Posts tagged Sarah Orne Jewett

Book Three: The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories. Sarah Orne Jewett 

Background: Jewett was born in South Berwick, Maine in 1849, where she spent most of her life. She wanted to become a doctor, like her father, but ill health prevented it. She turned to writing, with her first story being published when she was eighteen. Going on rounds with her father, along with the walks she took for her health, lead to her love of nature and the region. Jewett is particularly known for writing stories about the region and its landscape. She continued writing until she was in a crippling carriage accident in 1902. 

Brief Synopsis: The Country of the Pointed Firs is about a female writer who travels to Dunnet Landing, a town on the Maine coast, to write. There is no real plot, rather a series of interactions with the people of the town and her observations of life there. Most of the interactions are with Mrs. Todd, the woman the narrator is boarding with, and her family members. The women of the town are the main focus, with few male characters appearing in the book. 

What did I think?

I will admit that I am not a fan of most American literature. My darling sister has been trying to convert me to her way of thinking. She is an American lit fan, while I am a Brit lit kind of girl. This book is one of the many she has lobbied for me to read in an attempt to change my mind. I really enjoyed it, though I am not about to declare my love for all American literature.

The Country of the Pointed Firs is the kind of book I had to read under certain conditions. It is the perfect book for a quiet, sunny afternoon. The pace of the book is like the pace of life in Dunnet Landing, slow and steady. This pace, along with the way the narrator talks about the town, gives a sense of isolation from the world and of an older way of life. The absence of modern life and young people and children, outside of the occasional comment, emphasizes the isolation. It makes you sad that the way of life is vanishing after getting to know the different characters. It is hard to imagine Mrs. Todd without her herb picking and selling herbal remedies out of her kitchen or the men without their fishing.

Within the isolated community, there are people who isolate themselves. There was a woman named Joanna who went to live on an island by herself and refused to see visitors. I was drawn to her, partly because we share a name, but also because I can understand the desire to just go it alone. She did it because of a broken heart; I would because I was just fed up with people. I don’t think I could live out my life like that though. It was interesting to see how people responded to it; there is a sense of understanding and loss.

My favorite thing about the book is how Jewett describes people as nature and nature as people. At one point she even describes someone “who was nothing if not botanical” (Jewett 103-04). Odd people are like plants that grow where they shouldn’t and the nature of trees is used to describe the nature of people. Some trees have different personalities; some are more prone to bad spells, just like people. I am sure I could keep going, but I don’t want to bore you.

Would I recommend this to others?

Yes. I know it might not be some people’s thing, but I really liked it. I give it five stars I guess. I really need to come up with criteria for my stars.