Maine is one of those places I always want to visit when I come across it in fiction! I love the novels of Elizabeth Strout, some of which are set in coastal Maine, particularly the Olive Kitteridge ones. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences and really evoking the different sides of Maine :)
(Also, would you believe, I have never tried lobster!)
Haha, that's true! Yes, I always get the impression that the coast is rugged and wild, which appeals to me as I imagine it being similar to some of the coastline here in the UK. I think I'd feel at home :)
Maine has been on my mind ever since I first began reading King. Seeing as I've never actually been there (yet!), it has always retained a mystical quality to me, a place of the strange and magical, purely because of how King wrote about it. So yeah, this was a fascinating read, in part because of that, but also just to read your personal thoughts.
I didn't know that lobster was such a thing there and WOW on it originally being poverty food!! (I had to read that line out loud to my wife just now!) It's quite crazy how something can be made to have that status. A bit like diamonds.
I went through quite a number of years being vegetarian, but now like to think of myself as not so strict but more just in that ethical mindset of being aware of what I eat, focussing mainly on vegetables (I quite like the term "plant forward" when referring to diet) but will allow myself meat etc at times. I do like lobster, and of course crayfish are a major speciality around the Australian coastline, but I feel for them and I'm not sure if I'd be quite to willing to indulge these days.
With a lot of King on your mind, Maine could be a terrifying place! :) But I love his writing as well, both the scary and not. I hope you will get there one day!
I think I will steal your 'plant forward' phrase as it's exactly the way I think of eating. Thank you, and thanks for your great comment, Nathan!
Coincidentally, I’ve just mentioned Maine in an email today. It’s a place I’ve longed to visit since reading a book set there many years ago. Thank you for the continuing ‘Grand Tour’ :)
You’ve captured the Maine vibe well, Kate. Thanks for the shout out! And if you ever return to the pine tree state, a slice of molasses blueberry cake awaits on my porch...
Really enjoyed this piece and all the details about lobster especially. I love eating lobster but was not aware of any of the details you bring up here especially when it comes to things like overfishing. Thank you for providing such nice insight into a place.
I apologize for putting you off eating lobster :) I also love it and think that maybe having it on occasion is ok? I don't know! I'll see what I decide the next time my mom brings some home in a cooler (live).
I'm a Mainer! I absolutely eat lobster. Not as often as tourists, haha. I love Monica Wood's When We Were the Kennedys and One-in-a-Million Boy and Carolyn Chute's Letourneau's Used Auto Parts (with some reservations. . . ) I'm writing a novel about working class Maine right now; but I'll also be a Maine tourist when I go to Baxter State Park tomorrow. :)
Glad you enjoyed exploring the Hartley exhibition online resources! I read such a tremendous sense of sadness and isolation in those late paintings. Had Europe not descended into world war and upended his life in Germany, who knows whether he would have returned to his home state.
Your encounters with Katahdin only fuel my desire to see her in person. Thanks for sharing that story! ❤️
Such a beautiful exploration of Maine, Kathleen. I've only been once — for a magical week staying on a sheep farm outside of Portland. It was in early October, which meant seeing the first frosts of the season and just a hint of the autumnal lead colors to come.
I'm more familiar with Maine's beauty through Marsden Hartley's paintings. Given that he lived in the state both early and late in his career, his Maine pictures give us great insights into how his artistic practice progressed. The Met held an exhibition back in 2017 focused on his time working in his home state — be sure to pick up the catalogue for enchanting depictions of the rugged coastline, swarthy lobster fisherman, bronzed and muscly lifeguards, and his beloved Mount Katahdin.
The video on that Hartley page for the Met is fantastic! Didn't know a lot about this tension in his relationship with Maine. So fascinating and such beautiful paintings. Thanks for adding them to make more intertextual dialogue as well as your personal recollection.
You bring up several other areas that would be great to go into more depth about at some point! Yes, the local farms are incredible. You were a week at the farm? Wow, that must have been really interesting. We used do a lot of our runs by this farm in Wolfe's Neck - https://www.wolfesneck.org/
And ah, Katahdin! My first encounter was an early October camping trip with my family as a kid. As we camped at base, all was covered in snow by morning. Needless to say, we did not make the trip up that time. I really love the whole idea of it as the end point of the Appalachian Trail. Because of that and all the work done on the AT at least we camped up in a lean-to!
Isn’t that amazing? But it also kind of make sense when you look at his writing through that lens. He was so curious culturally with all that time he spends with native Americans as well.
I think I had read, maybe even in Walden he mentioned an interest in Eastern philosophy, so that makes sense. I really MUST try to read more of his - there's a passage in Walking about an imaginary family living in the trees that is so beautiful I get a little misty every time I read it.
Moose are so cute. I think it was Bill Bryson who said that they look as if they are wearing oven gloves on their heads! The lobster question is a knotty problem. I think on balance I would not eat it, certainly after hearing it being cooked as you describe. I did try it once many years ago in a pasta dish at a seaside town, but that was just little pieces of it, and I didn't have to rip it apart. Also when I think of lobster I can't help remembering this:
We've had something like that happen at my parents' house, they didn't exactly get lost but escaped from the cooler. The key is to keep them cold enough. You don't question it at the time... :)
Thanks a lot for a great comment!
[As I type, YouTube is continuing on to the next Annie Hall clip, might have to beat the heat with it!]
I once had grilled baby lobster while I was in Asia. I didn't order it, I was invited, and the Chef made all the best dishes they had. I have to admit, it was delicious. I never ate lobster again ever since, though.
I dwell much on Thoreau and Emerson, I did not know that he was into Yoga, though! Will check out your post-haste.
I've tried a lot of food (usually traveling) I don't want to think too much about ;)
Thanks, Alexander! I'm not sure when exactly the Thoreau-yoga post will come, but it will come. I did write a little teaser on these great authors last year, though - https://thematterhorn.substack.com/p/7-massachusetts
Maine is one of those places I always want to visit when I come across it in fiction! I love the novels of Elizabeth Strout, some of which are set in coastal Maine, particularly the Olive Kitteridge ones. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences and really evoking the different sides of Maine :)
(Also, would you believe, I have never tried lobster!)
Those are great books. The coast, in most places, is really so rugged and wild. You'll love it if you go! And then, you can try the "lobstah."
Thanks for your lovely comment, Kate.
Haha, that's true! Yes, I always get the impression that the coast is rugged and wild, which appeals to me as I imagine it being similar to some of the coastline here in the UK. I think I'd feel at home :)
And that is why I also love the UK! :)
What a wonderful and interesting post, Kate.
Maine has been on my mind ever since I first began reading King. Seeing as I've never actually been there (yet!), it has always retained a mystical quality to me, a place of the strange and magical, purely because of how King wrote about it. So yeah, this was a fascinating read, in part because of that, but also just to read your personal thoughts.
I didn't know that lobster was such a thing there and WOW on it originally being poverty food!! (I had to read that line out loud to my wife just now!) It's quite crazy how something can be made to have that status. A bit like diamonds.
I went through quite a number of years being vegetarian, but now like to think of myself as not so strict but more just in that ethical mindset of being aware of what I eat, focussing mainly on vegetables (I quite like the term "plant forward" when referring to diet) but will allow myself meat etc at times. I do like lobster, and of course crayfish are a major speciality around the Australian coastline, but I feel for them and I'm not sure if I'd be quite to willing to indulge these days.
With a lot of King on your mind, Maine could be a terrifying place! :) But I love his writing as well, both the scary and not. I hope you will get there one day!
I think I will steal your 'plant forward' phrase as it's exactly the way I think of eating. Thank you, and thanks for your great comment, Nathan!
Haha "plant forward" - Nathan strikes again! 💚
This was very interesting, and I enjoyed looking up Masshole!
Haha, it is a difficult label to take at times. :)
Thank you!
Maine is lovely, so is a personal best, safe travels!
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/american-sprinter-shacarri-richardson-world-100-meter-rcna101061
Thanks, Shire!
Yes, what a great story re Richardson :)
You ran a lot of fast and courageous races in Maine. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Maine. - Coach Slovenski
Thanks a lot, Coach. Can’t wait to see the camp!
Coincidentally, I’ve just mentioned Maine in an email today. It’s a place I’ve longed to visit since reading a book set there many years ago. Thank you for the continuing ‘Grand Tour’ :)
Oh, how intriguing! :) Hope you will get there one day! Thanks Victoria.
You’ve captured the Maine vibe well, Kate. Thanks for the shout out! And if you ever return to the pine tree state, a slice of molasses blueberry cake awaits on my porch...
That sounds both fun and delicious! My pleasure, you’ve got a great publication
Really enjoyed this piece and all the details about lobster especially. I love eating lobster but was not aware of any of the details you bring up here especially when it comes to things like overfishing. Thank you for providing such nice insight into a place.
Thanks a lot, Mikhail!
I apologize for putting you off eating lobster :) I also love it and think that maybe having it on occasion is ok? I don't know! I'll see what I decide the next time my mom brings some home in a cooler (live).
I'm a Mainer! I absolutely eat lobster. Not as often as tourists, haha. I love Monica Wood's When We Were the Kennedys and One-in-a-Million Boy and Carolyn Chute's Letourneau's Used Auto Parts (with some reservations. . . ) I'm writing a novel about working class Maine right now; but I'll also be a Maine tourist when I go to Baxter State Park tomorrow. :)
Oh Baxter! Great memories from my cross country running days. Enjoy and thanks so much for the comment, Jennie. Good luck with your novel!
Wonderfully described!
Thanks Diane!
You’re so welcome!
Glad you enjoyed exploring the Hartley exhibition online resources! I read such a tremendous sense of sadness and isolation in those late paintings. Had Europe not descended into world war and upended his life in Germany, who knows whether he would have returned to his home state.
Your encounters with Katahdin only fuel my desire to see her in person. Thanks for sharing that story! ❤️
Such a beautiful exploration of Maine, Kathleen. I've only been once — for a magical week staying on a sheep farm outside of Portland. It was in early October, which meant seeing the first frosts of the season and just a hint of the autumnal lead colors to come.
I'm more familiar with Maine's beauty through Marsden Hartley's paintings. Given that he lived in the state both early and late in his career, his Maine pictures give us great insights into how his artistic practice progressed. The Met held an exhibition back in 2017 focused on his time working in his home state — be sure to pick up the catalogue for enchanting depictions of the rugged coastline, swarthy lobster fisherman, bronzed and muscly lifeguards, and his beloved Mount Katahdin.
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2017/marsden-hartley
The video on that Hartley page for the Met is fantastic! Didn't know a lot about this tension in his relationship with Maine. So fascinating and such beautiful paintings. Thanks for adding them to make more intertextual dialogue as well as your personal recollection.
You bring up several other areas that would be great to go into more depth about at some point! Yes, the local farms are incredible. You were a week at the farm? Wow, that must have been really interesting. We used do a lot of our runs by this farm in Wolfe's Neck - https://www.wolfesneck.org/
And ah, Katahdin! My first encounter was an early October camping trip with my family as a kid. As we camped at base, all was covered in snow by morning. Needless to say, we did not make the trip up that time. I really love the whole idea of it as the end point of the Appalachian Trail. Because of that and all the work done on the AT at least we camped up in a lean-to!
I did NOT know Thoreau did yoga, interesting.
Isn’t that amazing? But it also kind of make sense when you look at his writing through that lens. He was so curious culturally with all that time he spends with native Americans as well.
I think I had read, maybe even in Walden he mentioned an interest in Eastern philosophy, so that makes sense. I really MUST try to read more of his - there's a passage in Walking about an imaginary family living in the trees that is so beautiful I get a little misty every time I read it.
That’s such a lovely passage! I
I’ve never been to Maine but it was lovely to travel there with this post 🌊🦞
(Or Sabrina!)
Thanks Kenshō!
Maine also has the best emojis 🫎 🏔️ 🌲
They really do have the best emojis!
Moose are so cute. I think it was Bill Bryson who said that they look as if they are wearing oven gloves on their heads! The lobster question is a knotty problem. I think on balance I would not eat it, certainly after hearing it being cooked as you describe. I did try it once many years ago in a pasta dish at a seaside town, but that was just little pieces of it, and I didn't have to rip it apart. Also when I think of lobster I can't help remembering this:
https://youtu.be/iLBL-XeNrRI
That clip is such a good call!
We've had something like that happen at my parents' house, they didn't exactly get lost but escaped from the cooler. The key is to keep them cold enough. You don't question it at the time... :)
Thanks a lot for a great comment!
[As I type, YouTube is continuing on to the next Annie Hall clip, might have to beat the heat with it!]
I once had grilled baby lobster while I was in Asia. I didn't order it, I was invited, and the Chef made all the best dishes they had. I have to admit, it was delicious. I never ate lobster again ever since, though.
I dwell much on Thoreau and Emerson, I did not know that he was into Yoga, though! Will check out your post-haste.
I've tried a lot of food (usually traveling) I don't want to think too much about ;)
Thanks, Alexander! I'm not sure when exactly the Thoreau-yoga post will come, but it will come. I did write a little teaser on these great authors last year, though - https://thematterhorn.substack.com/p/7-massachusetts
Looking forward to that yoga post! Also, would love to visit Maine one day. Never made it anywhere but LA and Irvine on my business trips. One day!
Thanks for the link! From that list, Alcott I am the least familiar with, I did see the Little Men series in the 90s, I think.