I love a good travelogue, and I've been wanting to visit Maine for years (certain people went on vacation there without me). This paean to the Pine Tree State is written by three Mainers, and their love for the state winds through their writing, no matter the subject matter. The book begins with a physical description of Maine, its geography (yes, I loved this part, geography and geology nerd that I am), and then moves on to chapters on its estuaries, its rivers, it summits, its fauna and fauna--everything you could want to know about Maine. Some might find it dry, but I found it charming, and am now more determined than ever to find my way to Maine someday. And to learn that my beloved Gazetteers were created by a Mainer--what a wonderful tidbit to open he book with.

I first visited Maine in 2009 and fell in love. Many return trips followed to favorite spots like Kennebunkport, Portland and, most especially, Acadia National Park. ANP is one of my favorite places in the world.

So, it is not surprising that I was very excited about this book. That said, this title is not a tourist guidebook. Rather it is a deep dive into the ecology, diversity, climate and more, and some of the people of Maine. The authors invite the reader to dip in anywhere or they say, start like Alice (in Wonderland) at the beginning and keep going. Whichever way a reader approaches this title, there is much to learn in what felt to me like a somewhat academic title.

There are many gorgeous photos in this book along with maps, charts and more. These enhance the text and give those who don’t know a good sense of the state. Those who already know Maine will probably leave this book knowing more than they did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Globe Pequot Down East Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this, though I read it on kindle paperwhite so I didn't get the full effect of the images. I've preorder a copy for a family member who just retired and moved to Maine. This is a great gift for Maine-connected people, whether they grew up here and now live elsewhere or have moved here or are dreaming of doing so. I love the choices of different aspects of Maine.

This is a very scientific, beautifully illustrated book about the plants, rocks, climate, animals, industries and natural history of Maine.

I did not realize how much trauma I still carry from three years of my childhood that I lived in the Bangor and Orono areas of Maine until I read this book. I have been back once with my children to visit and I will forever appreciate the natural beauty of the state but the time my mother and I spent in Maine while she was pursuing her doctorate was extremely painful for both of us. I didn’t hold that against this book— just mention it as a surprising curiosity.

The book is very thorough and academic, with chapters written by individuals or teams of experts, most of whom are UMO professors. There are very few indigenous voices, which I found disappointing but not surprising. It’s an excellent in-depth exploration of natural history topics in the state if you really want a deep dive into these topics.

I read a temporary digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.