Candlemas Bay

by Ruth Moore

Published in 1950 as Moore’s fourth novel, Candlemas Bay focuses on the daily struggles of the Ellises, a family that has successfully fished local waters for two hundred years. Now, however, the current generations—from Grampie Jebron to widowed daughter-in-law Jen to grandson Jebby—struggle with change and hard times. While Jen must take summer boarders to keep her family afloat, Jeb must choose between school and his family's fishing trade. As in her other novels, Ruth Moore uses detailed day-to-day lives to build characters of depth and tell a universal story of courage, heartbreak and love that, despite the hardships, is ultimately warm and moving.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

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

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My good friend and neighbor asked me to preview this book before the next book club, to see if I think the language is too "salty" for our little group. I've never heard of Ruth Moore or the book, but I've always liked Deann's choices so I'm excited to dive in!

Having read it now:

In style and construction it reminded me a lot of Faulkner—the narrative that travels back and forth, back and forth in time, the characters. The antagonists were so very real, the sort of people you could really meet and who, through those circumstances, would really act like that. But aside from the antagonists, the characters were all so likeable. So very likeable. Now that I've finished reading, I want to go to Candlemas Bay and check in on them and see how things are going.

It is character-driven, not plot-driven. Life rarely has a plot. But the characters are worth following during the little window we get into their lives. I really enjoyed it.

And about the language: in the first section it was pretty salty. I was getting tired of the many ways they could find to use God and Jesus in their cussing, and thought I might not be able to make it through the book; but after that first section there was very little more salty language. So I'm going to give it a thumbs up for our book club. :)

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book! Couldn't put it down. Your there in Maine, can smell the sea and feel the wind. Her characters grab you from the get go and never let go.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good one. You have to have an eye for this stuff, because the cover is misleading. Judging by that, you'd think it was boilerplate romance. Really its the saga of a family with a certain amount of dysfunction so competently crafted that you could thrill to the exploits of maine fishermen and their kin even if you've never visited new england and don't particularly care for fish!

[Jim Mackell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me of the late author Kenneth Roberts. A slice of Maine history "with the warts on." Recommend this author highly.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not contain any sex, drugs or rock and roll, but that is no reason to deny yourself some truly good literature. This book does contain a little of everything else: alcohol, tragedy, dry humor and love stories.

The newly widowed, Jen Ellis, mother of six is determined to help her family survive. Opening the house to tourists, by providing shelter and homecooked meals could generate much needed income. These decisions "ruffle the feathers" of the extended family that also live in the house, and we are able to witness a family trying to pay the bills, while meeting the needs of their family.

The story explores the personalities within the family as well as the guests that stay at the Ellis home. This is the second novel I've read by Ruth Moore and I so enjoy her illustrations of character. The setting is the 1940's on the coast of Maine.

This author has a way of tying up the loose ends and providing an ending that may just satisfy your soul.

[Sharon Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply couldn't put this book down. It was a page turner in the sense that you wanted to know how these characters would face, not just endure, the trials ahead. Don't want to leave any spoilers but the depiction of the power of the sea on the Weaver ledges early in the book is both powerful and haunting. It sets the tone for the landscape the characters measure themselves against as their stories continue.

Set in the late forties, the social, economic and even environmental issues remain relevant. The summer people, the fishing industry and intergenerational family ties are vibrantly portrayed and there is good and ill in all quarters.

My first Ruth Moore book -- thank you Islandport Press for the reprint of this classic!

[Zach]

A gorgeous novel about death, love, losing your way, and finding it. It's also about the precarious love within families and the many layers that abound. All these themes are explored in a manner that is filled with a powerful tenderness - something I've not often experienced in novels. The shifts in narrative are quite enjoyable. The setting is a New England fishing town, and my time downeast makes this novel all the more powerful and insightful.
Cheers to my dear friend Keith for sending me this novel. There is something special about it.

A favorite quote:

It was time, not to forget him, but to look ahead; not to put out of your mind the men of the old times, they would always be there like anchors to windward, but to see now what was best to do with the time to come.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel is set along the coast of Maine, focusing on a family's economic struggles, internal tensions, and their commitments/devotion to the family marine trade. Guy, Johnny and Russ run fish-packing business together, Russ was two-thirds of the brains of the business, and his boat was one of the fastest in the harbor.(19) Jen Ellis, who faced hardships and the consequences of large debts, changed the household to a tavern of one kind. Jebby, who overcome his flaws in character, becomes more resilient. As a child, Mertis likes to exchange clothes with others. With characters "weather storms" together, the story is vivid and warm. But a fairly average rating, since I'm not fond of the topic.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another treasure from Ruth Moore. This is a charming and atmospheric book, full of well drawn characters. Ms Moore’s writing places her readers fully in the unspoiled landscape of 1940s Maine where we join her characters to live out their fate.

[Robin McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore evokes sense of place better than anyone else, and Candlemas Bay is a salty old novel dripping with the authenticity of its time. Those damned summer people!

[Sol D.C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Moore is a wonderful writer, capturing the complexity of the Maine Coast, and it’s families, beautifully.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, definitely one of Moore's very good tales. It's a good mix of characters, situations, and just general daily life.

[Christopher Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Drop dead boring.