5 comments about Pride and Prejudice: New Edition.

1. Pride and Prejudice is a perfect novel. The characters, story structure, humor and insights are brilliant.



2. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great classic with witty characters and an excellent love story.



3. The beautiful language in this novel made it an instant favorite for me. The witty back and forth dialogues and characters created an amazinig atmosphere of intelligent and quirky people. Though the book does not give the reader an idea of what was happening historically at that time, that is part of what makes it a timeless classic. One gets a very good idea of what it was like to live in that time, but without the history it makes it open to all audiences. Pride and Prejudice is an amazing novel that does not disgrace the reputation of classic literature, but gives it a boost up.



4. this book is one of the most romanitic books i've read. i love this book. it is a turly romanitic story between a Women with alot of Pride and a man with both Pride and prejudice.



5. Jane Austen is the best author ever. I love all her work but this is the best one of all.I love Mr. Darcy and Elisabeth. They are the perfect main characters. It does not get any better then this. If anyone can write a better novel then this that person is a genious. I love to read and of all the many books I have read this one is the greatest. This book is simply perfect.

5 comments about Monkeys.

1. A moving glimpse into the world of a New England family. With such an exuberant, energetic family, enviable social connections, and vacations boating in Maine, are the Vincents living the good life? Of course not. They are miserable. Minot skillfully sketches the framework of pain underpinning these lives.



2. This is not a badly written 'novel', but I found that I didn't care a bit about any of these characters -- with the possible exception of the first couple of 'chapters' (and I put it that way because, to me, this really felt more like a collection of short stories -- and indeed, much of it has appeared in that form in various publications), when they were very young children.

   Perhaps because of the way their parents lived and raised them, and the fact that they are so privileged financially, the children grow up to be spoiled and self-centered, with few redeeming qualities -- I know this may seem a bit judgemental, this being a work of fiction, but when I read a book, I try to identify or sympathize with at least one of the characters. Pretty much without exception, all of the children in this book turn out to be brats who never really grow up. There was a quote on the book's cover comparing Susan Minot's work to that of J. D. Salinger -- she's a talented writer, but this doesn't hold a candle to his work.

   I much preferred THE TINY ONE, by Minot's sister Eliza -- her style was much warmer and gentler, and the characters she drew much more likable. I've read a lot of good comment's about Susan's writing, so I'm still curious to check out some of her other books -- but this one disappointed me.




3. "Monkeys" isn't a novel in the usual sense of the word. It is more of a collection of vignettes encompassing about 13 years in the life of a modern family, snapshots of moments in which we come to know each family member, then see how they change as their story progresses.
   
   The most astonishing thing about the book is how Minot ties each piece together. For the most part, the "big" events in the life of the family happen outside the narrative itself, in the space between the snapshots we are given. We may experience these moments as a part of their memories, but we come to understand what they were and what their effect has been in a fractured flow of story.
   
   Minot's prose, as in all her books, is expressive but spare, an economy of words that leaves much up to the reader's interpretation. She tells us just enough to know the family, to understand their quiet successes and their obvious failures, to see both the shape of the mask and what lies underneath it. She gives us the same kind of knowledge that we might have if they lived in a house down the street, a neighborly knowledge, not an intimate one.
   
   For the most part, this is a strong point in the book, but at a few points, Minot's style puts the reader at a distance when we might prefer a closer understanding of the feelings of each family member. In a way, it's the same frustration one experiences when we know something has happened to a neighbor, but we don't know how to ask without seeming nosy or pushy. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice on Minot's part, this enforced distance from her characters, but intentional or not, it was frustrating at times.
   
   Still, despite the occasional frustration, "Monkeys" is a well-rendered series of portraits of a modern American family, the foibles and wrinkles and soft tragedies that make up so much of the family landscape, and shape the people in it. Minot's writing is a delightful and refreshing change from the self-indulgent, overwrought prose most modern novelists love to employ, and in these brief vignettes, and the implication of events occurring between one and the next, we are given the chance to observe the quiet act of disintegration that goes on around us every day.



4. I've been on a Susan Minot kick, and so I just re-read this book for the first time in years.I still enjoyed every page. Minot takes readers inside a large family and puts us right in the middle of the action, or inaction. Although more like linked vingnettes than a novel, Monkeys made me think of a contemporary Cheaper by the Dozen meets the Kennedys. Her writing is flawless and the stories are so simple, so absolutely every-family, I couldn't help be be mesmerized all over again.



5. At the front of the book are both a table of contents , setting forth a chronology from 1966 to 1979, and a list of characters. The book is slim and so the reader is surprised at the fussy treatment. Gus and Rosie Vincent have six children. Dad, (Gus), goes to church Christmas and Easter only. The rest of the family, Chicky, Delilah, Caitlin, Gus, Mum, Sherman, Sophie are regular attenders. Dad has weird taste, spam. He grew up in Motley, Massachusetts. Now the parents and six children live in Marshport, Massachusetts.
   
   Thanksgivings are spent in Motley with grandparests, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ma smokes cigarettes and Pa cigars. The children sit at a children's table. Creamed onions are served. There are apple, pumpkin, and mince pies.
   
   The Vincents go to Maine in the summer. In Bermuda, on a real vacation, Gus, age 10, has horrible cabin fever. Caitlin, age 14, is the oldest. Sherman and Chicky are the youngest. Grass in Bermuda is scratchy and rough. The children are told not to bother their father too much. Dad feels the roads in Bermuda are death traps. On the last day his wallet disappears and Gus finds it in the hedge.
   
   In Maine Wilbur Kittredge, the owner of an estate in North Eden, is a special friend of Mum's. At age forty she gives birth to another child, Rosie, nicknamed Minnie. The Vincent parents met each other on a double date. Mum asks Sophie to postpone her suicide until age 18, hoping that by then Sophie would not wish to resort to such means. Sherman, by now age 12, has an appetite for pot.
   
   A train hits Mum's car and she is killed. For the Christmas after her death the girls buy presents for everyone. Minnie shows the others where the decorations are kept. Dad marries a new wife, Pat. Mum's ashes, for the most part, are dropped into a channel at North Eden. The child characters in the novel form an interesting group. Their circumstances are realistic.

5 comments about Wildflowers, (The New England Wild Flower Society).

1. I can't add much to Jeremy's marvelous comments; I can only reiterate the praise. This book has the complete, clear, concise and honest information lacking in so many wildflower guides, especially when it comes to propagation. It is apparent that most information comes from the personal experience of the author and I've enjoyed the comments about individual plants. My only suggestion for the next edition would be the addition of photos of the seeds on the plant, especially for species such as Pachysandra, where it is unclear exactly where to look.



2. This is the best reference I've found for native plants, and it's a worthy book for a coffee table. Accessible and extensive, it's pleasantly written, with care information about the species and then add'l info on specific plants in the species. The photographs are often quite nice, although I wish they more consistently showed the plant's habit in addition to flowers. There's also an appendix in the back on seed propagation.

   If you get this, purchase the companion shrub&tree reference, too. It's just as good.




3. This is a wonderful book about the culture and propagation of North American native flowers. The author clearly knows his stuff and communicates it well.

   The only weakness is the limited and low quality photography (lots of depth of field problems) which, I gather is not the author's work, but came from a wildflower society. There really are far too few pictures considering the wide variety of plants. Don't plan on being able to tell which of the diverse Eupatoriums or Asters you want to plant by looking at their pictures.

   HOWEVER, this book would be worth it without pictures, just for the information. Go buy the book and then write the pubisher a note saying the illustration is beneath the writing....just like I just did.




4. I was under the impression that this book would provide the information I needed to cultivate these plants on some scale. I was very disappointed. There is no way that you could reliably produce these plants with the information provided in this book. There are much better books out there for that purpose. If you are a novice, homegardener wanting to learn about wildflowers and grow a few in your backyard, this book would be okay for you. But if you are knowledgeable on the topic already, I think you will be disappointed.



5. If you happen to be visiting The Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA, you will probably notice a man puttering in the gardens or working in the nursery. More than likely he will instinctively know that you have a question about the wildflowers you are examining and he will be more than happy to share his knowledge. This amiable person is William Cullina of the New England Wildflower Society. For those who are unable to visit the garden, or have a question about wildflowers, Cullina's book GROWING AND PROPAGATING WILDFLOWERS is the next best thing. This coffee table style book is filled with lavish photographs and wonderful commentary about many wildflowers found in North America. The book not only assists the reader in identifying various wildflowers, but helps the reader who wishes to incorporate wildflowers in a home garden. Cullina mentions in the introduction that horticulture has been a life long passion. This is evident in his writing style. The information in the book is informative and while it is presented in a formal manner, it is non-threatening for the novice gardener. This work is not helpful just for gardeners. Photographers will appreciate the wonderful shots of the flowers, many of which were photographed by Cullina himself.

1 comments about The American Transcendentalists: Essential Writings (Modern Library Classics).

1. When we think of Transcendentalism, we first turn to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. But the literary movement was made up of more personalities than just those two men; and while "Nature" and "Walden" are key writings, they're not the only examples anyone can or should read. Hence the need and attraction of any transcendental anthology: it brings us multiple voices, perhaps even some unfamiliar or unusual ones.
   
   This volume is a treasure-trove of transcendental goodies, containing more than 100 selections from 32 writers. Emerson's "Nature" and part of Thoreau's "Walden" are here, along with dozens of essays, sermons, and poems from a variety of personalities, men and women, too numerous to mention. Some pieces will be familiar to anyone who's read about the mid-1800s; others are refreshlingly new to most of us. Thanks to reading this book from cover to cover, I have discovered that I like Theodore Parker's writing quite a bit. I may have to stray off my Thoreauvian path and delve into Parker a bit more.
   
   And yet, I disagree with some of the editor's observations in this volume. Unlike Buell, I don't think Thoreau considered surveying "a day job he didn't particularly care for," and I'm fairly certain he was never a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. I'm also not fond of the titles Buell created for some of the selections, because that method makes it difficult to compare his anthology with others or with the original works. For example, what is labelled here as Thoreau's "Christianity and Hinduism Compared" is really a portion from the book "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers." "A Walk to Walden" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is really an excerpt from "The American Notebooks." But the sheer diversity, variety, and thematic arrangement of the selections far out-weighs any misgivings about their titling. If you are interested in transcendentalism, this is a wonderful book to start with. It's a nicely-priced paperback that's easy to carry around, which is important, because it'll take you a while to pore over and absorb (or even skip) its entries.
   
   In addition, three older anthologies of transcendental writings may interest readers: "Transcendentalism: A Reader" (Joel Myerson, ed., 2000); "The Transcendentalists: An Anthology" (Perry Miller, 1977), and "The American Transcendentalists: Their Prose and Poetry" (Perry Miller, 1957). Each anthology has a focus, and surprisingly little overlap occurs when comparing their contents. And each contains a few jewels not found in any other contemporary anthology. Happy hunting!

5 comments about The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier.

1. Colin Woodard skillfully paints a picture of Maine both past and present, identifying the nuances that make the culture so unique, while detailing the insecurities that plague Downeasters. Through the course of the book, Woodard traces the troubled evolution of Maine as both a political and social state, detailing the hardships that plagued early settlers in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and the economic disparity that have shaped the modern culture.
   
   As a historian, Woodard is somewhat of a novice. He has difficulty weaving events together into a narrative that can be easily followed and tends to make broad leaps without establishing a proper foundation.
   
   This shortcoming is more than compensated for by his obvious passion and interest in the subject matter. Woodard clearly understands the psyche of Maine. He recognizes that a Mainer is not an individual dwelling in a geographic territory bordered by Canada and NH, but rather somebody possessing a particular mindset... somebody that strives for the simpler things, while struggling to deal with the challenges of modern economics.
   
   For anybody that loves Maine and the Downeast, this is a fabulous read and well worth the time. The book is definitely part history part sociology. But it's worth a look!



2. After finishing the first short section, my first thought was that the book was a bit of a lightweight -- at best, a paperback to read while flying across the Atlantic. But when I got to the second section which filled in many of the historical gaps -- particularly the "why's" -- from Elizabethan England to the Pilgrims to the modern era, I realized how interesting this book really was. Anyone who enjoys travelogues will enjoy this book; perhaps you need to have visited Maine at least once or have some connection to the state, but if you do read it, you will learn much more about the history of the western world than the title suggests.



3. is a all encompassing look at mid coast Maine, both present day and historically. It took me back to High School US history and made the French Indian wars come alive. Hear about modern day lobster pirates from of all places, "Friendship" invading a small island's lobster fields.
   
   Look ahead for what is in store for a severely depleted fishery
   then chuckle when a hidden camera reveals the secret life of lobster and captor. Great read, it belongs in your Maine libary.



4. This book is a page turner I couldn't put down. Beautifully written, it does a thorough job of concisely telling the history of coastal Maine and, by so doing, gives us a start on the history of New England. It takes us from the earliest settlers to today, and even if one has, as I have, lived on the coast of Maine for close to 40 years, one can learn from the book. Put it together with "Islanders" by Virginia Thorndike, and you have a picture of one of the last best places on earth. Please don't let these books persuade you to move here!



5. This is an absolute must read for any Maineac like me. Highly readable. Written with style, grace, flair and humor. The total opposite of a dense historical tome. Full of fascinating history. Quite wonderful.

5 comments about Waterfalls of the White Mountains: 30 Hikes to 100 Waterfalls.

1. This book inspired one of the best vacations I've taken (while closest to home!)exploring the waterfalls of NH. The directions and descriptions are accurate and easy to follow, and the falls themselves are exquisite--even in dry August weather, when we saw them. This will be a gift to friends, to be sure. Experienced hikers will appreciate it, but it's suitable for beginners. Not many geriatric hikes, however.



2. To my thinking there is not much more thrilling than turning a corner to find a spectacular and beautiful rush of water cascading over cliffs or through a rocky terrain. Who doesn't like waterfalls?!

   This terrific guide to the waterfalls of New Hampshire's White Mountains details 30 hikes to 100 waterfalls, so many of the walks take you to several falls. A regional map pinpoints the thirty treks and a lengthy introduction relates waterfall nomenclature and origins, tells you how to use the book and offers tips to make your trip enjoyable. Detailed within four subregions (the Connecticut , Pemigewasset/Merrimack, Saco and Androscoggin watersheds), entries are 6-10 pages long and include location, distance, altitude gain, difficulty, access information, a map, trail and hike details, and a photograph of the falls.

   An indispensable guide for waterfall lovers, particularly those travelling with kids.

   The book concludes with appendices on regional geology and camping facilities, a bibliography and an index.




3. I enjoyed everything about this book. Not only are the trail maps well drawn but the descriptions of the waterfalls almost makes you feel like you are standing next to the falls as you are reading about it. One thing that makes this book unique to hiking books is the Historical Detour section at the end of each chapter. I enjoyed learning about the history of the White Mountain National Forest and the many stories about how these waterfalls got their names. I might add that the photography in this book is excellent. There are some beautiful shots of almost every waterfall mentioned in the book. Not only is this book goood for finding good waterfall hikes but it also makes for some relaxing reading.



4. I am an avid hiker of the Appalachian Mountains from the Carolinas to Maine. As such, I have purchased my share of guidebooks. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best guidebook ever published. It reads more like a novel. I live in both Florida and New Hamphire and I find myself picking up this book to read for pleasure when I'm in Florida, 1000's of miles from the White Mountains. This book is efficient. As the title suggests, one can cover 100 waterfalls in 30 hikes, most of which are not very grueling. The book describes the waterfalls in detail but reads like a novel. It uses descriptions from early guidebooks as well, some over 100 years old! The directions to the waterfalls are clear and well written and include vital statistics like distance to each, vertical elevation gained, difficulty and altitude. A sketch map is shown for each hike (although one would use a separate topographic map for the actual hike). In addition, and I think this really separates this from other guides, a history is included for each hike of the area. These histories include Indian stories predating European settlement, stories of the early European settlements, the first grand hotels and even ski resorts. It truly gives the reader/hiker a sense of time and place. If you hike the White Mountains get this book!



5. I was very pleased with the book all the info in it was excellent!!!!

5 comments about Dishing Up Maine: 165 Recipes That Capture Authentic Down East Flavors.

1. This book brings you all the fresh flavors of Maine: not just seafood, but fresh produce as well. The recipes are clearly written and not too high on the difficulty scale. They are flavorful and creative, but the accent is on the fresh appearance and taste of the food itself, rather than on the elaborateness of the preparation or the showmanship of the chef. Dozens of beautiful color photographs supplement the flavors and aromas to bring a little of Maine into your kitchen, where ever you are.



2. There are plenty of unique recipes here that the home chef can easily (and should) try. We are seafood eaters and are always looking for new ideas. Useful, with imaginative presentation, at an affordable price. Highly recommended.



3. Covers classic Maine foods: lobsters, mussels, blueberries, and baked beans with some old style recipes and modern variations.
   
   More interesting are numerous sidebars touching on various aspects of the growing Maine "foodie" scene. New restaurants, growers, stores, and farms are highlighted.
   
   A few maps would have been nice,and some of the recipes might be too far from convention for traditionalists.
   
   A must have for any "Maine-o-phile"-native or those who wished they were. I found it simply "pleasant" to read. Do yourself a favor: get some mud from the seashore, throw some sea-salt in the air, turn your TV to "Scenes of the North Atlantic," and read this book.



4. My family visited Maine last summer and absolutely loved all the fresh seafood. Being that we live in Indiana, we don't get spoiled like all the Mainers with their fresh Halibut and lobsta!
   Since we can't just pick up and move to Maine (we would love too!), we have to rely on bits and pieces of Maine. This is where this book comes in!
   These are very "easy-to-follow" recipes that have ingredients you can find in any store.
   We love the lobster rolls! And just can't pass up the chowder!
   This really is my new favorite cookbook, and I love the first part of the book, "Why has Maine life become so irresistable?". It lists all the reasons why we (and any other sane person) would want to move to Maine.
   Great job Ms. Dojny! I've already ordered your other "clam shack" cookbook!



5. This book confirms Brooke Dojny's authentic place among cookbook authors who have tried to capture, create, and preserve regional cuisines. Her New England Cookbook, with it's totally reliable and delicious recipes, should be on everyone's shelf, regardless of where they live. This book should be too, but it's more interesting to those of us fascinated by the food renaissance taking place in Maine -- which is exciting. As always with Dojny, the recipes are impeccable. They also are true to their heritage, both old and new, and perfectly translated for the home cook.

No comments about Fodor's Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

3 comments about Moving to Maine, Updated and Expanded 2nd Edition: The Essential Guide to Get You There and What You Need to Know to Stay.

1. MOVING TO MAINE is a great book for relocators that non-relocators can also enjoy. It describes the school systems, weather, housing, and other necessities that people moving there need to know, but it also describes, shopping, cultural, and dining experiences that a vacationer can take advantage of. Whether you're actually relocating to Maine, going on vacation there, or are simply interested in travel books, you should own this book.



2. I found this book to be extremely helpful and it had answers to many questions I had about Maine. The information was very through and covered all bases. The author addressed taxes, renting, housing, shopping, schools, and other important information. I really enjoyed this book.



3. I bought this book for my sister-in-law before she moved to Maine. We all skimmed through it and aquired lots of new information. I am sure that she will glean very valuable information as she starts her life in the great state of Maine.

5 comments about An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.

1. Brock Clarke's An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England is one of the most interesting, funny, and thought-provoking books I have yet to come across. Clarke is a skillful writer who manages to address life's highs and lows without being overly sentimental or harsh. His protagonist, Sam Pulsifer, takes a unique approach to his time in prison that is refreshing, and the wacky cast of characters that he gets involved with, including his parents, are relatable to people in nearly every reader's life. From the title to the plot, Clarke creates a stimulating read that keeps you thinking.
   One of the best parts of the novel is Sam's discovery of himself and the world through his interactions with his newly alcoholic parents. As he struggles to deal with his post-arsonist life, as well as to maintain his innocence in light of new arson cases, he finds the secret sides of his parents. With a mom who lives in a Masonic lodge on Tuesday nights, a dad who uses the absence of his wife to spend time with his lover, and a bookless household full of beer, Sam finds that his parents are not who they used to be, and the way he reacts to this is very true to life.
   Most refreshing about An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England is Sam's acceptance that he cannot change who he was in the past. Rather than the popular story line of rebirth and renewal of personality, Clarke makes the much more realistic point that the past will catch up to you, no matter how fast you run.



2. Bizarre, flat, and empty. This book is abstract and absurd, but hardly engaging. I forced myself to finish it, and regretted it.
   
   None of it makes sense, the characters are hallow, and the plot is, shall I say, RETARDED.
   
   Half way through the book, I came across the COLESLAW episode (readers will know what I mean). I then realized I was reading a piece of pungent literary trash. I couldn't help but think that the writer was channeling Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five), and doing a poor job.
   
   Absurdity is a dish served well chilled, and this book is lukewarm.



3. This question is quoted from a scene within the novel itself. This story certainly produces an effect on me, but the effect it produces is not one that I consider to be `good'. It is undoubtedly well-written but it is infuriating. Most of the characters are either incomplete or utterly inadequate. That could be okay: there is a rich subterranean vein of satire flowing just below the surface and just one reliable viewpoint would be enough to make this work for me.
   
   I kept reading, through to the end, in the hope that Sam Pulsifer, the narrator, would stop observing his life and start taking responsibility for the living of it. Or, perhaps, we'd get another viewpoint which would add a dimension of contextual sense. The bit that did appeal to me (and for which I will allocate two of the three stars) was the notion that a number of different characters thought that the burning of various houses occupied by prominent writers in New England might in some way improve their own lives. This potentially clever idea was essentially lost to me in the bumbling fiasco otherwise known as the life of Sam Pulsifer.
   
   Of course, there is an alternative explanation. This might be an incredibly clever book which only a true literary aficionado will enjoy. Each reader will find a different book between the same covers. All things are possible.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



4. I found this book interesting but frustrating. The narrator was funny and "bumbling" but frankly I didn't find him all that sympathetic. And I thought there would be more about the role of literature in our lives, why books are still read a century later, what makes someone hate a book/author/anything enough to want to destroy it. It was a good premise, but the whole arson motif seemed like it was meant to grab your attention rather than to have any deeper siginificance to the book. But overall, it was a quick and interesting if ultimately unsatisfying read.



5. "Love endures...but it isn't everything and it isn't ever what you want it to be."
   "An Arsonist's Guide..."
   Sam Pulsifer is the kind of person you strive all your life not to be. He is a woeful bumbler, having accidentally burned down poet Emily Dickinson's house when he was a teenager. He begins his story recounting the ten years he spent in prison as a result of his crime, for in destroying the Dickinson house, he also killed two people having a tryst upstairs on the venerable Dickinson bed. His melancholy recollection:
   "...even at the trial I tried hard not to know their names...`I don't really remember the whole thing that well'...which as I've mentioned is a talent of mine and was true besides." (p. 27)
   For a while, he is able conveniently to forget his past. He goes to college, marries ("Anne Marie was pretty, extraordinarily good looking, really, and tall with...a smart smile that was so beautiful you didn't mind the way it made you feel stupid." p. 12), has children, and becomes as happy as anyone can expect for a bumbler who accidentally burned down the Dickinson house, killed two people, and has never told his wife anything about it.
   And then when someone starts torching the houses of other writers in New England, Sam's past quickly catches up to him (he is, of course, a principal suspect in these cases) and he gets into real illusion-destroying, life-destroying trouble.
   No one seems to believe in his innocence, and so Sam sets out in a lonely uphill battle to exonerate himself. Much to his dismay, he finds that he is a terrible detective when he tries to discover the truth about the fires. Sam chalks it up, confusedly, to his English-teacher mother's forbidding him to read Encyclopedia Brown: "...if I'd ever read a real detective novel...then maybe I'd have known what to do next. Instead I muddled through the best I could. I seemed to remember...that detectives drank impressively...So I had a drink." (p. 24)
   And so Sam heads down a long, sad, boozy, comedic road to find the truth, after which he wonders, to paraphrase: What is the truth? And why would anyone ever want to know it?
   Brock Clarke's "An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England" has recurring themes of misunderstanding and delusion. Along the way, Clarke manages to skewer delusions related to self-improvement courses (the College of Me); let-it-all-hang-out psychology; bond analysts ("...all the cashish...they made while (swindling) old people out of their retirement funds and kids out of their college savings. These guys seemed to know everything, the whole vocabulary of worldly gain and progress..." p.4); superstores; lawn maintenance; suburbia ("Camelot was beautiful. There were no trees anywhere--it was as though Camelot had been nuked...and each house was exactly the same..." p. 20); book clubs; the love and value of books; scholarly pretentiousness; Memoirs (with a big M, like Art with a big A); Harry Potter; Ethan Frome; professorial fussiness ("The letter was extremely learned--there were 'whoms' and 'ones' everywhere, and lots of complicated punctuation..." p. 140); poetry; modern culture ("It doesn't matter whether the book is good or not...And, besides... the book has to be good. It's part of the culture..." p. 168); pluckiness and perseverance; hope ("Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe Anne Marie and I could work things out in New Hampshire...help her forget my lying...maybe my bumbling wouldn't be so severe here...After all, the place was so very old and had been through a lot, so you probably couldn't do much to it that hadn't been done already." p. 190); and last, but not least, feminist indignation ("She insists that I didn't think enough of (Harriet Beecher) Stowe as a writer to burn down her house and how this is just 'typical' and another slap in the face of Stowe and for women readers and writers everywhere...an example of how the world undervalues Stowe...If there were any justice in the world, she writes, I would have torched Stowe's house...I agree with her, every time, but this doesn't stop her..." p 295).
   I read this book through and then immediately turned around and read it again, shedding a tear at the end each time. I enjoyed it even more, perhaps, during the second read: so many comedic tie-ins came to light, tie-ins that I could appreciate only in a re-read.
   Clarke's novel/faux memoir/guide is a beautifully-crafted, multilayered, dark and funny tale. If you have lived long enough, you may be able to understand the hapless Sam's conclusion: Why would anyone ever want to know the truth?