Any good factual books worth a read? (wood floors, sale)

[arzachena]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

arzachena, what is It Happened in Maine about? that sounds very familiar....is it a crime story? I have read The Names of Maine, and that's interesting....I'm writing the others down

publishers description:

"It Happened in Maine includes 30 fascinating stories about events that shaped the Pine Tree State. From the establishing of Shaker communities to the log drive that ended a 141-year tradition, learn about the people and events that made Maine what it is today. In an easy-to-read style that is entertaining as well as informative, It Happened in Maine includes both famous and little-known events."

Back Cover:

"From the story behind the first women voters to the last legal log drive in America, It Happened in Maine takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the intriguing characters and episodes from the Pine Tree State’s past.
Here you’ll read about the vision that sparked Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as well as how a couple of entrepreneurs managed to sell more than two million shares of stock in a company created to make gold from seawater. You’ll meet Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, the first female fly rod angler, and Abbie Burgess, a woman who became a lighthouse keeper when she was only a teenager.
Many of the people and events from Maine’s past are well known, but many are not. Did you know that one of the shortest championship title fights in history - the one between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston - took place in a small youth center in Maine? Or that a few determined colonists from tiny Machias helped inspire the start of the American Navy? Did you know that Maine is the only state to declare war on a foreign country? Or that it’s the birthplace of chewing gum?
In an easy-to-read style that’s entertaining and informative, author Gail Underwood Parker recounts some of the most captivating moments from Maine’s history."

All the books I listed are Historical or factual and I have just ordered a few of them. So how did Calais get its name?

[mollysmiles]

Calais was named after Calais, France (even though here it's pronounced Cal-is, with emphasis on Cal). I know our area had many French settlers, but interestingly it had something to do with the Revolutionary War more than Champlain! If I'm remembering it correctly

I definitely want to look into It Happened in Maine!

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

Calais was named after Calais, France (even though here it's pronounced Cal-is, with emphasis on Cal).

thank you, I have been reading it as "cal-ay" with the accent on the second syllable... as the French would. Now I won't sound like an idiot if I have to say it.

You can always tell folks "from off" (as they say here) who are familiar with the town of the same name to where in live, but in SC. Beaufort here is pronounced the French way "bow" (as in bow and arrow) "fort" but the SC town is "beau" (rhymes with pew) "fort". And I used to live in Spokane WA which got often mispronounced with a long A sound... which would be the rule on account of the final E... instead if it acutally "spo-can"

Place names and pronunciations are fun.

[winterpeace]

What about Linda Greenlaw's books? She lives on Isle au Haut and wrote Lobster Chronicles, The Hungry Ocean, All Fishermen are Liars, a cookbook Recipes From a Very Small Island, and a mystery, Slipknot.
Also another murder mystery Murder On The Rocks a Gray Whale Inn mystery by Karen MacInerney, about a woman who moves from Texas to open a B & B on Cranberry Island. Also The Secret Life of Lobsters (can't remember author of that one), a factual book about lobsters and lobster fishing.

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by starwalker

thank you, I have been reading it as "cal-ay" with the accent on the second syllable... as the French would. Now I won't sound like an idiot if I have to say it.

You can always tell folks "from off" (as they say here) who are familiar with the town of the same name to where in live, but in SC. Beaufort here is pronounced the French way "bow" (as in bow and arrow) "fort" but the SC town is "beau" (rhymes with pew) "fort". And I used to live in Spokane WA which got often mispronounced with a long A sound... which would be the rule on account of the final E... instead if it acutally "spo-can"

Place names and pronunciations are fun.

lol...I've been saying Spokane wrong my whole life!

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

lol...I've been saying Spokane wrong my whole life!

well you were following the rules of American pronunciation, but... place names don't always. But, riddle me this... how many times does one actually need to say Spokane in a lifetime, especially if they don't live there?

[mollysmiles]

lol true! when I was about 7 or 8 my older sister had the "state capitals game"....I never played it with her, but because my best friend was born in Kansas, I knew how to pronounce it. You can just imagine how I pronounced Arkansas--until I was in 4th grade and FINALLY realized what I was doing!

[Zymer]

Did you know that Maine is the only state to declare war on a foreign country?

Ah, the Aroostook War. I read about that while I was up in Ft. Kent.

[moughie]

Mollysmiles intoduced me to Sarah Graves in a previous post.
Now I am hooked!
I have read 7 out of her 8 books, and actually felt quite sad when Victor died of a brain tumor.
I am determined to visit Eastport now, just to familiarize myself with the settings of her series.
Thanks mollysmiles

[lovemaine]

Originally Posted by winterpeace

What about Linda Greenlaw's books? She lives on Isle au Haut and wrote Lobster Chronicles, The Hungry Ocean, All Fishermen are Liars, a cookbook Recipes From a Very Small Island, and a mystery, Slipknot.
Also another murder mystery Murder On The Rocks a Gray Whale Inn mystery by Karen MacInerney, about a woman who moves from Texas to open a B & B on Cranberry Island. Also The Secret Life of Lobsters (can't remember author of that one), a factual book about lobsters and lobster fishing.

I really enjoyed "The Lobster Chronicles". Another recent book set in Maine is "Here if you need me" by Kate Braestrup. I reserved it at the library, but there is a waiting list. It got outstanding reviews, so I can't wait to read it. I tried to post a link to a review, but it didn't work (computer illiteracy, sigh). If you google the title and author, several reviews will come up.