Old Maine Woman: Stories from the Coast to the County

by Glenna Johnson Smith

Glenna Johnson Smith writes with eloquence and humor about the complexities, absurdities, and pleasures of the everyday, from her nostalgic looks at her childhood on the Maine coast in the 1920s and 1930s, to her observations of life under the big sky and among the rolling potato fields of her beloved Aroostook County, where she has lived for nearly seven decades. The book also includes some of her best fiction pieces.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Glenna Johnson Smith was born in 1920 in Ashville, Maine, in coastal Hancock County. In 1941, she graduated from the University of Maine, married, and moved to a farm in Easton, in Maine's Aroostook County. A teacher for many years, she also was heavily involved in school and community theater productions. Her writing has appeared in Echoes and Yankee magazines and other publications. She now lives in Presque Isle, Maine.

Reviews

[Susan Emmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this memoir at Gardiner Public Library. Great book! Don't know whether or not Ms. Smith still lives, but she certainly comes alive in her autobiography. Born in Hancock County, she moved with her then-husband to Aroostock County where they farmed and raised three sons. Her recounting (and acknowledgement at times of "I can't quite remember")of older times is just charming and truthful. Wonderful portraits of local folk done without condescension. Love the chapters entitled "Defense of Old Woman," "My Brother Victor," and "I Live Alone - I Think." Smith covers a huge sweep of time and comes to the fore clearly about her belief in "old" values like hard work, doing the best you can, and keeping close to family and friends. Her recounting of the adventures of Butchie the dog and various cats is hilarious.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top Hats May 2019 I quite enjoyed the short essays and remembrances of Glenna Johnson Smith who lived her first 21 years in Asheville on the coast of Maine and the next 69 years in Aroostook County. I cannot express better the quiet joy of reading this book than the forward states. “The writing in these essays and short fiction pieces is lyrical and steady, humorous and yet pensive, nostalgic but always optimistic. That could be the description that perfectly fits the author as well.” If you’ve ever wondered what it was like growing up in the old days, this small, quiet book will fill you with the joys of how lives were lived with minimal monetary resources, but with good spirits, hard work, and finding beauty in every day life in a small village on the Coast to the windswept acres of a potato farm to a tiny cottage on dead end street in The County, in the days before electric appliances, cell phones and TVs with a gazillion channels.

[Annie Hogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book (about her childhood and up to her first year of teaching) was engaging and I enjoyed it, but after that I found myself just pushing through it, hoping it would pick up again. (It didn't.) My favorite part of the book was the story about the wealthy family who treated the community to a Sunday school picnic on their estate every year, and how the wife of that family personally chose a Christmas present for each child in the town. The author remembered and described it very warmly. That and the rest of her description of her fairly poor but definitely happy childhood certainly made it worth reading.

[JoAnn Plante · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. My mom is 91 years old and she told me about some of the things mentioned in this book. We're not from Maine, but I guess it was the same everywhere back then. Although the writing is sometimes difficult to read, you get the point of the story. It is just a period piece from a time in our country, when many people didn't have a lot.

[I like what I like · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read while vacationing in Maine. Glenna relates stories from her paths or sometimes just short essays on her views of life, politics, relationships, etc. Some of the writing in the last quarter of the book or so seemed too forced at humor, but there were many things earlier in the book that made me laugh aloud.

[Rebecca DiBiase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s a beautiful, light, and funny depiction of life in New England. The author does a wonderful job turning everyday occurrences into a depiction of the beauty and gift of life. This book will pick you up and make your day!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on vacation in Maine a few years ago. Finally got to it, and it’s a gem! Part memoir, part musings on life from a proud “Old woman”, it made me laugh and wish I had known Glenna in person.

[Josephine Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny! I couldn't stop laughing and I couldn't put it down. I love the history, the tales of her childhood on a Maine coastal island-the grandeur of the 1920's; the simplicity of life and making the most of it.

[Kimb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, simple, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Clever and very funny. Very relatable for us Maine-born gals. Her stories pop into my head and make me smile.

[Araminta Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story of rural Maine.

[Lorie Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice trip down memory lane.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an easy read without much thought provoking content. The writing is extremely unsophisticated but it did improve a bit toward the end. The most disappointing thing was that it didn't really feature Maine as a significant part of the narrative; it could have taken place anywhere.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of essays and recollections by a woman born on the Maine coast in 1920. She lives and writes in Presque Isle in northern Maine these days and is out actively promoting her book. I hope to catch her at a book signing.

Smith tells some great tales about her childhood and her time as a young teacher and parent in The County. Her essays offer humor and some gentle observations about her life in rural Maine.

[Jim Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of her essays and short fiction is fun and insightful to read. Her humour is endearing and in several stories, borders on the type of humour writing that Stephen Leacock became famous for. Compare "My Financial Career" from Literary Lapses with Ms. Smith's "I Live Alone- I Think". Many of her essays have to do with her reflections on everyday life, then and now, in her beloved Maine.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection of stories! You felt as though you were right there with Glenna experiencing life through her eyes. It brought back wonderful memories of Aroostook County and the simpler things in life. It was a special treat to get to see Glenna in Portland at her book-signing. She is so vibrant and full of life!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself chuckling, and then reflecting. What may be uniquely Maine in this book, is actually, to my mind, uniquely human. Such wonderful memories; such candor; such love of life. While I never would have picked this up myself, I am grateful that my book group decided to read it. I recommend this book for any who wish to view life from a simpler, more positive perspective.

[Elise Ozarowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glenna has to be one of the most charming writers I've read in a while. If you're into nostalgia, or just want to read a book that'll sound like your grandmother wrote it (in a really good way), pick this one up. It's hilarious and surprisingly poignant. One of those books you can have fun reading and learn something along the way.

[Frosty61 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant read that may appeal to those who love Maine more than others. The author has a way with words and her upbeat, positive approach to life is engaging and refreshing. There isn't a lot of action as this is the author reflecting on her childhood, the beautiful state of Maine, her family/friends, and the process of aging in a society that seems to discard the 'old people' in it.

[McArthur Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful little book not only gave me glimpses of what life was like "before my time", but it showed this "middle-aged Maine woman" that life as an "old Maine woman" can be rich and rewarding! (As opposed to what our popular culture states!!)

[Bryan Mclellan]

Quite the reminder of rural Maine, which made me miss home and my people. I read one essay about receiving mail for other people out loud to my roommate, giggling the whole time. Wonderful stories.

[Hilary MacLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable essays about life on the coast in the early decades of the 20th century. A remarkable book for a woman in her 90s. Lucid, amusing, honest.

[Karenpelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a joy to read Glenna's stories. I could hear her voice and see her smile from my days as a former student at PIHS. I would love to sit and talk with her one day again.

[Erin Brenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are sweet stories and essays of an earlier time in Maine. Great relaxing summer read.

[Grace DeBoer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed with this book, actually found it boring.

[Kathryn Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What delicious stories Ms. Smith writes - I also grew up in "the County" - her writing brought back many memories. I highly recommend this book to any reader.

[Pauline]

night reading in Maine, very funny

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Glenna Johnson Smith's book of stories. I especially liked her tales that included cats (of course) and crows! Sometimes when I see a crow near our house I like to think it might be my dad checking up on us.