First Degree
A more appealing book set in Sandwich is The Glass Phoenix by Mary Stetson Clarke, 19th century historical fiction about a boy working in the town’s famous glass factory to support his family. Clarke was a Massachusetts author of quality juvenile historical fiction.
Second Degree
Another book set on Cape Cod is Paintbox Summer by Betty Cavanna (1949). Although it is not my favorite of her books it is the scarcest because it was “decorated” by artist Peter Hunt so perhaps those interested in his work collect it as well. Seventeen-year-old Kate, uncertain about her future, spends the summer in Provincetown painting folk art for Hunt. That community has changed a lot in the last 75 years: I doubt Betty would recognize it.
Third Degree
Cavanna clearly loved Cape Cod and set another book there, The Scarlet Sail (1969), about a girl adjusting to a new stepfather who finds escape when she learns how to sail.
Fourth Degree
Color links me to my next book, A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg (1973). What an amazing writer – each of her books is so different! I guess your editor can’t object to your writing a brilliant and funny book about Eleanor of Aquitaine for children when you’ve already won two Newbery Medals!
In Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (1985), Eleanor’s granddaughter Joanna makes a dynastic marriage to Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, to secure peace with England. As she becomes fond of her legendary husband, she has to balance her allegiance to her father, [bad] King John. I feel a reread coming on!
Sixth Degree
Of course, the phrase “Here be dragons” was used on maps to convey dangerous or unexplored territory. When I think of dangerous voyages, I think of Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1851). It begins in New York, where Call-Me-Ishmael is thinking about joining a whaling voyage. For this he travels to New Bedford, Massachusetts and later to Nantucket, the most important port for whaling ships in the 19th century – bringing me back to Cape Cod, which is right in the middle.
So I connected Sandwich with several books also set on Cape Cod, which I visit frequently, before heading to the Angevin Empire, with a slight detour to Wales, then back to Massachusetts prior to following that giant white whale through various oceans . . . . Next month (January 4, 2025), we’ll start with the 2024 Booker winner, Orbital by Samantha Harvey, which I have with me in New York this weekend.
A more appealing book set in Sandwich is The Glass Phoenix by Mary Stetson Clarke, 19th century historical fiction about a boy working in the town’s famous glass factory to support his family. Clarke was a Massachusetts author of quality juvenile historical fiction.
Second Degree
Another book set on Cape Cod is Paintbox Summer by Betty Cavanna (1949). Although it is not my favorite of her books it is the scarcest because it was “decorated” by artist Peter Hunt so perhaps those interested in his work collect it as well. Seventeen-year-old Kate, uncertain about her future, spends the summer in Provincetown painting folk art for Hunt. That community has changed a lot in the last 75 years: I doubt Betty would recognize it.
Third Degree
Cavanna clearly loved Cape Cod and set another book there, The Scarlet Sail (1969), about a girl adjusting to a new stepfather who finds escape when she learns how to sail.
Fourth Degree
Color links me to my next book, A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg (1973). What an amazing writer – each of her books is so different! I guess your editor can’t object to your writing a brilliant and funny book about Eleanor of Aquitaine for children when you’ve already won two Newbery Medals!
Fifth Degree
Sixth Degree
Of course, the phrase “Here be dragons” was used on maps to convey dangerous or unexplored territory. When I think of dangerous voyages, I think of Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1851). It begins in New York, where Call-Me-Ishmael is thinking about joining a whaling voyage. For this he travels to New Bedford, Massachusetts and later to Nantucket, the most important port for whaling ships in the 19th century – bringing me back to Cape Cod, which is right in the middle.
7 comments:
The only book I can think of that I've read set on Cape Cod is Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark, although I'm sure I must have read others. Great chain - I loved Here Be Dragons!
I had Cavanna's JENNY KIMURA out yesterday because I had been talking about Pearl Harbor with students. No one checked it out. It's in pretty rough shape. She has so many good titles!
Helen, I almost used a Mary Higgins Clark but realized it had already made a 6 Degrees appearance!
Karen, there was something in Jenny Kimura (in addition to the grandmother's racism) that made a big impression on me as a child which was her mother's surprise that Americans were into the antiques of such a young country.
There was something about the blurb for Sandwich that didn't appeal to me, but hearing that the main character is annoying makes me glad I didn't bother. The Briar Club... oh, that was good! But hey, Kate Quinn, right? Lovely chain here!
I hope I like Sandwich better than you did, because I have a copy and plan to read it. I think I have only read the one book by Phoebe Atwood set on Cape Cod, but I have read lots of other books set in Massachusetts.
I would like to read more books by Sharon Kay Penman; I have only read one.
I started Sandwich but couldn't even read the first couple of chapters. I just didn't like the people. I agree--Briar Club was a fantastic alternative.
I haven't read Here Be Dragons yet, but I love Penman's books. I am stuck on RII and need to read the second book featured around him and then move forward with the series.
I love how you connected Moby Dick to Here Be Dragons--nicely done!
I'm glad for your Cape Cod novels ... especially the one about sailing. That seems appealing.
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