Maine Books Round-up (Part One of Probably Many)
The best laid plans of mice and men, etc., etc…as much as I’d like to fully review every Maine-related book I read, it doesn’t always happen.
Sometimes I just finish the book and the thoughts about it fly out of my head before I get the chance to sit down at the keyboard. Sometimes holidays and snow days and sick days get in the way and then inspiration is lost. Or others, like The Frozen River, I discuss on another platform. (Shameless plug alert- read about The Frozen River on page 3 of the Kennebec Historical Society newsletter here).
With that said, here is a batch of Maine-related books I had every intention of reviewing for the BookMaineiac site…but didn’t. It has nothing to do with how good, bad, or meh the book is - some I absolutely loved and didn’t write a full review for! Perhaps a review will come some day, but in the meantime check out the random thoughts below and know I’m working my way through the ever-growing TBR and trying to keep current with those reviews.
The Midcoast by Adam White
I very much enjoyed The Midcoast and had a hard time putting it down while reading it. It’s got crime, family and community connections (complete with secrets), coming-of-age elements, and paints a full picture of the community. The narrator’s perspective is interesting - a neighbor/friend to what I would consider the real main characters. Absolutely would recommend the book to just about anyone!
Let the Woods Keep Our Bodies by E.M. Roy
I enjoyed Let the Woods Keep Our Bodies, but if you’re looking for clear-cut horror or clear-cut romance or clear-cut mystery, this isn’t the book for you. Roy is a Maine author who set the book in the fictional Maine town of Eston. For this multi-genre, multi-layered story, I’ll let an excerpt from book’s summary say the rest: “...She is forced to confront the truth about her parents, Eston, and her relationship if she is to survive an onslaught of conspiracies, cryptic monstrosities, and whatever is hiding in the woods where Tate was last seen. Finding the girl she loves may be the only way to restore balance to Eston—if such a thing ever existed to begin with.”
Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne Valente
Valente is a Maine author, but this was a book I read specifically for book club. I was confused by it while reading it, and am still confused by it. However, even as I was confused and felt in over my head I adored the writing style and would have kept reading! More of Valente’s books are on my TBR - with Space Opera a priority.
‘Salem’s Lot
It’s a Stephen King classic, so there’s not much more to add to the discourse about it! I read ‘Salem’s Lot for the first time as a middle schooler and loved it, and this reread decades later hammered home what a good - and just plain creepy - story it is.
Lost Maine Coastal Schooners: From Glory Days to Ghost Ships by Ingrid Grenon
Though I generally enjoy history, this one wasn’t my cup of tea. However, the author’s passion for the topic shines through and there are some fun facts scattered throughout. Someone with a stronger background or deeper interest in maritime history would likely better enjoy having this to flip through.