Roseledge cottage has no insulation. This allows instant air conditioning with temperature shifts and big time humidity, especially when the fog rolls in. Mostly this is good or at least okay. But without insulation, hardcover books would wilt, just as did the cardboard innards of the old Selectric typewriter. So I have only paperbacks. I’ll have to wait, but the following hardcover suggestions are possible.
Hertzberg, Jeff and Zoe Francois. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
Foggy day activity book? Maybe, especially as Tenants Harbor General Store, formerly Hall’s Market, carries small bags of flour, but no longer carries Borealis or Atlantic Baking bread — at least not during summer ’07. A friend’s friend made and shared the bread in this book, and my friend declared it delicious. I hope the book comes out in paperback. I also hope the boats have ovens. If not, I’ll stick to having books of soups, stews, and chowders.
Manning, Phillip Lars. Dinomummy
Any day activity book? Dinosaurs are always a plus, but add rocks and the book zings. The rocks of Marshall Point, a five mile car or bike ride from Roseledge, may not be hiding a dinosaur, but they are good rocks to check out and see what you find. Think tidal pools, contemporary shell heaps (read: clambake residue), old boat nails, shark teeth, or really round stones. Mostly Dinomummy is a possible Roseledge Books addition because it demonstrates once again that North Dakota, my childhood home, glows and because my very great-nephew, Alex, who is 1, pointed to the dinosaurs in the book and exclaimed, “Gah!” (according to his mother). Now THAT’S a rave review. I hope a paperback version is in its future.
#4. Marshall Point Light House Rocks. A view with perspective. A place to think about things that matter. Do you have to see islands for it to be a Maine view?
An e-mailer suggested:
Braestrup, Kate. Here If You Need Me: A True Story
Kate Braestrup has a great voice and worthy perspective. (I’ve only heard her interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio.) And she’s a Mainer. Friend Dana recommended the book as being both inspirational and easy to listen to on the treadmill. She downloaded the ebook from the library. You might think buying it for Roseledge Books is a no-brainer.
But Here If You Need Me is not yet available in paperback, and that’s a problem. Uninsulated Roseledge with FOG [emphasis added] and temperature shifts treats flexible paperback books most kindly, even if the paper curls and turns yellow. The other problem has to do with books about tragedy, and this book assumes tragedy.
When Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm was first available in paperback (2007?), I bought six copies — a lot for Roseledge Books. The book was well received, the author lived nearby, the book was about sea and weather and tragedy that “my” sailors would recognize, and Linda Greenlaw, by then an author in her own right, was in the book. But soon thereafter, I suggested The Perfect Storm to a sailor. He looked at me, aghast, and said, “I’m not reading that while I’m sailing.” Of course not. I had glossed over a pertinent tragedy alert. These several years later, I still have most of the copies.
Junger, Sebastian. The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea
Choosing books is tricky business. Kate Braestrup’s book is about life after tragedy, an important difference from Sebastian Junger’s book. A must for Roseledge Books come July. Good suggestion.