The Beans of Egypt, Maine
by Carolyn Chute
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 213)
Read in March, 2005
recommends it for:
Anyone who wants a literary trip
Well, how I even arrived at reading this book is a read on its own, but having read it, I can't but help get excited by its mere mention and forget it if I actually SEE it on someone's shelf. It's one of those books that makes you uncomfortable because its early pace is slow, language highly unusual (for me at least), and culture immediately disturbing. Then it picks up, once you can bit together a visualization of this town, its people, their habits and spins you to a place that can feel out ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
people looking for a different perspective
an... interesting book.
This certainly isn't a pretty book, filled with warm fuzzies and snapshots of beauty, or a profound book, filled with deep and meaningful prose and philosophy. But it's very Real.
The Beans make me feel better about myself, the way people on the Jerry Springer Show make me feel better about myself, but they also make me more appreciative and aware of the world. They struggle, they make the same mistakes over and over, they live poor and poorly, but they love hard ...more
This certainly isn't a pretty book, filled with warm fuzzies and snapshots of beauty, or a profound book, filled with deep and meaningful prose and philosophy. But it's very Real.
The Beans make me feel better about myself, the way people on the Jerry Springer Show make me feel better about myself, but they also make me more appreciative and aware of the world. They struggle, they make the same mistakes over and over, they live poor and poorly, but they love hard ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I read this book at the insistence of a friend who said it described his family. For me, reading about the Beans was like being drawn to look at road kill: "How bad is it?" Yet, I kept reading, knowing I would be repelled
This is a story about one unpleasant incident after another in an extended family on the bottom rung of society, and a girl from another family that joins them. I have never read anything like it.
I am amazed that anyone who grew up in that environment could suc...more
This is a story about one unpleasant incident after another in an extended family on the bottom rung of society, and a girl from another family that joins them. I have never read anything like it.
I am amazed that anyone who grew up in that environment could suc...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
My reaction to this book was strange. For almost the entire duration of the novel, I didn't like it. At times I HATED this book. I'm having a hard time remembering now, it was either the last sentence, or last paragraph, last page maybe? that neutralized the dislike a bit. But I couldn't stop thinking about the book. I still think about it. I'm no longer sure that I didn't like it. Part of me wants to read it again. I know that the idea of Carolyn Chute drives me nuts. But maybe I like ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
The feeling that I wasn't really seeing the picture never cleared up for me with this book. Likely this was due to the world being so foreign, but, I think it was in part due to the style.
I think this book is going to stay with me. But, I can't shake the feeling that it somehow only skimmed across the surface and never went deeper. Perhaps that was the point -- poverty, no time, resources, or energy to delve deeper -- I don't know. It made it a little unsettled for me.
I think this book is going to stay with me. But, I can't shake the feeling that it somehow only skimmed across the surface and never went deeper. Perhaps that was the point -- poverty, no time, resources, or energy to delve deeper -- I don't know. It made it a little unsettled for me.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 1992
In my senior year of high school I took a Maine Lit. course. I would not suggest this book to anyone. Defenders of it might push it as being a good example of rural Maine, but I thought there was so much trash in it that it wasn't worth it. I've always been proud of the state of Maine...but if I was from away...this one would have kept me from ever vacationing in Vacationland!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
This book was a revelation when I read it in my first book club shortly after it was written. Lo these many years later, Chute's voice remains clear in my mind. A glimpse at a world alive in America....and that few of us see or understand. This is as relevant and interesting today as it was years ago.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
I'm sure it's well done, and true to life, but I'm just not interested. There isn't any character to really root for. Poverty like this would only be interesting through the eyes of someone who was trying to get out, imo.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
white trash wannabes
I learned not to fuck my reletives...no, wait. I already knew that. How bout, um, not to lock things in refrigerators. Shit, knew that too. Wait, I learned that Betty Crocker makes sky blue cake. Didn't know that.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is not the side of Maine that everyone loves- lobsters, outlets in Freeport- oh no. This family in Maine are complex, but a great read. A true trainwreck, cant tear your eyes away, but you so want to...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I recognized bits of my own new england backwoods heritage in this book. The woman who wrote it definitely knows what it is to have a few rusting cars in your front yard.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 1994
I don't know WHAT made me remember I read this book, but it was 1994 that I did so...I seem to recall feeling...perplexed...but fascinated.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
An inside look at the culture of poverty. Both unnerving and strangly facinating. I felt icky the whole time I was reading it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Conveys the stifling claustrophobic environment that small town life can be especially when combined with economic hardship.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2006
maybe not having grown up in rural maine you would accuse chute of taking some license with the characters. you'd be wrong.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
Could not make it through the book even though it came highly recommended to me...may try to read again in the future
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I wasn't crazy about it when I started but I ended up liking it!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1988
I think this family has kin in West Virginia.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
