Wild! Weird! Wonderful! Maine.

by Earl Brechlin

So, you think you know Maine? Think again! It's not just the woods, waters, mountains, lobsters and lighthouses that define Maine. From Kittery to Eastport, from Fort Kent to Monhegan, Maine is home to natural wonders, quirky characters, remarkable inventors, and haunting ghosts and legends. Whether it's Moxie Nerve Food, the North American Wife Carrying Competition, UFO abductions along the Allagash, or Kathadin's role in creating Bambi, this book by long-time journalist Earl Brechlin celebrates all that makes the state unique-both real and imagined. It not only recognizes the historical giants of Maine and its natural beauty, but brings to life the myths, legends, truths, and tall tales that have been shared around Maine's campfires for generations.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 9, 2020

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just speed-read the book this time around, but an engaging and accessible of the weird and wonderful history of Maine locations, records, and the occasional monster.

[KJ Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lively local history of the state’s characters, curiosities, and charm. Expertly curated into bite-sized entries for the casual reader. Valuable for visitors and residents alike.

[Kenneth Winfield Emerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Maine culture/history books, and they usually cover a lot of the same places, incidents, and people. "Wild! Weird! Wonderful! Maine." is refreshing in that not only did I learn a few things I didn't know, which is a rarity for a Maine nerd like myself, but there were things that I did know that I've not seen covered in any similar books. For instance, I'm from Blue Hill but have rarely, if ever seen that town represented and in this book, it has multiple entries.

The only hindrance of the book is that it's broken up by section of Maine, which is great. But sometimes I felt like I was reading about something a second or third time, but just because I'd read about a similar topic or incident in another section.

This does not make the book unenjoyable however, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. It's a fun, informative read and I'd love to read another volume.

[Michael Polizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining, often humorous collection of anecdotes depicting "Wild! Wierd! Wonderful!" people, places, things and events in the state of Maine, where I now call home.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun and easy read about places in Maine. I cannot wait to go back!

[Evette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun quick read. Stories about historic places in Maine, as well as any quirky or weird tales.

[Moth]

Song: Old Pine by Ben Howard

[Classic Bhaer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept a lot, I just would have preferred to have less stories and have those stories have more to them a lot of these are so sort it is hard to get into.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, weird stories told with humor and love. Definitely added some items for my to do list.

[Tam Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

check this out if you want to explore All of Maine not just the touristy spots

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this particular "Weird Stuff of Maine" book - the writing is solid, the descriptions are short, and it covers a lot of ground.

[Marta E C R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because the Ellsworth Public Library was having an author talk on it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish it by the time the talk happened, and it wasn't recorded, so I couldn't watch it. But I found so many interesting things in this book, including debunking of certain myths I've always heard (the story behind the footprint on Captain Buck's grave in Bucksport, for example). I noted and wrote down 7 different places I want to visit in Maine as a result of this book, and very much appreciated the author putting in the Maine Atlas coordinates for all the locations; that will be so helpful. I am a Maine resident and will probably not be traveling out of state in summer of 2021 again as a result of the pandemic, so maybe I can visit these places this summer!