gchilton's review against another edition
5.0
So far, I'm completely entranced by Horton's writing; his description of blue crabs' love making (not mating!) is stunning.
pattydsf's review
4.0
Fifteen years ago, Tom Horton published a book about his time living on Smith Island which is in both Maryland and Virginia. He actually moved there in 1986, so the three years that Horton was writing about is more than 20 years ago.
This is a wonderfully written book. Horton helped me to see the island without rose colored glasses. The spring, summer and fall sounds idyllic - I could move in a heartbeat. To live that close to the water, all the crab meat I could eat, the opportunities to explore the marshes, see the birds. But then there is winter, which sounds dreadful. And the lack of things that I take for granted - libraries, restaurants, good grocery stores, movies, etc., etc. The people on Smith Island do not have an easy life, but it is truly theirs. I am pretty sure I couldn't live there.
It is so good that Horton was able to preserve so much about the culture of Smith Island in this book. He was not a "real" Smith Islander, but he lived there long enough not to be an outsider. Horton does an excellent job of seeing and writing about Smith Island preserving some parts of a very different place. It was good to spend some time there with Horton as my guide.
I suspect the Smith Island he visited barely exists anymore. Apparently there are more people living there now than in 1986-89, but that just means there are more outsiders there. Progress is progress, but it might be the end of Smith Island - if the rising sea water doesn't get there first.
If you want to visit a unique culture, a very self sufficient community, read this book. If you like the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing, fishing, or just being near any water, read this book. Either way you won't be sorry.
This is a wonderfully written book. Horton helped me to see the island without rose colored glasses. The spring, summer and fall sounds idyllic - I could move in a heartbeat. To live that close to the water, all the crab meat I could eat, the opportunities to explore the marshes, see the birds. But then there is winter, which sounds dreadful. And the lack of things that I take for granted - libraries, restaurants, good grocery stores, movies, etc., etc. The people on Smith Island do not have an easy life, but it is truly theirs. I am pretty sure I couldn't live there.
It is so good that Horton was able to preserve so much about the culture of Smith Island in this book. He was not a "real" Smith Islander, but he lived there long enough not to be an outsider. Horton does an excellent job of seeing and writing about Smith Island preserving some parts of a very different place. It was good to spend some time there with Horton as my guide.
I suspect the Smith Island he visited barely exists anymore. Apparently there are more people living there now than in 1986-89, but that just means there are more outsiders there. Progress is progress, but it might be the end of Smith Island - if the rising sea water doesn't get there first.
If you want to visit a unique culture, a very self sufficient community, read this book. If you like the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing, fishing, or just being near any water, read this book. Either way you won't be sorry.
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