Maine Books

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

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

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

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a series.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I highly recommend this book.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Harriet Klausner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On behalf of the author, found on his blog:

And so my "journey of shameless self promotion" continues.
On Friday I sold nine more books to my IBM friends when
we all got together for breakfast. So far as I know the book
is now available at :
Borders Books (Brunswick and the Maine Mall)
Gulf of Maine Books (Brunswick)
Shermans Bookstores (Freeport_
Nonesuch books (Saco, Scarborough)
The Nestling Duck (Pine Point)
Bookland (I'm not sure about this one)

Commentary from Mighty Buffalo:

A wonderful snapshot of everyday people living life day to day in this wonderful state. An uplifting view of family and friends. At last, a fun and positive interpretation of how "life should be."

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

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

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

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

Sandbox Camp Tales from a Maine Storyteller

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jana S.

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

This book contains great ideas for christmas decorating, gifts, and cooking. Most of the projects are very easy to do and use things that you already have around the house, or from recycled material. This is a great book

Beautiful photographs. Instructions are easy to follow and supplemented with photographs. I was disappointed that the recipes emphasize use of the microwave oven. (We have opted not to have a microwave oven). They don't give parallel instructions for conventional ovens. Otherwise a great book. Everything from traditional to creative new crafts. I'm glad I bought it.

This is one of the best Christmas books I have ever found. There is a second one called Traditional Christmas Two that is also very good. They have everything from decoration crafts and ideas to gifts that you can make to recipies for those holiday meals and intertaining. I had both books and lost them in a move and did not rest until I managed to replace them. They are great!

I love this book. It has something for everybody. Even people who don't think of themselves as crafty will enjoy this book. And there are so many fun things in it that I have found something that I didn't notice before everytime I look through the book. And it has different skill levels too. There are projects you can do with the kids, or if you are ambitious, there are detailed christmas villages you can make. Even the recipes for holiday cooking are fun and easy. If you want a good all inclusive book for the holidays this is the one. Another book I would recommend for the holidays is "Old-Fashioned Christmas Favorites". It has great traditions and recipes that are old time favorites that may have been forgotten.

A book mixing a variety of topics on the hot subject of child labor, it combines all the right elements to attract the reader. Though the lengh of the book is a little long its great ideas and intriguing subject keep you reading. This is an enjoyable book to read on a lazy day.

This book contains information about numerous human rights concerns from all around the world. In addition, it contains numerous articles and many documents. It is a wonderful research took that can be used by persons first learning about human rights, as well as by those persons who are working on post-undergraduate degrees

This is a really good human rights textbook. It covers a wide range of human rights issues, and has a lot of interesting articles. However I found some of the chapters rather difficult because of the legal jargon. Some of the things you have to read over more than once. The questions in the text focus on your personal opinions, so doing homework from this book is not so bad once you understand the questions (which for my slow brain was a challenge.) It is also very useful as a doorstop. :)

The author took many photographs, which appear in the book and which are worth the price of the book by themselves. One quibble I have is that the author admits to skipping parts of the trail by hitchhiking, canoeing and taking a bus. For example, I looked for a description of the last part of the trail along the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, but the book does not describe this part perhaps because the author skipped it by taking a bus. Most of this trail is road walking, so I do not blame the author. But in the interest of truth in advertising.... As other reviewers have noted, the author adeptly describes the people she met along the way.

oh i want to do it too!!
with Ms Dykstra (canadian!) i hiked from Maine to Gaspe on the IAT.
as an armchair traveller i found this short book (137 pages) thoroughly enjoyable. easy to read, wonderfull glossy pages and photos, heartfelt humour and pain; i wanted more. the end of the book has extensive guide lines for those who want to do the hike.

Reading this book is like having your best friend sit down across the table from you and tell you about her vacation, while showing you the beautiful pictures she took along the way. Dykstra is a natural storyteller who has a knack for meeting people and then describing her encounters in quick, deft word portraits. Her fascinating, often hilarious account of her journey kept me in awe, and in stitches, from beginning to end. She doesn't appear to hold back her emotions in her writing and her description of both the joys and occasional disappointments of solitary backpacking give her account a rawness and honesty that I haven't read in other travel books. As well, Raincoast has done an excellent job in reproducing her photos in this book. It's like reading a National Geographic article extended to book-length.
If I have any criticism of this book it is that it had to end. Dykstra's seven-week journey on the Appalachian Trail flashes by in just a few hours of reading time, when I wanted it to keep on going and going and going... Perhaps the publisher can talk her into walking the remainder of the Trail, from Maine to Georgia, and we can have another enchanting book that is three times as long and filled with even more breathtaking photos. My highest possible recommendation for purchase.

this book i purchase for my 9 year old grandaughter. she loves it and was so excited when i gave it to her for valentines. it is a great book and amazon shipped it to me in a very timely manner.

sandy

This book is about 2 very differant border collies, Angus, the black one,and Sadie, the brown one. Angus is tougher and stronger, and goes with Mister to work in the forest, while Sadie is kind of the runt, and is small and looks up to Angus. The moral of the story is that though these 2 dogs are NOT like eachother, they are still very best friends. Opposites attract. I recomend this book.

Angus and Sadie by Cynthia Voigt is about a couple who adopt two puppies. The male puppy's name is Angus. Angus is more brave and clever than Sadie. Sadie the female puppy is shy, and slow at learning tricks. Angus and Sadie go on a lot of adventures. Sadie almost gets lost in the woods with a sheep. They live on a farm with animals and mean barn cats, who try to jump on Sadie, but she runs away.

This book is teaching you that even though you may not be the same you can still be friends. Like even though Sadie and Angus are different, they are still friends. It is also like that in the world because everyone in the world is different.

Angus and Sadie is a very good book to read if you like dogs. It reminds me of my dog. You might also like to read it because it has good pictures. Angus and Sadie get into a lot of mischief on the farm. You should read Angus and Sadie.