A Moose and a Lobster Walk into a Bar

by John McDonald

A Moose and a Lobster Walk Into a Bar is a wonderful mix of classic Maine storytelling, stretched truths, and wry observations made by John McDonald during his many travels through the Pine Tree State. In this collection of essays and stories, John extols the important economic power of Maine's yard sale industry, bemoans the fact that Massachusetts, still upset because it allowed Maine to become a state in 1820, is buying it back one house at a time, and relates how the state's infamous black fly was really just an attempt at controlling tourists gone haywire. You will also meet Maine characters like Uncle Abner, Merrill Minzey, and Hollis Eaton, and find yourself pondering just where the truth ends and the story begins.

Genres: Humor, Travel, The United States Of America, Nonfiction

172 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

For more than 20 years, John McDonald has performed as a storyteller across the great state of Maine from Eastport to Fort Kent to Kittery. During that time, his steadily increasing popularity has allowed him to bring his unique brand of Maine humor to an ever widening audience. His humor column and weekend radio show on WGAN reach thousands of people every week, while his book, A Moose and a Lobster Walk into a Bar, is a bestseller across the state of Maine. And now, look for John's latest book down the road a piece: A Storyteller's Guide to Maine in bookstores near you.

Reviews

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and charming. I picked this gem up during one of my day trips discovering what lays around a 200 or so mile radius of where I live. I found I couldn't put it down. It was a nice blend of humour and intelligence (yes I'm Canadian hence the 'u') and it had me laughing out loud several times. Which was a great annoyance to my family who got to hear snippets of stories through my retelling whenever they were unwise enough to ask "what was so funny".

[Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of short stories describing all facets of life in Maine. My daughter lives in Orono working on her post graduate degree at the University of Maine. Having never visited Maine the book was full of fun factoids. I learned people who live in Maine argue incessantly about anything, hate tourism but work hard to attract tourists. There are yard sales at every house. Black flies terrorize everyone. More importantly, I got the impression that Maine citizens are honest, hard working, people who love a good lobster roll. I am going to visit my daughter to confirm my suspicions.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read during trip to Bar Harbor. Easy read with cute stories.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun! Like hanging out with a good friend and hearing their stories.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent four years in Maine going to college at the University of Maine at Farmington. In that time, I observed quite a bit about the state and its residents, and I even got to learn some of the in-jokes. This book did a lot to bring me back to that time, and to fill me in on the parts I didn't get to see of the people I interacted with. After all, one can learn a lot about people by the stories they tell, and how they tell them.

The first section of the book is jokes, Maine-style. Several of them are recognizable as jokes heard around the internet, with a regional slant. There are a few surprises, though.

The next several sections are essays on local politics, transplants (most notably from Massachusetts), black flies, tourism, yard sales, and what makes Maine what it is. This part gets repetitive in places, but, while I don't always agree with the author's position, I have to agree that he's fairly representative of the Maine natives I've known.

If you're looking for a few stories from Maine to give you insight about how the residents think and what they find funny, this is a good book to pick up. If you think they're generally more open and friendly than what you see during tourist season, though, you may want to skip this and keep to your illusions.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a short read for the ride home from Maine, where I may have been looked at as a "leafer"! I wasn't there to be one. We have the same foliage in Western NY State. It was, for the most part a read that caused me to smile. I would love to read more about the comings and goings of Uncle Abner. I think I was looking for more detailed stories of the people. I'd like to listen to the radio broadcast of the author. I will have to find out if it can be streamed. This is not meant to be insulting, but I think I will put the copy in my basket of reads for the bathroom so folks might get a smile (among whatever else they're doing in there!).

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Moose and a Lobster Walk Into a Bar: Tales From Maine by John McDonald (Islandport Press 2002) (814.6). Another McKay’s cheapie; I paid $0.75 at McKay’s Used Books marked down from it’s original sale price of $14.95 at L.L. Bean’s. Author John McDonald (not to be confused with author John D. MacDonald of "Travis McGee" fame) is apparently the local Maine curmudgeon. McDonald is neither funny nor insightful, but he is local – and that may just be the way they like it in Maine. My rating: 5/10, finished 2011.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series essays and stories by John McDonald a Maine storyteller and humorist. As a former resident of Maine I can relate to so much in this book. I found myself laughing out loud at many of his comments that I remembered to be SO TRUE. If you are from away this can give you insights into the way Mainers think and act....but often done with "tongue in cheek." I would recommend this for anyone that is contemplating a visit to this great and wonderful state.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of essays on Maine. McDonald is a talented writer and Maine-ite who knows how to weave a story. Not only does my family live close to Maine but we vacation there during the New England summer months. I found this not only informational but entertaining. I would recommend this to others that are interested in Maine and having some of its peculiarities (local vocabulary) explained.

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some laugh-out-loud parts of this book, but there's also a bunch of stories that fall flat. As a Mainer-in-exile I enjoyed the sounds of the motherland, but I was disappointed that this wasn't better.

[Bath Book Shop · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent dose of Down East humor. If you are in need of black fly jokes, this would be the book to turn to. It probably won't leave you rolling in the aisles, but it's good for a chuckle on a lazy summer afternoon.

[Kyle Briggs]

I found this book quite entertaining. Not a challenging read by any means, but interesting to read about places that I've heard of or been to. I enjoyed the comedy in this book and would definitely read another book from this author.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn about an area, read a book of newspaper columns by a native observer and master of words. What a fun way to learn a little more about the state where my brother made his home for 20+ years.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

In order for these stories to be amusing they really need to be read aloud with the Downeast accent.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book more because I read it while on vacation in Maine.

[Irishlazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection of humor ... Maine humor. Very light. I swear I know some of the people he describes.

[Dorian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first two stories are really good, arguably worth picking up the book for. The rest are really trite.

[Haden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off with some entertaining wit, but very few highlights throughout the rest of the compilation. It did prove to be interesting caricature of local Maine politics and life.

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Della O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humor, nice and dry!