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Mackinac Island #1
The Dockporter: A Mackinac Island Novel
It's the summer of 1989. Jack McGuinn is a dockporter, transporting tourists' luggage, piled high in the basket of his bike on Mackinac Island, Michigan. He's got the season wired tight: a family cottage on the bluff, a dream job, and a loyal crew of hell-raising, tip-hustling buddies. When his old friend-turned bitter rival challenges him to ride a record-setting load, he takes the bet and soon realizes he's not just carrying suitcases, he's carrying the future of the island, which is about to be paved over for profit.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
118 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 25, 2021
My 11 year old son gave me this book for Mother’s Day so that we could read it together and think about one of our favorite places, just a few hours’ drive and a ferry ride north. We made it two chapters in before we realized (as a character heartily swore yet again and a joint was lit) that this wasn’t the middle grade novel my husband had thought it was. Ha!
I carried on alone. Enjoyable and certainly fun to learn about an aspect of the Island I hadn’t known much about. I’ll definitely check the Arnold dock the next time I’m there to see if there are really names carved!
3 solid stars, 3.5 if we give way to 80’s nostalgia and for the setting I could see so clearly as Jack told his story. Maybe we will wait a few years before my son reads it though!
I carried on alone. Enjoyable and certainly fun to learn about an aspect of the Island I hadn’t known much about. I’ll definitely check the Arnold dock the next time I’m there to see if there are really names carved!
3 solid stars, 3.5 if we give way to 80’s nostalgia and for the setting I could see so clearly as Jack told his story. Maybe we will wait a few years before my son reads it though!
May 16, 2022
Novel read in conjunction with the authors' visit to Stair District Library as part of the Michigan Notable Books 2021
Anyone who has ever been to Mackinac Island knows that it's a magical place, authors Dave McVeigh and Jim Balone actually were dockporters on the island in the 80's. The two co-authored "The Dockporters", a story of the dockporters of Mackinac Island. This story of Jack McGuinn and other college kids riding luggage from the dock on Mackinac Island to the various hotels and inns on the island reads like a wonderful movie! Fudge, ferries, bikes, horses; there are a hundred little things that make Mackinac Island a unique place in this world. The authors convey all of those things and so much more in "The Dockporters".
I was lucky enough to attend an event at Stair District Library this past weekend and heard both authors share their stories and insights. Both men worked as dockporters in the 80's on the Island so the story reads very true. Because Dave McVeigh had originally written this as a movie script it reads like a movie. I could picture each and every scene. The dialog and references to the Detroit Tigers, Mitch Album, Michigan football; they all rang true.
I found this novel to be compelling whether you're a visitor to Mackinac Island or not, you'll enjoy the story. The characters, descriptions and dialogue will make you feel as though you're an Island visitor. Of course, the Island itself is the main character of the story. I encourage you to read this book and get ready for the prequel which is being written now. And, if you ever have a chance to hear these authors speak, go listen to them! You won't regret the time spent with the book or with the authors!
Anyone who has ever been to Mackinac Island knows that it's a magical place, authors Dave McVeigh and Jim Balone actually were dockporters on the island in the 80's. The two co-authored "The Dockporters", a story of the dockporters of Mackinac Island. This story of Jack McGuinn and other college kids riding luggage from the dock on Mackinac Island to the various hotels and inns on the island reads like a wonderful movie! Fudge, ferries, bikes, horses; there are a hundred little things that make Mackinac Island a unique place in this world. The authors convey all of those things and so much more in "The Dockporters".
I was lucky enough to attend an event at Stair District Library this past weekend and heard both authors share their stories and insights. Both men worked as dockporters in the 80's on the Island so the story reads very true. Because Dave McVeigh had originally written this as a movie script it reads like a movie. I could picture each and every scene. The dialog and references to the Detroit Tigers, Mitch Album, Michigan football; they all rang true.
I found this novel to be compelling whether you're a visitor to Mackinac Island or not, you'll enjoy the story. The characters, descriptions and dialogue will make you feel as though you're an Island visitor. Of course, the Island itself is the main character of the story. I encourage you to read this book and get ready for the prequel which is being written now. And, if you ever have a chance to hear these authors speak, go listen to them! You won't regret the time spent with the book or with the authors!
April 4, 2021
“Tonight we drink. Tomorrow we ride.”
Artfully crafted and full of nostalgic insider Mackinac details, “The Dockporter” takes the reader on a delightful coming of age journey with the the main character Jack charting the course. Set amongst the sights and sounds (and smells) of a tiny resort island in Northern Michigan the love of all things Mackinac was instilled in him early on. Jack and his friends get a childhood filled with adventure most of us could only wish for with the island as their playground. Filled with hi-jinks, the requisite love interests, and the one that got away. There is also a villain that threatens to destroy everything we endure about this small town island. Jack struggles with the course his life is destined for. But when he gets a job as a dockporter, one of the most desired positions on the island, that is when the adventure truly kicks into high gear. With an indestructible Schwinn Heavy Duti bicycle as his trusty steed, greatness is finally within his reach. Anyone who has worked on the island can tell you, there is no shortage of booze, shenanigans, debauchery, and regrettable choices to be made and this book takes you on a crash course that many of us could have told as our own story. But are they bad choices or rather the experiences that will shape Jack into the man he will become and set his future course? You will have to read the book to find out. Filled with twists and turns, successes and sorrows, you won’t be disappointed. The writing is exceptional. And the ending superb. 100% recommend even if you don’t already have a connection to the island. As soon as you read this, you will. It is said in the book that the love of all things Mackinac is passed down by the people before us who loved it too. That is my story. As it was Jack’s. Same as it was before us and I’m sure it’s the same now some 30 years later. And it can be yours too. So grab this book, hop on the ferry before it takes off , and let the island become part of you!
Artfully crafted and full of nostalgic insider Mackinac details, “The Dockporter” takes the reader on a delightful coming of age journey with the the main character Jack charting the course. Set amongst the sights and sounds (and smells) of a tiny resort island in Northern Michigan the love of all things Mackinac was instilled in him early on. Jack and his friends get a childhood filled with adventure most of us could only wish for with the island as their playground. Filled with hi-jinks, the requisite love interests, and the one that got away. There is also a villain that threatens to destroy everything we endure about this small town island. Jack struggles with the course his life is destined for. But when he gets a job as a dockporter, one of the most desired positions on the island, that is when the adventure truly kicks into high gear. With an indestructible Schwinn Heavy Duti bicycle as his trusty steed, greatness is finally within his reach. Anyone who has worked on the island can tell you, there is no shortage of booze, shenanigans, debauchery, and regrettable choices to be made and this book takes you on a crash course that many of us could have told as our own story. But are they bad choices or rather the experiences that will shape Jack into the man he will become and set his future course? You will have to read the book to find out. Filled with twists and turns, successes and sorrows, you won’t be disappointed. The writing is exceptional. And the ending superb. 100% recommend even if you don’t already have a connection to the island. As soon as you read this, you will. It is said in the book that the love of all things Mackinac is passed down by the people before us who loved it too. That is my story. As it was Jack’s. Same as it was before us and I’m sure it’s the same now some 30 years later. And it can be yours too. So grab this book, hop on the ferry before it takes off , and let the island become part of you!
August 18, 2021
Those of us who have had the privilege of being raised in Michigan, know it's a rite of passage to have visited the legendary Mackinac Island. Many Michiganders make annual pilgrimages to the tip of the Mitten to board a ferry and visit the iconic vacation spot tucked in-between the lower and upper peninsulas on beautiful Lake Huron. From school trips to family vacations, most Michigan residents can say they've experienced at least a day trip to Mackinac, where time seems to stand still in an earlier era. Cars, with the exception of emergency and some construction vehicles, have never been allowed on the island, making horses with wagons, and bicycles the way of transportation. The legendary dock porters truly do exist and many college students from across Michigan and the US have been recruited to come spend a summer on the island to take on employment in this tourist driven vacation spot.
If you're lucky enough to have visited Mackinac Island, then this story plays out visually in your head, knowing all the locations Jack names. I found myself riding those well-known streets with Jack, knowing each and every restaurant, bar, hotel, bluff, park, fudge shop, etc. he mentions. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, this story spins a tale of a land of enchantment, begging you to come stay awhile. Authors McVeigh and Balone have done a phenomenal job of casting a spell in a semi-fictional story in a real place with named locations. Lighthearted, with a sense of melancholy and comedy, The Dock Porter will transport you to this magical vacation spot by the time you're just a few pages into the story. 5 star read!
- Author Kristin Kent
If you're lucky enough to have visited Mackinac Island, then this story plays out visually in your head, knowing all the locations Jack names. I found myself riding those well-known streets with Jack, knowing each and every restaurant, bar, hotel, bluff, park, fudge shop, etc. he mentions. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, this story spins a tale of a land of enchantment, begging you to come stay awhile. Authors McVeigh and Balone have done a phenomenal job of casting a spell in a semi-fictional story in a real place with named locations. Lighthearted, with a sense of melancholy and comedy, The Dock Porter will transport you to this magical vacation spot by the time you're just a few pages into the story. 5 star read!
- Author Kristin Kent
April 26, 2021
Memory lane
Great read - fun story. Made even more special for anyone that knows and loves Mackinac Island - on it goes!
Great read - fun story. Made even more special for anyone that knows and loves Mackinac Island - on it goes!
September 25, 2023
Disclaimer: Any story which takes place on Mackinac Island, Michigan automatically rates five stars in my book.
The Dockporter: A Mackinac Island Novel, co-authored by Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone, is the first novel in the Mackinac Island series. It is set on Mackinac Island—one of the rare gems of the state of Michigan (and one of my very favorite places to visit).
By way of background, Mackinac Island is an island and resort area, covering 4.35 square miles in land area and located in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. More than 80% of the island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park and the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Motorized vehicles were banned in 1898 and are still prohibited on the Island to this very day. Transportation is limited to horse and buggy, bicycle, or foot. The island can only be reached by private boat, by ferry, by small aircraft or, in the winter, by snowmobile when Lake Huron freezes over creating an ice bridge to the mainland seven miles away.
For movie buffs, the film This Time for Keeps, a 1947 romantic musical starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, and Johnnie Johnston, was shot partly on location at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. (The swimming pool at the Grand Hotel is named for Esther Williams.) In addition, the majority of the 1980 romantic fantasy drama film Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher (“Superman”) Reeve, Jane (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) Seymour, and Christopher (“Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music”) Plummer, was filmed on Mackinac Island.
For those unfamiliar with tourist life on Mackinac Island, a dockporter’s job is to zero in on the guests of the hotel which employs him, make them feel welcomed, and send them off to their hotel. The dockporter then stacks their luggage in the oversized wire basket of his bicycle, usually a beat-up one-speed Schwinn, rides it through the streets, and pulls up to the hotel just as the guests are meandering into the lobby, which usually results in a very generous tip.
The Dockporter: A Mackinac Island Novel revolves around the story of Jack McGuinn, currently a big-shot fashion photographer in Los Angeles who spent his childhood and teenaged summers at his family’s cottage on the Island. The story is mostly told via flashbacks to the summer of 1989, when Jack himself was a dockporter on Mackinac Island.
During a photo shoot for General Motors in 1999, Jack receives a letter from an old dockporter friend inviting him to a ten year dockporter reunion on Mackinac Island. The invitation contained the following tease: “And get this, Erin’s going to be on the island. Guess she and your ol’ pal Gordon (ha-ha) are getting hitched.”
During that summer of 1989, Jack had fallen head over heels for Irish lass Erin O’Malley, a cellist at the Grand Hotel during the day and a fiddle player with a house band at a local pub at night. Jack also locked horns with Gordon Whittaker, a former childhood friend and now his bitter rival, who ran many of his wealthy father’s businesses—real estate, development, and upscale shops in the northern Michigan towns of Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Mackinac Island.
Unfortunately, as happens with many summer romances, Jack and Erin had a falling out and each went their separate ways at the end of the summer. Jack has not seen or heard from Erin since that summer of 1989, nor has he returned to Mackinaw Island.
So, after a ten-year absence, Jack decides to swallow his pride and return to the Island for the dockporter reunion and the nuptials of Erin O’Malley and Gordon Whittaker.
So, what happened when Jack arrived for the reunion? Did Gordon ask Jack to be his best man or did Gordon throw Jack into the harbor? And what did Erin have to say?
No spoiler alert this time—you will have to read the book to find out!
P.S. No offense to fans of romance novelist Elin Hilderbrand, but Nantucket Island “ain’t got nothin’ ” on Mackinaw Island.
The Dockporter: A Mackinac Island Novel, co-authored by Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone, is the first novel in the Mackinac Island series. It is set on Mackinac Island—one of the rare gems of the state of Michigan (and one of my very favorite places to visit).
By way of background, Mackinac Island is an island and resort area, covering 4.35 square miles in land area and located in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. More than 80% of the island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park and the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Motorized vehicles were banned in 1898 and are still prohibited on the Island to this very day. Transportation is limited to horse and buggy, bicycle, or foot. The island can only be reached by private boat, by ferry, by small aircraft or, in the winter, by snowmobile when Lake Huron freezes over creating an ice bridge to the mainland seven miles away.
For movie buffs, the film This Time for Keeps, a 1947 romantic musical starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, and Johnnie Johnston, was shot partly on location at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. (The swimming pool at the Grand Hotel is named for Esther Williams.) In addition, the majority of the 1980 romantic fantasy drama film Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher (“Superman”) Reeve, Jane (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) Seymour, and Christopher (“Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music”) Plummer, was filmed on Mackinac Island.
For those unfamiliar with tourist life on Mackinac Island, a dockporter’s job is to zero in on the guests of the hotel which employs him, make them feel welcomed, and send them off to their hotel. The dockporter then stacks their luggage in the oversized wire basket of his bicycle, usually a beat-up one-speed Schwinn, rides it through the streets, and pulls up to the hotel just as the guests are meandering into the lobby, which usually results in a very generous tip.
The Dockporter: A Mackinac Island Novel revolves around the story of Jack McGuinn, currently a big-shot fashion photographer in Los Angeles who spent his childhood and teenaged summers at his family’s cottage on the Island. The story is mostly told via flashbacks to the summer of 1989, when Jack himself was a dockporter on Mackinac Island.
During a photo shoot for General Motors in 1999, Jack receives a letter from an old dockporter friend inviting him to a ten year dockporter reunion on Mackinac Island. The invitation contained the following tease: “And get this, Erin’s going to be on the island. Guess she and your ol’ pal Gordon (ha-ha) are getting hitched.”
During that summer of 1989, Jack had fallen head over heels for Irish lass Erin O’Malley, a cellist at the Grand Hotel during the day and a fiddle player with a house band at a local pub at night. Jack also locked horns with Gordon Whittaker, a former childhood friend and now his bitter rival, who ran many of his wealthy father’s businesses—real estate, development, and upscale shops in the northern Michigan towns of Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Mackinac Island.
Unfortunately, as happens with many summer romances, Jack and Erin had a falling out and each went their separate ways at the end of the summer. Jack has not seen or heard from Erin since that summer of 1989, nor has he returned to Mackinaw Island.
So, after a ten-year absence, Jack decides to swallow his pride and return to the Island for the dockporter reunion and the nuptials of Erin O’Malley and Gordon Whittaker.
So, what happened when Jack arrived for the reunion? Did Gordon ask Jack to be his best man or did Gordon throw Jack into the harbor? And what did Erin have to say?
No spoiler alert this time—you will have to read the book to find out!
P.S. No offense to fans of romance novelist Elin Hilderbrand, but Nantucket Island “ain’t got nothin’ ” on Mackinaw Island.
October 3, 2021
We visit Mackinaw Island about once a year for the last 25 years. We love the island, especially off of the Main Street. We bike around the island. We dodge people/horses/carriages/dockporters on main street. This book was awesome because I knew exactly where it was taking place. I could see the landscape. Great story tellers, these two authors. I'm always in favor of happy endings!
January 21, 2022
I enjoyed the the references to specific locations on Mackinac Island in the summer. Much needed during a January Michigan day!
May 25, 2022
The authors couldn’t seem to make up their minds whether they were writing for middle schoolers or college kids. The result was something not quite suitable for either audience. I believe young adults deserve the same high quality writing as mature audiences, but unfortunately the writing here was both choppy and cheesy. And they seemed to rely on their audience being intimately familiar with Mackinac Island, so they didn’t really describe or explain things well enough for an outsider to easily follow along. They invented several interesting characters and some decent plot elements, and it was fun to revisit the Island through fiction. But it just wasn’t well executed and wasn’t substantive enough to hold my attention. I ended up skimming over several large rambling sections without really missing anything.
April 3, 2021
A great read about summer rides and escapades.
Building on my limited knowledge of Mackinac Island, The Dockporter allowed me a more personal glimpse from those with precious, inside information. The realistic, first-hand accounts of summer life on Mackinac and the intimate details of some dockporters' lives merged together to create some very entertaining stories in this book. (Written by Renee M, on Chuck's account.)
Building on my limited knowledge of Mackinac Island, The Dockporter allowed me a more personal glimpse from those with precious, inside information. The realistic, first-hand accounts of summer life on Mackinac and the intimate details of some dockporters' lives merged together to create some very entertaining stories in this book. (Written by Renee M, on Chuck's account.)
April 20, 2021
A Michigan must read
If you’ve ever been to the island, Mackinac Island, you will enjoy this book. One of the best spots in the State. The characters literally bring their antics to a place where time has stopped and life was grand.
If you’ve ever been to the island, Mackinac Island, you will enjoy this book. One of the best spots in the State. The characters literally bring their antics to a place where time has stopped and life was grand.
June 12, 2024
This title was a recommended "staff pick" in my local library newsletter. I was not impressed. Gave up on page 40. Another YA book that I recently abandoned was in the same staff picks reccs iirc (although very different genres). This one is just too crass for my tastes (maybe it'll improve? I'll never know!). I abandoned the other one because I just wasn't in the mood for that genre so it didn't sustain my attention.
January 21, 2023
A fun book with lots of Michigan references and that captures the essence of Mackinac Island. It's cool to read about this fiction that mostly takes place in 1989 and know that so much has not changed about the Island in the present day. A good vacation read!
June 24, 2021
This novel spins its wheels for a few chapters but by chapter 4 has pushed off into a good story with compelling, rowdy characters and several plot threads. Jack McGuinn is the protagonist, a dockporter on Mackinac Island, part of Michigan in Lake Huron. The dockporters are young men who, during summer tourist season, transport luggage, on their bicycles, from the Mackinac Island ferries to various hotels and lodgings on the island (where no motorized vehicles are allowed.)
Reader must keep in mind that as the story proceeds, Jack and "I" are one and the same, as Jack is telling his tale to a passenger on the ferry headed back to Mackinac Island after Jack has been away ten years. The basic story relates Jack's 1989 summer adventures and tales of woe. The story details some endings for Jack that summer, but the tale is riddled with much good humor, as befits young men of late teen years who have romantic adventures, love their dockporter work (especially the tips) and spend evenings in bars and listening to bar music. Jack's own story involves all of those aspects as well as his love for the island itself and his family's home place there. And a young Irish tourist named Erin plays a part in Jack's once and future life. As if transporting tons of luggage on a bike were not enough burden, the fate of Mackinac Island may rest on Jack's shoulders.
Jack is headed for a dockporter reunion in 1999 after closing the books on a past life, or so he thinks. The ending of this book is one of the most joyous and surprising I've ever read. Definitely worth the path to get there. Although I would have tightened three chapters in the beginning and a couple toward the end (around chapters 13 and 14) where I felt Jack was in conflict too long.
A map showing Mackinac Island and the ferry routes in the front of the book is much appreciated. But illustrations inside the book of dockporters and their ingeniously loaded bikes would have added much charm to the book. The cover illustration shows one example.
Reader must keep in mind that as the story proceeds, Jack and "I" are one and the same, as Jack is telling his tale to a passenger on the ferry headed back to Mackinac Island after Jack has been away ten years. The basic story relates Jack's 1989 summer adventures and tales of woe. The story details some endings for Jack that summer, but the tale is riddled with much good humor, as befits young men of late teen years who have romantic adventures, love their dockporter work (especially the tips) and spend evenings in bars and listening to bar music. Jack's own story involves all of those aspects as well as his love for the island itself and his family's home place there. And a young Irish tourist named Erin plays a part in Jack's once and future life. As if transporting tons of luggage on a bike were not enough burden, the fate of Mackinac Island may rest on Jack's shoulders.
Jack is headed for a dockporter reunion in 1999 after closing the books on a past life, or so he thinks. The ending of this book is one of the most joyous and surprising I've ever read. Definitely worth the path to get there. Although I would have tightened three chapters in the beginning and a couple toward the end (around chapters 13 and 14) where I felt Jack was in conflict too long.
A map showing Mackinac Island and the ferry routes in the front of the book is much appreciated. But illustrations inside the book of dockporters and their ingeniously loaded bikes would have added much charm to the book. The cover illustration shows one example.
February 16, 2024
I nearly gave up on this book a couple of times but I read a great review & how could you resist if you wanted a YA book set in Michigan for the Lib. book discussion (that could draw young people).
#1 A Mackinac Island Novel but I’m about to give it 2 stars which is not something I usually do. I’m trying to write a review without saying too much about what I didn’t like. I think I don’t know Young Adults well enough, especially young men. I'm also reading a "healing" book that is making me think more of the time and place of this story, which was 1989. I can't imagine what young men do today for fun or revenge or jealousy!
The genre that I came across is "coming of age" that gives a pretty big hint of what this read will be. Plus the Preface by the authors, warned me, "There's some salty language. It's a story about young guys shlepping suitcases on a dock all day, not the Vienna Boy's Choir. That said, we're confident you can handle it. Think PG-13. Enjoy!"
Well, maybe Liliacs are still blooming in August on Macinac Island but I don't think so but fact checking is important to me. I wrote this about a book I gave 5 stars to. I could probably write the same thing about the characters in The Dockporter: "The characters stay true to their essential qualities. Their essence. Some could be punished (for such things as Witchery or killing a Massasauga snake) but they stay true to theirselves." In The Dockporter they could get punished for (driving a golf cart off the dock or dumping your bike in Lake Huron) but the main character and buddies remain true, drink a lot . So I guess its part of coming of age and I should let it go. I don't think I would recommend this book to a teen but maybe a parent would know their teens woould like it. It's not like Nancy Drew but what about the Hardy Boys. Girls don't read Nancy Drew anymore, do they? And I'd say the same for boys reading the Hardy Boys.
I think it will be a fun book to discuss. I will have to read all the Goodreads reviews.
#1 A Mackinac Island Novel but I’m about to give it 2 stars which is not something I usually do. I’m trying to write a review without saying too much about what I didn’t like. I think I don’t know Young Adults well enough, especially young men. I'm also reading a "healing" book that is making me think more of the time and place of this story, which was 1989. I can't imagine what young men do today for fun or revenge or jealousy!
The genre that I came across is "coming of age" that gives a pretty big hint of what this read will be. Plus the Preface by the authors, warned me, "There's some salty language. It's a story about young guys shlepping suitcases on a dock all day, not the Vienna Boy's Choir. That said, we're confident you can handle it. Think PG-13. Enjoy!"
Well, maybe Liliacs are still blooming in August on Macinac Island but I don't think so but fact checking is important to me. I wrote this about a book I gave 5 stars to. I could probably write the same thing about the characters in The Dockporter: "The characters stay true to their essential qualities. Their essence. Some could be punished (for such things as Witchery or killing a Massasauga snake) but they stay true to theirselves." In The Dockporter they could get punished for (driving a golf cart off the dock or dumping your bike in Lake Huron) but the main character and buddies remain true, drink a lot . So I guess its part of coming of age and I should let it go. I don't think I would recommend this book to a teen but maybe a parent would know their teens woould like it. It's not like Nancy Drew but what about the Hardy Boys. Girls don't read Nancy Drew anymore, do they? And I'd say the same for boys reading the Hardy Boys.
I think it will be a fun book to discuss. I will have to read all the Goodreads reviews.
April 1, 2022
A terrific book, and quite an enjoyable read. Mackinac Island is a magical place, situated right at the tip of Michigan's Lower peninsula, where there are no cars allowed, and your feet are your means to adventure (unless you want to take one of the horse-drawn taxis, that is). It is a place where your mind, body and spirit can escape the madness that is everyday modern life. It is a place like no other on Earth.
To capture the essence of Mackinac Island, especially in book form, is no small feat, but Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone have done just that. When you immerse yourself in this book, you are drawn into the best that Mackinac has to offer: the bustling crowds on Main Street, the aroma of the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron air, and the majesty of the many Victorian homes dotting the east and west bluffs. The story is breezy and never drags, and the characters are well-defined and kooky in their own way, filled with the crazy feeling of youth and "je ne sais quoi" that Mackinac Island instills in all... young and not-so-young alike.
I am definitely looking forwatd to the next installment of "The Dockporter."
To capture the essence of Mackinac Island, especially in book form, is no small feat, but Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone have done just that. When you immerse yourself in this book, you are drawn into the best that Mackinac has to offer: the bustling crowds on Main Street, the aroma of the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron air, and the majesty of the many Victorian homes dotting the east and west bluffs. The story is breezy and never drags, and the characters are well-defined and kooky in their own way, filled with the crazy feeling of youth and "je ne sais quoi" that Mackinac Island instills in all... young and not-so-young alike.
I am definitely looking forwatd to the next installment of "The Dockporter."
April 14, 2022
For those of us who know and love Mackinac Island, revisiting through this book brings all those memories to life again. The fudge shops. The porch of the Grand Hotel. The rock formations. The booming cannon. And, of course, the poor guy shoveling up the inevitable horse droppings. And for those who have never been to Mackinac, the tale revives those days of young abandon, of friends and foes, pranks and hangovers and warm, sweet love. The book is written as a story within a story. Big city photographer Jack McGuinn is returning to the island after a 10-year absence, for a reunion with his dockporter buddies who, as young men, met the ferries to the island and ported baggage to the hotels on their bikes. On the slow freight ferry to the reunion Jack tells a fellow passenger the tale of his final summer on the island, which becomes the bulk of the book. It is an awkward arrangement sometimes when the passenger interrupts the storyteller to remind the reader of the story-within-a-story format but it pays off in the end when the exciting finale of Jack's last summer on the island melds into a surprising denouement at the reunion.
February 27, 2025
Pre-read this "Young Adult" book for my middle school reader. I am trying to find literature set on Mackinaw Island to build excitement for our upcoming trip.
THIS BOOK IS NOT MIDDLE GRADE APPROPRIATE. DO NOT GIVE THIS TO JUVENILE READERS!
The preface states that the book contains "salty" language because it isn't a book about choir boys. Here is a list of the language on the first few pages:
pg. 1: What the hell?
pg. 2: shit
pg. 3: General-fucking-Motors
There is also situational content shown as normal/funny that is not appropriate for children. For example on the first few pages:
pg. 1: boys trying to have casual sex
pg. 7: dirty limerick about a man having sex with a dog
*I did not finish the book, but other reviews note that the characters drink, swear and have sex during the course of the novel.
Praise God that I pre-read this book before giving it to my child!!! The book seemed to revel in being crass and asinine. The idea audience would probably be a man-child in his 20s or 30s -- not an actual juvenile reader.
I did not enjoy the book as an adult reader and abandoned it before finishing. I do not plan to pick up anything by this author again.
THIS BOOK IS NOT MIDDLE GRADE APPROPRIATE. DO NOT GIVE THIS TO JUVENILE READERS!
The preface states that the book contains "salty" language because it isn't a book about choir boys. Here is a list of the language on the first few pages:
pg. 1: What the hell?
pg. 2: shit
pg. 3: General-fucking-Motors
There is also situational content shown as normal/funny that is not appropriate for children. For example on the first few pages:
pg. 1: boys trying to have casual sex
pg. 7: dirty limerick about a man having sex with a dog
*I did not finish the book, but other reviews note that the characters drink, swear and have sex during the course of the novel.
Praise God that I pre-read this book before giving it to my child!!! The book seemed to revel in being crass and asinine. The idea audience would probably be a man-child in his 20s or 30s -- not an actual juvenile reader.
I did not enjoy the book as an adult reader and abandoned it before finishing. I do not plan to pick up anything by this author again.
October 7, 2022
Right off the bat the author gives you a disclaimer that he has taken liberty with some of the places on the Island. So don't expect exact descriptions of your favorite place. He also states: "It's a story about young guys shlepping suitcases on a dock all day, not the Vienna Boys Choir. That said, we're confident you can handle it. Think PG-13." Yes, some of the language is "salty", but it fits the characters. This isn't a suspense story either. But you will want to keep reading to see how Jack can get out of the latest trouble he's caused. Now for what the book is. It's told in such a way that if you've been to Mackinac Island more than once, you "get it". I kept wanting to read more just to feel the atmosphere of the Island. It is a place like no other and a place you'll want to visit often if it appeals to you. I can't wait to go back to the Island just to check out some of the details to find out if they are fiction or if there is some truth to them.
July 30, 2024
I purchased this book from The Island Bookstore on Main Street on Mackinac Island while on a family trip this summer. I asked the store clerk for something that was special to Mackinac that I couldn't find just anywhere. She immediately recommended both this and the following Somewhere in Crime. I got them both!
This is such a lighthearted and sweet story that had me feeling like I was back on the island. I loved the references to shops I shopped in and buildings I passed as I biked around the island. You can tell the authors LIVED this story, in their own way. I love any book that can bring some tears as I read the final lines, and this one was no exception, and now i just want to go back to the island! Looking forward to reading Somewhere in Crime!!
This is such a lighthearted and sweet story that had me feeling like I was back on the island. I loved the references to shops I shopped in and buildings I passed as I biked around the island. You can tell the authors LIVED this story, in their own way. I love any book that can bring some tears as I read the final lines, and this one was no exception, and now i just want to go back to the island! Looking forward to reading Somewhere in Crime!!
August 21, 2024
A delightful dive in the past.
Jack McGuinn is coming of age in 1989. While working as a dockporter on the famous vacation destination in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island, he must navigate rivalries, romance, and an uncertain future. I’ve been a tourist to the island many times over, I know that visitors are called “Fudgies” and that there is nothing so elegant as rocking on the famous porch of The Grand Hotel at sunset with a daiquiri in your hand. However, I knew little about the hidden world of the dockporters. McVeigh and Bolone, both former dockporters create a world of excitement, humor, and relatable characters. I cheered and broke my heart as I rode with Jack on his bike. This book is perfect for a summer vacation or whenever you need an escape.
Jack McGuinn is coming of age in 1989. While working as a dockporter on the famous vacation destination in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island, he must navigate rivalries, romance, and an uncertain future. I’ve been a tourist to the island many times over, I know that visitors are called “Fudgies” and that there is nothing so elegant as rocking on the famous porch of The Grand Hotel at sunset with a daiquiri in your hand. However, I knew little about the hidden world of the dockporters. McVeigh and Bolone, both former dockporters create a world of excitement, humor, and relatable characters. I cheered and broke my heart as I rode with Jack on his bike. This book is perfect for a summer vacation or whenever you need an escape.
July 15, 2022
As a member of the “addicted to Mackinac Island” Facebook page, I’d seen some positive reviews of this book so I decided to grab a copy from the Island Bookstore this past week during our annual trip to the island.
As a lover of all things Mackinac Island as well as a child from the 80’s, I deeply enjoyed the many references to both throughout the book.
I really didn’t expect to get drawn into the story as much as I did, and was pleasantly surprised by the colorful characters, hilarious shenanigans and entertaining storyline. This was truly a PURE MICHIGAN coming of age tale, that will leave you craving some fudge and your next ferry ride over.
As a lover of all things Mackinac Island as well as a child from the 80’s, I deeply enjoyed the many references to both throughout the book.
I really didn’t expect to get drawn into the story as much as I did, and was pleasantly surprised by the colorful characters, hilarious shenanigans and entertaining storyline. This was truly a PURE MICHIGAN coming of age tale, that will leave you craving some fudge and your next ferry ride over.
December 10, 2022
Even if you've never been to Mackinac Island (if not, put it on your bucket list) you will enjoy this story. Primarily set in 1989, it is the story of Jack McGuinn, a dockporter for one of the hotels on the island. A dockporter is like a bell boy, only, instead of taking your luggage from the lobby to your room, a dockporter scleps your bags all the way from the dock to your hotel on his bike. There's a bit of romance here, but not enough to get in the way of a good yarn. If you are offended by the use of profanity and just can't ignore it, this book may not be for you. There isn't a lot of it, but it's there. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to book 2 of the series.
July 1, 2025
"The Dockporter reminded me of my childhood summers on Mackinaw Island from 1976 to 1988. My parents had a house above St. Ann's Church, and my brothers worked as dockporters while I worked at 3 Brothers Sarducci Pizza and Horns Bar. Watching candy makers at Kulwin’s Fudge was a highlight. Those summers were the best part of my life. Like Jack, my parents sold the house, and I left the island without looking back. It’s been 20 yrs since I’ve been back although I often share my memories whenever I can. Thank you, Dave and Jim, for bringing back soon forgotten memories with their well-told story."
March 7, 2022
5⭐️!!
i loved reading it and really getting to know Jack and his pals plus having been on the island where the book is set made it much sweeter because you get to have a clear picture of the setting and it just makes the experience much more memorable!
and even if you haven’t been to the island it’s a great read. the descriptions of even the little things help you to envision what it looks like visually. every minor and major details of the story always kept me on the hook to keep reading
i loved the ending, i won’t mention any spoilers but let’s just say on it goes :D
definitely recommend !!!
i loved reading it and really getting to know Jack and his pals plus having been on the island where the book is set made it much sweeter because you get to have a clear picture of the setting and it just makes the experience much more memorable!
and even if you haven’t been to the island it’s a great read. the descriptions of even the little things help you to envision what it looks like visually. every minor and major details of the story always kept me on the hook to keep reading
i loved the ending, i won’t mention any spoilers but let’s just say on it goes :D
definitely recommend !!!
August 29, 2021
This was a fun, engrossing and surprisingly well-done read. I grew up an hour south of Mackinaw Island and really enjoyed references to the local culture. This isn't a masterpiece but McVeigh and Bolone have used simple prose and plot twists to make this an enjoyable read. If you grew up in Michigan or visited "the Island", I highly recommend "The Dockporter". If not, grab this book and take a walk back into our summers as young, crazy adults.
April 28, 2022
A Mackinac Island Novel, EBK-M, Kindle, @ 2021, Read 4/26/22, Fiction, Mackinac Island, Teens, Workers, Summer Jobs. I really enjoyed this novel, maybe because I've been to the Island a number of times over the years. I can picture ferry rides, riding bikes, the Grand Hotel, the shops, the fudge, the uphill trek to the Grand and the West Bank. It is a special place. But I've never thought about those young workers, how hard they work or how hard they play! Fun story, 4☆'s = Very Good.
June 18, 2021
As someone who has visited Mackinac and knows the beauty and magic of this island, I easily slipped into this story and enjoyed this very believable tale of adventure, summer love and a young man's quest to finding his calling. It's a fun summer read and I will be recommending it, as well as nudging people to actually visit this wonderful little island.
September 6, 2021
Never been, but must now go to a Mackinac Island...
Reading this book was like arriving to, vacationing at, or returning to a place full of friends and family.
Anyone who wants to be entertained and travel to a pleasant place with enduring characters will enjoy this book!
Each star in my rating represents; Vivid, Lyrical, Inspiring, Authentic, Gratifying.
Reading this book was like arriving to, vacationing at, or returning to a place full of friends and family.
Anyone who wants to be entertained and travel to a pleasant place with enduring characters will enjoy this book!
Each star in my rating represents; Vivid, Lyrical, Inspiring, Authentic, Gratifying.
January 30, 2022
This book was a walk down memory lane! I have spent a lot of time in the area, as my Dad’s side of the family is from St. Ignace. The story brought me back to the summers of my childhood. It is a heartwarming, coming-of-age read for all, but will hold a special place for those who know and love the island.
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