A North Country Life: Tales of Woodsmen, Waters, and Wildlife

by Sydney Lea, Nick Lyons (Foreword)

A North Country Life is the story of author Sydney Lea’s powerful connection to his family, friends, and the northern outdoors. Loosely organized by the changing of seasons, different sections feature essays on such topics as childhood family fishing trips in the wilds of Maine, trophy fly-fishing the northern reaches of the Connecticut River, the opening day of turkey hunting season in Vermont, and getting lost in the deep woods while deer hunting. The essays are introspective and dramatic illustrations of the blending of the human and natural worlds; emotion is attached to both spheres and adds texture to the sketches. Readers of varied interests will be drawn to the sincerity of the author’s voice.
A notable writer and poet, Lea’s lyrical writing preserves a picture of people and places from the past with vivid scenes recalling former times and contrasting them with modern life. Thoughtful portraits of New England elders and the author’s friends bring to life the outdoors as seen through many different eyes, inspiring readers to take a new look at the world around them. With the author’s knack for descriptive language, this compelling read will strike a chord with anyone interested in the contemplative side of nature—which, in truth, is most of us.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ariel Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. I found one of this author’s poems and chased down this collection of essays on Interlibrary Loan and, what a treasure! I think it’s a mark of what a wonderful writer and authentic person he is that even though I’m not a hunter/fisher/woodsman, I could read his accounts of his woods experiences and find beauty and meaning in them through his eyes. The last essay “Snowdust” absolutely brought tears to my eyes - a beautiful reflection on gratitude and humility, on the grace of life, on parenthood, on valuing the life we are given whatever its challenges. I am so thankful to have read this.

[Nick Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Lyrical, indulgently contemplative, bittersweet reflections of a bygone spirit in outdoorsmanship. Glad this came across my TBR.

[Jeff Soyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The North Country. It’s a place. Mostly, it’s the northern parts of Maine, although New Hampshire has a “North Country” as well. It’s also a way of life, a culture that is rapidly dwindling as the suburban crush from points South push their way into the territory.

Poet; essayist; composer: Sydney Lea has written a wonderful book that successfully captures the lives and lifestyles of the generations of North Country inhabitants that is sadly fading into the past. His new book of essays, A North Country Life; Tales of Woodsmen, Waters, and Wildlife is the transcribed history, both of his own, and of the friends he has made over the past 50-years.

Mr. Lea has a deep and abiding respect for those hearty folks he has met throughout the years. People of the hard-scrabble life who were self-reliant, but also were a part of communities that cared for each other and had each others’ back as the expression goes. Even more evident is the love he has of the unspoiled outdoors, of hunting, fishing, and especially — of the people he has met and the friendships he has made because of those activities.

There is a touch of melancholy to a couple of the stories, as well there might be when thinking of times ago, people now gone, or a letter to your father that was written after he had passed. They, too, reflect the admiration that Lea has for the times and people he remembers in this marvelous book.

Lea is a raconteur of raconteurs.

The stories, incidents, joyous occasions he relates — whether of wrestling with a giant brown trout in Montana, or training a new, grousing bird-dog in Maine — clearly show his commitment and dedication to preserving such traditions, and that includes conserving the habitats where such pursuits take place.

A beautifully written memoir of traditions and peoples that are being forgotten.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my friend Ann's brother-in-law, a former poet laureate of Vermont. It's a collection of essays, journal entries comprising a memoir. At first, it was a little hard to get into, the style being very different from the memoir I usually read. It's literary, in a good way. No obscure references, unintelligible metaphors, but the writing is dense and lyrical. My persistence paid off and by the time I finished reading, I'd met some wonderful people, including the author, in the pages. The settings in Maine struck a particular chord with me, having spent my first 15 summers with my family in Brownville Junction. Vermont was less know to me, but now it has become more real and awesome to me.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my review on my blog.

The page total listed by Goodreads is incorrect. This book has a little over 200 pages.

[Jennifer]

I didn't make it through this. It was wonderfully written, but wow…..you need to find another mood other than melancholy! Come on…try!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful group of stories written by a masterful storyteller. This would make a wonderful read for sitting on the deck at the cottage. I highly recommend the read.

[Erik Bonkovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect read to accompany a summer visit to New England. Lyrical and real with vivid portraits of old time New Englanders and a different era.