What do you think?
Rate this book
Eagles and Evergreens
Over four seasons, he describes Maine half a century ago - smelting and rescuing ice houses, moose encounters and indoor ermine, raising mischievous rabbits and conversing with pigs, hunting a legendary "football-sized emerald" and learning from legendary World War II vets.
He takes readers down through thin ice, and up spires of one-match fires. He lollygags Dead River and confronts hair-raising disorientation out on the open sea. He rolls from distance running to downhill skiing, comedy to calamity, whimsy to courage with a fluid pen. Gratitude pervades this volume. Light shines from each essay. Along the way, bits of illumination, encouragement, humor and reflection paint a bigger picture. Like a pointillist, he dabs the canvas gently, turning discrete dots into a cogent, uplifting whole. The impression left is redeeming, the celebration of self-reliance and interdependence, together the essence of all Maine towns. He reminds readers of timeless contentment in nature and human connectivity, both ultimately restorative. At heart, his vignettes celebrate freedom, and honor those who risked their lives to preserve it. The author credits good neighbors, good fortune, and thoughtfully taught good humor for his later doings.
From Maine's woods and lakes, Charles found his way to Dartmouth, Oxford and Columbia Law School. From there, he clerked, entered law practice, spent time in two White Houses, conducted oversight for Congress and taught. Along the way, he became a Navy Intelligence Officer, and served as Assistant Secretary of State to Colin Powell. He and his wife have two children. Living "away," he has stayed close to the town he still calls "home."
He takes readers down through thin ice, and up spires of one-match fires. He lollygags Dead River and confronts hair-raising disorientation out on the open sea. He rolls from distance running to downhill skiing, comedy to calamity, whimsy to courage with a fluid pen. Gratitude pervades this volume. Light shines from each essay. Along the way, bits of illumination, encouragement, humor and reflection paint a bigger picture. Like a pointillist, he dabs the canvas gently, turning discrete dots into a cogent, uplifting whole. The impression left is redeeming, the celebration of self-reliance and interdependence, together the essence of all Maine towns. He reminds readers of timeless contentment in nature and human connectivity, both ultimately restorative. At heart, his vignettes celebrate freedom, and honor those who risked their lives to preserve it. The author credits good neighbors, good fortune, and thoughtfully taught good humor for his later doings.
From Maine's woods and lakes, Charles found his way to Dartmouth, Oxford and Columbia Law School. From there, he clerked, entered law practice, spent time in two White Houses, conducted oversight for Congress and taught. Along the way, he became a Navy Intelligence Officer, and served as Assistant Secretary of State to Colin Powell. He and his wife have two children. Living "away," he has stayed close to the town he still calls "home."
304 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2018
12 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 19, 2020
Reminiscent of a time when work ethic, sacrifice, responsibility and appreciation of family, community, and country were woven in the fabric of everyday life.
This snapshot of small town America is a breath of fresh air reminiscent of a time where a moral compass guided people's actions and life's simple pleasures were appreciated.
This snapshot of small town America is a breath of fresh air reminiscent of a time where a moral compass guided people's actions and life's simple pleasures were appreciated.
May 1, 2020
Interesting read about a small town in Maine, especially the impact of war and veterans.
April 13, 2020
Author Robert Charles weaves the everyday events of the rural town of Wayne, Maine of the 1960's and 1970's with the veterans' stories of WW II and later. Weaving a story that brought the past and the present into a masterpiece of how all generations makes up the tapestry of a town. Each person is shown with truth of victories and defeats, hopes achieved and others never seen. Down to earth real. Real enough so you can smell those evergreens of Maine and see the Eagles that are both bird and man.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews