Summer Reading

Ah, the simple pleasure of summer reading.  A great time to catch up on all those books you meant to read and never found the time to.

So as the kids are splashing in the pool, building sandcastles or hunting for crabs, we will be sitting back and enjoying the carefree days of summer with a great read.

The popular Stieg Larsson "Millennium trilogy" is on our radar right now. 

Baseball Book Signing

Calling all baseball fans! 

Kennebooks and the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport are hosting a baseball weekend with guest authors Tom and Ellen Zappala.  The Zappalas are promoting their new book, The T206 Collection: The Players and Their Stories.

Two events are scheduled beginning with a "Meet the Authors" cocktail party at the Nonantum Resort on Friday, June 11th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The second event is "Breakfast with the Authors" also at the Nonantum Resort on Saturday, June 12th from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM followed with a presentaion by the authors, book signing and vintage baseball clinic.

We say "Play Ball"!

Mussels in White Wine

It's summer, we're in Maine, fresh shellfish is plentiful and we are hungry.  How about mussels for dinner tonight?

Our favorite mussel recipe comes from Ina Garten's cookbook, The Barefoot in Paris.

Tender mussels simmering in a luxuriant broth of white wine, plum tomatoes, fresh thyme, with sauteed shallots and garlic.  Serve with crusty french bread for a delicious and satisfying light supper or appetizer.

Best wine pairing is a Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc according to Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Down East Books

Most Mainers are familiar with Down East, Maine's premier monthly magazine but what some people may not know is Down East Enterprises has been in the book publishing business since 1977.  And they are apparently very good at it having been awarded "Publisher of the Year" by the New England Independent Booksellers Association in 2008.

A diverse collection of books published to date include; biographies, art and photography, travel, Maine fiction, Maine history and children's books.  Here are a few titles that caught our eye:

Click HERE to learn more about Down East Books and browse some of their other titles.

Author Peter Mayle

For pure escapism, time and time again, we turn to Peter Mayle's books chronicling his life as an expatriate living in Provence, France.  The British author is a gifted travel writer and a lover of fine food and wine.  

As the reader, we live vicariously through Mayle as he befriends the local truffle hunters, prowls the Sunday-morning markets and feasts on mouth-watering french cuisine.  The four book series is a trip well taken.

A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, Encore Provence, and French Lessons are all available at Amazon.com

On the Newstand

Coastal Home, a new coastal lifestyle magazine, is launching this month.  We will be making room on our coffee table for the first issue published just to our south in Portsmouth, NH.  Click HERE for a preview of the premiere issue.

In the May issue of Portland Magazine,  Carson Kressley gives a fantastic interview about his upcoming visit to Maine. He is appearing in the Ogunquit Playhouse production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" opening June 9th. What did Carson say he wants to do when he arrives in Ogunquit?  "I'm going to go have a big, fat martini and meet some of the locals" and how we would love to be one of them.

The Portland Phoenix "Best of 2010"

The Phoenix has published their "Best of Portland" list for 2010.  The annual reader's poll showcases the winners in four categories, Arts & Entertainment, City Life, Food & Drink and Shopping.

Here are a few we plan on checking out:

"Best Brunch" - The Front Room.  Located on Congress Street, they offer a dizzying array of delectables including, silver dollar pancakes with Maine blueberries, croque-monsieur, bisquits and gravy, three egg omelettes, french onion soup, fresh salads and house-made corned beef hash.  And the best part, they serve brunch everday!

"Best Bookstore (New)" - Longfellow Books.  We love independent bookstores.  They are fighting the good fight to bring their passion and knowledge about books to the people.

"Best Public Open Space" - Eastern Promenade.  Take a walk on the Eastern Prom trail or simply find a grassy spot and enjoy the spectacular views of Casco Bay.  This is why we live in Maine after all.

Portland Public Library

The Portland Public Library re-opened last Thursday after being closed for one year to undergo a massive reconstruction.

The 7.5 million dollar renovation has taken this once dim and outdated space and transformed it into a vibrant gathering place full of light and energy.

The new library hosts three levels including the enlarged Rines Auditorium, the expanded Lewis Gallery, and the new Portland Room.

It is clear to see that a tremendous amount of heart and soul has been poured into this Portland landmark.

The Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland, Maine
(207) 871-1700

Click HERE to learn more.

Pulitzer Prize

For the second year in a row, a novel set in Maine has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

The 2010 winner is the debut novel  Tinkers by Paul Harding which was published by the small newcomer, Bellevue Literary Press.  This book flew so low under the radar that the New York Times never issued a review.

Tinkers tells the story of a man at the end of his life, confined by illness, and the journey his mind takes recalling the past.  It asks the question, where will our mind take us if we have time to contemplate our mortality?

Last year the Pulitzer Prize for fiction went to Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.  A meditation on life told through thirteen short stories interconnected by the title character, Olive.

Two great award winning books set in Maine.  We like this trend.

Tinkers and Olive Kitteridge are available now in paperback at Amazon.

On the Newsstand

We were kicking ourselves for letting our Vanity Fair subscription run out when we saw who is gracing the May cover.  The article, "Grace Kelly's Forever Look", examines the enduring legacy of this girl from Philadelphia. This issue hits newsstands April 7th.

Down East magazine's April issue, surveys Maine real estate and asks the question, what is your dollar worth?  And a charming article defines the weekly ritual of going out for breakfast on Saturday mornings.

In the April issue of Coastal Living, Casco Bay gets a shout out in a travel article entitled "9 Coastal Wonders to See Now".

Lewis Carroll's Alice

With Tim Burton's film "Alice in Wonderland" setting records at the box office, it got us to thinking about how much we love the classic books by Lewis Carroll.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865, followed by the sequel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There in 1871.

Alice's adventures begin on a lazy summer day when she follows a white rabbit "down the rabbit hole" and finds herself in Wonderland.  The characters she encounters there are among the most enduring in literature including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit.

Carroll's books are pure fantasy, rich with a dream-like narrative, remarkable poetry and one of the most clever heroines in modern literature. An unforgettable read for adults and children.

"In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die.

Ever drifting down the stream-
Lingering in the golden gleam-
Life, what is it but a dream?"

(excerpted from Through the Looking-Glass)

Click HERE to learn more about Lewis Carroll and his work.