Maine Books

My family has read these stories aloud to our children for three generations. Since the 1st edition of these stories is long ago out of print, it was great to see that a new compilation of these stories was published. Now we all can have a copy of these wonderfully funny stories to give to our children, instead of fighting over the scarce old copies!

I had never heard of C. A. Stephens until this book was given to me (thanks, Stuart!). I suspect the book is best consumed as a read-aloud. The book is packed with stories, and much to my surprise, almost every one of them is quite funny! After reading this book, two new entities were permanantly added to our family culture: "Vermifuge" and "Master Lurvey".

I had never heard of C. A. Stephens until this was given to me (thanks, Stuart!). I suspect the book is best consumed as a read-aloud. It is packed with stories, and much to my surprise, almost every one of them is quite funny! After reading this, two new entities were permanantly added to our family culture: "Vermifuge" and "Master Lurvey".

This notable book is a compilation of stories based on the life of an extended family living on a Maine farm in the mid 19th century. It gives a rare glimpse into life at that time. Our family felt that it was in the same league as the Little Britches and Little House series. It's a great book for outloud family reading.

This book is beautifully done! Our family grew up skiing on Sugarloaf Mountain in the beautiful Carrabasset Valley, Maine. This book, with breath taking photos, takes us back to the early days of development to today's big busy ski slope. My dad was one of the first skiiers who worked on developing this wonderful resort. It matters not wether or not you ski, this book is a great addition to one's library!
Mark "Bowk" Bowker

I've been a sugarloafer since 1964, the year I was born. Though out my life. I have heard the stories of Amos Winter,transporting my Mom and Sisters(filliettaz family) up the access road in old army ambulance. Seasons tickets for a family $60.
Skiing has always been part of my life, now with this book were able to connect both generations of skiers. thank you MR. Christie

I got this book as a gift. The history of this fantastic mountain unfolds from the beginning and keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. The price is worth the photos alone. J. Christie not only captures the essence of Maine, but also the mystique of this truly unique place.

" Outstanding ". I grew up at Sugarloaf and my Dad knew all the players in the book, including the writer. I remembered some of the best times of my life when reading this. I gave a copy to my Dad and he wept. He is 92 and wishes he could still ski. It brought back great memories for Dad and my Mother.

KUDOS! I'm a fan! That is to say, a fan of the Red Sox for many years, and now, a fan of author, Henry Garfield.
My own dreams with alternatives to my reality have sometimes haunted me beyond sleep. They are my "should have..., would have..., could have..." dreams. Henry Garfield has put that type of dream into the very words of his novel. Fact and fiction are awesomely merged by this author to create a page-turner of good entertainment. By the way, I'm a "teenager" with 40+ years of experience!

Can the outcome of a throw to home plate on a hot August day in 1967, by a Boston Red Sox outfielder of minimal talents, affect so many livesýin different ways? That is the premise of a remarkable novel, TARTABULLýS THROW, by Henry Garfield. This ýprequelý to Garfieldýs earlier novels, MOONDOG and ROOM 13, skillfully melds the crack of a bat on a baseball, the howl of a werewolf to the full Moon, and the stunning silence of time/dimensional travel into a unique coming-of-age story. Cyrus ýMoondogý Nygerskiýs love for the enigmatic Cassandra, for baseball in general, and for the Boston Red Sox in particular make for an unforgettable read.

Is the runner safe at home plate? Yes. Is he out? Yes. Is Cyrus, as Garfield says, ýThe best left-handed second baseman in Wisconsin,ý called up to The Show by the Chicago White Sox? Yes. Is he an error-prone player who can barely hit his weight and is released by the low minor league Beloit Turtles? Yes. But how can all of this be?

Believe me, Garfield pulls it off. If you like baseball, suspense, science fictionýor merely just want a rollicking taleýyou can't miss TARTABULLýS THROW.

Can the outcome of a throw to home plate on a hot August day in 1967, by a Boston Red Sox outfielder of minimal talents, affect so many lives—in different ways? That is the premise of a remarkable novel, TARTABULL’S THROW, by Henry Garfield. This “prequel” to Garfield’s earlier novels, MOONDOG and ROOM 13, skillfully melds the crack of a bat on a baseball, the howl of a werewolf to the full Moon, and the stunning silence of time/dimensional travel into a unique coming-of-age story. Cyrus “Moondog” Nygerski’s love for the enigmatic Cassandra, for baseball in general, and for the Boston Red Sox in particular make for an unforgettable read.

Is the runner safe at home plate? Yes. Is he out? Yes. Is Cyrus, as Garfield says, “The best left-handed second baseman in Wisconsin,” called up to The Show by the Chicago White Sox? Yes. Is he an error-prone player who can barely hit his weight and is released by the low minor league Beloit Turtles? Yes. But how can all of this be?

Believe me, Garfield pulls it off. If you like baseball, suspense, science fiction—or merely just want a rollicking tale—you cant’ miss TARTABULL’S THROW.

Though this story is magical (as any story about a left-handed second baseman must be), it's also realist in ways that baseball novels rarely achieve without getting bogged down in historical minutiae. Garfield's 1967 is 1967, and at the same time it subtly isn't; his fine manipulations of chronology and causality keep the reader off-balance in consistently fascinating ways.

Tartabull's Throw is the best recent baseball novel I've read, for any age group. High-schoolers will love it; but junior-high and younger should stick with Bruce Brooks or John H. Ritter for a while longer. Adult readers will really appreciate this novel; it may get them howling for more.

Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995, in large part because of this book. The poetry isn't archaic or highbrow or needing 80 pages of notes to understand. It's written comfortably and easily, about simple things from his childhood and life.

I bought this to take on a trip to Ireland, and it was fantastic reading it while walking the green meadows and rocky coastline. It breathes Irish air. If you have a love for the misty grasses, or simply enjoy rural, quiet life, read through these poems.

The poems talk of birth, and love, and death, of heather bells and boats in docks. Give them a try, and be swept away in their gentle language.

i thought i'd read a irish writer. i couldn't think of a better choice than heaney. the poems here are subtle, but infinitely brilliant. i love the way he uses mythology in some of the pieces, taking references from dante and homer. he draws from his family life, childhood, and his lifelong experiences to create poems that are wondrous in form and content.

Mr. Heaney's titled poem "Seeing Things" takes us to a fishing trip between father and son. It is a calming journey about childhood, youth and the bond between father and son, and poet and audience. I wish that learning to read poetry is as mystical and unassumingly peaceful as learning to fish with one's parent. My wish may be true.

Perhaps this book represents Heaney's finest poetry since 'Field Work.' It contains the magnificent sequence 'Squarings,' and a continuation of his Glanmore sonnets. The craftsmanship impeccable, the voice down-to-earth.

We remember especially his sonnet on Lent in which the poet deals with 'A fasted will marauding through the body,' and the poem "Wheels within Wheels," where a child spins the pedals of an inverted bicycle and notes "The way the space between the hub and rim / Hummed with transparency." Note the unobtrusive assonances, & the exact right words.

In one of the twelve-line poems of 'Squarings', Heaney counsels himself and other poets: 'Do not waver / Into language. Do not waver in it.' In this sequence, it is Heaney's happy accomplishment to have heeded that counsel in an exemplary fashion. Driving through an avenue or tunnel of trees, arching over a quarter-mile stretch of country road, Heaney sees the trees as 'Calligraphic shocks / Bushed and tufted in prevailing winds.' Could Thomas Hardy or Wallace Stevens have done as well?

Talking about it isn't good enough,

But quoting from it at least demonstrates

The virtue of an art that knows its mind.

I read this one after reading Plantation. The two books I have read so far by this author; Plantation and Unforgettable were both very good. I am surprised to find that this author is so unknow. No one I know has ever heard of her, and most of her books are out of print. I had to borrow both books from the library.

So anyway, if you can find a copy, I would recommend reading them, as I said they were very good.

Unforgettable is so different from Ms. Smith-Brown's last book Plantation. This romantic suspense kept me--as they say-- turning the pages! A warm, feel good novel. Makes one believe fairytales really DO come true. Looking forward to her next book.

Unforgettable is so different from Ms. Smith-Brown's last book Plantation. A romantic suspense that kept me--as they say-- turning the pages! A warm, feel good kind of novel. Makes one believe fairytales really DO come true. Looking forward to her next book.

Fern Smith-Browns Unforgetable is a joy to read. It's a love story with intrigue, suspense, chivalry and endearing characters you won't soon forget. I found it most enjoyable reading.

This is a great read. I truly enjoyed Alissa's characters Vicki Silver, CJ and all of their friends. It was great to read about how these teens have a goal and life and go after it! They do not let their young age keep them from solving the mystery of the stolen gem. These kids really have their priorities straight which is a reflection of the author's ability to put her beliefs into words in an entertaining manner that isn't preachy. It truly shows that you can be a faithful Christian and still have an exciting life. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and sharing it with all ages!

I grew up on the Hardy boys and liked Nancy Drew even better when I read her books to my two kids, so I was overjoyed to read on the back cover how author Alisa Wood began writing "The Stolen Gem" at the age of 14 and by the time she graduated from high school had completed seven in the series. Wow! If this novel is any indication she has real talent as a mystery writer, handling dialogue, action and the interplay among characters with the sophistication of someone twice her age. And she has one incredible advantage over them. She not only knows her audience, she was a recent member of the age group she is targeting.

That said, this saga steams forward on plot action rather than character development or atmospheric setting. We have a good idea of the thief a third of the way through and there aren't many surprises as far as a "mystery" goes. Typically it's, "Everyone split up and look for clues." Oh, there are a few red herrings, but I wish Alyssa had taken a bit more time with her heroine's attorney parents--she describes Vicki and her older sister's home life by saying, "The way their parents ruled the household was to turn everything into an argument, a legal argument, and `to the victor go the spoils.'" Now that is original and would be fun for the reader to experience first hand.

I have to say that I was caught up in Vicki Silver's enthusiasm and "can do" attitude. This is also one series in which girls know how to handle themselves in a fight. I even liked her over-the-top, foot steps in the shadows, paranoia. The major problem these undercover teen-aged sleuths face is that grown-ups, such as the police, don't believe them. There is a slight switch in Chapter 2 away from Vicki's 3rd person point of view to get some information across to the reader, but I don't think most readers would even notice; and what a good climax this story has! Two other things I particularly liked were ending the book with the friends going to a clichéd, male-hero action film (nice contrast) and the dedication, which includes many of the author's English teachers. They have a lot to be proud of. And the advice she follows--to base fictional characters on real people--serves her well.

Keep them coming, Alissa. Meanwhile I'll look for Vicki, CJ, Joe and Justin at the Ultimate Pizza. I know another mystery awaits them. Next time we adults will be paying more attention.

I just finished reading this book and want to say that the author has created great characters and situations that will make you want to keep reading through to the very end! Alissa Wood shows teens the value of friendship and keeping good moral standards while working to bring criminals to justice. If you're a teen reader or know any teen readers, this would make a great gift. I believe that Vicki Silver will appeal to people of all ages and look forward to the rest of the series.

Vicki Silver: Cruise Control

Vicki Silver is a Nancy Drew-type with a cool group of friends that help her solve the mystery and get her out of some dangerous situations. The book has action and suspense starting on page 1 and continuing until the very end. This will be a good series to follow! Neiman, age 10

"View from a Burning Bridge" is elequant, suspenseful, hilarious, and heart breaking. It is one of those books where you are instantly brought into the world of the main character. Once you begin to read this story, you won't be able to put it down, and the story stays with you. I highly recommend everyone to buy it today!

The infernal view of the title is that of Frances Treadwell, fleeing New York and the overmany fictions she told down there. Her old family place in Maine, however, offers a prickly refuge. Indeed, Sarah Goodyear's first novel spendidly upsets expectations at every turn. It's a story of seeking peace and quiet that gets disrupted by the crash of a meteorite, of renewing love that drops the lover into a deeper and scarier murk than before. Throughout, too, we're never far from good-humored insight, though always at arm's length from treacly sentiment. Perhaps most impressive is how Goodyear sticks close to her protagonist yet exposes all the young woman's contradictions. For aren't Frances' more dubious choices rooted in trepidation about what's new and revitalizing? And in that, doesn't she shares a potentially fatal flaw with the ingrown rural place around her? A debut to celebrate, "Burning Bridge" bears out the ancient wisdom that you can't go home again -- but proves as well that there's no other way to achieve wisdom yourself.

...if you've ever thought about leaving New York. I felt as if these people could be me or any of my friends. FINALLY, here's a contemporary book that shows wonderful, flawed but sympathetic characters in believable, complex relationships. To me, it recalled "Rashomon" and "House of Sand and Fog". Great book!

"View from a Burning Bridge" is elequant, suspenseful, hilarious, and heart breaking. It is one of those books where you are instantly brought into the world of the main character. Once you begin to read this story, you won't be able to put it down, and the story stays with you. I highly recommend everyone to buy it today!

We really enjoyed the book very much. It is an encouagement
to us. We apprecited the insight of the scriptures that he used
and the hope that he gives to us when we service God.It has been a blessing to us.
Love and Prayers

This book is an inspiration and provides encouragement for Christians. The author's salvation is apparent and the Scriptures are reinforced throughout the book. This book is wonderful and reminds us how important it is to be Christians. This book holds many profound and spritual thoughts, and it was very enjoyable to read.

The author is very profound and deeply spiritual. This book is an inspiration and provides encouragement to Christians. The author's salvation is definitely apparent, and the Scriptures are reinforced throughout the book. This is a wonderful book and was a joy to read!

Beautiful houses and a lot of different styles of houses. A great gift for anyone who has lived in Maine, visited Maine or just loves good architecture.

At Home in Maine: Houses Designed to Fit the Land is a showcase of Maine architecture especially designed to be aesthetically pleasing and fully integrated into the environment. Stunning full-color photographs reveal dwellings inside and out with a richness of texture and a smoothly harmonous design. The text by an architect with decades of experience offers insight into the subtle nuances of each house, noting its distinguishing features with a practiced eye in an easygoing, conversational manner that will appeal to lay readers and experts alike. A truly eye-pleasing book to page through, and a valuable resource for architectural design ideas.

This wonderful book by Christopher Glass and Brian Vanden Brink will simply take your breath away. I keep it by by bedside and turn to it on those lonely nights when I long for summer vacations in Maine. Brian Vanden Brink's photographs are crisp and amazing and are truly an inspiration to all novice photographers out there! Fans of Vanden Brink can see more of his amazing work at www.brianvandenbrink.com.

The author and I share a love for these types of stories. Small town life captured through minute details of the police log. An excellent read.

As a former Resident of Bar Harbor from 1975-1998 i find this a wonderful book for anyone who likes small town life. Plus most of my friends were in there at one time or another. Its a great insight into the Bar Harbor of the 70's and 80's in the Pre tourist trap years.

Bizarre and sublime bits of true life humor that only a small town can provide. I open it to any page for a poop long chuckle.