The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
IPPY AWARD WINNER!
Bronze Medalist in Literary Fiction
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Read Tobias Carroll's Review
in the Maine Sunday Telegram
Available from Littoral Books
Click on the image to purchase.
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IPPY AWARD WINNER!
Bronze Medalist in Literary Fiction
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Read Tobias Carroll's Review
in the Maine Sunday Telegram
Available from Littoral Books
Click on the image to purchase.
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“This is the debut novel of midcoast Maine author Laurel Dodge, an imaginative writer whose brilliant combination of plot, characters and atmosphere display an engaging originality seldom seen in a first novel. This is a powerful story of remembrance, regret and redemption, balanced carefully with humor, tragedy, sadness and contentment.” — Bill Bushnell, “Bushnell on Books,” centralmaine.com
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“A delightful, insightful book. In her letters to a long-lost love, feisty Mimsy Bell reflects on her life and ours, on the tragedy and beauty that surrounds us. I found myself wishing Mimsy had started writing sooner so my time with her would last longer. The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell is a special creation, a story I will eagerly revisit.” — Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow mysteries.
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“Like a Maine river, this book has depth and beauty, offering up surprises where you least expect them. You’ll be transported to Menotomy and won’t want to leave"
–Robin Merrow MacCready, author of Buried. Winner Edgar Award Best YA 2006
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"Now that I am in my 80s, it isn’t so easy
to find an admirable woman my age in the media. And finding one as a main character in literature is almost impossible. I can think only of Miss Marple and Olive Kitteridge – but now there is also Mimsy Bell."
-- Diane Trenhaile of Old Ladies Read
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"This novel is a unique and delightful read.
In it, Laurel Dodge captures the essence
of New England small town life, including generous dollops of humor and true compassion. The writing is witty and snarky, but also tender. Her descriptions of the river (really a character in the book) and the natural world are excellent, showing that Dodge is a keen observer of both human nature and
the natural world around us. The volume is gorgeous - with peach end papers to match the stunning cover illustrated by Deborah Kozak. Note: My husband loved it too - especially all the rock 'n' roll parts. Highly highly recommended. Book clubs - read this one! It's truly something special and I would give it ten stars!" -- Kay Hardy Campbell
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"The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Belle,
by Laurel Dodge has a depth and beauty that draws you in. The novel is an engaging blend of introspection and adventure. Mimsy's interactions with the town's quirky characters, her struggles with her own mortality, and her encounters with the river make for a deeply moving and evocative narrative. Armed with a collection of antique bottles, she writes
letters to the lover the river claimed and sets them free in the current and in our hearts.
Laurel paints a vivid portrait of a sleepy Maine town, capturing the interplay between its natural beauty and the complexities of human nature. The river, a powerful and enigmatic force, serves as a haunting symbol of Mimsy's past and her search for redemption.
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Belle is a novel that resonates on multiple levels. It is a testament to the enduring power of love, the healing nature of forgiveness, and the transformative journey of self-discovery. Its compelling characters and poignant themes will stay with me. It’s an excellent book. I highly recommend it." - Stacey Wescott
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"The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Belle is great. I love the symbolism of the river and the way Mimsy interacts with the townsfolk. She really captures the way Maine is, which is quite an accomplishment all by itself. Laurel Dodge is a talented writer and I am looking forward to reading more of her stuff as it comes out.
Quirky characters, troubled past, and an emotional path to follow, this book has it all. I really enjoyed it, and I think you will, too."
- Daniel Wescott
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The epistolary style was a fun diversion
from standard narrative prose. Telling the story in letters added richness as the reader filled in the spaces between letters from their imagination and then discovered new twists in the next letter. There are so many reasons that this book will appeal to a wide range of readers! - Kate Coffin
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“It is magical and poetic in some regards but at the same time a raw look into loss and grief on so many levels.” – Dale Potter Clark, author of Escape from Bunker Hill
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"You have written such a luminous book. I can't remember a book so grounded in the flowers, the rocks, the being of a place, and yet so alert to human passion and pain. I don't know where you get this 81-year-old wisdom from, but the balance between life and death seems so real. And the river. The river as serial killer, as inexorable, but also beautiful, the evil sorceress in diamonds, pulses through the whole novel. It's breathtaking and shocking." –Joshua A. Sanborn, author of Imperial Apocalypse.
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“I didn’t expect a first time novel to be this good, but the writing is exquisite and the characters are eccentric and endearing. As a nature lover, I am enamored by the way she weaves the flora and fauna of our beautiful state into the setting and plot. Great little story about life in Maine that captured my heart.” –Paula Bourque, author of Spark!
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As an almost-81-year old who lost the love of her life, "The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell" inspired empathy from the first page to the last. Thank you for writing and sharing such a wonderful book."
–Caroline Janover, author of How Many Days Until Tomorrow?
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“Thank you for the best Christmas present ever. I love epistolary novels, and this one is especially good. I find myself sneaking moments to read, to go back to Mimsy and see what’s happening. And I love her 80-year-old perspective. It really is beautifully paced and written, and I love the plot.” –Marian Furguson
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“Wow, what a talented writer. I could hardly put the book down. Captivating, amazingly witty, and what an unbelievable naturalist, and radiating such a deep love for the land.”
–Jutta Chin
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“I loved this book! It’s a terrific read. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were so real to me. Mimsy was like an old friend, a kind and generous friend who had a very complicated life before returning to her hometown. The description of flowers and nature bring the small-town setting into focus and add another layer of beauty.” –Linda Kok
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My favorite sign off so far is on page 76, “In league with the trees!”. A beautifully written story, and such scandal! I appreciate the true Maine imagery, an incredible job.
–Hailey Champagne
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“Everybody should meet Mimsy!” Elaine Abel
Upcoming Book Events
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
Reading & Signing
The Briar Patch at BookSpace!
November 7, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
48 Columbia Street, Bangor, Maine 04401
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The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
Menotomy, a small, unassuming town in the western mountains of Maine, is distinguished by the great, wild, murderous river that flows through it and the fact that it was the birthplace of
Reading & Signing
The Briar Patch at BookSpace!
November 7, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
48 Columbia Street, Bangor, Maine 04401
***
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
Menotomy, a small, unassuming town in the western mountains of Maine, is distinguished by the great, wild, murderous river that flows through it and the fact that it was the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll star, Mimsy Bell. These two – river and rock star – have a history: the river took the life of Mimsy’s first love. Now, at the age of eighty, after a life of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, Mimsy has returned to Menotomy to find herself a suitable gravesite and to have it out at last with the river that has haunted her all her life. Armed with a collection of small antique bottles and a sharp pen, Mimsy records her daily life in letters to her dead lover, bottles them and tosses them into the river, an eccentricity that soon attracts a number of new admirers and initiates a series of life-changing adventures.
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About Laurel Dodge
The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell
About Laurel Dodge
When Laurel isn't striding through swamps or meandering through mountains, she is at her desk writing novels. Her work as a naturalist for a nature center, a land trust, and a zoo have informed her work, where nature always takes a central role. The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell is her first novel. She lives in Midcoast Maine with her hus
When Laurel isn't striding through swamps or meandering through mountains, she is at her desk writing novels. Her work as a naturalist for a nature center, a land trust, and a zoo have informed her work, where nature always takes a central role. The Buoyant Letters of Mimsy Bell is her first novel. She lives in Midcoast Maine with her husband, kids, cats, and her dog, where she watches moths at night and tries to wrest vegetables from
her old farm's tired soil.
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