Rating: 
Summary: A short story collection centered around the people of Maine
Review: A collection of quiet "sketches," this volume is a reminder of the fine writing produced by some of the earliest American realists. Critics have recently revised their first opinions of the book as a "small success" and now consider it a classic of American literature. The stories revolve around a young writer who goes to the coastal town of Dunnet Landing, Maine. In the company of Mrs. Todd, a venerable and locally revered herbalist who gives her lodging, the writer comes to know and write about the people of the area. The result is a fascinating look into personalities shaped and distilled by life on that severe coast into persons of rare character. This edition also contains eight of Jewett's best short stories, including "A White Heron" and "The Queen's Twin." No plot devices or car chases here--this is a book to read on a rainy afternoon when nostalgia and melancholy threaten to overwhelm. It's comfort food like grandma used to make--reassuring, soul-fortifying, and full of the capacity to cheer. It's also addictive--once you take a bite out of Pointed Firs, you can't stop. Similar author: Mary Wilkins Freeman
Rating:
Summary: A short story collection centered around the people of Maine
Review: A collection of quiet "sketches," this volume is a reminder of the fine writing produced by some of the earliest American realists. Critics have recently revised their first opinions of the book as a "small success" and now consider it a classic of American literature. The stories revolve around a young writer who goes to the coastal town of Dunnet Landing, Maine. In the company of Mrs. Todd, a venerable and locally revered herbalist who gives her lodging, the writer comes to know and write about the people of the area. The result is a fascinating look into personalities shaped and distilled by life on that severe coast into persons of rare character. This edition also contains eight of Jewett's best short stories, including "A White Heron" and "The Queen's Twin."
No plot devices or car chases here--this is a book to read on a rainy afternoon when nostalgia and melancholy threaten to overwhelm. It's comfort food like grandma used to make--reassuring, soul-fortifying, and full of the capacity to cheer. It's also addictive--once you take a bite out of Pointed Firs, you can't stop.
Similar author: Mary Wilkins Freeman
Rating: 
Summary: For 40 and Over
Review: After reading The Country of the Pointed Firs, I felt indifferent about the novel, although I considered recommending the book to my mother. Even though the characters were fully developed I could not relate to or identify with any of them. Therefore I finished the book without any strong reactions, negative or positive, about its content. I could not identify with the characters such as Mrs. Todd, Mrs. Blackett, Captain Littlepage, or William because they were all senior citizens and Jewett never described their interactions or relationships with young people. The closest look the reader gets of their relations with younger people is through the characters' memories of earlier stages of their lives. For instance, Mrs. Todd takes the narrator to her and her late husband Nathan's favorite spot. Captain Littlepage reminisces about his seafaring days. Mrs. Fosdick described the hermit behavior of poor Joanna. In addition to the memories of the characters, Jewett included articulate descriptions of her natural surroundings as well as the details of the characters everyday lives. For example, she described the atmosphere of the funeral procession as well as Mrs. Todd's occupation of picking and selling therapeutic herbs. I found these passages difficult to get through since my attention drifted several times while reading them. Even though the passages were boring to read I think that if I actually experienced the moments Jewett described I would find them fulfilling. Floating along the water, seeing those pointed firs, and listening for the tide would be breathtaking, but reading about it made my eyelids droop. I would recommend this book to my mom because she enjoys visiting and chatting with older folks. Plus, she always talks about moving to Maine because she thinks it is so beautiful. To truly appreciate this book, I think the reader must possess a level of maturity that most people don't achieve until they have lived a good 40 years. In general the other readers who reviewed this novel made good points about its content. The reader who responded on February 10th explains the book in the second sentence excellently by recognizing that it is a novel about personalities in a beautiful place. The experience of the reader in Sacramento is an example of my theory that you must posses a certain level of maturity to appreciate Jewett's writing. What seemed pointless at twenty for that reader was wonderful at fifty. Kavlie's review was one I didn't agree with because it was very closed minded. While this student may not have found anything meaningful in the novel, the response that it does not deserve to survive a library fire is ignorant. If a reader takes the time to examine Jewett's writing, he or she should be able to recognize that The Country of the Pointed Firs is a good literary work. So if you read this book and are disappointed keep it on your bookshelf for a later day because it may surprise you.
Rating:
Summary: A Review of The Country of the Pointed Firs
Review: At last after many attempts at finishing The Country of the Pointed Firs I have done so. Although I did not find the book very entertaining I can not truthfully state that it was a dreadful book and an awful waste of time. Honestly though if this was not a mandatory read I would not have read it. There were a few moments of interest and intrigue such as the stories of Captain Littlepage, Poor Joanna, and the Bowden Reunion. Other than those events I found the book very hard to read I had great diffuculty immersing myself in the story. Jewett's great art of describing things in detail can be both fascinating and aggrevating at the same time. At times I found myself yearning to be relaxing amongst the flowers and trees of the Maine countryside. Other times I thougt enough already with the herbs and plants this is not Nature 101! But I suppose there is something to be learned and appreciated about this book as there is with everything experienced in life. Making an educated guess I would have to say that it is the appreciation of the simplicities on life such as visting someone and having them truly appreciate and enjoy your company. Yes, I believe this is the message Jewett is trying to convey to us whien she writes, "It is very rare in country life...that any occasion of general interest proves to be less that great " (Jewett 457).
Rating: 
Summary: Not thrilling, but quite a wake up call!
Review: Before I sat down to read Sarah Orne Jewett's, "Country of the Pointed Furs", I read the reviews that were posted on this page. The first review lead me to believe that this was going to be the worst book that I have ever read. The reader said, "The whole class, including the teacher, thought that it was a complete waste of time; and that we lost a valuable week in our lives by reading this book." This was a really strong negative reaction to a piece of literature, but never the less it made me fearful of beginning the book. In contrast to that review, yet another review reads, "Jewett definitely has a way with words and makes you wish you were in Maine, witnessing the events of the novel." In addition, a fellow reader goes on to describe the work as "delightful" and "A must read if you are interested in 19 C female authors." Needless to say, I was confused wheather or not I was going to like, love, hate, or despise this literary work. As I read through the book, I understood where a person could get confused or fall asleep during all the "action", but I also understood that this piece of literature was like no other I have ever read. It's slow moving, plot about nothing special, is mearly a device that Jewett uses to introduce one of the major themes of the book, lonliness. In reality, we all struggle with lonliness, and it is through struggle that we strive to live out our lives to the fullest. In many scenes, the characters may seem bored, but in actuality, they are very content to be where they are. In Maine, this society is dominated by older people who may look at life differently than those from Philadelphia. If you try to put yourself in the characters place, and take the work for what it is, the reader may find a soothing glimse of another world that was previously unfamilar to them.
Rating:
Summary: Love and Hate Literature
Review: Country of the Pointed Firas falls right in the middle of a one to five scale. I had to read this book for a college course at first I could have strangled the Professor. However, I started to read this book and I hated it because the writed was going nowhere with the plot. If you start to read this book and hope to go somewhere you had better hope that you have an extremly long time to find it. Then when you realize that this book has no point except for the fir trees, you might be able to appreciate the large amounts of detail. Another aspect of this book is the author goes into great detail and describes every little thing there is to describe which at some points in the bookwere nice and other times I just felt like screaming at the author to get to the DAMN point already. Maybe when I am older I will read the book again to appreciate the slow and borningness in which it represents, but for now it will sit down in the deepest depth of my dark basement. If you are only looking for beautiful imagery which I think is the love hate irony, then this is the book for you. If there was a course in creative writing then I think this book should be a requirement. I didn't find anything that was short and sweet about this book, were we reading the same book. I image one can only injoy this book when he/she is older. I thought that the first reveiw was the most funnest thing ever.
Rating:
Summary: No Hollywood, no car chases, just fine reading...
Review: I found this to be an extraordinary novel because it really didn't seem like fiction at all. No plot, no bodice ripping, no contrived literary conventions, nothing; Sarah Orne Jewett constructs each episode to blend into the next as seamless as a conversation with a close friend, and the overall effect makes something like a landscape painting, only in print form. Each character she writes about was deformed by the weather, the soil, the isolation, the struggles, and the sea, yet in their faults, they are human and thus dignified--it is beautiful in a simple way. I would recommend reading this book some afternoon with the telephone unplugged, sitting on a porch with a teapot full of Earl Grey nearby, with your feet propped up and your cares let down. It's as subtle and delightful as a waft of air from the garden after an afternoon shower. It's a haiku in prose--the memory of the book is better than the reading. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: No Hollywood, no car chases, just fine reading...
Review: I found this to be an extraordinary novel because it really didn't seem like fiction at all. No plot, no bodice ripping, no contrived literary conventions, nothing; Sarah Orne Jewett constructs each episode to blend into the next as seamless as a conversation with a close friend, and the overall effect makes something like a landscape painting, only in print form. Each character she writes about was deformed by the weather, the soil, the isolation, the struggles, and the sea, yet in their faults, they are human and thus dignified--it is beautiful in a simple way. I would recommend reading this book some afternoon with the telephone unplugged, sitting on a porch with a teapot full of Earl Grey nearby, with your feet propped up and your cares let down. It's as subtle and delightful as a waft of air from the garden after an afternoon shower. It's a haiku in prose--the memory of the book is better than the reading. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Old-time country charmer
Review: I read this book when I was 20 or so and found it abysmally boring, all about old folks in an out of the way place, and nothing happens. Lucky for me, 30 years later Willa Cather's essays sent me back to it and I was entranced by the lyricism, wisdom, insight and grace of the vignettes of late nineteenth century life on the coast of Maine. Jewett is a kind heart but not a romanticizer, and her characters are true and deep. I'm eager to read more of her work.
Rating:
Summary: The Calmness of the Countryside.
Review: I thought that Sarah Orne Jewett's, The Country Of The Pointed Firs, was a highly creative and illustrative work of art. Jewett's depictive style of a calm and satisfying life, combined with breathtakingly beautiful detail, was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I could actually imagine myself on a desolate island of green fields and trees, while being surrounded by calm blue waters. Though repetitive, and dull at times, I found myself plunging within the depths of the book to uncover a wonderful, yet almost hidden meaning. The meaning of lonliness, and the satisfaction the characters find within the essence of their lonliness. Simple satisfactions like the beauty of the countryside, picking herbs and fishing, visiting family and friends, or recalling the memories of their lives past. The book began with the narrator, a writer who left the busyness of a hectic city, to discover the peacefulness of Dunnet Landing. The novel simply concludes with the narrator's regret of having to leave the island, in order that she return to her life in the city. On arrival at Dunnet Landing, the narrator encountered Mrs. Almiry Todd. While living as a guest in Mrs. Todd's home, she not only discovered the peacefulness of the countryside, but also the satisfaction that was found among its dwellers. As her stay progressed, the narrator developed a loving relationship with the island and its inhabitants. She encountered people like Mrs. Todd, William, Captain Littlepage, Mrs. Fosdick, the Bowden's, and of course, Mrs. Blackwell. The narrator also enjoyed engaging in conversations about people who once inhabited the island, like Johanna and Nathan. Throughout the book, the narrator discovered the calm and satisfying pleasures of enjoying the simple things in life. While putting aside the pleasures found within city life, she discovered the joy of picking herbs, recalling memories, visiting people, or just taking a walk. All in all, Jewett describes a novel about finding the satisfaction within a lonely life, a life that is characterized through maturity. The characters on the island portray lonliness, which is the basis of our human condition. However, despite their lonliness, the people of Dunnet Landing share strong bonds connected through families and friendships. Through the context of their isolation on Dunnet Landing, they are able to achieve the satisfaction of all desired nature. Finally, I thought that some readers were harsh in reviewing the book. If people would broaden their horizons by opening their minds and hearts to this passive style of writing, they might uncover a valuable perspective that one day they will cherish!
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