Michelle Chalfoun's second book is an excellent marine adventure. The book is written from the point of view of several residents of a New England fishing village. The characters are three-dimensional and lovable, despite their human flaws. Their attitudes, actions, and language reflect Chalfoun's knowledge of the fishing industry. We discussed this book in our monthly book club and we thoroughly enjoyed this high quality novel.

I loved this book! Some of this is personal bias, as I happen to live in a town on the Maine Coast, where the book is set. However, I don't think that should lessen its appeal to other readers. Anyone who lives in a town which has been historically blue collar industry, but is being transformed into a "tourist destination" due to economic variables can relate to the plot. It is really all about a town struggling with the transition from "old money" to "new money", and how this process tears at the social fabric of that town.

The writing style reminded me of something of a cross between Hemingway and Tim O'brien: beautiful descriptions of the lanscape (or seascape) combined with very deep and believable character development. The characters are defined more by their interaction as opposed to an overt description.

My final comment is that other publishers should take a look at this book's packaging! This was a book that stood out on the shelf and made me pick it up. From the beautiful, somewhat eerie cover photo, to the intriguing title. Upon reading that the author had indeed worked aboard fishing vessels, I figured I'd take a chance on it, and am so glad that I did. This book is now making the rounds with many of my neighbors, with similar comments. I will go out and buy her first book "Roustabout" (she has also worked as a circus routabout).

In short, highly recommended !!!!!!

The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening by Vermont organic gardener Ron Krupp, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook written especially for aspiring organic and biodynamic home gardeners. Embracing thrift and the practical considerations as symbolized by the woodchuck, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening provides a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping soil healthy, overseeing nutritious produce through all four seasons, foraging for wild plants, teaching one's children to garden, and a great deal more. Written in down-to-earth, accessible language for gardeners of all experience levels and backgrounds, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library gardening reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening by Vermont organic gardener Ron Krupp, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook written especially for aspiring organic and biodynamic home gardeners. Embracing thrift and the practical considerations as symbolized by the woodchuck, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening provides a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping soil healthy, overseeing nutritious produce through all four seasons, foraging for wild plants, teaching one's children to garden, and a great deal more. Written in down-to-earth, accessible language for gardeners of all experience levels and backgrounds, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library gardening reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

I have enjoyed Howard Stone's bike books for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and as a new resident of Maine am delighted to have an opportunity to enjoy his rides in my new state. As always, Howard's ride descriptions and directions are very thorough and accurate. I especially appreciate the consistency with which he rates the difficulty of the rides. As an avid, but strictly recreational, cyclist, I found this to be an excellent book.

I read this book during the winter and couldn't wait for Spring to get going. You're in the saddle from the first tour to the last. I have ridden on two of the tours, one in North Hero and one in Stowe area, and the rides were deja vu...perfect directions and perfect suggestions. The simple route maps are outstanding. I'll be out there again this year with my dog-eared copy of 25 rides in Vermont keeping me company. I highly recommended this book to any serious or seriously casual rider.

Cape Cod is perhaps one of the best places to bike in New England. The rolling hills, the stunning views of the Atlantic and the jewel-like kettle-hole ponds in its interior sections make it a bicicyclists paradise. During 2 weeks in late springs several years ago, I used the bike routes in this book alone to make my way from the upper Cape near Sandwich down to the Outer Cape into Truro and Provincetown. I was not disappointed. The maps in combination with written directions offer just enough detail so that riders are always on the right track. And vista after vista was exactly what this rider was hoping for. The routes in this book helped me to come away with an intimate knowledge of Cape Cod and too many fond memories to count. It's obvious that the folks who wrote this book rode these routes time and time again, perfecting them and finally compiling them into this incredible guide to the most stunning bike routes on Cape Cod. If you want to get to know Cape Cod better, or if you're just looking for a variety of top-notch biking experiences in Eastern Massachusetts, this is the place and this is the book!

Connecticut residents who love the outdoors should consider this guide. The Hardy family offers an impressive array of hikes for people of all skill levels.

Each hike is thoroughly researched and includes detailed maps and photographs. I relied heavily on the maps and found them to be 100% accurate. The site descriptions are especially helpful. They include driving directions, parking instructions, and well-informed commentary about the trail itself. You will know precisely what vegetation or bird life to look for at specific points during your trip. Keep this book open during your hikes to fully appreciate the experience.

Logical organization enables efficient selection of hikes by region or length. Readers should be assured that this truly is a Connecticut book. The authors do not discriminate in favor of the oft-traversed northwest region. Connecticut hikers would do well to have this guide in their backpack.

I found this book to be extremely helpful. It makes planning a hiking agenda easy. Great maps and detailed overviews. This book gives you the confidence to allow you to explore more of New Hampshire. No matter which trail you decide to take on...you will know what to expect. Even gives guides to "rainy day" hikes. The only drawback is that you will want to pack it with you!

All winter our hearts are on Mt. Desert Island, 750 I-95 miles north of us. All winter, with Steve Perrin's book, we take virtual hikes on "our" island. Come summer (well, in July anyway) when our hearts and bodies are actually in Acadia we can stroll those trails we now know are compatible with my two aging knees and Margaret's greatly dimished vision. Steve's words are more valuable than he knows: we teach people to be "audio describers" for folks who are visually impaired or blind so their ears can be their eyes in theaters, museums, and yes, for television. Steve's writing is truly audio description. This summer if we meet him again on the Shore Path we'll tell him in person. Until then, thanks, Steve.

Haskell's professional legacy is helpful from the resarch perspective and his personal saga gives the reader something through which we can all relate. An extraordinary volume that is very easy to follow. Each page from the author's life seems to bring us closer to the harshness of our own reality, a reality that many individuals have chosen to keep repressed. An invaluable resource which challenges our innermost thoughts through the disturbing realm of alcoholism to the conflicts involved in raising a family. For anyone who has ever suffered through a dysfunctional experience, this book makes you feel as though you're not so alone.