Maine Books

I'm not quite finished with Fiddler's Green, but I've read enough to know that I like it. I've found the whole Moosepath League series to be charming. The other day I was watching a Monty Python clip--Upperclass Twit of the Year--and I couldn't help wondering if this sketch may have provided a tiny bit of inspiration for the characters of Ephram, Eagleton & Thump. Not that they would ever "kick the beggar" or "insult the waiter" but the haplessness of these three men never fails to entertain. Fiddler's Green is a departure from the other books in the series because much of it focuses on Sundry Moss and an adventure he has on his own. It's a bit of a creepy adventure, too, although each of the books in the Moosepath League series flirts with the dark side just a bit. As with the other books, Van Reid inserts tantalizing bits of old New England folklore that make me want to do my own research.

nobody has written a review of this book yet! Here it is, Halloween, and still no personal review. If you are reading this it means you have some interest in possibly owning this book. Let me put your doubts to rest... buy it, you won't regret it. This is a kind, compassionate, humorous, and literate story that could be read by your saintly aunt. I've enjoyed the adventures of the Moosepath league since their debut and they just keep getting better. Thank you Mr. Reid!
P.S. I'm not saintly and I'm an uncle so don't be put off by comparisons.

I was recently enlightening by finding the series involving the Moosepath League, and enjoyed Fiddlers green as a wonderful summer read. The characters and story developed by Mr. Reid are rare in most of the books I have read recently, and I sincerely hope he plans to continue the series with its charming characters and stories that I would describe as good, clean, fun!

While this book is just as good as any of the others in Van Reid's clever series, it seems as though the bottom has fallen out of the series and that people just aren't clamoring for these books any more. Some bookstores aren't even carrying this latest volume, and that's a shame. Maybe it's time for a boxed set. If Van Reid had any thought of continuing for a sixth volume, the lack of attention to FIDDLERS GREEN might be giving him second or third thoughts. One the public has had enough of a series, there's a law of diminishing returns. Even the best series (like Maxo De La Roche's JALNA or the Charlie Chan movies) peter off in the face of public indifference.

It's s shame too, because this story is one of Reid's better ones. Even if Chairman Toby and Sundry Moss were not in it at all, and indeed they contribute to the hilarity in big ways, such as Toby's long-awaited wedding, it would still be a page turner due to the mystery of Robin Oig, the sailor who dreams of finding an earthly paradise at Fiddlers Green.

Robin should have a series of his own, for he is a thoughtful, dreamy romantic figure who would fit in nicely with the famous Aubrey and Maturin novels of the late Patrick O'Brian. If you liked Cornelia Underwood or Mollie Peer (by Reid) or THE PICKWICK PAPERS or MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT (by Dickens), you might like FIDDLERS GREEN.

Linda Greenlaw has a wonderful sense of place. I have never been to Maine but her beautiful words transport the reader to the small fishing villages of the northern state. She hooked me with her description of the colors of fall leaves as "rainbow sherbert".

The story of the Miami detective who moves north to be an insurance investigator and assistant deputy sheriff does not resemble Sue Grafton's heroine although you think it might. It is actually a cozy mystery. As cozy as the reserved fishermen and their families can be. Let's face it, lobsters are not cozy but these villagers have unique habits and personalities that the reader will want to embrace.

While the setting is small town the crime is big city. And the resolutions are not always comfortable or satisfying. Jane Bunker as a character is a loner. She is also annoyingly cheap. I think it would be interesting to know more about her previous life. This is the second book in the series. The first is Slipknot. Perhaps the first one fills in some of the gaps. That is certainly one reason I have put it on my reading list

If I had a critism of this book it might be that it lacked focus. I wasn't sure which crime she was trying to solve. On the other hand that could easily be misdirection to keep her audience guessing. I enjoyed Fisherman"s Bend and I recommend it.

FISHERMAN'S BEND is the 2nd entry in the Jane Bunker Mystery series. Jane, a part time insurance investigator/part-time deputy sheriff, is investigating damaged equipment as part of her insurance job when she comes across an abandoned boat at sea. The search for the missing crew member leads Jane into all sorts of unexpected trouble. I couldn't put the book down--I was totally engrossed in the story, which kept bopping from one surprise to another. The ending was totally unexpected--I had no clue who the villain was! This is high praise, indeed.

I very much enjoyed this book, and I will be sure to read the first book in this series, SLIPKNOT. I highly recommend this series to mystery lovers who enjoy female protagonists.

This is the second in a series featuring Jane Bunker, a 42 year old sheriff's deputy and insurance investigator in a small fishing village in Maine. As the novel opens Jane is on her way to investigate a vandalism claim to a research vessel across the bay. Along the way she comes across an abandoned boat, apparently the captain had been working alone and gone overboard, the question is how - was it an accident or murder?

As Jane begins to investigate we are introduced to the quirky characters that live in the small village of Cobble's Harbor year 'round and learn more about Jane herself. Jane had been born in Maine and moved to Florida as a child where she coped with her dysfunctional mother by escaping to the docks. As an adult she pursued a career in law enforcement, one that allowed her to also be on the sea. Apparently she had decided to return to Maine a few months earlier for reasons that are not made clear in this book which leads to one of the few problems with this book, quite a few things are alluded to but not made clear about Jane's personal life. It is a bit frustrating to have these questions left unanswered at the end of the book. Since this is the first book in the series that I have read I do not know if they were addressed in the first volume or if they are meant to be teasers for upcoming books. In either case it is a bit unfair to twice mention that her childhood mentor is unjustly in prison but to give no further details.

Overall this is a good mystery in the cozy series genre. Jane is an interesting character, one that the reader will come to care about. The inhabitants of Cobble Harbor are colorful and charming, ones that will draw the reader back to future novels. It is common in the cozy genre for the characters to be more of a draw than the mystery and while the characters in this one are intriguing the mystery is a bit more complex. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

This is a good light read to while away a few hours. I will be looking not only for a copy of the first novel but for any further entries in this series.

It seems that Linda Greenlaw has found her niche in the mystery genre. FISHERMAN'S BEND, a follow-up to SLIPKNOT, continues the adventures of Jane Bunker, Green Haven's new Deputy Sheriff and part-time insurance investigator for Eastern Marine Safety Consultants. The former Miami homicide detective had more than her share of murder and mayhem, so she left the frenzied life in Florida for the remote shores of Maine where she hoped to use her skills in a less stressful setting.

But, if that were the case, where would the stories be? Once again, what should be a routine investigation of a vandalized survey vessel sets the stage for a series of events that leave one man dead, a prominent fisherman missing and the whole town wondering what kind of foul play is going on. As she works to unravel the clues, Jane's own life is threatened by those who fear she is getting too close to the truth.

It seems that her investigation of the vandalism uncovers many conflicts that have begun emerging since the death of Jason Alley from an overdose of heroin. Did his death have anything to do with the "lobster wars" that prompt fierce competition among fishermen? Why was George Paul, spokesman for the Passamaquoddy tribe, so interested in the survey vessel? And was Dane Stevens, handsome captain of the vessel, being honest about his mission? Although Jane is not getting paid anything close to her homicide detective wages, she works just as hard to find answers to these questions and to help the Alley family get closure.

While Greenlaw does not rely on heart-pounding suspense to hook her audience, the varied storylines and interesting themes keep readers closely engaged. In addition to a compelling story, her style places you smack in the middle of Green Haven, Maine, so you can taste the salt air and feel the mist rising from the sea as you stroll with Jane down to the Harbor Café. There you can expect to be assaulted by Audrey, a punk rocker who waits on tables and runs a tight ship. "Though only nineteen, Audrey is precociously self-assured and comfortable in her own tattooed and pierced skin." She reminds me of the Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld."

Other fictional characters in FISHERMAN'S BEND assure you that Greenlaw based them on real folks she knows very well. Cal Dunham captains the Sea Pigeon and ferries Jane between the islands so she can save time and wear and tear on her ancient Duster. Cal doesn't say much, but he has mastered the art of listening and is very helpful as Jane tries to sort out her clues.

The Vickersons are Jane's elderly landlords, and they feed her mussels for dinner in a different recipe every evening after enjoying their extended cocktail hour. How charming and endearing they are! And, of course, there is Jane herself, who I suspect may have a bit of Linda Greenlaw in her, the quintessence of female ingenuity while being humble, caring and humorous. She tries to make the best of every situation and hopes that her run of bad luck with men will end as she begins having happy thoughts about Captain Dane Stevens.

Take heart. There's only one previous book to read and you'll be ready for FISHERMAN'S BEND. Prepare yourself for a treat.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding

This is definitely a mystery meant for someone in just the right mood, or a particular kind of reader. That is to say, it has a slow, meandering pace that reminds one of the very sort of rambling conversation one might have when talking to a relaxed person from a small town in rural Maine. It includes a great deal of detail about how each fishing- and boat-related task is done, and walks its way stoically through each part of every day, whether detailing a near-fatal accident at sea or a thought-filled drive down a country road. Most of the story consists simply of Jane's internal monologue as she observes her new home and surroundings and tries to unravel the events going on around her.

The peek into life among Maine's fishing communities is fascinating. The details regarding lobster fishermen, their families, and the ways in which 'outside' concerns such as drugs begin to encroach upon the countryside are very real. Unfortunately, the law enforcement end of the story doesn't hold up as well. Jane is supposed to be a big-city cop, but she comes off as naive and amateur. She keeps believing the best of everyone even when you want to shake her and point out what seem like obvious inconsistencies, suspicious coincidences, ridiculous scenarios, and so on. Then, both the author and Jane cheat: when she does figure stuff out she 'hides' it from the reader, despite the fact that we're supposedly experiencing an interior monologue of her thoughts as she has them. I found myself being frustrated with her for not noticing or figuring something out, only to find out later that she had, but simply hadn't let the reader in on it. In addition, well, without giving too much away, let's just say the bad guy did a couple of all-too-convenient things in the finale that were straight out of Cartoon Villainy 101.

The material on the local community and the very unusual voice in which the story is told are absolutely fantastic. They give it a highly unusual feel and it's really nice to read something new. It's just too bad that the law & order parts don't match it for quality.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain did not appear "ex nihilo" on 2 July 1863 at the craggy slope of Little Round Top. Neither did he disappear on 12 April 1865 following his magnanimous violation of military protocol at Appomattox Court House. In this volume, Mr. Pullen documents Chamberlain's life after the Civil War, demonstrating that the hero's character continued to illuminate all his life until his death in 1914.

Unlike Sis Deans', "His Proper Post;" Michael Golay's, "To Gettysburg and Beyond;" or Willard M. Wallace's, "Soul of the Lion," Pullen's text does not presume to be a complete biography. It does not address the question of what forces in Chamberlain's up-bringing formed such an extraordinary man.

Unlike Chamberlain's own books "Through Blood & Fire at Gettysburg," and "The Passing of the Armies;" or Michael Shaara's, "The Killer Angels," and Alice Rains Trulock's, "In The Hands of Providence," this is not primarily a book about soldiers at war.

The question that Pullen addresses is, "What becomes of the hero after the battles cease: how is courage displayed after the war ends?" In the case of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, and other great Americans, the answer is that true heroes continue to demonstrate the same commitment to service in peace as in war. True heroes demonstrate the same integrity and courage in their chosen civilian occupations that they once showed while facing iminent death.

Forget the trendy books on leadership and values. Instead, read Mr. Pullen's book. Be inspired by the story of an exceptional leader, who demonstrated his commitment to American values until the day he died.

Joshua Chamberlain's post-Civil-War life never reached the heights of his military exploits. John Pullen has done an excellent job researching and writing about Chamberlain after the Civil War, but, like Chamberlain's civilian life, it's not as gripping as his Civil War experiences. For die-hard Chamberlain fans and those interested in Maine's and Bowdoin's history, it's worth reading, but if it's excitement you want, read Killer Angels.

I don't think I could say it better than the reader from Huntington, Pennsylvania - what a great review! But I agree wholeheartedly, this book allows the reader to see Chamberlain *the human* and despite his faults and frailties, he remains someone well worth admiring. John Pullen, as always, has written a very well researched and very readable book that gives one a look at the whole person. For those who are just starting to become interested in Chamberlain, this book will give you an excellent view of his later life and accomplishments (all of which were achieved despite a debilitating wound!). For those who have been Chamberlain fans for years, this book will help you get to know him even more and give you further reason to admire him.

Joshua Chamberlain reaches through time and space and grips the imagination of all that encounter him. John Pullen, who drew back the shroud of a forgotten hero in his excellent book "The Twentieth Maine," has come full circle in this engaging and enlightening biography. Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top, burst upon the American culture in the film "Gettysburg." As if in answer to the question "What makes this guy a REAL hero?," Pullen has gathered the facts and presented us with both the man and the myth. Few heroes, stripped of legend, endure the light of truth. Chamberlain not only lives up to his legend: he invites further acclaim by the manner in which he lived, and the integrity of his character. John Pullen fills in the blanks of Chamberlain's postwar life, and shows us a man worth admiring. A true American hero, Joshua Chamberlain emerges unsullied, untarnished and quite human. Thank you, Mr. Pullen!

"Dinnie" Thorndike, ex-diary farmer and town selectman, also book writer, has written about a type of motorboat she likes. She and husband Phil bought one, a "lobster yacht" they named Sea Smoke. In it they cruised Maine waters and saw other lobsterboats and, about the same time, the urge to write about what she was seeing snuck up on her and she had to start writing. (This happens to us writers. Can't help it.) The book is the result.

Don't expect a scholarly epistle on the origins of lobsterboats and their evolution although Dinnie somehow includes an awful lot of such information. Nope, this book is what its title says it is-a series of lively interviews with those that design, build, operate, and race lobsterboats (race as in "up to 55 mph"). She gets people talking, she listens, she remembers, and it all goes down on paper so pat and smooth I can but envy her skill.

A chapter may be the result of talking to one person. Old-timers Leroy Dodge, and George Allen. Designers Arno Day and Spencer Lincoln. Builders-in-wood Peter Kass and Dick Pulsifer of Hampton Boat fame. Builders-in-fiberglass like the Young Brothers. Lobsterboat racers like Gweeka Williams and the Holland Family. (Did you know that Maine lobsterboats were invaluable support vessels in the unsuccessful effort to defend the America's Cup at San Diego in 1995? One was the famed racing lobsterboat Red Baron, which was used as a weather boat.)

Or a chapter may be Dinnie's assemblage of facts and stories about a subject. Rum-running. Old-time "fishing" (meaning lobstering). Lobsterboat superstitions. Lobsterboats as water taxis and tugs. Lobsterboats as valued family pleasure boats. Lobsterboats seining, hand-lining, gill-netting, and even lobstering.

Dnnie keeps up an easy flow of quotes, stories, facts, and fun. I highly recommend this book if only for the pleasure the reader will get from watching a very good writer stoutly march through a subject.

Informative and entertaining with local flavor from the men who build lobsterboats and fish them. Enjoyed it.

I wish the author had spent more time to the east of Penobscot Bay. With her repeated references to the designers and builders of Beals Island and Jonesport, I felt she should have spent more time there than she did. Interestingly, the oft heard complaint about the impact the modern, fast designs have had on the traditional good looks of the Maine lobsterboat seem to have come from those designers and builders whose boats don't make the "cut" at the seven-event lobsterboat race series held though out the summer along the Maine coast.

A better read than expected but not as complete as I'd hoped for.

Thorndike has assembled a thoroughly engrossing collection of solid information, individual viewpoints, opinions and tall tales about the Maine lobsterboat told in their own words by the people who know and love them best. Each interview unveils the character of the individual as well as the boats they talk about. Downeast life on the water comes alive in the droll understated humor that is their characteristic means of expression. The book is pure pleasure.

I have struggled through, and sometimes tossed aside, too many mysteries this summer written in first person and with/or a definite occupational slant, ie, herb growing, cooking, quilting, etc. The other end of the spectrum has gratuitous violence.

Despite the title, this is not a particularly "occupational" mystery. The characters are not petulant and temper prone, but rather, interesting and caring.

The plot is rather twisted and convoluted, and although the denouement seems clear at one point, there is one last twist in it.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a series.

Excellent read. Can't wait for more about this fascinating older sleuth.

Reading this book reminds me of reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a girl. That young sleuth was just like me and I was just like her. (At least, I would have been like her if my parents were as lenient as hers were!) The gardening, composting sleuth of The Maine Mulch Murder is just as credible. It is a rare treat to find such a familiar sleuth. Not only are the gardening details correct, but Amy's attitudes, habits, schedule, and other life details blend with integrity. She utilizes her practical reasoning skills, honed through gardening, to solve this murder. I really enjoyed it. [I would suggest that you NOT read the inside book flap. It told me too much about plot details. I think the story would be better if some of those facts weren't revealed until the book content reveals them.]

This was a delightful and quick mystery to read....which makes it ideal for an afternoon at the beach. The main character is a delighful 60 year old lady gardener who turns sleuth when she finds a body and becomes determined to find the killer. Along the way she reunites with an old flame and what happens next requires actually reading the book. The ending is possibly predictable depending perhaps on the number of mysteries you've read. But overall it was well worth an afternoon of relaxing reading.

Although the villain was incredibly easy to spot from the first chapter, I enjoyed this installment of the "Home Repair is Homicide" series very much. What puzzled me greatly, however, was the resurrection of a deceased character from "Wicked Fix." In that book, Wesley "Weasel" Bodine meets an untimely end; two books later, he's not only back among the living, he's behind the wheel of a large truck vigorously pursuing Jacobia! That brisk Eastport air must have remarkable restorative powers. Still, a fun read, as always.

Jake and Ellie discover a body in a closed room at Harlequin House during renovations. Ellie is sure she knows who it is due to stories she's heard and recognizing some items from a photo.

Then they find the body of Hector Gosling in this room. They consider closing the room back off and re-wallpapering so no one will know. Why? They feared Ellie's husband, George, would be considered guilty. They know he isn't, and Eastport's police chief Bob Arnold knows George's good character. But, they still know he'll be looked at hard.

What they didn't know was that Bob and his wife are out of town due to his mother taking ill. State Trooper Colgate came to town to investigate the murders.

George refuses to say where he was when Hector was murdered, so he ends up in jail.

Ellie and Jake begin to investigate Hector's murder. The fact that George refusing to let anyone visit him compounds the problem. George is attacked in prison. The fact that Ellie is very pregnant and concerned about George complicates matters.

Jake is also repairing her home. In between repairs, CPR classes, and Ellie's doctor appointments, the pair begin interviewing the various people involved.

When another corpse is discovered, they realize they need to work fast. Jake finds herself in danger before the true killer is unmasked.

I enjoy books in this series. They are a fast read. Cozy mysteries set on the east coast are a favorite of mine. Every time I read a book in this series, I wish I could visit Eastport, Maine.

Jake and Ellie are great characters. They are supported by a great cast of characters as well. They are all believable and created well. The new relationship between Jake and her dad is so well written.

I highly recommend this book.

While working on a long-abandoned historic home, Jacobia 'Jake' Tiptree and her friend Ellie White discover the body of a long-dead flapper--and a much more recent corpse. Nobody much regrets Hector Gosling's death. The man was a swindler and a cheat. But the problem is, Ellie's husband George has been making all sorts of noises about wishing Hector were dead. And the more the police look into it, the more evidence they find that points directly at George. Jake finally decides that it's up to her and to vastly pregnant Ellie to get to the bottom of the mystery.

It turns out that there were plenty of people with good reason to want Hector dead. His partner is scheduled to inherit everything, Hector broke up his maid's engagement, and he ruined a business deal for a wood-cutting couple who are barely making ends meet. Which makes for plenty of suspects for Jake and Ellie to investigate. The problem is, none of these suspects have more reason to hate Hector than George does, and all seem to have some sort of alibi for the critical times. Only when Jake puts herself in serious harms way does she finally figure out what must have happened. And by then, it just might be too late.

Author Sara Graves mixes home renovation with detecting in an entertaining story. Jake's largely disfunctional family (ex-drug abusing son, ego-centered ex-husband, and ex-radical bomber ex-husband as well as mobster ex-business partner) are over the top but add interest to the story. Jake and Ellie do some serious detecting and are well motivated through the story. MALLETS AFORETHOUGHT is definitely worth the read.

When she realized her teenage son was moving deeper into the NYC hardcore drug culture, financial planner Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree left her six-figure job and moved to Eastport, located on a barrier island off the coast of Maine. She moved into a fixer-upper that even years later still needs repair, had to make accommodations with her ex-husband who left a thriving medical practice to be near his son, and married a man who gave her the love and security her first spouse couldn't provide.

Now an integral part of the small seaport community, Jake and her best friend Ellie are just two of the volunteers fixing up Harlequin House for a fundraising gala. When the two women uncover a secret room, they open it and find two bodies inside. One is a woman who disappeared eighty years ago while the other corpse is the enemy of Ellie's husband. Jake knows that the police will have to arrest George since he told everyone in town he wanted to kill Hector and he will not give the cops an alibi. Jake starts investigating and her search leads to a suspect that plans to kill her so he can go on living in Eastport.

Sprinkled throughout the storyline are house repair tips that are very helpful and easy to follow, but also provide a sense of normalcy that augments the who-done-it. The heroine goes the extra mile for her friends in MALLETS AFORETHOUGHT, risking her own life to save the life of her spouse whom she knows is innocent. Sarah Graves is a very descriptive writer so the reader can visualize each scene in their head.

Harriet Klausner

My wife and I are planning our vacation to Maine for late Summer '06. We enjoyed the book, pictures, and suggestions for "great pictures."
We'll see how it goes!

David Middleton and Bruce Morrison have created a very insightful guide to coastal Maine photographic "hot spots". I am a professional photographer based in Maine, and while I am quite familiar with most of the places mentioned in this book I was pleasantly surprised to find out about others I had overlooked or was not aware of. (I also have a few secret spots of my own that did not crop up in the book..thankfully... but that's what makes this fun - a guidebook is best put to use as a springboard for further exploration.)

Photographers who live in Maine or are planning to visit coastal Maine will find much to enjoy here. You couldn't ask for a better resource. Even non-photographer types would do well to mine the gems of this book for general sightseeing and hiking tips.
Middleton and Morrison put you smack dab in the middle of great photo opportunities. A bit of a warning here: after you get a copy of this book you will feel a sudden and intense urge to be out on the Maine coast with your camera.

PS - Middleton's guide to Vermont photo sites is excellent as well.

We followed his book to the letter and a great book with valuable infomation. Would recommend this book for anyone traveling to Maine and who likes Lighthouses. Wonderful and helpful tips.

This is a good guidebook. It has enough detail/description to allow one to rationally select "likely sites" without being overpowering. However, there are an number of annoying editing errors present. (For example, every time the text reads "this place is 0.05 mile beyond that place", what's really meant is "0.5 mile". This is wrong in every place it's mentioned!)

This is a delightful book, which shows that there IS help for some species via the conservation efforts of dedicated environmentalists. And FYI, the efforts continue today. You can find out more (and view the PUFFIN CAM during the summer - morning viewing is best) on the web site for the project run by Dr. Kress and his staff - projectpuffin.org

I was very interested in this book and its account of the project since I was involved in its 3 year attempt to bring the puffins back Easter Egg Rock while attending the Audubon Camp on Hogs' Island. I'm so pleased that Stephen Kress has recorded his enthusiasm and experiment so that it can be shared with others. It will be a birthday gift to my great-niece. Alexandra de Grandpré

this was one of my favorite books when i was little. i checked it out at the library almost every week. the photographs are beautiful and lucid and the writing is informative (but tells a compelling story). this is a really great book for kids who like to learn about rare animals. another book, slightly longer but on a similar subject, is _The Wheel on the School_. It's about storks and has pencil illustrations rather than great photographs, but i think people who like this book would also like that one.

Hello. My name is Anna and I'm 8 years old. I think that Project Puffin is a very inspiring book and that the baby puffins are the cutest thing in the world. I am glad they got the puffins and other sea birds back to Egg Rock and other places. If you are cruel enough to think that wearing feathers on hats is a good idea, you will not like this book. People, like myself, who are concerned about nature will like this book a lot.

Randy does a wonderful job in letting the reader into his world; into his thoughts and into the moments which have made up his eventful life. Randy's book is full of stories which transcend a personal point of view from a "Good Ol' Boy" growing up in the state of Maine, to stories which anyone from anywhere can truly relate. His writing style is very easy-going (not to mention quite humorous) and the book's bite-sized chapters are perfect if you're just in the need for a quick read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the outdoors, has a fondness for the simple things or enjoys a fresh perspective on life itself. A wicked good book!

Great Book. This is filled with humor, great down to Earth Maine stories. Its a great, easy read. Thanks Mr. Randall.

This books is a compilation of tales by Randy Randall a Maine storyteller. Randall's stories have appeared in several Maine publications.

Enjoy the flavor of Maine camp life, encounter people and animals that are true to life and laugh with your gracious host, Randy Randall.

Sandbox Camp Tales from a Maine Storyteller

Somewhere in the wilds of Downeast Maine there's an old log cabin sitting on a sandy beach at the edge of a remote pond. It's the kind of place where folks come to relax and kick back and get away from the frustrations and stresses of modern life. We come here to play and so the cabin is named the "Sandbox." When the oil lamps are lit and there's a fire going in the woodstove and friends gather around the table to deal the cards then the stories begin. Everyone has stories to tell. Some seem pretty far-fetched sometimes, but others we know contain a kernel of truth depending on the reputation of the teller and the number of beers left in the fridge. One story prompts another and then old memories arise and before long the night is late and one by one the storytellers seek their beds. Everyone has stories, only in this book Randy Randall has taken the time to write them down; to capture for our kids , friends and future friends the stories we all know mostly by heart and have heard hundreds of times before. Stories about friends and family and far-flung relatives and beautiful places and being young and foolish.

At first he wrote the stories only for those who might come to the cabin, but then some people thought there might be a book in the making. So here it is. The book makes no pretensions of being something other then what it is, one man?s view of the world as he remembers it and sees it today. Like many good storytellers he might exaggerate a little, or a lot, beat around the bushes some, and be a little loose with his facts, but as he says, his purpose is merely to entertain--even if only for a moment. And if you are pleasantly distracted and find yourself wishing you could find that old cabin in the Maine woods, then this Maine storyteller has done his job.

Randy Randall is a native Mainer. He lives on the banks of the Saco River where he and his wife Jean with her family are co-owners of Marston's Marina. A few years ago he retired from a career with IBM and has been busy since then trying to get his money's worth from the English degree he earned years ago at the University of Maine. He calls himself a raconteur and apprentice writer working to improve his style and delivery. The result of his efforts is this first book of collected stories and essays. Among other things he is a registered Maine Guide, a Vietnam vet, a retired Scout Master, and he goes lobster fishing. When he's not pumping gas for customer's boats at the marina you can usually find him out on Saco Bay pulling his traps.

Flynn's second effort, SHOWDOWN, comes nearly 10 years and a lot of tough times after BEAM ENDS. While the book could have used a hard-nosed rewrite (there are some heavy-duty themes one wishes he'd developed more), it's still a fun read. Flynn tells the story of Seamus O'Thames, a young boat captain recovering from injuries and illness, haunted by a lost love and talked into taking an interesting mix of people up the New Guinea coast. Overall, it's a romantic tale, but there's a slightly disturbing bitterness throughout as well. Watch for Errol's comments about hero Seamus O'Thames' mother, and how the relationship between Seamus and Cleo develops. There's an obnoxious parrot named "Hedda" (as in "Hopper" the 40s gossip columnist)and a bratty child star. As with his first effort, BEAM ENDS, there's a lot of promise here, although the demons are beginning to close in on him. Had Flynn been slightly more disciplined and temperate, this novel might have succeeded critically. But never mind that now; put the Jimmy Buffet on, grab a cold brew and enjoy. Flynn's a great story teller and this book is worth a sunny afternoon's effort.

While the title seems made for a trite western film, this book could be nothing farther from that and is instead a happy surprise for the reader. It is very entertaining and well written. The characters are well-developed and nothing short of colorful. They seem to jump from the pages, while the descriptions of the geography and environment, sailing mishaps and local cultures provide a tactile picture for the audience. The author does a fine job conveying the varied emotions of the characters, especially those of Captain O'Thames from childhood through adulthood. There is plenty of action in the book and the plot and subplots move along well. This is a book that the reader will want to read again "in case the reader has missed something," and a second reading is just as much fun. This is a solid follow-up to Beam Ends, the author's first endeavor. It is sad that the author gave up writing extended pieces so early when he clearly has the talent and that talent would have been honed with more serious and dedicated production.

Errol Flynn's life was as fascinating off screen as it was on. He was truly a unique persona, with a wide variety of special talents that were often overlooked or underestimated. I believe he was tremendously underrated as an actor and unhappily pegged into the action hero role for most of his acting life. Perhaps this came naturaly to the studio since Flynn seemed to be a true-life action hero. I find it sad that he was not allowed the opportunity to do more comedy, since he was very good at it and had a natural wit that came through on the screen as well as in the books he wrote. You'll find plenty of it in this book. Though one can see some common threads in the characters and some of the stories in this book and the ones in Flynn's autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways," the characters and story lines here are fully, clearly and colorfully developed. Flynn definitely had a distinct talent as a writer. His powers of description are more than enough to make you feel that you are there with these characters and able to take an adventorous trip to places and experiences that most of us, unlike Flynn, will never be able to experience ourselves.

I would highly recommend this book, as well as Flynn's autobiography, for anyone with even a mild interest in Flynn himself, or anyone who just has a taste for a good, exciting, well fleshed-out adventure story.

Jana S.

The second of Flynn's book's once again set against the absorbing atmosphere of the sea, with its insight into the lives of a group of Hollywood stars set against a New Guinea background