Somewhere Off The Coast Of Maine (1987) - Plot & Excerpts
Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine by Ann Hood3 women who grew up in the late 60's their children are now of age in the 80's.Starts off with Sparrow (Susan) and her mother Susanne who is constantly asking about her real father, pictures, lifestyle etc.Rebecca has no friends and she thinks it's because of her big nose, she needs a nose job.Story also follows her parents and the diagnosis of cancer.Claudia and Simon and many other combinations of people. Confusing at times but a good story.Also goes back in time while the next chapter is present day involving the parents or the children-now adults.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). I discovered Ann Hood by accident a few years ago and since then, I haven't read a thing by her that I don't love. She's a literary master. Her work is always dark and it always stays with me. This novel, her debut, was no exception. She writes of three friends in the late sixties and does clever things with plot, showing the reader the same three characters, their children, and the consequences of their choices in the 1980s. She skips back and forth from the 60s to the 80s seamlessly. The novel is ambitious, literary, sad, real, and gorgeously rendered. The only things keeping me from giving this one five stars is an ending that fell a bit flat, a character (Suzanne) who is underdeveloped, and my craving that the book was longer and continued to stay with the characters and their stories for more time. I'm already looking forward to my next Ann Hood read.
What do You think about Somewhere Off The Coast Of Maine (1987)?
really awful. can't believe they made more than the first edition I read.
—dkoolkat
Great little novel! Made me want to check out more by Ann Hood.
—hamza
Wonderful book, especially meaningful to us baby boomers.
—Taylor
I loved all of her books. Great character development
—oskar
Easy read, could be made into a Hallmark tv movie.
—TILynch
