Vermont Books

I am still trying to figure out why this woman did not question more about her husbands depression. I really enjoyed the book, but like anyone am confused about the people. These two led a more "by the numbers" life than I do. Just because they lived in the country does not mean they did not have the same pressures we all have. they just had them in a different way. Don't look to these two to start or continue a good marriage. this is not how to communicate.

I still wonder about the events with his sons (read the book and you will see). How could a father not go looking...??????

very interesting book, and highly recommended.

frustrating, but interesting review of how we are as people.

"Losing the Garden" is a love story. An unusual love story of a couple involved in an unusual life style. Laura and Guy Waterman homesteaded in the mountains of Vermont. Their personal detailed account of everyday life is fascinating. I happen to know Laura personnaly; as her father and my husband taught at The Lawrenceville School, her father was an emininant Emily Dickinson scholar. Because of this fact I was very interested in reading Laura's book and subsequently I rated it five stars. Every page was fascinating in many ways which included their daily rituals, and a loving relationship with a complex, anguished partner. I whole-heartedly recommend reading "Losing the Garden."

I had read "Good Morning Midnight" by Chip Brown relating Guy Waterman's life. I was interested in Laura's story. It was a good read, kept my attention and give new information about their chosen lifestyle.

I couldn't decide which character I disliked more in this book--the depressed husband or the enabler wife. Their marriage never seemed like one of true love to me. He treated her as a working roommate and she never (or rarely) stood up for herself and what she wanted. He was not a likeable character. His relationships with his children should have been an indicator to her that he was not capable of sustaining a long term, normal, loving relationship. And the strange, year-long waiting period before he actually committed suicide seemed ridiculous.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. It was depressing and uninteresting, and in no way did I feel empathy for the author.

Laura Waterman's gem, a memoir of her marriage to Guy Waterman, reminds me of the paintings of Vermeer. Her exquisite, understated prose conceals as much as it reveals in its simplicity. It's not a modern tell-all core dump. We don't hear about the underside of marriage: sex, personal hygiene, quarrels. This is instead a beautiful and heart-felt portrait of a lost love.

The Guy Waterman Laura describes in her biographical sketch was a well-educated and highly accomplished man. He lived with at least four diagnosable psychiatric conditions and had made a mess of his first marriage and fatherhood. Yet he continued on, with the support of Laura's unconditional love, until he could bear life no longer. After making sure Laura was financially secure, he died on his own schedule and in his own fashion.

Disturbed he was, yet what astonishing creativity and productivity along the way! Aside from his writings on the outdoors, which continue to be influential, among many other things he for years played a game of baseball in his head based on Milton's "Paradise Lost". This reminds me of the story in Robert Lindner's "The 50-minute Hour" called "The Rocket-propelled Couch", in which the patient (rumored to have been Robert Oppenheimer while working on the Manhatten Project) builds an imaginary universe so fascinating in its workings that the analyst takes it over and thereby cures the patient. It's a great tragedy that Waterman's experience with psychiatry, as described by Laura, was so aversive.

The Watermans attempted to live according to the 19th century Romantics. Wordsworth would have approved of their naming the trees at Barra. Their life was simplified, pared to the bare essentials. Every half-hour of every day was scheduled, though Laura describes never feeling rushed. But it was organized to be maximally productive, a necessity if they were to make their mode of living work. And the things scheduled were fine things: reading, writing, music; and the chores of 19th century living: baking, wood-cutting, gardening, syruping. Their amusements were 19th century amusements: reading aloud, writing letters, playing the piano.

The Watermans lived out their dream at Barra of life as they thought it ought to be lived. They might be accused of a lack of seriousness, and indeed much of Guy's activity - counting blueberries, baseball to Milton, climbing the peaks of the White Mountains from the four points of the compass in all weathers - can only be described as useless activity - in a word, play. Yet it is play of such a high order as to transcend ordinary life and perhaps touch the eternal. Guy is reported to have told someone that the only time he ever felt good was above timberline in a snowstorm. Perhaps in his last frozen moments on Mt. Lafayette he found the peace that had eluded him for so many years.

What about Laura? She had her own burdens to live with, and did better with them than most. About her marriage we learn only that love is its own justification. And that's all we need to know.

It's been several years since I read a book by Mr. Mosher, and I welcomed a return to Kingdom Common. These books don't have heroes or villains, just ordinary people living relatively ordinary lives, even if some of them are a bit eccentric. Talking to a statue near a town ball field might qualify as eccentric, but the statue, believe it or not, is essential to the plot, and seems perfectly plausible as part of it. This book is a homage to an almost extinct form of sport, the town ball teams that regularly played other local teams in their area. These were not pros, you understand, but local working men who just played for the love of the game. As a young boy, I remember going to watch my dad play softball for one of the local garment facory teams, and even then found it unusual that he played center field without using a glove! Intertwined into this local scene is the rabid Red Sox rooters of new England, fiercely determined to see their beloved Sox win their first World Series since 1918 (of course, now that they've won two since then, some of the urgency has appeared to be diminished, but not the enthusiasm). Read the book for the glimpse of small town life it gives you, the way ordinary people go about making their way in the world, and enjoy reading about the mythical World Series between the Sox and the Mets, while the Sox are managed by "the Legendary Spence"! It's enjoyable from beginning to end.

I am an avid Red Sox fan, I know what it is like to live and die with the Sox for more years than I care to admit. I loved this book, not because it is a story that includes the Sox, but for the way the author brings to life the small town in Vermont. The town of Kingdom Common, I believe, is suppose to be contemporary, but I think it captured small town New England so well that I could smell the hay and feel the summer heat and remember a time that is long past.

I didn't give this book five stars because of the characters. Most were unbelievable, but this is a fantasy of sorts, so I guess the characters could be over the top. I did, however, love the character of Gran, she made me laugh out loud several times and her observations of the Red Sox and baseball were a hoot.

All in all, an enjoyable read for those long days of summer. Go out in your back yard, lie in a hammock with a good baseball game on the radio and enjoy reading every young boy's and this girl's favorite fantasy about baseball and the Red Sox.

This is one of those stories that will stick with you and keep you smiling days after you have finished it. It is almost magical, in the vein of The Natural and other great story-telling.
I really loved this little fable and the way it is told. What a joy!

I am a fan of "coming of age" stories, New England of past years, and a Red Sox fan so this book touched all three buttons and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. Since I spent ages 10-15 in a small NH town I could relate to the setting and the offbeat characters. I read the book sitting on the dock of a camp on Lake Winnepesaukee, having arrived in New Hampshire to attend the 40th reunion of the graduates of that small town school.

While the reviews below give some of the major plot outline, I enjoyed Mosher's ability to create the setting, the use of some fairly interesting plot twists and "red herrings" keep it interesting as it moves to an easily anticipated conclusion.

Still, it brought back some great memories for this member of the "Red Sox Nation".

Waiting for Teddy Williams is a baseball story that reads like a great modern myth. It involves a young protagonist and baseball phenomena Ethan Allen, a boy from northern Vermont, who lives, eats and sleeps baseball. Allen whose namesake was a leader-to-be of the 18th century Green Mountain Boys, fought against the New Yorkers for Vermont and for himself. The real Ethan Allen, proved to be an early "Yankee hater".

Mosher is a fabulous writer and creative storyteller, producing images that are clear and mentally pleasing. Writers can often over use oddities in characters, introducing traits just to cause a stir within the reader. The characters Mosher writes are just quirky enough to be believable, interesting and loveable, remaining true to themselves and to the readers.

In the novel, Allen is the son of Teddy Williams a baseball man, ex-convict and drifter, who appears unexpectedly into the life the young Allen. Williams, no relation to the famous Number 9, spends time with the boy, trains him and develops Ethan's baseball talents, the ones that Teddy himself could only use catching for a prison team in Texas.

Mosher fills the book with memorable and outrageous scenes, lined with character-based humor. Allen's mother, Gypsy Lee works as an escort and a honky-tonk singer in order to put food on the table. Her work is introduced and presented as matter-of-fact, and often leads to hilarious images and situations. She is a strong, likeable character, the backbone of young Allen, and the novel flourishes in nearly every scene she is involved in.

As strong myths go, things can be too good or too predictable to be true. Ethan's rise to the Red Sox and how the team uses him would never occur. Mosher's fictional Red Sox would never have won anything based on the season's scenario Mosher creates. This though is Mosher's point: the Red Sox will never ever win a championship. There is numerous mentions of 1918, Carlton Fisk, Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner, and the Red Sox as the loveable losers that they are. It will take a miraculous improbability for a championship to come to the City of Boston. It is rather unfortunate for the book, released the same year the team actually did win the World Series.

There are also a few minor factual inaccuracies found (i.e. World Series Game Seven would never be a day game), but generally these will be missed by most, except the scholars of the game. Despite this, the book is well written and interesting. It is a well-struck work that curves just foul. It is a one-run heartbreaking loss that can still be appreciated by the lovers of the game as well as the lovers of fine writing.

Tim Gager/ Ibbetson Update/Sept 2005.

*Tim Gager is the cofounder of "the Somerville News Writers Festival" [...]

After watching the rather splendid movie adaptation from this book (renamed hope springs), I decided to purchase this vocal book. The premise for this book is around an English character who, after breaking up with his partner back in England, travels to a small US town where he falls in love, only to have he's ex partner come back into their lives. Although this book can be dialog driven at times it is still an easy fast flowing book that, as long as you are not looking for any great meaning, should enjoy.

Here is a novel that reads more like a play. It has virtually no narration and all dialogue. It is about an English gentleman (Colin) who gets dumped by his girlfriend (Vera) and comes to America to forget her. He somehow ends up in the small New England town of New Cardiff. He claims he stopped there because the town monument looked fascinating. Wherever Colin goes in the town the people are very friendly and curious about him. Every time he sees an interesting face he wants to sketch that person's portrait. The author does something quite interesting by including the sketches of each person in the book (reminiscent of Jack Finney's "From Time to Time"). Colin is "fixed" up by the owner of the Inn where he is staying, with a troubled woman who is a massage therapist in a medical facility (Mandy).

Mandy's skills help her to immediately help Colin forget Vera. Some of their dialogue exchanges are hilarious, reminiscent of Benjamin's and Mrs. Robinson's in "The Graduate" (of course that was by the same author). The plot gets interesting when Vera suddenly arrives and announces that she never really dumped Colin but through the influence of her sister, played an elaborate joke on him. So begins an interesting triangle.

The book is a lot shorter than it looks because it is mostly dialogue, which takes up a lot less on each page than a normal narrative story. Also, the dialogue for the most part is interesting and "different" from most books, which makes this a fun read.

"New Cardiff" describes the American vacation of London artist Colin Ware, who flees a failed love affair and finds himself washed up in the small town of New Cardiff, Vermont, home to an assortment of strange Americans and a struggling tourist industry. He manages to forget his troubles briefly, sketching townspeople and developing a relationship with another woman, but when his old girlfriend journeys from England to retrieve him his new life goes suddenly awry.

This story has much going for it. It's a classic love story complete with jealous rivalry, a long journey, and the promise (or threat) of marriage, but with quirky and entertaining plot twists to keep it fresh. The dialogue is rapid and often witty. The residents of New Cardiff are an amusing set of characters and provide comic relief.

But there's nothing in the story to provide comic relief *from*. The author never really gets into his story. The book is - despite its heft - actually quite short, with lots of blank space on each page, and is almost entirely composed of dialogue. The limitations of this format - no description or exposition - nearly overwhelm the story, and make any exploration of the characters or of the larger themes of the book impossible.

The book's continuous banter is surprisingly easy to read, and a hundred pages can fly by in an hour. But this ease and speed have a price: the whole book - all 354 pages of it - can be read in an evening and forgotten by the next morning, a frivolous waste of a story that could be so much more interesting.

Charles Webb is best known for writing the soulless novel that inspired classic film "The Graduate." In "New Cardiff" he tackles a somewhat softer story, but his minimalist writing and flat supporting characters make it a story as light and forgettable as a breath of smoke.

Colin Ware is an English guy who has just been dumped for another man. Miserable, he decides to get over her (in the tradition of old novels) by going to the US, and somehow ends up in the dinky Vermont town of New Cardiff. The inhabitants are a bit odd but friendly, and Colin befriends quite a few when he sketches their portraits. He also becomes acquainted with Mandy, a smart, supportive young woman who starts giving him therapy for his broken heart.

But then Vera -- the woman who dumped Colin -- comes onto the scene. She reveals that the guy she supposedly dumped him for was all part of an elaborate joke. Colin forgives her for her involvement in tricking him, but now he's got an awkward love triangle to deal with. Vera is determined to scupper his new relationship with Mandy, and Mandy is saying that she never wants to see him again.

"New Cardiff" starts off on a promising note, with a guy going to new places to mend his broken heart. And the basic plot is a classic one -- a love triangle where the third party has to deal with old and new lovers, as represented by the countries they come from. But it feels instantly forgettable. Webb adds nothing new to the tale, and despite being around 350 pages long, the story itself is very short.

But Webb's writing is not up to the task -- it's suspended somewhere between bland screenplay and not-detailed-enough fiction. No descriptions, little action -- just page after page of dialogue. And the dialogue isn't exactly Shakespeare either: "It doesn't really show." "It doesn't?" "We've had worse." "Than this?" "Much." There are stretches of dialogue that are ALMOST witty, but they fall short because they are so underwritten.

And as a result, the characterization suffers. There's plenty of chemistry and cute bits between Mandy and Colin -- although his tale of first having sex with Vera is cringingly bad -- but unfortunately Vera is a cardboard cutout. The villagers also are bogged down with basic personalities and nothing else-- the nosy guy, the Jesus freak, and so on.

"New Cardiff" suffers from a terrible case of underwriting and an overabundance of cliches. While it has some cute moments, it's underwritten and overlong, and nothing you'll remember.

One of the funniest, witty stories I've read in a long time.

Brit artist escapes collapsed love affair to regain equilibrium in a New England town. Webb's dialogue has not been bettered for sure-eared parody of English as she is spoke both sides of the Atlantic. I assume CW is American, and he lives in England, which explains his utter skill.

It's slated for a movie, and what a killer it'll make, and what plum parts all round.

A brilliant touch is to have sketches of the people that the central character draws and they are perfect. The temptation is to turn to the end of the chapter to see what 'Fred' (Webb's partner) has come up with. Every one a winner.

I've given it as a gift to so many loved ones and with one accord they've phoned to thank and congratulate on my unerring choice.

Of course, what else from the pen of 'The Graduate'? But this really *is* special and no one will be disappointed.

This is one of the best Archer Mayor books and I have read them all. My only disappointment was in the ending where I was left to wonder about the final fate of the characters in the subplot. It was hard not to wish for a better outcome because 2 of those characters were written so sympathetically as to give hope that second chances are possible. Was Joe honest with Nancy or leading her on? What happened to her after all was said and done? Did Mel receive just punishment or remain a threat able to haunt Nancy even from jail? When character development is done so well, a bit more closure is important. Looking at the other reviews, no one else seemed to feel shortchanged at the ending so I am no doubt a minority. I agreed with another reviewer about hopefully getting rid of Joe's previous long term relationship. Most of the women the "heros" get involved with seem to end up being a royal pain. It's good to dispose of them so the guys can have another interest, but they never seem to learn. The next one is usually just as bad.

Some mystery writers like to limit their work to a particular city. Archer Mayor's character, Joe Gunther, used to be confined to Brattleboro, but now that he's been promoted to the VBI he ranges throughout all of Vermont. Many large cities probably have more murders in an evening than the Green Mountain State has all year. Mr. Mayor is forced to dredge up evil flatlanders from New York who drift into Bennington and commit mayhem.

I am quite familiar with Southern Vermont, and read this novel with keen interest. Congratulations to the author for his careful recreation of towns, streets and buildings. Everything seems accurately described and his directions are perfect. (I can think of a couple big-time mystery writers who are very casual about geography- streets misnamed, directions backwards, etc.) Of course, no Vermonter would tolerate an author who didn't know the quickest way to Wilmington.

Joe Gunther may lack some urbanity, but he is a shrewd investigator with an appealing laid-back style. Archer Mayer's prose continues to sparkle. He's not on the P.D. James level, but certainly as good or better than most of those famous guys.

I loved the book as I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. I am originally from the southern Vermont area and feel Mayor does a splendid job of describing the weather, the terrain ,the locals and the "flatlanders" who infiltrate and others who are up to no good. The cast of characters is consistant and Joe Gunther is portrayed as a real human being. There is not a lot of action per se in this particular book but Mayor sets a mood piece much like Donna Leon in her observations about Inspector Brunneti in Venice. It is a wonderful armchair read and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.

Archer Mayor's Joe Gunther mysteries are always well written, and full of interesting (and realistic, as far as I can tell from occasional ventures to Vermont) local color. I'm giving this a full 5 *'s because two traits that had bothered me somewhat throughout the series are abated: First, Joe is in at least temporary remission from his self-obsessed, on-again-off-again long time significant other Gail. (Why can't New England mystery guy's find girlfriends that don't make your teeth crawl -- think Spencer's Sarah Silverman, and Roxanne in Gerry Boyle's Jack McMorrow series.) Second, unlike so many of Mayor's books, the action and mysteries don't revolve around bad guys from out of state or country.

The book has two threads of crime. First, Joe (who works for Vermont's fictional major crimes outfit, the Vermont Bureau of Investigation), drops in on what seems at first to be the "natural" death of Michelle Fisher, a corpse seemingly at peace and leaving no clues other than a missing cat. There is an obvious suspect, her dead husband's father who wants her out of the house he owns, but no obvious cause of death. Second, we follow the career of three smalltime South Vermont lowlifes, the hapless Ellis and Nancy and Nancy's brutal and dominating husband Mel, as Mel's penchant for violence escalates. Joe also goes to bat for longtime colleague, chief medical examiner Beverly Hillstrom, who is threatened with blackmail and political revenge, and they even advance to first name basis (astonishing as that may seem to long term readers of the series).

Mayor expertly tugs at our heartstrings as we follow multiple threads of love/relationship, as well as our whodunnit logic as we try to anticipate what's going to happen with Mel's posse and to figure out what happened to Michelle. The resolutions of both threads, as well as Joe's resolution of Beverly's problems, are satisfying and surprising. Altogether the best read in the series for some time.

In my quest for serious mysteries Mayor ranks near the top and it's a pleasure to find one I haven't read. Several strands this time including the end of a longterm relationship Joe has had and the possible beginning or change with a doctor he respects and worked with for years. The team looks into a possible suicide or murder and ironically this leads to the second crime involving drugs and small-timers trying to make it big and plus a sad love affair that ends with a bang. The Vermont scene is well described and the characters including the less important ones all come alive. I'm looking forward to more.

This was a fun read. If you want depth, read "Stranger in the Kingdom" by Mosher. But the characters in THIS book were too outrageous to take TOO seriously. Yet each character was remarkably interesting and quirky. A little campy at times,and certainly they behaved in unrealistic ways but that's what made this book fun. You had no idea what would happen next. I liked it- it was a great beach book.

This was a fun read. If you want depth, read "Stranger in the Kingdom" by Mosher. But the characters in THIS book were too outrageous to take TOO seriously. Yet each character was remarkably interesting and quirky. A little campy at times,and certainly they behaved in unrealistic ways but that's what made this book fun. You had no idea what would happen next. I liked it- it was a great beach book.

Mr. Mosher has a great love of time and place, and this love shows quite clearly in his series of novels about the fictional Kingdom County, Vermont, in the mid part of this century. I've read several of his works, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. When I began this latest one, I had assumed, because of its structure, that it was simply a series of short stories. Eventually I realized that it was, indeed, a novel, and a wonderful one at that! I loved the characters and the often bizarre situations in which they found themselves. Readers will, I'm sure, be way ahead of the narrator in discovering what is going on around him, but the charm of the writing, and the pure beauty of the story (and its perhaps too-sentimental ending) will enchant you. If you yearn for things the way they used to be, when life just seemed to be simpler and more fulfilling, you'll enjoy reading this book.

I was quite impressed with the first half of this book, the first I've read by Mosher. Each early chapter stands almost as a self-contained short story about colorful, but well-developed characters in a small Vermont-Canadian border town, mid-20th century. Some outstanding writing, with quirky details about family histories done especially well. Unfortunately, as the connections between the stories get developed, you can see from a mile away where the main story is going, and after all the characters are introduced you focus more on the dialogue, which isn't quite as well-written. Still, the strengths of this book encouraged me to read more Mosher. Stranger in the Kingdom was a huge disappointment--trite, predictable, and with nothing new to say. But I'm still going to read at least one more Mosher.

The Fall of the Year is a wonderful book, especially for dedicated Mosher Fans. I'd like to point out to first-time readers of his novels that his masterpiece is A Stranger in the Kingdom and I strongly recommend reading that first. Most of the people in the town and county where his books are set are featured in considerable detail in that book. That is the place to really get to know them, so that when you pick up one of his other books, you recognize the person being written about and have a better understanding of his/her character. Also, don't be surprised that he sprinkles many of his books with touches of the surreal or supernatural. You wont get a concrete explanantion of some of these phenomena, but it's obvious that Kingdom County (real life Orleans County, Vermont) is a magic place for him and he makes both wonderful and terrible things happen there. I'm proud to own every one of his books, I was hooked after A Stranger in the Kingdom and even led my book discussion group in it a few years ago. You can re-enter a time and place that is fast disappearing from this country; many things about the way of life he describes are already gone for good. But dont pass up Mosher, whatever you do. If you read this book and felt you didnt get much out of it, read Stranger in the Kingdom and then come back. All his books run through the whole history of the area and are worth having as collectors items.

I read this as a child and it gave me a wonderful perspective of the Loyalists that you may not get in a biased setting in the classroom. Also, the story of Pheobe and her journey was wonderfully written. It had adventure and self discovery all together.

it was so interseting!! you never know whats going to happen next!! there is so much going on you really have to pay attion!! You just can't put the book down!!

I found The Hollow Tree to be a wonderful but sad book. The book got more and more interesting as it went along...I also found it interesting because it relates to American and Canadian history. The book was exciting throughout...

Very good book! I have never read a book on where the point of view was from a Loyalist. I think that this is very important, to show that they are human beings too! Phoebe Shows courage and impluse as she rushes off to deliver a message with only the river for direction. She meets Jem Morrisay on the way and learns even more, about love and life. I won't spoil the ending for you, but expect the unexpected. AN altogether successfully told and written story. I totally recommend it for you historical fiction lovers (thats me!)

Phoebe Olcott's mother died when she was young and she had to look after herself and her father. He was a teacher in New Hampshire and in 1775 he went to war to fight for independence from England. He died and young Phoebe went to live with her relatives who were Loyalists. She is a timid girl but determined as she finds herself trying to complete a mission for her cousin who was caught and hung for being a Loyalist spy. She wants no part of this war that separates families and drives neighbours out of their homes with very little to survive on.

This well researched historical fiction tells the story of how one girl found the courage and strength to do what she believed was right unbeknown to the people that she joined as they traveled towards Canada where they would be safe. On the way, she proves herself useful by taking care of other young children that no one seems to want. She also finds a special love with Jem Morrisey.

Some people just have to grow up fast and in strange and difficult circumstances. Phoebe is a girl who puts many of the other characters in the story to shame as she rises through all her challenges to be a shining star.

I really enjoyed this book.

In a small town in Vermont, Graham Payton loves Jane Gregory, but Jane loves Ned, Graham's brother. And when it all goes terribly wrong, Jane flees Pendleton. Seven years later she is back with her son, Alex, who has never spoken a word in his life, and a heart filled with guilt. Is she strong enough to rescue her son from silence, to love again, and to believe, at last, in her own wild magic?

It's often easier to write a bad review than a good one, easier to explain why something went wrong than to tell a reader why a book made you laugh or cry or touched some resonant chord, why the writing took you into the perfect realm of imagination that all readers long for, but so seldom are able to find. "Magic Spells" struck me almost immediately as a book I wanted to recommend very vigorously. The more I read of it, the more caught up I became in the warmth of Yorke's affection for her characters and the beauty of her prose. But by the end I found myself disturbed by the resolution to the point where I had to rethink my enthusiasm for the story. The happiness of the protagonists depended, in the end, on the unhappiness of another decent, loving character.

As a result I found myself spending some considerable time weighing each aspect of the book more carefully than ever. The plot is simple enough, even complicated by magic which plays a subordinate role here: Woman overcomes the fears and failings of youth to find love with the right man. How often have we encountered that plot? And yet Yorke never allows her story to become old or stale. Rather, Jane's tale seems both painfully new and completely timeless; love is an old, old battle that each of us have to fight anew. Characterization is equally deft, reminiscent of Stephen King at his best, presenting us with a cast of players all of whom we recognize and yet each of whom is as individual as a snowflake. In a few paragraphs, Yorke makes us care about the joys and sorrows of her characters' lives, about why they love who they love, about why one man is drinking himself to death and another woman wears too much makeup. Even the most insignificant player becomes significant, a real person with a real life. This is, perhaps, one of the greatest gifts an author can have.

It's impossible not to respond to Yorke's prose; there's a simple, honest beauty to it that elevates even the saddest, most mundane life to a sort of nobility. Gestures are not only significant, they touch the heart. The moment when Alex's great grandmother reaches out to wipe frozen tears off his face, and they shatter like glass in her hand will stay with me forever. Yorke understands the value of the small thing, the details of life. And in the end, what weighed most heavily in favor of the book really was the very thing that disturbed me: The story is real. Not magic as some external power since in the end it's really just a symbol of the power of love, but the story about Jane and Ned and Graham and the others, about their love and their hate and their weakness and strength. Yes, people do love inappropriately. They do fall in love with one person and marry another, they do leave wives and husbands to take a chance on finding someone or something that completes their soul. Because of that and because the book is so beautifully, simply and powerfully written, I recommend it highly.

"Magic Spells" is one of the most extraordinary books I've read in months, and if you want to be reminded of how grand it is to be alive and how hard it is to be human, if you want to remember the joy and pain of real love, I suggest you rush right out and get this book.

Few books have captured my imagination like this one did. A big, wonderful, surprising and uplifting book of love and friendship. Ranks with Deborah Smith's A Place to Call Home as one of my all time favorites - and to think I literally stumbled upon it. I have only one question - why isn't a book this good being promoted by the publisher and published in hardcover like other books of its quality?

For all you witches out there this is not a book on how to do spells it is just a dumb love story.

One thing I liked about the book was that the magic spells/thoughts was a background theme unlike Practical Magic that tried to make the characters and the magic front focal spots. This book had the characters front and center, with the magic being a background thread of thought to connect them together and to better explain Esther's approach to many things in her life.

The character developments were interesting! Alex, the child, was so developed in character that you could easily visualize him and his facial expressions in your mind. Christy had you hoping Esther would give in to Robert's loving thoughts, and yet had you understanding why Esther hesitated to do so. Ginny was perfectly created, a woman trying to fight back her jealousy but at the same time unable to not let it show and fighting to keep something alive that was never really alive except on one side of viewing.

Having Ned "reappear" in the image of another person's attitude and appearance was a nice touch, making Devon someone you wanted to hate and yet allowed you to understand the catalystic effects Ned had earlier on the main characters being replayed out due to his appearance to the story.

The ending was not a suprise, but it was interesting reading the book to get to the ending all the same. The subtle twists and turns that they took to get there was interesting, although I wish the athletic competiveness was toned down between Graham and Devon or done more sparingly - I could also see why this was included as Graham was "fighting his past" and a "ghost" from it as well.

Although you knew from the start who would wind up with whom, it was still an interesting read.

The thing I liked most about this novel was the way the main characters rang true. Hasn't everyone loved someone they couldn't have? If you've ever loved the wrong person, or someone who won't love you back, this is the book for you. Jane and Graham each have a love they can't shake, and I kept reading to know how they'd come through. The last half of the story has you cheering for them. I loved this book.

I thought that Preacher's boy had an intresting first couple chapters but after that i started to notice it got boring. i think there should be more of a plot in the book. it is basically about 2 boys named robbie and willie who pull pranks and get in trouble. After Robbie meats Zeb and Vile it gets a little better but I still think it could of been a little more well-written.

I thought this book only disurved 3 stars because I really didn't get into it that much. I almost just sat it down and found a new book after reading the first chapter of it. I mean all that was in it was that Robbie and his friend Willie were basically in some kind of prank pulling contest. Them against the Weston boys. It sounded really boring. Anyway it ended up getting a little bit more interesting when Robbie's bigger brother Elliot, who is kind of mest up in the head, gets lost on the forth of July. Then the next day when Robbie and his friend Willie were supposed to be going fishing Willie Grandma has him working. So Robbie to there secret hideout and that's when he finds so poor people living in their now. That's all I can really tell without telling the end.

At first I was skeptical about this book because in the beginning of the book Robbie and Willie just play pranks on the other townspeople. I soon realized I was wrong. It was jam-packed with action,adventure,love and care. It made me feel as though I was joining Robbie on his big adventures. This book is thrilling and is a must-read. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. This was a swell read.

I picked out this book to read because of the author. I had read 'Bridge to Terabithia' two years before for school and I loved it, so I figured that anything else written by Katherine Paterson would be just as good. I was right. I started the book because of the author, and I finished it because of the story.
Preacher's Boy is about a young boy in 1899 who thinks that the world will end with the year. His father is the town preacher, but Robbie, the boy, thinks that the ten commandments are too confining. He thinks that since he can't do wat he wants while he is a Christian, he will become an atheist. Unfortunantly, he doesn't know what they are areally called, so he spends the entire book calling himself an apeist.
This book is filled with laughs and funny situations, many of which made me laugh out loud. I would definantly recommend this book to anyone that wants a good laugh. This book is probably best for ages 7-14, although I think that anyone would enjoy it.

A book by Katherine Paterson is always difficult to judge. The main reason is because she has written a truly great book--"Bridge to Terabithia"--and a number of others that are nearly as great. Because of this, there is a tendency to be a tougher judge of her books as if every new novel should be a masterpiece. Fortunately, Ms. Paterson lives up to the challenge time after time.

I am constantly amazed at how well Ms. Paterson is able to write in the voice of young person, creating very realistic characters. Though a bit older myself these days, I can identify very well with Robbie as he stuggles with the difficulties in his life. I am particularly impressed with the depiction of Robbie's relationship with his father and how he struggles to understand him. Also, the difficulties he has in being himself while at the same time trying to be the son of a good man who has an important and public job in his hometown.

Though I don't think any good book is really gender-specific to an active reader, I can see where young boys would find this book speaking to them a little more. Still, I would encourage anyone with a love of good literature to read this book. It is a stong depiction of an interesting character.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Anna Salter. I thought her character Michael was likable despite having some quirky almost neurotic character traits. I found that I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough towards the end.

Fault Lines is the second in what I hope will be a long line of stories involving Dr. Michael Stone. This time Dr. Stone is really the main target in the story. No one has ben killed...yet. Within the first chapter we learn the our favorite sadistc child molester has been let out of prison on a technicality. This puts Michael in a dangerous position because after several "interviews" with Willy, many of which she has recorded, he has admitted to, and actually bragged about a lot more than was ever uncovered in court, etc. Obviously with the possibility of a retrial, her information could be damaging to his case. Her best friend Carlotta and her part time lover/police chief, Adam, would like her to run and hide. But, as anyone who has read her first book, Shiny Waters, will know, Michael does not take orders well. And she certainly does not "run and hide". There is a rather simplistic game of cat and mouse that Michael and Willy play via email, and the impending confrontation. There are also several important clients of Michael that play key roles in the story. Once again, we learn more about Michael and her psyche. We watch her friendships and relationships, grow and suffer huge violations of trust. You find yourself understanding her and why she does what she does and yet at the same time comiserating with her loved ones and their great desire to just shake her sometimes. The climax of the book does not leave us disappointed in the slightest. That's 2 for 2 for Anna Salter

Fault Lines and Dr. Michael Stone could lead to a television series. Why? Child molester, tried and convicted, exits prison after serving his term. He plots his course against Dr. Stone, who put him there in the first place, and her clients. Does he win, or does the Doctor? Developed client histories and background scenes of the forensic psychologist, Dr. Stone, would make for a very interesting and informative series. The book is both well written, and a "can't put it down until the end" story. Bravo to Anna Salter and let's put it on the screen!

Anna Stalter works with victims of sexual violence in her profession as a forensic psychologist. She has even produced educational videos about sexual predators. Why then, does she use these types of people as a vehicle for entertainment? I can't even begin to understand what her motivation is.

This book is about a sick and violent individual, who gets his jollies from torturing children. I couldn't find anything redeeming in it. Particularly gruesome was the scene where the sexual predator described to one of the characters how he was going to mutilate her genitals. What is the point of this type of novel? Stalter should be ashamed of herself.

Psychologist Michael Stone is being challenged by a man she had studied to learn about deviant personality when he was in prison. He is unexpectedly released and Stone's world is starting to turn upside down. From suspecting that her office is bugged to a number of other diabolical efforts to get under Michael Stone's skin, this taut mystery is totally engaging. This is an easy one to read from cover to cover in one sitting.

Vermont is a beautiful state and most of that beauty is best seen from the back roads (often unpaved) that lead over mountain and to villages. The Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer is standard equipment when I travel by car. I keep one in my truck for when in my home state of Tennessee and always get one when traveling to explore a place I have never been. I read maps well and teach map and compass use. This book is essential to finding your way around. Buy it

I loved this atlas -- until I began trying to drive on roads that weren't there. It is obvious Delorme hasn't taken the time to test and update their information. Many roads that show on the map end partway through in someone's yard, or turn into impassable trails (even for an SUV), some of which pass through private property. Delorme, do your homework!

I've bought various states' Atlas & Gazetteers, and have to say that I don't plan a trip without one anymore.
If you want to go 'off the beaten path' and still have a clue where you are, these are the best tools. A paper map from the convenience store just doesn't cut it. The front section of these books is terrific for whatever activities you're interested in from biking & hiking trails to campgrounds, amusements, and natural attractions/gardens/museums...it's all there.
Oh, and a side note: These are VERY good tools to hand your kids in the back seat, as they can literally follow along (road curves, driving over a RR track, along a lake or river & everything!) as you're driving. No more "are we there yet?" because they KNOW where we are! Good tool to get them used to reading a road map; everything is "blown up" instead of just lines like you'd see on a regular road map.
Very, VERY good resource!

Great map, lots of detail that I was looking for. The obvious drawback (and the pay-off for the detail) is it's size - not exactly a handy map for referring to in the car! It is a worthwhile buy though.

I bought this map book prior to my recent June 2008 visit to northeastern Vermont (Northeast Kingdom). I was disappointed. What is shown as a road is actually an impassable trail. Roads shown to connect sometimes do not. Needless to say, I wasted a good amount of time and fuel. You might be the first person to ground truth the maps. Good luck!