Movies or Books?
 

Will be going to Maine soon and wondered if anyone could suggest movies or books to put me in a "Maine state of mind"?

"The Cider House Rules" (book and movie)

Lisa is on the right (write?) track. Most of Irving's novels take place in northern New England. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" has great descriptions of the countryside during all seasons--it's actually New Hampshire, but close enough. <BR> <BR>Another I thought of is "The Shipping News". It's not Maine either (Nova Scotia), but it gave me a real sense of the region.

Hmmm. Most Stephen King's are set in Maine also. They have a slightly different feel than Irving's though.

Spend a moment in the children's library or part of B&N and look at Blueberries for Sal -- charming drawings, nice story, very much the flavor of Maine, which has changed less than many of its neighboring states (once you're north of Freeport).

Stephen King might be good, but would you feel safe visiting Maine afterwards?

Well, a mini-"duh" here: I was actually thinking of McCloskey's "One Morning in Maine," although "Blueberries for Sal" is also set in Maine and has great drawings. But with a title like that, how could I mix the two up? Anyway, this was a Caldecott winner for its drawings, I think -- enjoy it. <BR> <BR>More adult would be Henry Beston's "Especially Maine" (ed. Elizabeth Coatsworth) - out of print but possibly available at a library. (He also wrote the classic "OuterMost House" about a year in a cottage on Cape Cod.) You might also want to read some things by or about Rachel Carson (the Edge of the Sea -- or Linda Lear's biography of her), who spent as much time as possible at Southport.