Stern Men | Elizabeth Gilbert

Stern Men | Elizabeth Gilbert | Excellent first novel!

books:

Stern Men

	Stern Men Elizabeth Gilbert Mariner Books, 2001 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 38 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

On two remote islands off the coast of Maine, the local lobstermen have fought savagely for generations over the fishing rights to the ocean waters between them. Young Ruth Thomas is born into this feud, the daughter of one of the greediest lobstermen in Maine. Eighteen years old, as smart as a whip, and irredeemably unromantic, Ruth returns home from boarding school determined to throw her education overboard and join the "stern men." As the feud escalates, she helps work the lobster boats, brushes up on her profanity, and eventually falls for Owney Wishnell, a handsome young lobsterman. "Funny, clever and wise" (Seattle Times), STERN MEN captures a feisty American spirit through this unforgettable heroine who is destined for greatness despite herself.

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A Special Story

Ruthie got me. This story delivers as well as her seven stones-- and I am not going to spoil the tale for another reader. Just read it.

Excellent first novel!

This thoroughly engrossed me and I finished this book within 3 days. The story takes place on 2 fictitious islands and concerns the warring between lobster fishermen. The story goes back and forth between these lobster wars and the lives of some of the quirky islanders. The main protaginist is Ruth and we start to get more and more involved in her personal story. The title isn't very apt because it is really her story more than the lobster wars that take up the latter half of the book. I was a little sorry that there were not more of the men's stories but got caught up in the Ruth saga anyway.
This is a great first novel although it gives itself away as a first novel in the way all the characters seem to have the same "voice." But then, maybe that's how it is on some of these remote Maine islands.
My other complaint is the ending. I won't give it away here, but I just did not find it very believable.
Otherwise, I was very sorry to finish this book!

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entertaining

Very entertaining. Good look at life on an island off of the NE coast.

An island off the coast of Maine and some other quirky characters

I read and enjoyed Eat, Pray Love by this author and decided to give some of her other books a look. This was a delightful vacation read. The place is quirky, the people are quirky and yet it all seems very familiar. Gilbert has a knack for bringing characters to life and having them ring true.

a good read

its simple: i really liked this book. yes, it was quirky and sometimes pokey (only in that some of the history was a little tedious), but it was also engrossing and fun. her writing style is comfortable without being patronizing. her characters, storyline and setting are full and vibrant. i am very glad that i found this book and have been recommending it to friends and family alike - and to me, that's the best review of all.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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