The dinosaur bite: A novel

by Ruth Moore

It is said that the title of The Dinosaur Bite comes from Stewart Brand's words: "The way to be safe from dinosaur bites is to be little, fast, furry, warm-blooded and smart." This 1976 book truly does have bite--an icy, salty bite that Will McCarren must survive. After fleeing the pressures of a busy, materialistic society, McCarren and his six children must learn to survive the small town suspicion and corruption of Cross Island. They will soon find that this island life is equally as intense as the city in many unexpected ways.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Ruth Moore (1903–1989) was an important Maine author of the twentieth century. She is best known for her honest portrayals of Maine people and evocative descriptions of the state. Now primarily thought of as a regional writer, Moore was a significant literary figure on the national stage during her career. Her second novel Spoonhandle spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in the company of George Orwell, W. Somerset Maugham and Robert Penn Warren. In her time, Moore was hailed as "New England's only answer to Faulkner".

In 1940 Ruth met Eleanor Mayo, an aspiring writer also from Maine, and the two soon became a couple. They returned to New York where Ruth got a job with The Readers Digest while writing her first novel, The Weir, which was published in 1943.

Reviews

[Josie Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn’t identify with Will McCarran and his children in this world? 1976 or 2026, it is all the same all over again. Dirty politics and boiling society leading to problems one either has to run from or fight against.
The ways that affected this family will be intimately familiar to many of us. And the way they choose to deal with it will either be the fantasy you’ve been thinking of or the hard road you’ve already personally walked towards freedom and independent thinking.
The question asked and answered in this book is, how does one remain or become right minded in a world of crookedness?
It’s the blind leading the blind, and this book shows what happens when people are able to see again.
As always with Ruth Moore the characters seem bigger than life until you think of their twin you’ve met in your own neighborhood and the story line doesn’t flinch from realism but maintains a buoyant hope.
A few curse words, mostly written phonetically, a couple mentions of drugs but shown in a way that would walk any teen or young adult through the lesson of why they aren’t worthy of human time. No sex and very little romance with one slight indication of a kiss upon engagement in an adult couple.

[Charlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely find a good book in the grocery store free (or donation) pile. The Dinosaur Bite, with its an enticing title and - as a new Mainer - subject matter, a welcome exception.

It was an interesting and unusual story told with language and culture of a coastal community in the 1970s. I didn't understand some of the more obscure terms - boating or colloquialisms. The main characters were fairly well developed and it was not predictable. There were numerous passages worth highlighting which I consider a mark towards a potentially good book also.

I hardly could put it down! I enjoyed every moment and am now looking for her other books. And an exploration to some Maine islands.

[Kathleen Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book about authentic characters struggling to live in remote Maine. A father loses his wife and she insists he leave with their six kids and live off the land to escape their harmful city environment. Dad manages that, but his new Maine neighbors don’t necessarily trust outsiders. Ruth Moore is an amazing writer. You get emotionally involved in her characters’ lives who meet the same challenges as we have today.

[Mark Iacino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters were fantastic in this book! I loved the small town feel and instantly wanted to read another Ruth Moore book

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a small New England fishing village. Suffice it to say the book had nothing to do with either biting or dinosaurs.