We Chose Cape Cod

by Scott Corbett

A freelance writer describes his experiences moving from New York City to Cape Cod and how his family adjusted to small town life

307 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Scott Corbett (July 27, 1913 – March 6, 2006) was an American novelist and educator. He wrote five adult novels, the first published in 1950, and then began writing books for children. He retired from teaching in 1965 to write full-time. His best known book is The Lemonade Trick, a children's novel.

Reviews

[Marilyn]

Scott Corbett and my grandfather, Leslie Ray Sears, were good friends. Corbett inscribed this book: To Leslie Sears, who has given me some of my best chess lessons, and to Harriet, who watched us suffer in silence,
With best wishes,
Scott Corbett. July 17, 1953
East Dennis, Mass (First Day of Publication, first 25 copies)

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sort of slow and peaceful. I enjoyed all of the descriptions of year-round life on the Cape (even realizing the book is over 50 years old and life is probably different now). I love Cape Cod and it was really nice to read something that was somewhat an ethnography about it.

That sounds clumsy and weird, but it's early in the morning and I have a busy day, so I'll leave it at that. If you like reading about life in quieter times or you have a love of Cape Cod, then this book won't disappoint. There's no real action other than just "a year in the life of" but it was so enjoyable.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable fish-out-of-water true story of an NYC writer and his family moving to a tiny, close-knit Cape Cod village filled with various colorful locals, and how they eventually become ingrained into the community. Long out of print, I found a copy at the legendary Parnassus Books in Yarmouthport, and was tickled that the book was set in Quivet Neck, right across the highway from the cottage we used to stay in during our Cape Cod trips, and I recognized many of the settings. Light reading for sure, but perfect for a Cape Cod vacation.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was filled with great humor and wit - a very warm-hearted narrative depicting the less populated Cape of years gone by. It reminded me of a trip my husband, college roommate and I took to Prince Edward Island several years ago where the entertainments were a Friday night "any-one-who-wants-to-perform-can" and a Saturday night lobster and chowder fest a local church. We tourists mingled with the residents of the area and loved every minute of both nights.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and wasn't getting any better, so I stopped reading it!