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Stern Men

By: Elizabeth Gilbert
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
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Publisher's summary

Off the coast of Maine, Ruth Thomas is born into a feud fought for generations by two groups of local lobstermen over fishing rights for the waters that lie between their respective islands. At 18, she has returned from boarding school - smart as a whip, feisty, and irredeemably unromantic - determined to throw over her education and join the "stern men" working the lobster boats.

Gilbert utterly captures the American spirit through an unforgettable heroine who is destined for greatness - and love - despite herself.

©2009 Elizabeth Gilbert (P)2009 Penguin
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Editorial reviews

Before she ate, prayed, and loved, Elizabeth Gilbert wowed critics with her debut novel Stern Men, the story of a girl’s coming of age on a lobster fishing island off the coast of Maine. Narrator Allyson Ryan doesn’t so much invite us onto Fort Niles as much as she accepts that we snuck on, stowed away on one of the lobster boats in the harbor. Ryan’s measured, spare delivery is the perfect vehicle for Gilbert’s pragmatic, modernist prose and our heroine Ruth’s practical idealism.

It may be that no man is an island, but in Stern Men, a woman certainly can be. As Ruth grows up in what’s left of her hollow shell of a family divided by tragedy and pride the only true identity she claims is with the island itself and its quirky inhabitants, Mrs. Pommeroy and Senator Simon Addams.

Ryan’s voice is quick changing, like island weather at one moment leaving the listener with a damp chill and the next warming the story with sunlight. Time is slow moving on Fort Niles Ruth spends hours on the beach with Senator Simon Addams as he collects items for a natural history museum and days in Mrs. Pommeroy’s kitchen watching her cut hair.

Stern Men feels like the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon stoic and gray. I agreed with the islanders especially Ruth’s mysterious and wealthy grandfather that Ruth should leave the island to go to college and begin her life. But Ruth knows her life is about to begin among the lobsters and the craggy rocks she’s known all her life. Although Ruth Thomas is surrounded by stern men, she is most certainly at the helm. Sarah Evans Hogeboom

Critic reviews

"[Stern Men] flashes with welcome brilliance." (The New York Times)

"Howlingly funny." (San Francisco Chronicle)

What listeners say about Stern Men

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Elizabeth Gilbert did it again!

The ending had a nice twist, never saw it coming!

Just a side note- some people may not like the amount of curse words.

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I continue to reread....

Any additional comments?

I read this book years ago and I have read it at least 2 other times because it a fun, interesting summer read. I decided to pick up the audio version and enjoyed it that way as well. It took me a bit to get passed the narrator's accents but I got used to it.

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complete departure!

Wow! Gilbert has always been in my top 3 favorite Author category.
She blew me away with this calm sweetly funny account of the back East Lobster trade, love , lust and loyalty. Some truly obnoxious and well rounded characters! She asks why we devote our whole lives
to others without ever Questioning why or is it better that looking at our own place on the earth.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Very good Pictorial

Also a good story. My only reservation is that it ends rather abruptly.

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Really sensational

I don't know how she does it- but Elizabeth Gilbert has once again written the most enthralling of original stories. This was absolutely wonderful. The history, the characters / everything. One of my favorites that will without a doubt, linger.

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Oh my goodness! So Good! Wow! Great Book Liz G!

Gobbling up Elizabeth's books and this once was so good! Could not wait to listen each day! Love!!!

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Not my favorite E Gilbert

I loved the works of E Gilbert. This was my least favorite. Characters weren't that interesting and I kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. Didn't hold my interest. Her other works were wonderful so this was a disappointment.

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One of my favorite books

The character development was one of the best I've had the pleasure of enjoying. I got so into their lives, and although some of them were over the top at times, it was such a fun and feel-good read. I loved getting lost in their world and didn't want it to end.

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Love Elizabeth’s story’s

Not my favorite of EG’s but still an enjoyable story. I really love her character building and she makes them all so weird haha! I really loved the ending. Definitely recommend

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it's over already!?

it was just getting to the good stuff!!! I adore this book. slow start, but Elizabeth gives such details you feel apart of the story and characters. so incredible

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