The Eastern Book One: The Early Years

The Eastern #1

by Deborah Gould

In the early 1800s, five families settle on the Eastern River in Pittston, Maine. Together, they build a strong and lasting neighborhood, an agricultural community based on New England values of cooperation and reciprocity. Both fiction and social history, The Eastern flows through the experiences and truths we share with those who have lived before us.
An excerpt from The Eastern won the 2014 Maine Literary Award for Short Works--Fiction.
2016 Maine Literary Awards FINALIST

263 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good example of current maine lierature with good research of the period: mid to late 19th century.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in rural Maine in the 1800's, these stories exemplify gritty Mainers living challenging lives. Reading these stories makes me glad to have been born when there was indoor plumbing and central heating!

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent stories about the lives of five families that settled along the Eastern River just a few miles away from my house I Jefferson, Maine. I found it riveting and am excited to read the second book!

[Martic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story gives a clear picture of daily life in a neighborhood over a 45 year period during much of our country ‘s formative years. I’m sad to leave these characters. I feel like they’re my friends.

[Kerri Oman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the characters, the setting, and the lush simplicity of the story telling. It was a peaceful read during these unusual times.

[R.J. Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fine book which details the lives of people "making a go of it", in building houses, a town and their lives. Accompanied by the Easter River in Piston, Maine in the 1820's, the life the people forge is expertly captured by the author, who while renovating a home in the area came across the owner's papers and records and "found the story" of how it all was back then. The author is now on the second part of the story as it weaves itself through tumultuous times shortly after the Civil War. Good Stuff!

[T. Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful "visit" to an older rural Maine neighborhood. Rich historical details and thoughtful ways revealing new characters include a smooth description of mid-19th-century reality draw you into the "family." Attended the local reading at Dresden's Bridge Academy (where some of the characters attended school) in early October of 2018, where I purchased a signed copy of BOOK 2 in Gould's THE EASTERN collection. Hearing her read excerpts of her story was like sharing a cup of tea at her kitchen table, most friendly and relaxing.