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7th out of 81 books
—
22 voters
The Pine Barrens
Most people think of New Jersey as a suburban-industrial corridor that runs between New York and Philadelphia. Yet in the low center of the state is a near wilderness, larger than most national parks, which has been known since the seventeenth century as the Pine Barrens.
The term refers to the predominant trees in the vast forests that cover the area and to the quality of...more
The term refers to the predominant trees in the vast forests that cover the area and to the quality of...more
Paperback, 157 pages
Published
May 1st 1978
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
(first published 1967)
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I lived in New Jersey for over a year without anyone mentioning this book. Although I had a long history with Encounters with the Archdruid I was somehow unaware that McPhee had written The Pine Barrens. This book about the Pine Barrens of New Jersey (written in 1967) examines the people and well as the forest. It is a portrait of a community within a diverse pine forest. He explains a history of prejudice against the inhabitants and shows the depth of dignity of a people countering any image of...more
What a great book. I enjoyed it much more than, say, Desert Solitaire -- not sure if that's because I am from the area or because McPhee's writing is engaging and the stories are unusual and interesting. Probably a little bit of both. I also love the way this "man out in the wilderness" book subverts the ego. This book is really not at all about McPhee or his experience...he dedicates himself to listening, and I think that technique works much better for the genre than Thoreau-esque self-centere...more
The title character in this book is the Pine Barrens, a forest area in New Jersey. McPhee describes the society in which the "pineys" live as well as the land's ecolological implications and challenges. This book had its positive points, most notably it's interesting depiction of "pineys," who live on the margin of modern society. I found it especially interesting to think that such self-reliant woodsmen live so close to me (I live in New Jersey.) I didn't like the rambling history lessons on th...more
I recently read a review of a new Carolyn Chute book...she's sort of the literary equivalent of an outsider artist - think Basquiat, except a militant, reclusive woman who's big on the second ammendment.
I tried to read one of her books, but as oppose to visual arts, the idea of trudging through the book of an untrained writer can be daunting; and though there are autobiographical aspects, they are mostly fiction.
But I want to read them, and I want to love them: the backwoods towns of New England...more
I tried to read one of her books, but as oppose to visual arts, the idea of trudging through the book of an untrained writer can be daunting; and though there are autobiographical aspects, they are mostly fiction.
But I want to read them, and I want to love them: the backwoods towns of New England...more
In a state bent on replacing all its mystery with badly-named towns, insolvent megaplexes, and middling upscale restaurants, there's still this huge mysterious swath of woods.
Book is non-linear non-fiction, a sequence of organically linked essays that sprawl and cross-pollinate in the manner of forest life. Was written in the 1960s and therefore functions both 1) as a hyper-articulate primer on the value of these woods, and 2) as a time capsule environmental warning about the perils of over-dev...more
Book is non-linear non-fiction, a sequence of organically linked essays that sprawl and cross-pollinate in the manner of forest life. Was written in the 1960s and therefore functions both 1) as a hyper-articulate primer on the value of these woods, and 2) as a time capsule environmental warning about the perils of over-dev...more
I downed this book in two days. A wonderfully written account of the Barrens and the people who live within their desolate bounds that is neither romantic nor exploitative. I agree with another reviewer that a map would be helpful & I would love an update from McPhee, though I certainly can do this additional research on my own.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a general curiosity about culture and place, as well as those interested in development and conservation (particularly in...more
I would recommend this book to anyone with a general curiosity about culture and place, as well as those interested in development and conservation (particularly in...more
I live on the fringes of the Pine Barrens and have driven through the area many times without ever giving it much of a thought. McPhee's accounts of life there through the late 1960s (when the book was published) is introductory but engaging and informative. He presents some information so casually (and without attributions) that it can be difficult at times to differentiate folklore from fact.
Was fascinated to read about the proposed planned community and Concorde jetport mooted in the 1960s,...more
Was fascinated to read about the proposed planned community and Concorde jetport mooted in the 1960s,...more
Informative history of the Pine Barrens, at times through the eyes of those who lived there. Even as someone who reads mostly non-fiction, I found McPhee's writing to be dry at times; book would have been improved by one or two general maps of the Pine Barrens area itself (and this is coming from someone who grew up in central NJ) just for frame of reference. Interesting to look back on nearly 50 years later since it was written, especially the plan for a jetport and city of 250,000 people to ha...more
After I moved to NJ I wanted to dive into something about it's history and a friend at work suggested checking out McPhee's Pine Barrens. I live right on the edge of the Barrens and with its bizarre and mysterious histories the book quickly made it to the top of my pile. And I LOVED it. Despite it being a tad dated by the time I read I learned a great deal about the unique people that time and civilization forgot despite the fact that they live in one of the most popular states in the country. A...more
This book is an odd non-fiction book about the Pine Barrens in New Jersey. I enjoyed it because I grew up in New Jersey and have been to the Pine Barrens. I can't really see it having a broad appeal though. I read it because it was selected as the One Book New Jersey book for 2004 and some of the other books on their list were books I enjoyed. So although I enjoyed this book, I can't really recommend it unless you have a special interest in teh area. published in 1978 and it shows it.
http://2004...more
http://2004...more
John McPhee does it again (or should I say did it again? - 1967 copyright).
He shines a bright light on a now mostly forgotten or ignored piece of our history-geology-ecology. Who would think that New Jersey hides a mysterious forest filled with ghosts of human achievements turned bankrupt that were long ago reclaimed and imprisoned by nature.
An outstanding book with a mysterious, archeological flavor but the site is in our own United States - and people are still surviving there.
Fascinating!
He shines a bright light on a now mostly forgotten or ignored piece of our history-geology-ecology. Who would think that New Jersey hides a mysterious forest filled with ghosts of human achievements turned bankrupt that were long ago reclaimed and imprisoned by nature.
An outstanding book with a mysterious, archeological flavor but the site is in our own United States - and people are still surviving there.
Fascinating!
I want McPhee's essays about the pine barrens to be true today. Growing up there, but not necessarily being a piney, I suppose I represent a type of person McPhee could not have been writing about in the 60s. But for a nostos I don't entirely have access to, this book does it for me in every way. & since a you can still get lost, temporarily, in the pine barrens or (like I did) become accidentally submerged in a cranberry bog, his writing is relevant enough.
John McPhee at his most McPhee-est. I'm pretty into his let-me-take-you-into-this-place-and-show-you-how-weird-and-amazing-it-is thing. This is the ultimate example of it. If you've read any McPhee and like it, you'll like this. If you haven't read any and want to hear about a deeply strange part of rural New Jersey in the 1960s/1970s, I'd recommend it. For those looking for a taster of his style, I still think his "Basin and Range" essay is as good as it gets.
new luddite fantasy, courtesy of john mcphee: move to pine barrens, become self-sufficent cranberry farmer.
this book will take you three sittings max. basically the narrative non-fic ecology equivalent of old weird america. plus good background reading for that one sopranos episode (which is the #2 google result for "pine barrens"). highly recommended. odds of me going on a mcphee-reading rampage in early 2013: considerable
this book will take you three sittings max. basically the narrative non-fic ecology equivalent of old weird america. plus good background reading for that one sopranos episode (which is the #2 google result for "pine barrens"). highly recommended. odds of me going on a mcphee-reading rampage in early 2013: considerable
May 02, 2011
Chelseaholmes
added it
I liked reading this book because I actually know where so many of the places the author talks about are. It was pretty good if you really like non-fiction and history. I don't really love those two genres, but like I said, since I grew up in the area, it was of specific interest to me.
At times it was repetitive though. Overall, I'm glad I read it, but it's no page-turner.
At times it was repetitive though. Overall, I'm glad I read it, but it's no page-turner.
A very fast read, and an unexpected one. I knew McPhee was good, and I loved the idea of the Pine Barrens, but together they made it impossible to put down. His stories and portraits are amazing. The Pine Barrens are a must-visit for me now.
The landscape sounds incredible, as does the history of the place. Such a large wilderness so close to the cities. Strange but true.
The landscape sounds incredible, as does the history of the place. Such a large wilderness so close to the cities. Strange but true.
I am an NJ native and growing up in the 60's/70's we all heard stories of the Jersey Devil etc. When I moved to the west coast in the mid 70's, the rest family moved from North Jersey to Cape May County. My younger brothers would regale me with stories of adventures in the pine barrens. Mainly about abandoned homes in disrepair and remote taverns. N.J. had its own hillbillies!
This book is a must read for any N.J. native especially for the history of the area.
This book is a must read for any N.J. native especially for the history of the area.
I really enjoyed this read but I always love his writing anyway despite the subject. The only odd thing was his topical writing (circa 1967) being read in 2011. I would have loved reading this in a current exploration meaning how things have changed from his writing 44 years ago.
But given my limited knowledge of the area, I really enjoyed this book.
But given my limited knowledge of the area, I really enjoyed this book.
I am consumed by geology or is it by John McPhee? Whatever, I am reading my way across the United States and and enthralled with what I am reading and with what I am learning as well as with what is ahead of me. I look at the Pine Barrens of Long Island with totally different eyes now. Life is so infinintely beautiful if you will allow it to be.
Having lived within driving distance of the Pineys and the Jersey Devil for most of my life, I was intrigued by this book outlining the history of a section of my (former) state that I generally avoided, since I wasn't into moonshine, quicksand or shotguns. But this book was excellent and enlightening and gave me an appreciation for the uniqueness of the pines. Made me proud to have rejected New Jersey as my home...
I'm from south Jersey near the Pine Barrens, and I actually live on the edge of Wharton State Forest. It was really interesting learning about the history of the area. It was also cool reading about things that I've seen and places I have actually been. I liked that the end of the book was about the plans people had to build up the Pine Barrens, and I am happy to say that it is still not built up to that point. It is still a very wooded area. Definitely read this book if you are from New Jersey.
I read it while taking an American Studies course at Rutgers all about NJ. To be honest, what I learned from this book sticks in my mind more the than Philip Roth's novel or anything I learned about the NJ Turnpike. Truly a more fascinating subject than most people from NJ can imagine!
A magical journey into a land that time forgot: New Jersey.
A quick read, pleasantly packed with history and culture and nature, I enjoyed this a whole lot. Thanks to Genevieve for recommending McPhee; looks like there's a lot more to explore along these lines.
A quick read, pleasantly packed with history and culture and nature, I enjoyed this a whole lot. Thanks to Genevieve for recommending McPhee; looks like there's a lot more to explore along these lines.
Pretty good book. I have had to spend time in the NJ Pine Barrens recently and knew of the many places discussed in the book. Mr. McPhee does a great job grabbing your attention and holding it until near the end. I would've liked to have met some of the people he mentions in the book. However, I think the ending is rather abrupt and doom and gloom for the pines (in classic tradition of the 1970's evironmental movement). Now the pine barrens are under a different kind of threat, Southern Pine Bee...more
John McPhee has a talent for grabbing hold of something just at the edge of our awareness -- the humble orange, or a corner of New Jersey -- and making of it a fascinating read.
I enjoyed this book, as I have all of his works, and highly recommend it.
I enjoyed this book, as I have all of his works, and highly recommend it.
A great insight into one of the lower 48's most interesting and unknown features. Certainly the Pine barrens must have changed from what McPhee described (the publication date was 1967), but this book a solid start for anyone curious about the subject.
I don't know how I could have missed this book all these years. As a frequent hiker and backpacker in the Pines, I am in love with this area of New Jersey. McPhee writes an eloquent and beautiful paean to the history and people of this amazing region.
May 28, 2008
furious
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Pineys, Jerseyans, sons of the soil, history buffs
McPhee explores the landscape & the history of the Pines in an easy-going, if sometimes utilitarian, style. the meandering tone matches the way he seems to wend his way through the woods, stopping at any time or place that has a relevant story to tell. i don't know how it took me so long to find this book, but i'm glad i finally did. for one who grew up & lived on the edge of the Pines for many years, this book is absolutely fascinating. the picture it paints of the Pines, though dated 1...more
This is the portrait of a time and a culture that is now gone. The trees are still here, as are the bogs and ponds, but the life of the region has changed completely since McPhee wrote this book in 1968.
This is a perfect read for learning more about New Jersey's backwoods areas. John McPhee's writing talents shine through as he introduces the eclectic characters who live in the Pine Barrens.
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John McPhee was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and was educated at Princeton University and Cambridge University. His writing career began at Time magazine and led to his long association with the New Yorker, where he has been a staff writer since 1965. The same year he published his first book, A Sense of Where You Are, with FSG, and soon followed with The Headmaster (1966), Oranges (1967), The P...more
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Jun 29, 2012 01:56pm