fail to move, that are well thought out, excellently written but at the last page you are left with perhaps a smile, ocassionaly a mild comment, "oh, that was a good book". But, just every so often one happens upon a book that reaches deep down beyond the surface of the maundane and leaves you with the feeling that the few hours you have just spent were some of the more meaningful hours of your life. That's what "Places in the Dark" has done for me.

Maybe I'm becoming too PC, but having listened to this book, I found the idea that McKnight was better at surviving in the woods then his friend Vinny who is a full blooded Ojibwe (and professional guide) to be just a little hard to swallow. At a couple of points in the story when they are lost up in the Canadian wilderness, Vinny is about to give up the ghost but Alex keeps pluggin' along. Boy, I wouldn't want to be stuck on a hunting trip with Vinny if things went wrong.

Also, at times when Vinny is speaking, he's like a cross between Mr.Miyagi and the Great Manitu (give me a break). Specific to the tape, all the Indians speak with this spacey (East) indian guru voice, like they are filling in for Deprak Chopra. All the Indians immediately take a backseat to anything that McKnight says, like whatever he says is the most intelligent thing going.

Anyway to the story, it's actually very engaging, except that 'da too guys from Detroit' sound like they stepped out of a "Sopranos" episode. Know whatimean you jamocke. The Canadians must all be drinking water with something in it because they are as mellow as a bunch of 1960s anti-war demonstrators, ey.

Lastly, did anybody NOT guess that at sometime in the story, Alex would find a way to soften Natalie's heart (key the violins and cellos) so that she would see him in a 'better light' (tear, tear,tear!). Ugh. If you are going to find him a love interest, just do it, don't get all "Wisteria Lane" about it. Ok, I'm done. Hopefully the next book (gee do ya think Natalie will be in it) will be better.

I've read all of Steve Hamilton's books right when they've been published and I've loved them all. I'm now re-reading them, and just finished "Blood is the Sky" for the second time. I love Hamilton's relaxed, easy-reading style and I think Alex is a great protagonist. I also love the northern Michigan setting of his series; although I've never been to the UP, I live in Maine and have spent a large part of my life in northern Ontario (where most of this book is set), so I can relate to his descriptions of life in the North. I do have two quibbles with this book. First, a couple times Hamilton has Alex saying road signs mention someplace is X number of miles away--in Canada, road signs are in kilometers, not miles. Second, there are lots of references to "Canadian" beer, such as when Alex gets a cold "Canadian" or asks a bartender for a Molson. In the first instance, does Hamilton mean a generic cold Canadian beer, or does he mean a Molson Canadian (a specific brand, and the best-selling beer in Canada), and in the second, you don't go into a drinking establishment in Canada and ask for a Molson; you ask for an Ex or a Canadian or another specific Molson product. As I said, these are quibbles. Steve Hamilton is a great author!

My wife kept raving on how good the books were. She was up to four read and kept talking about them. I finished another novel and decided it was time. What a interesting story. Especially living in Michigan all my life I found so much research had been done on all of Michigan and Canada also. We in Michigan always have a close relationship with Canada. Many of us have one side of the family from Canada as the auto industry had once brought them here. The book certainly was interesting and the plot gave you great cause to wonder almost to the last pages. I would recommend it highly.

In this Alex McKnight mystery, Hamilton pairs Alex and Vinnie LeBlanc to search for Vinnie's missing brother in the forests of Northern Ontario. Tom, Vinnie's brother, led a hunting expedition for four Detroit businessmen and then disappeared. Together Alex and Vinnie must find out what happened to him and why. This is Hamilton's best McKnight adventure since A Cold Day in Paradise. Alex's dogged nature shines through, as he remains fiercely loyal to Vinnie and is willing to sacrifice everything for the truth. Get ready for a great outdoors expedition in Canada. Hamilton is an excellent writer, and there's nothing better than reading an Alex McKnight mystery. It is my favorite mystery series.

This is my first reading of Hamilton. He writes well, offering strong descriptions and throwing in some fun Native American lore for legitimacy. His writing style is fairly sparse, favoring lots of short declaratory sentences--James Lee Burke he ain't--but that style of writing is often popular with the mainstream public.

I was less impressed with his protagonist, Alex McKnight, who, in this novel at least, is a reactionary far more than an instigator. It often takes his sidekick, Vinnie, to get things happening. He is definitely not a series character I would remember or long to read more of.

And then there is the mystery, which goes like this: mystery->280 pages having little to do with the mystery->resolution. And when the mystery is part of the story, convenience plays a big part. Don't read this novel thinking you have any chance of figuring a piece out, because I don't think the author knew how he would resolve it until page 280 or so. Mysteries don't have to reveal themselves to you but they owe you enough tantalization that you feel close to some part of it. No so, here.

I would like to read more Hamilton, but if I am to believe the jacket blurbs by several prominent authors, this is his best. Other reviewers here at Amazon, however, suggest Hamilton has done better work, so maybe I'll try one more.