Photography by Nance Trueworthy
An Insightful Tour of the “Calendar Islands”
David Tyler begins this new book by saying; “Growing up often means losing reverence for the places and people that were special during childhood, but that has not happened to me with Casco Bay. My knowledge of the bay moved beyond a place of idyllic childhood summers to learning about the remarkable people who live here year-round, and my passion for this place only deepened.”
With this introduction, Tyler prepares readers for a very personal guide to the Casco Bay islands; narrating a tour that not only reveals affection for their physical beauty, but also a deep respect for them as real, dynamic places.
Tyler begins by advising visitors and readers to first glimpse Casco Bay in its entirety. By beginning with sites on the mainland, Tyler also heightens the uniqueness of the Casco Bay islands by juxtaposing their quiet remoteness and “islandness” with the convenience and bustle of Maine’s most densely populated region.
With each island, thorough and careful directions, information on popular attractions and lists of websites for references are interwoven with local knowledge (“check the tides before heading to Little Chebeague!” or directions stating: “first left, no sign…”) that reveals an insider’s experience exploring the islands. Tyler also intersperses chapters on historical and ecological features, describing the common flora and fauna visitors will likely encounter, and the “Golden Age of Island Hotels.”
Nance Trueworthy’s beautiful photography accompanies the text, capturing both the natural features of the islands as well as the iconic and historical buildings that dot their shores and the familiar boats that connect people throughout the bay.
Throughout the book, Tyler references many local authorities, adding his voice to the many others who have been influenced by the Bay. However, these references seem somewhat substituted for the voices of current islanders, a group who are mostly absent in both the text and the photographs. It is an absence of which Tyler is aware, explaining of the people: “you’ll want to return again and again because of the warmth and friendliness of its residents. As you’ll discover the first time you visit, it’s not an exuberant friendliness — Mainers are not naturally demonstrative.”
It is also understandable that Tyler would shy away from any possibility of objectifying the
islanders whom he so admires, a common concern for authors. However, for readers who agree with Tyler that the most special part of the islands is their residents, the book sometimes seems a bit removed from the voices and personalities across the bay.
But everything else in the book is wonderfully balanced. Recollection never approaches romanticism, nostalgia never overwhelms and practical information is matched with local insight. Tyler’s appreciation and affection for Casco Bay results in a wonderfully insightful tour, enjoyable both for readers who have visited the area their entire life as well as the reader who has never set foot in Maine. q
A former Island Fellow, Cyrus Moulton is the Island Fellows coordinator at the Island Institute.