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Bigfoot in Maine
The dark woods of Maine have been the setting for many eerie and unexplained events, none more captivating than sightings of a giant hominid known as Bigfoot. But what makes this corner of New England such a perfect place for this cryptid to live? Learn about the ecology and geography that support the legend and meet the people forever changed by close encounters with it. From previously unpublished
eyewitness accounts to modern-day media portrayals, author and illustrator Michelle Souliere presents this detailed history of the phenomenon and folklore that has lurked in shadows for generations.
eyewitness accounts to modern-day media portrayals, author and illustrator Michelle Souliere presents this detailed history of the phenomenon and folklore that has lurked in shadows for generations.
- GenresCryptozoology
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2021
3 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Y. Souliere
4 books15 followersMichelle Souliere is an author and artist who lives in Portland, Maine, where she graduated from the Maine College of Art. She owns the Green Hand Bookshop, where you can find her most of the time. Her home is shared with her husband, Tristan Gallagher, and their two cats, Meep and Mr. Biscuits.
Her work (both written and drawn) is driven by curiosity, and inspired by Maine history, the Maine landscape, and how we respond to it.
Her work as editor of the Strange Maine Gazette and its companion blog gave rise to her first book which was published in 2010, Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State. Since that time she has been working on Bigfoot in Maine whenever she can, traveling around the state and interviewing eyewitnesses for this book.
Her work (both written and drawn) is driven by curiosity, and inspired by Maine history, the Maine landscape, and how we respond to it.
Her work as editor of the Strange Maine Gazette and its companion blog gave rise to her first book which was published in 2010, Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State. Since that time she has been working on Bigfoot in Maine whenever she can, traveling around the state and interviewing eyewitnesses for this book.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 21, 2021
I got a copy of Michelle Souliere's "BIGFOOT IN MAINE" book and I am already thoroughly enjoying it! From a hypothesis of habitation to Maine's earliest encounters, the book lays out some interesting groundwork to consider.
But what comes next has already frightened and fascinated me... modern day, eyewitness accounts (most being previously unpublished!). Some of these read like a truly terrifying horror story. And I'll admit that I was a bit shook reading this late last night, I LOVE IT! I can't wait to finish reading them all. Also, shout out to Loren Coleman for writing a wonderful introduction.
Get a signed copy from The Green Hand Bookshop here: https://greenhandbookshop.com/product...
But what comes next has already frightened and fascinated me... modern day, eyewitness accounts (most being previously unpublished!). Some of these read like a truly terrifying horror story. And I'll admit that I was a bit shook reading this late last night, I LOVE IT! I can't wait to finish reading them all. Also, shout out to Loren Coleman for writing a wonderful introduction.
Get a signed copy from The Green Hand Bookshop here: https://greenhandbookshop.com/product...
November 9, 2021
I had the great opportunity to read BIGFOOT IN MAINE by my friend @msouliere while actually visiting Maine. It made the reading experience all the more vivid after being able to wander some areas that are similar to those in the book. Michelle is a natural-born storyteller, so being able to read her histories and interviews with people who have seen Bigfoot, and then being able to explore areas that are like those described in her book, I could really understand how something like Bigfoot could remain so well hidden in the forests and wilds of Maine. If cryptids are your thing, then this book is definitely for you! You can order a copy directly from her shop, @greenhandbooks in Portland ME.
November 15, 2021
An excellent overview of the subject, but also a great antidote to the kind of hyperbolic prose you can sometimes find in this area, "Bigfoot in Maine" combines a thorough approach to the topic, first-hand accounts and a great deal of empathy to bring to life not only the encounters it describes, but also how those stories, where they happened, and the people who experienced them tell us something bigger about the state and our relationship with a still pretty unknowable natural world. But a whole lot less pretentious than that sounds. Thoroughly enjoyable.
August 3, 2021
I read through this one like a hurricane. I love reading mysterious accounts from the familiar confines of my beloved home state.
Lots of tales from eyewitness accounts of the giant hidden creature known as Bigfoot.
If you live in or visit the great state of Maine, and you like mysterious, perplexing stories, this will be a fun read for you.
Lots of tales from eyewitness accounts of the giant hidden creature known as Bigfoot.
If you live in or visit the great state of Maine, and you like mysterious, perplexing stories, this will be a fun read for you.
June 18, 2021
Fantastic stories of bigfoot in Maine
November 5, 2022
There is a heritage of Bigfoot sightings in the state of Maine, though they have not always been seen as such. Paranormal/Bigfoot researcher and Maine native, Michelle Souliere, has collected the highlights of her casebook into this little volume: Bigfoot in Maine.
A BIGFOOT ENCOUNTERS CASEBOOK
The book begins with a Preface where Ms. Souliere avers her momentum for writing the book as coming from loss of her co-author and the publication of another book about Bigfoot encounters in the state of Maine. The latter prompted her to move her own book’s emphasis from history to more recent encounter accounts.
These accounts are mostly from eyewitnesses telling their stories directly to Ms. Souliere. That took a lot of digging on her part, but the witnesses impressed her. She says:
Eyewitnesses told me varied tales, but all were permanently affected by what they encountered, whether it terrified or just baffled them…What was this thing they had seen or heard? What did it mean to them, and what did it mean in the greater scheme of things?
Ms. Souliere begins her book with a case made for the possibility of the Maine woods supporting a large primate. She supports this with a recounting of native American tribal traditions and “wild men” encounters described in the historical record.
She then launches into modern eyewitness testimony from about 1963 to 2017. Most all of this is from interviews she conducted herself.
In the last section, she acknowledges the work of some other Bigfoot researchers, some of whom she has worked with. She then includes a mix of hoaxes, giving us a feel for the difference in lies and sincere testimony.
ENCOUNTER CONSISTENCIES AND A FAMILIARITY
There is a lot of consistency in the witness descriptions of Bigfoot. I took note of those aspects not so often cited in other works. These include the variations in hair color, which are often relatively light brown or auburn rather than jet black. “Sizeable teeth” are noted in at least one account. I’ve not seen this feature described before, though it is sometimes implied.
Habituation is not mentioned much, although one witness did aver a relationship with the Bigfoot and expressed learning from them. This idea has been greatly expanded upon in other books. I find it to be akin to stories from UFO abductees who say their alien abductors eventually become mentors to them. I don’t know what to make of that. It is simply a fact you’ll find in many accounts of anomalous events.
I was most interested in the witness accounts of Bigfoot vocalizations. They very often described something like:
…a terrifyingly loud growl. It permeated his entire body, right down to the bones, vibrating his insides. Peculiarly, alongside the growl came a high-pitched noise…At that volume, the noise must have woken the whole town. But there was nothing.
This sounds so much like what I heard as a teenager during my own encounter. This happened in a suburban neighborhood where it should have been widely heard. Apparently, though, only the primary witnesses (myself and my family) heard it.
MOSTLY BELIEVABLE
Bigfoot in Maine is very readable, being well-written with a serious, researcher’s tone. The text includes maps and every chapter ends with notes. An appended bibliography contains active Internet links.
The encounter accounts struck me as believable (outside of those specified as hoaxes). There was at least one, however, that seems questionable. This eyewitness seems a bit too brave in the face of a charging monster:
Suddenly, the forest erupts from behind Mike as they are interrupted by a younger creature…full of challenge, all of a fury in Mike’s face—baring his sizeable teeth…all Mike can think to do is take out the knife he has…and yell right back at him without backing down.
Otherwise though, if anything, the book is too short at about 190 pages.
BIGFOOT IN MAINE AND EVERYWHERE
Bigfoot sightings happen in every state. Digging through the public record would likely reveal a history of encounters similar to what Ms. Souliere found in Maine. Such a remote region does seem especially ripe for a rich history of Bigfoot lore. Bigfoot in Maine mines that history along with current accounts, to find strong anecdotal evidence for the creatures’ existence, along with some engrossing encounter tales.
A BIGFOOT ENCOUNTERS CASEBOOK
The book begins with a Preface where Ms. Souliere avers her momentum for writing the book as coming from loss of her co-author and the publication of another book about Bigfoot encounters in the state of Maine. The latter prompted her to move her own book’s emphasis from history to more recent encounter accounts.
These accounts are mostly from eyewitnesses telling their stories directly to Ms. Souliere. That took a lot of digging on her part, but the witnesses impressed her. She says:
Eyewitnesses told me varied tales, but all were permanently affected by what they encountered, whether it terrified or just baffled them…What was this thing they had seen or heard? What did it mean to them, and what did it mean in the greater scheme of things?
Ms. Souliere begins her book with a case made for the possibility of the Maine woods supporting a large primate. She supports this with a recounting of native American tribal traditions and “wild men” encounters described in the historical record.
She then launches into modern eyewitness testimony from about 1963 to 2017. Most all of this is from interviews she conducted herself.
In the last section, she acknowledges the work of some other Bigfoot researchers, some of whom she has worked with. She then includes a mix of hoaxes, giving us a feel for the difference in lies and sincere testimony.
ENCOUNTER CONSISTENCIES AND A FAMILIARITY
There is a lot of consistency in the witness descriptions of Bigfoot. I took note of those aspects not so often cited in other works. These include the variations in hair color, which are often relatively light brown or auburn rather than jet black. “Sizeable teeth” are noted in at least one account. I’ve not seen this feature described before, though it is sometimes implied.
Habituation is not mentioned much, although one witness did aver a relationship with the Bigfoot and expressed learning from them. This idea has been greatly expanded upon in other books. I find it to be akin to stories from UFO abductees who say their alien abductors eventually become mentors to them. I don’t know what to make of that. It is simply a fact you’ll find in many accounts of anomalous events.
I was most interested in the witness accounts of Bigfoot vocalizations. They very often described something like:
…a terrifyingly loud growl. It permeated his entire body, right down to the bones, vibrating his insides. Peculiarly, alongside the growl came a high-pitched noise…At that volume, the noise must have woken the whole town. But there was nothing.
This sounds so much like what I heard as a teenager during my own encounter. This happened in a suburban neighborhood where it should have been widely heard. Apparently, though, only the primary witnesses (myself and my family) heard it.
MOSTLY BELIEVABLE
Bigfoot in Maine is very readable, being well-written with a serious, researcher’s tone. The text includes maps and every chapter ends with notes. An appended bibliography contains active Internet links.
The encounter accounts struck me as believable (outside of those specified as hoaxes). There was at least one, however, that seems questionable. This eyewitness seems a bit too brave in the face of a charging monster:
Suddenly, the forest erupts from behind Mike as they are interrupted by a younger creature…full of challenge, all of a fury in Mike’s face—baring his sizeable teeth…all Mike can think to do is take out the knife he has…and yell right back at him without backing down.
Otherwise though, if anything, the book is too short at about 190 pages.
BIGFOOT IN MAINE AND EVERYWHERE
Bigfoot sightings happen in every state. Digging through the public record would likely reveal a history of encounters similar to what Ms. Souliere found in Maine. Such a remote region does seem especially ripe for a rich history of Bigfoot lore. Bigfoot in Maine mines that history along with current accounts, to find strong anecdotal evidence for the creatures’ existence, along with some engrossing encounter tales.
July 21, 2023
A super fun read tracing eye witness accounts of Bigfoot throughout the a huge swath of the deep woods of Maine. Maine has historically never been a particular hotspot when it comes to Bigfoot research, so you've likely never heard any of these very thorough sightings. Michelle has fleshed out her interviews in very insightful ways, never leading the witness or interjecting in ways that would diminish the authentic accounts. That said, she really brings each story to life...not only with great descriptions, but often augmenting them with original photographs, illustrations and maps. A perfect book to bring along on your next camping trip to Acadia!
October 9, 2024
This was a fun book, and more compelling than I had expected. Souliere put in lots of detail to the reports she included. She clearly did the hard work of really getting in touch with witnesses, meeting them, going to locations, etc. An A+ example of a smaller-scale bigfoot book. If only all regional bigfoot books were as well done.
March 18, 2023
Well-written and fabulously researched book. Souliere’s historical bent, objectivity, and palpable respect for eyewitnesses set this work apart. I highly recommend it to Mainers, folks who want to visit the north woods, and anyone interested in bigfoot.
November 2, 2023
So many awesome Bigfoot stories in this book! I am definitely looking at the woods differently now.
October 13, 2024
3.5 rounded up
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews