Fellowship Point By, Alice Elliott Dark

The story begins with celebrated author Agnes Lee finalizing the last book in her series The Franklin Square Novels. She is also on a mission to permanently protect the peninsula know as Fellowsip Point off the coast of Maine. Agnes is intent on securing the land trust, and to dissolve the partnership of shareholders who are intent in building more and more residential homes, thereby destroying the preserve. One of the shareholders, she must convince is her best friend Polly.

This was an interesting, historical read which delves into the history of land development in Maine in the 1870's. During this period,indigenous peoples, who lived on the land, left the land uncultivated, due to their belief that they belonged to nature rather than the other way around. The original deed to the land owned by a Quaker, William Lee originated the land trust, which included 5 houses. I appreciated reading the back story as it enriched the story tremednously.

The storyline is enhanced with the inclusion of Maude, Agnes's literary agent, Polly's family, a handyman and friend, Robert and a little girl named Nan and her father. The turmoil twist brings to light the family saga between Polly and her three sons, who want to build and expand the area, thereby dissolving the land trust and preserve. With the backdrop of Agnes and her desire to preserve the land. Polly is caught in the middle.

"An ambitious and satisfying tale, Fellowship Point reads like a 19th-century epic, but it is entirely contemporary in its "refelctions on aging, writing , stewardship, legacies, independence, and responsibility. At its heart, Fellowship Point is about caring for the places and people we love. This magnificent novel affirms that change and growth are possible at any age." (The Christian Science Monitor).

At 578 pages, this is an epic tale but one, you will savor. The book does dip and drop in some areas, as the attention to detail can be at times, exorbitant. But, overall, I found the book to be a formidable read and certainly a tale worth telling. The Author does and excellent job inviting you in, so much so, that you don't want to leave.

Other Books By Author:

In The Gloaming 2001

Think of England 2003

Naked to the Waist 1991