This book is not anything like Eat, Pray, Love
If you read her other book Eat, Pray, Love then you will not like Stern Men. It was as dull as a picnic, plastic knife at a July 4th B.B.Q.. The story was alright but not enough to keep my interest. Not to mention that Stern Men is riddled with contsant cussing for the character developmen (I guess) but not necessary. We get the point that they are tought men who fish for a living but goodness, gracious. I am not a prude, and have used my fair share of language that would require the tast of soap to swish around my mouth, but I don't need to constantly read it on every page. If you would like a good and humorous read get Eat, Pray, Love, but I would recomend to not purchase Stern Men.
Excellent first novel!
This thoroughly engrossed me and I finished Stern Men within 3 days. The story takes place on 2 fictitious islands and concerns the warring between lobster fishermen. The story goes back and forth between these lobster wars and the lives of some of the quirky islanders. The main protaginist is Ruth and we start to get more and more involved in her personal story. The title isn't very apt because it is really her story more than the lobster wars that take up the latter half of the book. I was a little sorry that there were not more of the men's stories but got caught up in the Ruth saga anyway.
This is a great first novel although it gives itself away as a first novel in the way all the characters seem to have the same "voice." But then, ... Read More
An island off the coast of Maine and some other quirky characters
I read and enjoyed Eat, Pray Love by this author and decided to give some of her other books a look. This was a delightful vacation read. The place is quirky, the people are quirky and yet it all seems very familiar. Gilbert has a knack for bringing characters to life and having them ring true.
entertaining
Very entertaining. Good look at life on an island off of the NE coast.
a good read
its simple: i really liked Stern Men. yes, it was quirky and sometimes pokey (only in that some of the history was a little tedious), but it was also engrossing and fun. her writing style is comfortable without being patronizing. her characters, storyline and setting are full and vibrant. i am very glad that i found Stern Men and have been recommending it to friends and family alike - and to me, that's the best review of all.
