Maine Books

This book is the best book and perhaps the only book that gives special emphasis to seashells found in Puerto Rico. Scientific as well as popular listing of the shells is included. The textual description of the shells is quite adequate. Also, a general location of where the shells can be found is frequently included. On a less positive note, most all the pictures are in black and white and often the resolution leaves something to be desired. In all fairness, the book is in need of an update being last published in 1975. Since its last publication, several new shells previously unlisted or listed as "not found" have indeed been located. In spite of these few short comings, this book is still an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Puerto Rican seashells.

I found the short articles in this collection to be quite fascinating. When I first saw the book, I really thought nothing of it, until I opened it up - I couldn't put it down. I was compelled to read every single article, advertisement, etc. It's a fun coffee table book that's quite a conversation piece. If I hadn't ventured to Stonington, ME, I would have never discovered this great find!!

CEREMONIES is a big, ambitious book. It takes place in the mid-80s, and is one of the best accounts I've read of the changes in the gay movement particular to those years, changes that have repercussions today. And because it takes place in a small town in Maine, it focuses, in a way I haven't often encountered in gay-themed fiction, on how those changes affected people living outside of the major cities. The Matthew Shepherd-like murder that is the central event of the story isn't actually what CEREMONIES is about-in fact, it's quickly (though horrifically) dispensed with in the Prologue. The book is really about the reactions to this murder by a very diverse group of people who have the fact of their sexual preference in common, but often not much else; they are very far from being a community. The story is told by half a dozen or more narrators, some "in", some "out". They include an emotionally disturbed boy who was friends with the murdered man; a very proper widowed school teacher who has always hidden her feelings about women; an actor who is in town for the summer; a young lesbian couple who are raising a son together; and-to me, most movingly-the staunch, older New England types who have lived their whole lives in Cardiff, Maine, and arrived at a degree of comfort in living with their secret, a comfort they now find threatened. While CEREMONIES is a study of how a community slowly and painfully forms out of a group of individuals, and a lot of fairly subtle political issues are raised and thoughtfully discussed, what gives it real depth is this diversity of voices. Cathcart makes them all believable and three-dimensional, not only the more sympathetic characters but those who are not so sympathetic as well. None of them feels like an example or a type, they're all unique personalities, with their own flaws, troubles, eccentricities, and senses of humor. That makes the issues raised not just dry, political-journal matters, but facts that real people deal with in their daily lives, each in his or her own way, often with passion, sadness and some really convincing (and moving) moments of revelation and celebration. I would recommend CEREMONIES especially to younger gay people who may not identify as strongly as some of us middle-agers with the concerns and struggles of twenty years ago, and to straight readers who might enjoy a break from the one or two stereotyped gay characters that appear so often in mainstream fiction.

As an admirer of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, I've read much on his life - but most books deal precious little with the rest of his family. This book fills that gap. Although I felt that his relationship with Fanny & their children was slighted just a bit, that has been covered in other sources. I found Ms Loski's look at the other Chamberlain siblings - particularly Sae, who is mentioned so little in other works, & the hapless Thomas - to be enlightening, fleshing out my picture of JLC by placing him in the framework of the people he best knew & loved. I've recommended this book to several people already. Thank you, Ms. Loski!

A charming "cozy" -- an eccentric Boston blue-blood family summering in Mount Desert Island near Bar Harbor, Maine, a murder, and local customs. There's Natives (born there, not American Indians), Rusticators (those who come annually), and Tourists. There's also us -- (Bostonians), and them (Philadelphians). The viewpoint family is an artist, her daughters (one a Grafin -- look that up in your Funk and Wagalls), her grandchildren, family retainers, the timid secretary and her erudite little girl, and the mean woman across the way. No, I'm not rambling -- this must be digested before we get to who-dunnit. You might want to read it a second time to pick up the clues that are there, carefully imbedded.

Great fun. Read it as much for family dynamics and local color, as for the puzzle, which is a good one.

Unfortunately, succeeding books in the series haven't the tightness of this. While interesting, they lack the piquancy of the original.

P. S. Author B.J. Morison is a Native.

Maine, especially the coast, is a beautiful setting for almost any style of residence, but it seems Colonial Revival was made for Maine. This book does a wonderful job of presenting these buildings in their best light, the images are first rate and gorgeous. The text is highly informative and easy to naviagate. The craftsmanship on these homes is simply amazing and the settings for the most part are breathtaking. If you have any interest in Colonial Revival architecture or Maine in general then i highly recommend this book, I cant image anyone not appreciating this book.

If you're interested in this sort of thing as I am this book could be of great value however the price is unreal. I have a CD that does much the same for the entire country at a third the price of one state however this book is MUCH more accurate and shows county boundaries that only occured for as little as three days. The CD is also easier to use. That said I'll likely ask for the book as one of those Christmas presents I wouldn't buy for myself.

This book describes the life and times of a man whose life spaned the self sustaining lifestyle of the Maine north of the beginning of the 20th century through the depression and into a prosperous career in the construction industry. The chronical of this man's life gives us some understanding of the stuff that the dedication, determaination, self-sacrifice and patriotism of that generation we read so much about in books such as "Flag of Our Fathers". I found it instructive, humorous and very interesting.

This is one of a pair of books by Johnson which gives detailed information for cruising the coast of Maine. The companion book is Cruising Guide to Maine Vol II Rockport to Eastport. The books provide an excellent set of discriptions of the various ports and thier attractions including restaruants, marine supplies, fuel water etc. The books are loaded with charts that show prefered routes into tricky harbors with rocks and other obstructions clearly identified. A must for the cruising sailor who wants to explore the mysteries and splendor of the Maine coast.

Lt. Frank Dickerson (FD) was only 21 when he left his home to be a soldier for the Union army. From the evidence of his letters, he was a devoted son and a dedicated soldier until his death at age 24.

The book is a compilation letters to his father, the Judge Jonathan Dickerson, during his conscription in the Union army. Also included in the book is a forward, preface, and epilogue. Between the letters the editor/narrator, H. Draper Hunt, provides historical insights to assist the reader in understanding some of the events the lieutenant describes (and some he doesn't). It is this reader's opinion that the narrator's comments, while helpful, interfere with the emotional message of the letters.

The style and content of the FD's letters gives the reader a glimpse of the love between the father and son. While the term "dearest" (as in the title) is not present in many greetings, the word affectionate (or an abbreviation for it) is included in almost all closings. It was a secure love; FD was not uncomfortable with the distance between his postings and home, but longed for communication. He often scolds his father for not writing more frequently, but he understands the difference between love that demands presence and one that doesn't. His thoughts on the difference are explained, "You know very well I would like to see you [and you me] but it is impossible, and we don't make a fuss over it (p169)."

FD's initial communications with his father describe a confidence of mission, "The country needs the services of all its sons more now than ever.... (p21)." One knows from the narrator's comments, that the father encouraged such a conception in the son.

FD's initial descriptions and discussions of battle were naïve. While the Union soldiers were victorious, his misunderstanding of the Confederate position was shocking. He expressed moral superiority over the enemy because they didn't stick around to bury their dead, "the barbarous unhuman wretches left hundreds of their dead on the field and...effect[ed] their escape (p28)." One wonders what he thought would have happened had his enemy had not escaped. His understanding of the war and situation matures over time, but his thoughts of superiority over southerners never changes, "...the Tennessee people...are the most illiterate, and shiftless class of people I have yet fell in with... (p181)."

FD's opportunities to witness events are impressive; even in the supporting roles he plays. This reader finds his description of differences between General Meade's and Grant's entourages particularly amusing. While FD doesn't discuss his opinion on the differences, it's clear he respects General Grant.

Even in the early letters, FD hauntingly mentions his own health, "my health is better....(p20)." His protestations of good (and better) health lead the reader along until his tragic death. By his last letter, he is finally convinced that his illness will result in military discharge, "It will probably be impossible for me to remain in the army...on account solely of poor health (p182)." The narrator then describes the "race with death to Belfast." Sadly, the reader is told that he dies in his fathers arms in Boston harbor - never reaching his home in Belfast.

The mystery of what illness FD had was kept from the reader until the end. Consumption (tuberculosis) was the cause. Just as in Puccini's opera, La Bohème, the primary character dies slowly, coughing and loving. After reading all the letters, this reader is left viewing the loss through the eyes of the father. What loss and grief he must have felt from the death of his courageous and loving son.