4 comments about Seasons of Maine.

1. Bill Hubbell's work always shines with a superb technical clarity and artistic insight. This book continues his tradition of technical and artistic genius as he covers his favorite subject matter in Maine.

   This book brings a breadth and scope of vision to these images of Maine that will inspire you. (...as they have me.)




2. My favorite photograph in this wonderful book is the very last one - it captures the diversity, the geography, the activities, and the natural beauty of our state. Those of us who are lucky enough to live here in Maine can be proud of Bill Hubbell's appreciation of its beauty and majesty. I might add that the other 139 photos are close runners-up for my favorites!

   Jean's captions inform and enhance what the eye may have missed, while the mind is transported to "places you'd rather be". I'm glad I'm not "from away".




3. If you want to know where to go, and the special places to see in Maine, this book will serve as an inspiration for the unconventional traveller. It captures with its beautiful photography and concise, evocative prose the essence of all that the state has to offer. I have lived in Maine for 12 years and looking through the book reminded me of some of the beautiful places I have been, but it also showed me how many other places are left to explore! Unlike a regular tour guide, these photos bring the places to life and draw you in -- after seeing them I am inspired to make a list of places to go. Some of the photographs are almost painterly in style, there is one of a Native American sitting by the river on a rock at daybreak which is haunting -- mist hovers on the distant bend in the river while the man is gazing in sharp focus at the coming day. This would be a great gift for anyone you know who loves Maine.



4. I have never lived in Maine, but have vacationed there. This book certainly captures the majestic beauty of one America's most breathtaking states. Hubbell's work displays the classic "old New Engalnd" landscape each of his pictures. All of the photos, from the ocean to mountains, are just magnificent. This book makes you want to live there!

No comments about Moleskine City Notebook Boston (Moleskine City Notebook).

No comments about Massachusetts Map (Rand McNally Folded Map: States).

No comments about Maine: An Explorer's Guide, Fourteenth Edition (Explorer's Guides).

No comments about What's in a Picture?: Broiler Queens, Floating Houses, and Other Hidden Stories in Vintage Maine Photographs.

5 comments about The Night Watch.

1. This novel is interesting in concept -- going backwards through time to delve into how a set of characters ended up where they are at. And the backdrop of war time Britain is marvelously dark and wrought with peril. At the same time, I was disappointed by the lack of true depth to the characters. Unlike other novels by this author, it is more difficult in this novel to dive into the characters' heads. Perhaps Viv is the most fleshed out of the lot, and even then, it takes a bit of work. Duncan, Helen, Kay all fall a bit flat. I kept hoping to capture more of their spirit. A much better novel by this author would be "Affinity" which plumbs the depths of the characters' psyches and delivers a delicious twist in the end. Perhaps that is why I was a bit disappointed with "The Night Watch" -- while it is a decent enough creation, it doesn't linger on the mind the way I've come to expect from such a talented author.



2. To start with, before people start throwing things at me, let me say that I realize that the set of main characters here includes some males and a heterosexual woman. However the stories of these characters are, at least for me, quite banal, and the book would have been better off without them. The main story here, for me at least, concerns the three lesbians Helen, Julia, and Kay.
   
   I have not read any of Sarah Waters other books, but I get the feeling that this was her first book, and that she was originally unable to publish it. Then, after the success of her other books, I believe, she resubmitted this book (perhaps because of a contractual obligation) and the publisher accepted it. It's a weak book. As several other reviewers have mentioned, there is no real plot, and because of this even the three main characters never reach their potential.
   
   The book is divided into three main sections, in reverse chronological order. The first section, set in 1947, is about 175 pages long, and is almost a sort of prelude. Ideally, it ought to intrigue the reader, making the reader want to get to the two subsequent, chronologically earlier sections to find out how these characters got into their 1947 situation. Unfortunately, though, this 1947 situation is not very interesting, so the reader is not all that intrigued.
   
   And this is the problem with the whole backwards structure of the book. The reader gradually learns the original story behind all those things in the first two (but later in time) sections of the book which the author intended to be so mysterious. But they these later events are only mildly puzzling, not intriguing, so by the time one gets to the explanations, the reader has almost forgotten them. Or at least that was true for me.
   
   The last section of the book, set in 1941, is only about fifty pages long, and certainly has the most intense story.
   
   One can see why the author couldn't tell the story in chronological order, because that would have put all the most interesting interactions at the beginning of the book and then the remainder of the novel would have been a long anti-climax. The novel would have been a story of some characters who have some very intense experiences during the the London blitz, and then gradually grow older and have lives that become fairly ordinary. The usual way to handle a problem like this would be to start with the recent part of the story and then tell the older material in a series of flashbacks. Presumably the author originally tried this but couldn't make it work.
   
   The thing is that this is not a book whose main interest comes from the story line. But there are some very vivid scenes in the wartime sections, especially the long scene where Helen and Julia go out for a very dangerous walk in London during the blackout with the bombs falling. (A scene that's even more interesting because Helen is cheating on Kay. If the reader remembers from the first section of the book, one will be aware that Helen will eventually break up with Kay and become in a committed relationship with Julia.) These scenes, and some of the interactions between the characters, are what make the book worth reading. But it's hard to keep reading when there's no strong strong plot that makes the reader keep thinking, "I've got to find out what happens next."



3. Moving backwards in time, the story covers the lives of four Londoners during WWII (2 women and 1 man, all gay except for one straight woman). The lives connect and intersect in surprising and revealing ways. Tender and extraordinarily intimate with the backdrop of brutal war.



4. This is the first Sarah Waters novel I have picked up and, I have to say, I have no doubt about her qualifications for being a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. "The Night Watch" was masterfully written and each of her characters came across as being distinct and separate individuals. Although the story is told backwards, from 1947 to 1941, the reader is not left feeling as though something gravely important is being withheld. Each timeframe operates on its own as story and, even though the rest of the tale is illuminating, a piece can be held as a complete entity. The way the pieces are tied together at the end, however, are well worth the wait and add quite a bit to the plotline and character development. Waters's writing is beautiful in its descriptions and feelings, almost as though she had a direct eye on the events surrounding the war. This is no rose-tinted commentary on human nature, but gritty and dirty beauty.



5. 
   I try to finish all my books to the bitter end, but I had an especially hard time with this one. Waters departs from her Victorian underworld lesbian heroines to explore well, I don't really know, but I'm sure the War has something to do with it. The intertwining stories of Helen, Viv, and Duncan are told backwards (a lot less interesting than one would think) which allows you to get just invested enough in the present day characters that you start to care about where they're going rather than where they've been. Waters writes beautifully, but I can't help but think that this story lets her characters down. All the straight men are morally suspect if not morally weak. The lesbian love triangle is predictable (fyi when your girlfriend introduces you to another woman it's highly likely they were romantically involved). The war is just a pretense here to make things go not very far.

No comments about The Secret Garden (Treasury of Illustrated Classics).

2 comments about Birds of Maine Field Guide.

1. with nice editorial comments about each bird. I was disappointed to find that there are a few species missing. Overall it is a book worth having.



2. ANY MAINIAC who Does NOT have this booklet and LOVES birds...you have missed the boat!!
   
   I have so many different species of beautiful birds (including EAGLES!!) here at my home. You are Truly in need of a GREAT BIRD BOOK, and here it is. to youit may seem pricey...give it time...its worth MORE than you ever would have thought
   
   Jim of Machias, MAINE!!~!!
   
   Contact 255-9058 for bird books at my shop, too!

No comments about Wilmington: Picturing Change.

5 comments about The Prince of Providence: The True Story of Buddy Cianci, America's Most Notorious Mayor, Some Wiseguys, and the Feds.

1. I don't think the overall subject of the book will be surprising to anyone from Providence, or elsewhere in RI for that fact, but some of the stories and details in the book will shock you! I lived 1/2 my life in Providence and the other 1/2 in or near Miami. As bad as the banana republic of Miami has demonstrated it can be (Elian!), it cannot compare to the corruption found in Providence and throughout Rhode Island politics. I could not put the book down for 3 days.

   The only reason I knocked off 1 star on my rating is that the writing quality could have been a bit better. The author rambles in some sections and then seems to repeat himself from time-to-time. The same is noted in some other reviews, so I don't think it was my reading. Nevertheless, it is a minor issue and the book is well worth reading and owning, particularly if you ever lived in Rhode Island. Just remember, it isn't fiction like the Godfather - it really happened.




2. As a native Rhode Islander who last lived there in 1975 (the year the Buddy story really started) I came to this book with a somewhat sketchy knowledge of the story of Buddy Cianci's reign(s) over Providence. With relatives still living there I paid some attention, but didn't follow it in depth. I knew about the two sides of Buddy, and the strong feelings he elicited, as well as the attitude that, yeah, he was corrupt, but look what he did for Providence, so he's okay. I even witnessed something described in the book-the incredible adoration Cianci would receive upon entering the Providence Civic Center late in a Bruins hockey game to take his seat. I have never seen ANYTHING like this (and I live in NH, so I've seen lots of politicians).
   With this background I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Stanton's book, and, after reading this, I can only conclude that my fellow Rhode Islanders who support this guy are either morally brain dead, or just were not aware of the depth of the corruption that existed in his administration. Stanton's in depth analysis of how it all happened put to rest any sympathy I may have had for Cianci. The book is thoroughly entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone interested in an amazing well-told story, not just Rhode Islanders or political junkies, although it will certainly appeal to both of those groups.
   I think most of the reviews I have browsed through are pretty consistent, and pretty accurate, but let me add my disagreement with some of the comments. First, there is no fluff or excess in this book. All of the anecdotes are useful, and interesting, and I would not take a single one out. If anything, I wanted more. There is so much in this book that just touches the surface of various incidents or scams, this book could have easily have been half as long again, and I would have followed along. The minor repetitions that exist serve to remind you of who different players were, and, given the large cast of characters I found it helpful rather than redundant. Second, while the author does not always name names, the detailed notes at the end do name names, excepting, of course, those sources who chose to stay anonymous, for, I think most would agree, excellent reasons. In fact, I am somewhat amazed that as many people spoke on the record to the author as did, and I really thought the author did a nice job of telling the story, and pulling together such an assemblage of information. In fact, given that he usually writes for a newspaper, I was very impressed with his engaging and articulate style. If I have a quibble with this book, it is that, while it makes it clear about the corrupt side of Cianci, it is hard to understand what it was he did or had that made him so successful in leading the Providence renaissance. Clearly he has drive, charisma, charm, and chutzpah. But how did he create, fund and shepherd such massive projects, such that people did not mind the fact that he was totally corrupt? I wish there had been a little more insight into this facet of Buddy, but aside from that, this book filled in the gaps in my knowledge. I will be recommending it to all my Rhode Island friends and relatives, and anyone else who wants a great read.
   By the way I gave this book four stars, rather than five, not because it is not one of the better books I have read recently, as it is, but because I try to reserve five stars for the Crime and Punishments of this world, the books that are truly great, not just a cut above the others. There are too many reviewers, IMHO, that will give a five star review to anything they like, and are not being critical enough. This is not in a league with five star books, but it is not far off.



3. THis book was a good read. Being from RI it was enlightening to see really how corrupt RI politics is. It's sad. I would recommend this book to people who want to know how city hall really works.



4. One day in grammar school a young lad named Vincent Cianci announced to his classmates that he was going to be Vice President of the United States when he grew up. What those kids in the schoolyard could not have possibly realized was that even at the age of 10 or 11 Vincent Cianci was dead serious about what he wanted to do with his life. In "The Prince of Providence", author Mike Stanton. a reporter for the Providence Journal, chronicles the life of this colorful and controversial, energetic and enigmatic figure.
   When "Buddy" Cianci arrived on the scene in 1974 he really was a breath of fresh air. For Providence was a corrupt and dying town that had long been dominated by the Democratic machine. It was only as the result of a unlikely confluence of circumstances that this young upstart Republican had been elected Mayor of Providence. As a dynamic young urban mayor, Cianci gained favor with Republican President Gerald Ford who was looking for ways to expand his base for the 1976 election.
   And Buddy Cianci had a quality that few politicians these days seem to possess---vision. He aggressively pursued federal funds for his city and entertained innovative proposals and project ideas that would have been summarily dismissed as "pie in the sky" by previous administrations. In addition, the mayor seemed to have boundless energy--he was everywhere. Those of us who live in Rhode Island saw firsthand the impact that such energy and imagination was beginning to have on our capitol city.
   But unfortunately, there was also a dark side to Buddy Cianci that would ultimately lead to his downfall. In the pages of "The Prince of Providence" you will read all about the corruption greed and intimidation that would ultimately become hallmarks of the Cianci administration. Although I have lived here all of my life I was personally taken aback by the how frequently Buddy Cianci employed violence and intimidation in both his role as Mayor and in his personal life. You will also be introduced to Dennis Aiken, the FBI agent bound and determined to get to the bottom of all of the wrongdoing in the city. It is a fascinating story.
   In his later years, Buddy Cianci would once again become somewhat of a national figure by his frequent appearances on the "Imus In The Morning " show. No one can deny that he was a compelling and entertaining guest. On "Imus", Buddy would maintain his innocence. In many respects, Buddy Cianci reminds me of Richard Nixon. Both were extremely gifted individuals with serious personality flaws. Even if you are not from Rhode Island or New England where Buddy Cianci is a household name, I think you will find "The Prince of Providence" to be well worth your time. You will come away shaking your head and wondering what could have been. Recommended.



5. There is no doubt Buddy Cianci is an interesting figure worth reading about. However, this book seems at many times to be not much more than the rehashing of newspaper articles written by the writer or his colleagues. All the chapters have snappy introductions, or "ledes," as journalists say, and tend thereafter to be very repetitive in their descriptions of the mayor.
   
   I did not mind purchasing the book, as Cianci is an interesting figure to know about, but I found myself skimming over sentences and sections much more often than I like. Not recommended.