Maine Books

I greatly enjoyed this book, which gave a truly unique and rare perspective into female life in early Colonial New England. Thoroughly absorbing the chapters is truly co-dependent on simultaneously reading through the footnotes at the back, so know in advance that there will be a lot of flipping back and forth, but that this will enrich and enhance the interpretation and absorbability of the diary. I love firsthand historical accounts, and now have a renewed appreciation for early colonial life, particularly that of the female voice in this era, and even moreso women in childbirth in rural Maine in the winter (!). It almost seems voyeuristic to read Martha's diary, knowing that she likely never intended for it to be read by anyone else, let alone 220+ years later, but her voice is fluid, peaceful, humble, and dutiful to her family and her society. If you enjoyed this, also rent or buy the PBS documentary video of it by the same name, which has period re-enactments, and live narration by the author as she explains the journey of putting this work together. A fabulous read, ripe for discussion particularly in examining the parallels between this life so long ago, and our own today.

I know this is a well respected book but in all honesty I found it to be very repetitious and boring. There are only so many times you can listen to complaints about colic and very similar sounding births before you get bored to tears. While writing the history of ordinary people is important, Ballard lived a boring and uneventful life. Unless you want to hear about the stories of dozens of births steer clear. And i'm a phd student used to dry books.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's A Midwifes' Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 demonstrates that an ordinary person's life can shed light and produce a more rich historiographical picture of a time period than solely focusing on prominent figures and events of history. The main thrust of this work is to debunk previous opinions of the diary that found the work not very useful in presenting important matters of historical interest of colonial times such as historian James W. North's comment "brief and with some exceptions not of general interest" or Charles Elventon Nash's comment ""trivial and unimportant...being but a repetition of what has been recited many times" and concluded "Like many diaries of farm women, it is filled with trivia about domestic chores and pastimes." (pp. 8,9) Ulrich debunks these previous interpretations of Martha Ballard's diary by showing that the diary exposes the social history of not only women in rural colonial times but addresses the bigger picture of colonial life in general through the daily activities of herself, her family, and neighbors in the community. Ulrich compares Martha Ballard's diary with three other documents from the community and time period Martha Ballard lived in. These documents were specifically from Daniel Cony who was a medical doctor, William Howard a wealthy businessman, and Henry Sewall who was the town clerk. She uses these documents to fill in information not mentioned in Martha Ballard's diary and also as a counterbalance of the men's perspective of events in Hallowell and what they felt was important to document verses a women's perspective of what Martha Ballard thought was worth documenting in her diary. Ulrich then extrapolates from these sources an interpretive picture of colonial life. On the one hand the heavy interpretive nature of this book forces the reader to wonder if this interpretation is close to the mark of accuracy or flawed in someway. On the other hand Ulrich heavily used other documented evidence to support her interpretation which lends credibility to her interpretation. An amateur historian would have a difficult time painting this picture of colonial life; however, Ulrich seems to do this with great expertise and eloquence. The expertise and eloquence is obviously derived from her academic career which has focused on the social history of women during the United States colonial era.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's academic life has consisted of previously being a professor of American history at the University of New Hampshire and is currently a Phillips Professor of Early American history at Harvard University. Ulrich's main research area has been in the fields of early American social history, women's history, and material culture. Some of Ulrich's work in this area include Good Wives: Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Early New England, 1650-1750 (1982), A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 (1990), In The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Making of an American Myth (2001), and Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History (2007). Ulrich certainly has over twenty years of research in the area of social history in the colonial era to make her an authoritative author on the subject and this is demonstrated in her work A Midwife's Tale in which she not only used evidence from documents from that particular community in the time period, but also used her historical imagination, (sometimes used to heavily), to interpret the diary entries to give a vivid depiction of both Martha Ballard's life and colonial rural life in general.

Ulrich formatted each chapter by presenting excerpts from Martha Ballard's diary and then spent the remainder of each chapter comparing these entries with the other written accounts from that time and using an interpretive approach to decipher what the significance of Martha Ballard's entries meant with regards to the life of Martha Ballard and the community she lived in. Ulrich didn't include the entire diary of Martha Ballard in her book and selectively pulled excerpts from different parts to illustrate the different social factors playing out in the daily life of Martha and the Hallowell community, but did include other entries from the dairy within her evaluation to support her interpretation. Obviously Ulrich could not have included all the entries of Martha Ballard's diary and analyzed all sections due to the constraints a book length imposes, however, some interpretations were based on an entire reading of the diary and the reader is not privy to this broader context of information. Ulrich acknowledges this fact when she stated, "Someday the dairy may be published. What follows in no sense is a substitute for it; it is an interpretation, a kind of exegesis." (p. 34) Ulrich admittedly states this is only an interpretation in which Ulrich seems to read in between the lines and/or provides an interpretation based on what was not said verses what was explicitly said due to the fact the entries were brief, mostly lacked an opinionated tone, and were mostly matter of fact daily details. Even though the other sources of evidence backing her interpretations were thorough there is no true way to know if Ulrich's interpretations are mostly correct, somewhat correct, or completely flawed unless the reader had read the entire dairy and other documents she consulted herself. This leaves the reader to just take Ulrich's word for it that her interpretation of the diary entries are as accurate as they can be. Ulrich in some cases may have used her historical imagination a bit excessively, but overall she presents enough evidence from other sources to make her interpretation for the most part as credible as it can be and never the less very enjoyable to read.

Please disregard the 2 stars in the rating. It is a 5 star book. The system automaticaly put 2 stars and would not let me change it.

I can't say enough about how wonderful this book is and how much I enjoyed reading it. This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone in the medical profession. It is a fascinating account of an amazing woman facing the challenges of life in early Maine as well as the every day facts of life necessary for survival. She contributed immensely to life itself as she was the midwife to hundreds of, if not more, women and the birth of their children.

For myself, I used it as a genealogical tool because that is the area of the country where all of my ancestors came from. It is facinating to know the trials and tribulations as well as the joys of our ancestors.

Priscilla Paul
Memphis

Interesting diary of a Maine midwife. Not the easiest read but enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book. It took about 150 pages to really hook me, but once I got into it I finished it in about 3 days. I've read all of his books and have enjoyed them all. He is definitely an acquired taste, though.

I have read all of the Charlie Parker books and have enjoyed them all. But this one seems to have toned down the violence somewhat and deals more with Parker's demons from the past. Still an exciting story, with Parker's friends, Lewis and Angel, having a somewhat smaller role in the plot than in previous novels. This time the guys are after a group of child abusers which is always a difficult subject to write about. However Mr. Connolley handles it very well, with out getting too graphic he is able to create a suspenseful story and a spell binding plot that will keep you guessing until the end.

Not to give anything away, but I had the feeling this may be the last Parker story. I hope not since it makes exciting reading and many unusual plot lines.

I anxiously await the next Parker novel.

Charlie Parker a former police detective, now private investigator is hired by Rebecca Clay to make sure a recently freed convict named, Merrick, stops harassing her. Merrick's daughter (the only person in the world he ever truly loved) disappeared as he served time in prison. Before Merrick's release, Rebecca had declared her missing father, a disgraced child psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Clay, dead. Merrick is convinced Dr. Clay knows something about his daughter whereabouts and that Parker's client is lying about her father's demise. He believes Rebecca knows where Dr. Clay is hiding.

After meeting Merrick face-to-face, Parker is reminded of his own past and empathizes with the man. Parker's engrosses himself in the case believing if he can find information that can assist Merrick find his daughter; he would stop terrorizing his client. Parker soon uncovers a history of sexual violence and maltreatment to children. The thin line between normalcy and the paranormal merges as Parker crosses paths with an old adversary he had hoped never to meet again.

John Connolly takes readers on a psychological thrill ride that blends a perfect mix of mystery and the bizarre. I highly recommend The Unquiet to anyone who enjoys a good hard-boiled detective novels and the supernatural.

The Friday House
Xiii
Lost Hours

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!

this is a very good book... even though it is fiction, so its not "true", it knida hits you right in the heart, in the way that matters. i'd recommend this to anyone who likes stories about love and animal bonds.

This story seemed to me to be more about the woman than the dog. It was still a short story that kept my interest.

A beautiful book. Other reviewers have summarized the plot. There's a magnificent description of grief as Rocky deals with the shocking loss of her husband. I loved the way Rocky relates to the people in her new world, especially the teenager. And I loved the way the plot unfolded, with the author moving easily across viewpoints. She even got inside the head of the dog without degenerating into mawkish anthropomorphic sentiment.

This novel fits a sub-genre of women-oriented books: the woman who's reinventing herself and starting over. It follows plot conventions of the "smart woman in small town" genre. Having lived in a small town myself, I am amazed at how easily these single women find soulmates and romantic relationships so quickly and easily. But here it's plausible.

I didn't want this book to end. It feels like the first in a series and I hope that turns out to be the case.

Animals have a way of finding that void in your heart. They can teach you to love for the very first time, or to trust your heart and love again. This story does just that. It draws you in from the very first page and never lets you down. Great read.

I just loved this book! Once I started reading it, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. My favorite character was Lloyd, of course, but everyone in it was likeable and memorable. I could wholly relate to Rocky and thought Sheehan did a marvelous job making you care about her. Don't be afraid to buy this one. It's a good entertaining read!

I heard about this book on NPR, was interested, and promptly forgot about it for about a year before finding it on a random bookseller's table. I could not have been more pleased with Corson's book and have recommended it profusely. He weaves together two strands of lobster fandom: scientists attempting to figure out how lobsters tick and a small lobstering village in Maine more concerned with the economy of the lobster. Skillfully alternating between them, readers get a more comprehensive view of the larger lobster community web. For example, after a discussion of who has married who and had children on Cranberry Island, we learn how lobsters choose their mates and procreate.

The fishermen and scientists do not always agree, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy to read and fascinating Corson made this information - served on a platter with a side of melted butter (and no, this book is not intended to force anyone to stop eating lobster). Whether you are a lobster enthusiast or, like me, you look at lobsters and wonder what possessed early humans to try and eat such an ugly animal, this book is sure to entertain and inform.

The author has quite a way of making what you would expect to be a pretty dry subject utterly fascinating. I couldn't put the book down during the lobster sex part. I can't wait to read something else from the author.

We are not lovers of lobsters to eat or science wise, they are ok but not an absolute favorite to eat. However, in July we met the authors Mom at Seawall on Acadia National Park in Maine. She told us about her sons book, she was a good salesperson. We are reading it together for a hubby/wife time together - and we are surprised how it is so well written, very interesting for a subject that I wondered if I would even finish two chapters of, but it is engrossing even for those with a medium interest in learning more about Lobsters, Lobstermen, etc. Insightful too.

My father saw a review of this book and asked for it. He loved it! He's in a nursing home and tells everyone who visits him about this great book and how fascinating it is - he had me buy more to send as gifts to friends and relatives.

This book is fantastic; a great read, very informative and a real page-turner. Total E-Z read too. Recommend it in hardcover; you'll want to keep it on your bookshelf forever.

OLIVE KITTERIDGE was an audio book I picked up on a whim, as I generally do not like short stories. I am so happy I listened to this one. It was such a treat.

In this book of short stories we are introduced to Olive Kitteridge, a retired math teacher in Maine. She's married to Henry, a sweet pharmacist and they have one son. Olive, is something else, quite a character to say the least. She is large, stubborn, highly opinionated, and enjoys speaking her mind. The thirteen stories concern her relationship with all the people in her life: husband, son, neighbors and her former students. Olive is such a complex and feeling individual, more that it may seem on the surface; she struggles with the changes in her life.

What I loved most about this book was that the characters were everyday people with issues you as a reader/listener could relate to. Olive was so memorable; at the end of the book I wanted more of Olive.

Elizabeth Strout amazes readers not just with her ability to make words dance across the page but also with her efforts to grasp the reader's heart within her gentle hand.

These stories, unified by setting and characters like Olive, are filled with much sorrow. We cry as the characters cry in private. Strout's words have the ability to break one's heart. But within these New Englanders' pain, we recognize our own agonies, our own disappointments, our own regrets.

Though the characters' sorrow weighs us down, it is only because the writer can touch us so deeply. I cried. I laughed. I shuttered. But only because I was moved. And, in the book's final chapter, I smiled at Olive's hope. I saw a new beginning for her and for us all.

This piece is the first of Strout's works I have read, and I crave more of her writing.

I can't remember the last time I read a book I loved so much. I couldn't stop reading--even though I wanted to, to slow down to notice how incredible the writing is (so incredible you don't notice it) and to make it last. My only consolation as I came to the end was that I could start it again--which is what I did.

This lovely book makes me grateful I can read. Each beautifully written story works as a set piece, but what impressed me so deeply about the collection is how each new story builds on the previous one, until the accumulated power nearly takes you off your feet. What an accomplishment. Olive is blunt in appearance and character; she is unlovely and often mean; and yet we cannot help but want to understand her, owing to the shimmering force of Elizabeth Strout's empathy. --Monica Wood

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.