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The Lowering Days
Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate, MacDowell fellow, and Bread Loaf scholar Gregory Brown's THE LOWERING DAYS, a family saga set in the Penobscot Bay region of Maine that explores the cycles of violence in rural communities and sheds light on the environmental crises that face the region including the Native American struggle for land and water rights that is ongoing in the state and throughout the country, to Gail Winston at Harper,.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2021
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6682 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Brown
1 book81 followersGregory Brown grew up along Penobscot Bay.
His debut novel, The Lowering Days, is available from HarperCollins in the United States and the United Kingdom and Éditions Gallmeister in France.
His short stories have appeared in several publications, including Tin House, Alaska Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Epoch, and Narrative Magazine, where he was a winner of the 30Below Prize. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, he is the recipient of fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Napa Valley Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and MacDowell.
He lives in Maine with his family.
His debut novel, The Lowering Days, is available from HarperCollins in the United States and the United Kingdom and Éditions Gallmeister in France.
His short stories have appeared in several publications, including Tin House, Alaska Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Epoch, and Narrative Magazine, where he was a winner of the 30Below Prize. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, he is the recipient of fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Napa Valley Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and MacDowell.
He lives in Maine with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
January 16, 2021
Another 5 ⭐️ book at the beginning of 2021! 🎉 This was beautiful, flowing, moving prose as the fictional David Ames tells the story of his life so far and that of those around him. It weaves in the narrative of how David grew up in Maine, on the edge of the Penobscot Reservation and mingles memories of his storytelling parents. His father was 1/4 Passamaquoddy and his mother was a writer and David and his brothers were raised with Indigenous stories and history and an appreciation for the land, the world and wonder while also living in a community of fishermen and labourers.
There are arcs to the plot and storylines including stories of those that David’s family are close to and those that they have bad feelings with. There is a point where the Paper Mill in town is burnt down and the community, many who have lost jobs and income, are on a hunt to find the arsonist. These are important in the telling of the story. But all in all, when I was done, although I felt that the plot was outstandingly well written, none of the main peaks stood out as what I loved most about the book, it was the connection I felt to the characters, I felt I knew them and my heart ached for them. It was the kind of book where you can see the sorrow to come before it happens but in that sorrow, there is also family and love and healing. Overall, it was just a wonderful story of a boys life as he looked back on it as a man. It was real and showed all of our glorious imperfections as people. It was also a beautiful story of our land in North America and how to cherish and treat it and to respect those who originally lived here and still continue to do so.
There were so many moments that felt so real and reflected things that I had watched and lived through and experienced where I have grown up in both serious and beautiful ways. The Indigenous vs white small town community frictions and heated escalations and at the same time, the sounds and smells of snow and ice, the beauty of fall and water and ghost apples and Indigenous traditions and stories.
This was so beautifully written and I loved the perspective it took. I have to say, many times, I feel that I can tell how a book would read in physical form even though I am listening to the audiobook version but with this one, I’m not certain how the reading experience would be since the audiobook was phenomenal. The narration by David Aaron Baker was so beautiful and smooth and calming. There was so much description in this book that I was pleased I chose to listen to it read to me in this medium.
The end had me choked up with moments that reflected things for me personally that resonated, I wont mention so as not to spoil the plot but it was a really close look at David’s life and his feelings and I enjoyed the moment that I was able to see this boy that I had read so much about become the man that I saw reflecting back on all that had happened.
If you enjoy stories such as this, I +++ recommend you find out what the Lowering Days has to teach you 🍎
**Thank-you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the Advance Audio version Copy of this book which publishes March 2nd, 2021**
There are arcs to the plot and storylines including stories of those that David’s family are close to and those that they have bad feelings with. There is a point where the Paper Mill in town is burnt down and the community, many who have lost jobs and income, are on a hunt to find the arsonist. These are important in the telling of the story. But all in all, when I was done, although I felt that the plot was outstandingly well written, none of the main peaks stood out as what I loved most about the book, it was the connection I felt to the characters, I felt I knew them and my heart ached for them. It was the kind of book where you can see the sorrow to come before it happens but in that sorrow, there is also family and love and healing. Overall, it was just a wonderful story of a boys life as he looked back on it as a man. It was real and showed all of our glorious imperfections as people. It was also a beautiful story of our land in North America and how to cherish and treat it and to respect those who originally lived here and still continue to do so.
There were so many moments that felt so real and reflected things that I had watched and lived through and experienced where I have grown up in both serious and beautiful ways. The Indigenous vs white small town community frictions and heated escalations and at the same time, the sounds and smells of snow and ice, the beauty of fall and water and ghost apples and Indigenous traditions and stories.
This was so beautifully written and I loved the perspective it took. I have to say, many times, I feel that I can tell how a book would read in physical form even though I am listening to the audiobook version but with this one, I’m not certain how the reading experience would be since the audiobook was phenomenal. The narration by David Aaron Baker was so beautiful and smooth and calming. There was so much description in this book that I was pleased I chose to listen to it read to me in this medium.
The end had me choked up with moments that reflected things for me personally that resonated, I wont mention so as not to spoil the plot but it was a really close look at David’s life and his feelings and I enjoyed the moment that I was able to see this boy that I had read so much about become the man that I saw reflecting back on all that had happened.
If you enjoy stories such as this, I +++ recommend you find out what the Lowering Days has to teach you 🍎
**Thank-you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the Advance Audio version Copy of this book which publishes March 2nd, 2021**
April 10, 2021
I listened to “The Lowering Days” by Gregory Brown, narrated by David Aaron Baker and Nicole Altvater. I loved listening to the story, but I wonder if I would have gotten more out of it if I had read it. It’s a lyrical story, meandering, with lots of details.
It’s a story that takes place in the 1980’s Maine where the Penobscot River meets the sea. The narrator is David Almerin, who tells his story in retrospect, as an adult. His father was a Vietnam War deserter, and his mother was a feminist and activist, not much of a mother. But this is the 80’s when children can run wild and learn from frolicking and antics. Adding to the narrative, is the proximity of the Penobscot Nation, an Indian reservation who honor the land. The Indian teachings reach the David and his two other brothers as they roam the landscape of Maine.
A pivotal event occurs in David’s childhood, when a mill is mysteriously burnt down. The Penobscot Nation always disagreed with the mill, as it destroyed the earth. A letter is sent, anonymously to David’s mother who works for the town paper. The letter confesses that this person burned the mill because it poisoned the river, killed plants, and spewed toxic chemicals. David’s mother agrees with the letter, thereby making her a political target.
Brown’s story follows three families, again in a meandering fashion. It’s a period story, about a family living in a rural area, appreciating the land, attempting to live in harmony with the inhabitants of the wooded area.
I enjoyed it and enjoyed the melodic voice of David Aaron Baker.
It’s a story that takes place in the 1980’s Maine where the Penobscot River meets the sea. The narrator is David Almerin, who tells his story in retrospect, as an adult. His father was a Vietnam War deserter, and his mother was a feminist and activist, not much of a mother. But this is the 80’s when children can run wild and learn from frolicking and antics. Adding to the narrative, is the proximity of the Penobscot Nation, an Indian reservation who honor the land. The Indian teachings reach the David and his two other brothers as they roam the landscape of Maine.
A pivotal event occurs in David’s childhood, when a mill is mysteriously burnt down. The Penobscot Nation always disagreed with the mill, as it destroyed the earth. A letter is sent, anonymously to David’s mother who works for the town paper. The letter confesses that this person burned the mill because it poisoned the river, killed plants, and spewed toxic chemicals. David’s mother agrees with the letter, thereby making her a political target.
Brown’s story follows three families, again in a meandering fashion. It’s a period story, about a family living in a rural area, appreciating the land, attempting to live in harmony with the inhabitants of the wooded area.
I enjoyed it and enjoyed the melodic voice of David Aaron Baker.
March 31, 2021
2.5 My third book set in Maine this month and the description of the town, the natural life, and ravens were the best part of this book. In served though to slow the pace down immensely. The characters I never really felt I got to know them well. The scenes seemed scattered, didn't make an impression on my mind. I would start having an interest in a part and it would be dropped for more explanations, descriptions. Truthfully, the writing is good but I had a hard time with this book.
January 31, 2021
The blurb for this book was misleading. Rather than a “divide within the community” this is more of a clash between two men that leads to tragedy, and frankly I thought both of the men were jerks. There was jealousy, macho posturing and violence that you wouldn’t tolerate in a 10 year old. Another part of the book dealt with a 14 year old Native American girl who burns down a paper mill, thus destroying employment opportunities for the community. She and her father then hide out in the woods to avoid her arrest. This book was full of poor decisions.
The book was very earnest about Native Americans and respecting the land, but I found it slow and boring. The narrator of the audiobook was fine, but the book just wasn’t for me. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
The book was very earnest about Native Americans and respecting the land, but I found it slow and boring. The narrator of the audiobook was fine, but the book just wasn’t for me. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2020
Open any page of this book and find perilous beauty rising up and drifting down to its uncontrollable nature. You can read it as poetry, if you’re in a meditative mood, or for the landscape, the weather, the water, the sky and the day turning to night. I read it for the story and the sights and sense-inducing seasons. It centers on two families in Maine, in the Penobscot region, away from the bustling cities. The time pre-dates cell phones and home computers, which makes a tableau less busy with static. So much room for the trees to grow. And then lose their leaves.
“Snow fell early that year, collecting overnight in great, suffocating banks that squeezed our houses. Windows rattled. Roofs shifted and groaned. Front doors met wet and sticky resistance when pushed outward in the mornings...Snow in the branches, snow in the creeks, snow in the marshes, snow in the distance, snow in the cracks of the world.” “When the snow stopped and people dug free, the fog began rolling in from the sea. It blanketed the hills and coiled about houses, erased children tottering down the streets with their parents, choked brick storefronts and swallowed cars trying to pass through its belly.”
It works best if you accept nature as a character. Within the natural world, the human will is to align and compete—build boats for the rushing river, fly a plane and disturb the birds, or erect Babel and then burn it down. If none of what I write makes sense, it’s that I choose to think of it visually or thematically rather than reproduce the plot. But I will tell you that it is intense, with a gravity that grips your with its teeth. Two families who love, hate, understand and misunderstand each other. The narrative enters the liminal spaces, thwarts the threshold of kindness, and create tragic consequences. Characters are flawed in ways that can damage and destroy, but all seek redemption through acts both naïve and unwavering.
Brown’s debut is beautiful, elegiac, and often Shakespearean in dilemma and structure. No nobility or generals, but the humanity which swerves and upends itself invites similar reactions for the reader. At the end, I felt mercy. There are poisonous endeavors and benevolence that can shake you open. The end is brushed with grace, and I felt hopeful for the characters and reverence for the Earth.
Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me a copy for review.
“Snow fell early that year, collecting overnight in great, suffocating banks that squeezed our houses. Windows rattled. Roofs shifted and groaned. Front doors met wet and sticky resistance when pushed outward in the mornings...Snow in the branches, snow in the creeks, snow in the marshes, snow in the distance, snow in the cracks of the world.” “When the snow stopped and people dug free, the fog began rolling in from the sea. It blanketed the hills and coiled about houses, erased children tottering down the streets with their parents, choked brick storefronts and swallowed cars trying to pass through its belly.”
It works best if you accept nature as a character. Within the natural world, the human will is to align and compete—build boats for the rushing river, fly a plane and disturb the birds, or erect Babel and then burn it down. If none of what I write makes sense, it’s that I choose to think of it visually or thematically rather than reproduce the plot. But I will tell you that it is intense, with a gravity that grips your with its teeth. Two families who love, hate, understand and misunderstand each other. The narrative enters the liminal spaces, thwarts the threshold of kindness, and create tragic consequences. Characters are flawed in ways that can damage and destroy, but all seek redemption through acts both naïve and unwavering.
Brown’s debut is beautiful, elegiac, and often Shakespearean in dilemma and structure. No nobility or generals, but the humanity which swerves and upends itself invites similar reactions for the reader. At the end, I felt mercy. There are poisonous endeavors and benevolence that can shake you open. The end is brushed with grace, and I felt hopeful for the characters and reverence for the Earth.
Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me a copy for review.
March 21, 2021
2.5 stars to be fair. But returning to it was like another appointment for a tooth implant, so I can't round it up.
The characters except for the girl- they didn't seem to hold maturity of their age or history, IMHO. And it was a super sad and nearly depressive tale. In more than a few aspects. The trailer is also misleading. This is all about equivocations and positing values or effusive idealism than it has any action. I was waiting for some conclusive material too, that never appeared among the gushing phrasings.
Although it gave some considerable feel for the town itself or rather community around the town- at the same time the individual characters became more difficult to connect to or understand at all the farther you got into the book. Poor, poor decisions. Immature, violent and just plain petty. And at times I didn't think the book held all together as "one" either. Too many tangents.
I've only read a few other reviews and they speak of beautiful flowing prose. To me very much of the description was overblown and some verged on the long styled poetic. Absolutely not what I prefer. Especially not within such a joyless set of characters.
Not for me. I should have known it because it took me so long to return to this book amidst other fiction and non-fiction. I nearly had to renew it. Which never happens with me.
This is for lovers of conflicted depressed men in eyes of their very poor decisions. This entire year so far, there seems to be more and more of this kind of fiction and people who gravitate toward the sad, conflicted, major self-punctured.
The characters except for the girl- they didn't seem to hold maturity of their age or history, IMHO. And it was a super sad and nearly depressive tale. In more than a few aspects. The trailer is also misleading. This is all about equivocations and positing values or effusive idealism than it has any action. I was waiting for some conclusive material too, that never appeared among the gushing phrasings.
Although it gave some considerable feel for the town itself or rather community around the town- at the same time the individual characters became more difficult to connect to or understand at all the farther you got into the book. Poor, poor decisions. Immature, violent and just plain petty. And at times I didn't think the book held all together as "one" either. Too many tangents.
I've only read a few other reviews and they speak of beautiful flowing prose. To me very much of the description was overblown and some verged on the long styled poetic. Absolutely not what I prefer. Especially not within such a joyless set of characters.
Not for me. I should have known it because it took me so long to return to this book amidst other fiction and non-fiction. I nearly had to renew it. Which never happens with me.
This is for lovers of conflicted depressed men in eyes of their very poor decisions. This entire year so far, there seems to be more and more of this kind of fiction and people who gravitate toward the sad, conflicted, major self-punctured.
March 2, 2021
Beautiful prose. Excellent storytelling. Indigenous stories and traditions. A story of family and love and pain set in 1980s Maine.
This book is such a difficult one to write a review for. What I can say is I loved it but I cannot exactly pinpoint why. All I can say is I read it in less than 24 hours because it just swallowed me up. I was mesmerized by the story unfolding. It’s an incredible debut and I can’t wait to read whatever Brown comes up with next.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
This book is such a difficult one to write a review for. What I can say is I loved it but I cannot exactly pinpoint why. All I can say is I read it in less than 24 hours because it just swallowed me up. I was mesmerized by the story unfolding. It’s an incredible debut and I can’t wait to read whatever Brown comes up with next.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
February 16, 2021
The Lowering Days, Gregory Brown
Along the Penobscot River in Maine, lies a small town no longer sustained by a lumber and fishing. The paper mill has poisoned the river for decades, creating illness, especially among the Penobscot Nation who still fish and hunt on reservation lands. This rare and beautiful debut novel is Shakespearean in scope of the tragedies portrayed within.
“...We can only account for about 7% of all the matter in the known universe . What this means is that you would be a fool to believe that what you can see, feel, & comprehend is more important than what you cannot. Probability would dictate that what exists in the other 93% of matter may hold great importance. So the perplexing truth is that there are quite possibly other worlds playing out that we cannot see or even begin to comprehend. It’s not just that our fathers might be living different lives in some different dimension, but that different concepts of father, and of friend, or of enemy may exist or not exist at all.”
I greatly enjoyed Brown’s prose, his retelling of First Nation lore, was made even more memorable by the audiobook narrator, David Aaron Baker. My Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley.
Highly recommended.
Along the Penobscot River in Maine, lies a small town no longer sustained by a lumber and fishing. The paper mill has poisoned the river for decades, creating illness, especially among the Penobscot Nation who still fish and hunt on reservation lands. This rare and beautiful debut novel is Shakespearean in scope of the tragedies portrayed within.
“...We can only account for about 7% of all the matter in the known universe . What this means is that you would be a fool to believe that what you can see, feel, & comprehend is more important than what you cannot. Probability would dictate that what exists in the other 93% of matter may hold great importance. So the perplexing truth is that there are quite possibly other worlds playing out that we cannot see or even begin to comprehend. It’s not just that our fathers might be living different lives in some different dimension, but that different concepts of father, and of friend, or of enemy may exist or not exist at all.”
I greatly enjoyed Brown’s prose, his retelling of First Nation lore, was made even more memorable by the audiobook narrator, David Aaron Baker. My Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley.
Highly recommended.
February 24, 2021
I had heard a lot of interesting things about The Lowering Days from others with advanced reader copies. As an audiobook though, I had a hard time getting invested in the plot or characters.
Although I found the story line interesting, it felt very clinical and descriptive with little emotional connection. The main character seemed to have an omnipotent point of view, seeing things from all sides and without bias. His view point was not in line with his maturity level and character.
Unfortunately the characters and storyline didn’t resonate with me and I found myself struggling just to finish. I may try this one again as a physical read in the future. However, the audiobook fell flat.
I received an Advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️💫2.5 stars with a 14+ rating for content
Although I found the story line interesting, it felt very clinical and descriptive with little emotional connection. The main character seemed to have an omnipotent point of view, seeing things from all sides and without bias. His view point was not in line with his maturity level and character.
Unfortunately the characters and storyline didn’t resonate with me and I found myself struggling just to finish. I may try this one again as a physical read in the future. However, the audiobook fell flat.
I received an Advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️💫2.5 stars with a 14+ rating for content
March 6, 2021
Beautifully written, this tells intertwined stories of families along Penobscot Bay, many of indigenous heritage. Woven throughout are the storytelling and legends of the Native Americans, many reflecting a spiritual one with nature. This is not a fast read; it needs to be savored and reflected upon.
February 7, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Lowering Days sounded a bit more interesting than the book actually was. Or maybe it's just me being weird today. For some reason, I was expecting more of anything really. Drama. Action. You name it. I wanted it. We do get some but it's mostly character after character making horrible decisions throughout the book.
Other than that, it was pretty interesting to see how Native Americans valued and respected their land. So they fought to protect it in every way possible. Again, some decisions that were made didn't make sense to me so I did find it kind of annoying that people weren't really thinking about the consequences and stuff.
In the end, it was interesting but I kind of wish the pace of it all was a bit faster.
The Lowering Days sounded a bit more interesting than the book actually was. Or maybe it's just me being weird today. For some reason, I was expecting more of anything really. Drama. Action. You name it. I wanted it. We do get some but it's mostly character after character making horrible decisions throughout the book.
Other than that, it was pretty interesting to see how Native Americans valued and respected their land. So they fought to protect it in every way possible. Again, some decisions that were made didn't make sense to me so I did find it kind of annoying that people weren't really thinking about the consequences and stuff.
In the end, it was interesting but I kind of wish the pace of it all was a bit faster.
May 3, 2022
I really liked this novel and I'm still puzzling out what I think was happening beneath the surface. Set in and around Penobscot Bay (in Maine) it focuses on three families and the fallout from acts of violence committed by teens from two of those families. The first is an act of arson: a Penobscot girl sets fire to a shuttered paper mill just as it's about to reopen. The second is an act of sabotage: two boys cut the lines of a lobsterman's traps. This is a family story, about loyalty and love, justice and revenge. It's also about politics, the consequences of centuries of wrong done to native people, and the effort to make amends. How do we move on from a painful past? Also a bit of mysticism, native beliefs, ancient spirits. A worthwhile read!
July 5, 2023
Malgré un thème et une quatrième de couverture alléchants, c’est une profonde déception de mon côté.
Le nombre assez important de personnages m’a perdu, et ils sont en plus présentés assez succinctement au début du récit, pour finalement avoir des anecdotes plus profondes vers la fin. Le rythme m’a aussi laissé perplexe avec parfois des passages haletants, mais des chapitres beaucoup plus contemplatifs.
La plume de l’auteur est assez poétique (peut-être parfois trop à mon goût) mais je serai néanmoins très intéressé à l’idée de découvrir son prochain ouvrage…
Le nombre assez important de personnages m’a perdu, et ils sont en plus présentés assez succinctement au début du récit, pour finalement avoir des anecdotes plus profondes vers la fin. Le rythme m’a aussi laissé perplexe avec parfois des passages haletants, mais des chapitres beaucoup plus contemplatifs.
La plume de l’auteur est assez poétique (peut-être parfois trop à mon goût) mais je serai néanmoins très intéressé à l’idée de découvrir son prochain ouvrage…
February 11, 2021
This is an advance reader edition from The Dog Earred Book (best little bookstore ever!) Debut novel by Gregory Brown, here's hoping for more.
I don't really know how to describe it. Brown has a beautiful way with words that made it a pleasure to read. His characters are unique but believably real. History of Maine, the different cultures especially the Native Americans as well as the logging/paper industry are woven together artfully.
" There are sins for which not even children are excused. Those sins differ in different places. They are often tied to honor and loyalty and livelihood. Pulling pots and cutting traps was an unforgivable offense in a place like Seal Point. It didn't matter that Lyman had transgressed as well. We'd taken from another man's living and made his life more difficult, something our father knew woulnd't easily be forgotten."
"According to Wren, we can only account for about seven percent of all the matter in the known universe. What this means is that you'd be a fool to believe that what you can see, feel, and comprehend is more important than what you cannot. Probability would dictate that what exists in the other ninety-three percent of matter may hold great importance. So the perplexing truth is that there are quite possibly other worlds playing out that we can't see or even begin to comprehend."
Do ya think??!
I don't really know how to describe it. Brown has a beautiful way with words that made it a pleasure to read. His characters are unique but believably real. History of Maine, the different cultures especially the Native Americans as well as the logging/paper industry are woven together artfully.
" There are sins for which not even children are excused. Those sins differ in different places. They are often tied to honor and loyalty and livelihood. Pulling pots and cutting traps was an unforgivable offense in a place like Seal Point. It didn't matter that Lyman had transgressed as well. We'd taken from another man's living and made his life more difficult, something our father knew woulnd't easily be forgotten."
"According to Wren, we can only account for about seven percent of all the matter in the known universe. What this means is that you'd be a fool to believe that what you can see, feel, and comprehend is more important than what you cannot. Probability would dictate that what exists in the other ninety-three percent of matter may hold great importance. So the perplexing truth is that there are quite possibly other worlds playing out that we can't see or even begin to comprehend."
Do ya think??!
April 8, 2021
Best so far, for 2021! I hope this is the harbinger of great books to come this year.
This is a First Novel, which are usually the best of books, fresh & new, copyright 2021.
Spoiler alert:
The title refers to the lowering days, when another body goes back into the earth, or the first time a new boat touches the water, lowering day. And in this book it is the name of her newspaper, The Lowering Days.
Past, present, future, petroglyphs made by people who’ve lived here for thousands of years, white peoples’ arrival, paper mills toxic to the land, water, fish & the Penobscot Nation peoples. Then there’s the future, or that time when you wander through the forest for so long that you find a tree that is 200’ tall that has never been cut down to feed a paper mill or make a ship’s mast.
Have you ever looked at a map of Maine? There is more border with Canada than with the United States!
This novel brought Maine to life, for me. It is a place I have never visited, so it’s magic 🪄
I recommend this book to people who liked playing in the woods as children, people who like fishing, and people who eat at Red Lobster 🦞
This is a First Novel, which are usually the best of books, fresh & new, copyright 2021.
Spoiler alert:
The title refers to the lowering days, when another body goes back into the earth, or the first time a new boat touches the water, lowering day. And in this book it is the name of her newspaper, The Lowering Days.
Past, present, future, petroglyphs made by people who’ve lived here for thousands of years, white peoples’ arrival, paper mills toxic to the land, water, fish & the Penobscot Nation peoples. Then there’s the future, or that time when you wander through the forest for so long that you find a tree that is 200’ tall that has never been cut down to feed a paper mill or make a ship’s mast.
Have you ever looked at a map of Maine? There is more border with Canada than with the United States!
This novel brought Maine to life, for me. It is a place I have never visited, so it’s magic 🪄
I recommend this book to people who liked playing in the woods as children, people who like fishing, and people who eat at Red Lobster 🦞
April 30, 2021
You know, I really liked this book. It was a quiet, slow sort of read. Beautifully written. Not a whole lot happens, but I was okay with that. I loved its complexity and yet simplicity, and its return to nature sort of feel, both earthly and human. There are many layers and things going on in this book that it was definitely worth a read for me. I think this book and author deserves more attention than I think it will get. I'm glad I picked it up. I have a soft spot for books set in Maine (though I have no real idea why, just that the few books I've picked up set in Maine have been hauntingly beautiful) and this one definitely fit the bill all around. I can't quite describe this book more than that- I just thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 30, 2021
This is a beautiful and really solid debut from Gregory Brown. As a native Mainer I loved the descriptions of the setting and the rich history this land is steeped in. A series of heartbreaking events provides the backbone to this novel but it is fleshed out with a profound sense of respect for the often-messy inner landscape of its characters and the way we all move through our days with a yearning for deeper meaning, connection, and purpose. Brown is a mystic, no doubt, and I look forward to whatever story he paints for us next.
February 27, 2021
Beautiful writing makes THE LOWERING DAYS the kind of novel I can imagine a narrative voice over in a film version, pulling me deeply into the coming plot and causing the rest of the world to disappear. Somehow it didn’t quite work as well while I read it. Author Gregory Brown can build worlds and describe settings as surely as any writer I have read. And the pace of this book is calm and sure, like the location of the story, in rural Maine. But somehow the story doesn’t measure up to the writing and the setting and I’m not quite sure why, in the end it is a tale of lost causes and disagreements. I expect it will translate beautifully to a screen. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.
December 29, 2021
3.8/5 (Rounded up to 4)
A surprisingly original and beautifully written debut novel from a new Maine author. I really appreciated this- even though it is very unlike the books that I tend to read, I think that the themes and ideas presented do feel very important and timely. I found it to be a gripping story, despite the predictable ending which left me feeling rlly bummed.
(Edit 12/6) This story just grows on me because it is such a great meditation on how we, as Americans, conceptualise land ownership in ways that ignore the plain fact that all of this land that was stolen from the indigenous people. It’s not a topic that is really openly discussed, especially not in New England and I can’t praise this book enough- for really going there™️.
This book was Maine Public Radio's "All Books Considered Book Club" pick for the month of November.
A surprisingly original and beautifully written debut novel from a new Maine author. I really appreciated this- even though it is very unlike the books that I tend to read, I think that the themes and ideas presented do feel very important and timely. I found it to be a gripping story, despite the predictable ending which left me feeling rlly bummed.
(Edit 12/6) This story just grows on me because it is such a great meditation on how we, as Americans, conceptualise land ownership in ways that ignore the plain fact that all of this land that was stolen from the indigenous people. It’s not a topic that is really openly discussed, especially not in New England and I can’t praise this book enough- for really going there™️.
This book was Maine Public Radio's "All Books Considered Book Club" pick for the month of November.
June 7, 2021
This book seriously needed another hard edit, although it reads like something that has been reworked multiple times until author and editor threw up their hands and called it good. Some of the writing is lovely and the premise is challenging, but it is marred by too much editorializing about the injustices done to the Penobscots and not enough insight into what those characters actually feel (although that in itself would raise a series of questions about the author's ability to legitimately portray the pov of the native americans in the story); the effect is to introduce them as main characters but never follow through. Plus there were just too many mystical elements thrown in that didn't hang together, and a fair amount of black and white political moralizing.
I hope having gotten this one out of his system that the author will try again with a topic he can have more distance from and keep better control of his narrative, because there's a lot here to recommend.
I hope having gotten this one out of his system that the author will try again with a topic he can have more distance from and keep better control of his narrative, because there's a lot here to recommend.
January 28, 2021
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is not the typical book I read. I found the beginning to be a little slow. The mill fire is a very small part of the story. Instead, it is the catalyst for the rest of the events. In fact, If you want to feel a connection to nature, you would enjoy this book. I wanted a little more action and a little less evocation.
This is not the typical book I read. I found the beginning to be a little slow. The mill fire is a very small part of the story. Instead, it is the catalyst for the rest of the events. In fact, If you want to feel a connection to nature, you would enjoy this book. I wanted a little more action and a little less evocation.
May 19, 2021
Beautiful descriptions of living surrounded by nature. Story lines slightly confusing and shallow for the first half but really picked up speed in the end.
May 18, 2021
4.5 stars
Loved the descriptions of the land, hearing about family struggles and overcoming them. As well as the heritage of the people.
Loved the descriptions of the land, hearing about family struggles and overcoming them. As well as the heritage of the people.
May 12, 2021
All of the stories felt flat, none of the characters are sympathetic, even the girl terrorist! Climate change, ecology, PTSD of war veterans, colonialism and native inhabitants rights all are in this books and none of the issues exlpored properly.
July 11, 2022
Beautifully written with very complex characters. I especially loved the way the female characters were written. I wanted more about Molly and Adam at the end instead of mainly focusing on David, but other than that it was really a perfect book. Highly recommend.
March 22, 2021
What a lovely story! It takes place mostly in rural Maine (a beautiful part of the country) and is the story of three families. The daughter of one sets a paper mill on fire and sets in motion a series of tragic events. It shows how actions have consequences that can sometimes last for years. I like the author’s portrayal of the indigenous people. He shows their respect and love for each other and the land. I also like the mythological elements with the Penobscot creation story that are so much a part of the plot. And finally, I adored the story’s narrator, David Ames, who does such a lovely job relating this tale. I think it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year and a wonderful debut for new novelist Gregory Brown. 4.5 stars
January 6, 2026
I so enjoyed/loved this book, I have not read a book like this before. If you love the outdoors, family, history, please read this book. I would love this author to keep writing he has so much potential. This book is deep & heartfelt it made me feel & think about life & death, family my ancestors. I love traditions especially around water…this book is about water in Maine I’ve never know anything about. There are a couple slow chapters but I still had to give it 5 stars because it’s so different. Try it! Keep writing Gregory Brown!
March 12, 2021
Thank you to Harper Audio and Harper Books for the complimentary arc and alc of this book.
The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown is a moody, slow burn of a novel. The book is told from the perspective of David Ames as he grows up in a small town in Maine. The story tells of the tensions that exist in the town when a mill that was scheduled for reopening burns down due to arson. The arson showcases the tension that exists between the members of the Penobscot Nation and others who have settled on their ancestral land.
This book is beautifully written and has so much to say about the environment and about Native Peoples and the choices they make everyday between what they are taught traditionally vs what they need to do to support their families. I really liked how David explains about the stories that he has been through his youth that have been passed down through the generations.
I recommend this book to people who like literary fiction or fiction centered around the environment or Native American tribes. It also has a bit of a family drama element to it. If you like books with a lot of fast paced action, this is not it. This is definitely a character driven novel that sort of meanders through its narrative as an almost folk tale.
The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown is a moody, slow burn of a novel. The book is told from the perspective of David Ames as he grows up in a small town in Maine. The story tells of the tensions that exist in the town when a mill that was scheduled for reopening burns down due to arson. The arson showcases the tension that exists between the members of the Penobscot Nation and others who have settled on their ancestral land.
This book is beautifully written and has so much to say about the environment and about Native Peoples and the choices they make everyday between what they are taught traditionally vs what they need to do to support their families. I really liked how David explains about the stories that he has been through his youth that have been passed down through the generations.
I recommend this book to people who like literary fiction or fiction centered around the environment or Native American tribes. It also has a bit of a family drama element to it. If you like books with a lot of fast paced action, this is not it. This is definitely a character driven novel that sort of meanders through its narrative as an almost folk tale.
September 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this thoughtful lyrical book. It has a great sense of place with its Maine setting and the legends and mysticism of the Penobscot Nation. I look forward to more by the author.
August 9, 2022
Highly recommend this book! Especially to anyone with connections to Maine.
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