Land's End: A Walk In Provincetown (2002) - Plot & Excerpts
Cape Cod is on the North West fringe of America, and Provincetown is on the very edge of Cape Cod. This isolation means it is a place which has attracted those on the periphery of American society too; artists and writers have made their homes here, and hosts a large gay and lesbian community too.The walk takes us around the town, down the two main streets, across the marshes and dunes, for a brief dip in the bay and then onto the beaches. With him we visit some of the bars and clubs, drops into some of the local stores and stops by when passing the famous residents homes. It has a long history too, as it was the first place the Mayflower landed, before departing to Plymouth across the bay.It is formed by its location too. That part of the Atlantic is battered by winter storms, hence why most people visit in the summer, and the elements keep the town honest.. But in the transitory seasons there is something about the light there that has a unique quality. Even the grey days can feel special according to Cunningham, as these are some of the most dynamic and changeable.Cunningham’s writing is vivid but has a haunting brevity. This is a place that he feels deeply at home at, and the place where he met his current partner, Kenny. Even though he spends time in New York too, he has now bought a place, and is in the process of renovating it.Thought this was worth reading overall; I liked the way each chapter was separated with a poem too. Found this image of Provincetown on a calm day
Although this book started & finished with a very descriptive walk-about in Provincetown_there were parts that were not agreeable to me.Yes,it was descriptive_too much so regarding SEX,having too much,where to find it,his sex life,other's sex life,sporting gentleman,who's doing whom,etc.The worst was a play by play of how he and other friends washed the corpse of a friend in the hospital_descriptive indeed,down to the color of his friend's genitalia!Really!I purchased the book to bring back the lovely memories of a tour my Uncle & Aunt gave my husband and me.We were visiting them at their summer home on Cape Cod_Dennisport.They had shown us the Landmark General Store of my husband's family in Eastham,ventured into Truro and Provincetown,visiting the Pilgrim's Monument & Provincetown Museum,etc.Certainly_with a title "Land's End..a walk in Provincetown"_did I expect to get a lesson in a male person's gentalia at death.A little much....
What do You think about Land's End: A Walk In Provincetown (2002)?
First, I didn't realize until I started the book that it's 10-years-old. That wouldn't matter in a novel, but this is more of a memoir/travel guide. Second, I wish I'd known about it before I'd been to Provincetown, which struck me as just a weird little touristy place at the end of Cape Cod, rather than the more magically quirky community Cunningham describes. Maybe P'town should have Cunningham take over its PR. Of course, they'd have to get him to tone down all the gay sex stuff, which was more than a bit over done.
—Amy
This is well written and easy to read book about Provincetown, Massachusetts. For those that don't Provincetown is at the very tip of Cape Cod. The book not only describes the town physically it also describes it residents and community around it. We learn a bit about it's history in which we learn that this in fact was the first landing spot of the Mayflower before finally settling in the more well known Plymouth across the bay. It is not only a well known tourist spot it also has been popular
—Robert
Provincetown è una cittadina che sorge all'estremità di Cape Cod, nel Massachussetts, una lunga e incantata striscia di sabbia sulla East Coast degli Stati Uniti. Dopo avervi trascorso un solitario inverno, quando a ventotto anni si era imbarcato nella faticosa stesura di un romanzo, Michael Cunningham è tornato a Provincetown ogni anno, a trascorrervi le sue vacanze.Niente da fare: con questo autore (premiato anche con il Pulitzer per Le ore) non è scattata la scintilla. Scrive benissimo, ma ho sempre la sensazione che i pensieri che scrive si accartoccino su sé stessi e leggerlo è, per me, faticosissimo. Dopo Le ore ho voluto provare questo, ho trovato la copertina accattivante con una bella casa bianca sulla spiaggia, molto americana, ma il libro non mi è piaciuto. Si tratta in parte di un diario di viaggio piuttosto dettagliato, in parte racconto con inseriti versi tratti da opere di altri autori, in parte è un diario personale, dove l'autore ci rende partecipi dei suoi stati d'animo, della sua omosessualità, della gioia di scoprire che in questa cittadina "coloro che vivono fuori dalle convenzioni sembrano superare numericamente coloro che vivono all'interno di esse", di come abbia eletto Provincetown come casa dell'anima. L'impressione è comunque che questo libro riempia le pagine senza dire niente, l'ho trovato molto superficiale e mi è scivolato addosso senza lasciare niente
—Alisea
