lobster coast book review

The lobster men themselves divided up the coastal area into zones and they self regulated. Some parts interested me more than others, but all in all, I learned a lot about the geography, economy, and culture of coastal Maine and the people who call that part of the country their home. The other is the story of the development of Maine, from the colonial era to the modern day. The "back-to-the landers" that came before me brought incredible intellectual energy as did retirees like myself. THE LOBSTER COAST: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier Colin Woodard, Author. They endured many harsh winters, Indian wars and more. Incredible. £5.79 £ 5. Heartbreaking. Woodard uses the lobster to tell the whole history of Maine.” —Working Waterfront “Highly engaging, intelligent.” —Down East “A stellar informal history . Once he gets to the 19th century, it is a history of the Maine fishing industry. . It's written so anecdotally and chummy, and is exactly the sort of thing I hate right now. Last edited by VacuumBot. A great cultural history of Maine, providing an interesting, in depth account of how Maine was settled and how Maine lobster fishing evolved into the thriving business it is today. It seems to work out well. I love the "idea" of Maine and this book gives important background to it. Its clear eyed view of Maine and its realities present a welcome counterpoint to Maine Magazine and its expensively styled view of "the real Maine" composed of the wealthy self-employed. A vibrant social and cultural history of Maine. The mouth of the Kennebec, Popham, Pemaquid and Monhegan Island, all right in our backyard, are covered in detail. It took a long time to read it, but it kept me interested, horrified, and attentive to the last page. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Very well done social, political, and environmental history. Woodard also wonders about the future, if coastal Maine will retain its independence and traditions or succumb to the development sprawl making it just another suburban habitat. The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier. The lowly lobster, once the food of prisoners and used for fertilizer now became a delicacy desired by the wealthy. The Lobster Coast tells a story as big as America itself, from the formative experiences of the colonial era to the perils of failing to conserve a cultural and environmental heritage in the face of uncontrolled growth and development." Gave me a real appreciation for the state and its history. Reading this book while sitting on the coast of northern Massachusetts, just 20 miles from Maine might have made the reading more relevant and fun than it might be for a more foreign reader. Some of it was boring, like the first chapter with the discussion about that woman who has mysteriously disappeared from Monhegan and the last chapter that focused on development, population change, and technology. July 31, 2012 | History. It gave me a really strong understanding of the background of the state and the influences that shaped it into today's Vacationland. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Get it Saturday, Dec 12. We had an outhouse for 25 years. This was a book for my Book Club. I wish I had read it before visiting midcoast and down east Maine this summer, but I look forward to going back with a deeper understanding. The book, however, stays true to its title and focuses on the Maine coast. So begins the lobster period that continues to this day. An engaging story about the independence and perseverance of the inhabitants of the Maine coastal area. Woodard is very detailed in chronicling the long establishment of Maine as we think of it today, pioneer communities, Native Americans, the French and the English fought over this land and its resources from the early. Fish, fish and more fish. I enjoyed this, but I am from Maine and was in Maine when I read it, so I am pretty much a bullseye as the target audience. Very interesting read, though as the author points out, things have changes drastically this century and if you want to see the Maine in the book, you need to visit Nova Scotia or preferably Newfoundland! The author explains the numerous attempts of Europeans trying to make a go of it on its rocky shores and harsh winters during the 1600s (It wasn't like a visit to Disney World's Epcot, that's for sure.) So we are still today summer people from Massachusetts. La Tua Pasta Tortelloni Crab & Lobster Fresh Filled Egg Pasta, 250 g. 4.1 out of 5 stars 31. . Mr. Woodard does a very good job explaining how we developed into such people. Author Colin Woodward convincingly argues that Maine's tough-minded inhabitants have had a tough history, not least due to the repeated impositions of outsiders, especially from Massachusetts Bay colony and the modern state of Massachusetts. Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2013. Their lobster rolls are a classic, but try the lobster grilled cheese for an updated version of the OG (you will not regret it). Welcome back. His book should be in the historical section of every library in the US. An enjoyable, engaging read. Reader in group - I am into all things Maine, so when Gulf of Maine Books had their main sale on Maine Street, I had to go, I was mainly looking for non-fiction. I grew up in a coastal Maine town, but its been a very long time since there was much activity on the waterfront there. The Lobster Coast is a dense but fascinating study of coastal Maine and its history--cultural, economic, political, and environmental. I wish I could read a book like this for each of the 50 states, something to get a flavor for a state's past and present -- and hey, that strikes me as a worthwhile goal. It had all the trappings of being, what I can imagine, an interesting story line, but it was cut off short. It does make a few passing references to inland Maine but, I guess, that is a book for someone else to write. 207 likes. So we are. Native Mainer and national journalist, Colin Woodard s second book, The Lobster Coast (Viking, 372pp, $24.95), is a rocketing speed-boat ride through Maine s coastal history--with an underlying engine hum of ecological awareness and concern.The first chapter is an unlikely one to begin a history. This page works best with JavaScript. Watch Queue Queue . There are almost no fish left where I go, and now I know how and why. The Lobster Coast - By Colin Woodard. Unlike history stories this is told through personal stories, visitations to towns, and observations. Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020. Woodard uses the lobster to tell the whole history of Maine.” —Working Waterfront “Highly engaging, intelligent.” —Down East “A stellar informal history . My Dad and grandfather built our small cape cod uninsultated house. Bristol Novelty AC926 Adult Lobster Costume, Red. I wish I could read a book like this for each of the 50 states, something to get a flavor for a state's past and present -- and hey, that strikes me as a worthwhile goal. While I really enjoyed all the history, and learned a LOT, it was a bit like reading a history book and it took a long time to get to, what I assumed was, the plot - the writer’s expedition to modern day monhegan island to interview a lobster woman and partake in the opening day on monhegan’s short winter lobstering season. August 2004 The sky is truly falling on many fish species. Mr. Woodard's book is an excellent overview of Maine's history along the coast. Des milliers de livres avec la livraison chez vous en 1 jour ou en magasin avec -5% de réduction . Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2015. Viking $24.95 (384p) ISBN 978-0-670-03324-9. Microhistory: Social Histories of Just One Thing, Microhistories: Microscopic Studies of Individual Events, People and Places, Bill Gates Picks 5 Good Books for a Lousy Year. MBNA made a huge positive contribution to Knox and Waldo Counties. Unfortunately, I started in on some 100 pages of All Things Monhegan. I was born and raised along the Maine/Canadian border which is heavily composed of citizens with French ancestry. Colin Woodard is a fun, accessible historian. 79 (£2.32/100 g) FREE same-day delivery on orders over £40 with Prime. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. My dad grew up in Maine. It talks a lot about Maine and how its past shaped it present. The Lobster Coast by Colin Woodard, 2009, Penguin USA, Inc. edition, Electronic resource in English ... Share this book. There's a problem loading this menu right now. . Gifted to us by our realtor when we out-of-staters moved to Maine, so we could understand the local character. I wanted to read about fishing, smuggling, shipbuilding, lobster wars, and legacies. and the evolution of the state up to current day issues. It captures in a microcosm the forces that created that created the US as a whole--a stew of competing interests swept along arbitrarily according to the needs of the rich and powerful. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. . It is a good read for anyone who enjoys Maine, as we always have. The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier is a very well written synthesis of coastal Maine's cultural and political history, land and sea ecology and ultimately of the choices this coastal area is facing going forward. When I selected this book, I was hoping for a historical account of the development of the Maine coast: the story of how pioneers tore the land from Natives, then from England, then from Massachusetts, and staked themselves to this jagged coast to eke out a living. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. The first, which begins and ends the book is the story of the Maine lobster industry, which unlike most other commercial fishing, remains viable economically and ecologically. One summer we could actually see a Russian factory ship anchored out to sea. It also offers some great insight into why Mainers are such rugged, stoic characters. We’d love your help. 50 years ago we could put a line over the boat and catch several different kinds of fish for supper, but now there are no fish there to bite. You leave with a good feel of where Mainers' staunch independence and skepticism for outsiders comes from: anyone who could survive on what is an isolated rock will be hard around the edges. Book reviews. Eventually it was settled and the bounty of the Gulf of Maine was discovered. Lobster Coast Provides Economic Activity to Region. It also underscored the importance of knowing where we want to be going. and the evolution of the state up to current day issues. There are many qualities we share with Mainers who live on the coast but there are also differences. It does make a few passing references to inland Maine but, I guess, that is a book. An edition of The Lobster Coast (2004) The Lobster Coast by Colin Woodard. The Lobster Coast. 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