Jeffrey Burke

Review: Island Lighthouse Inn by Jeffrey Burke.

The book was well written and I enjoyed the book with interest because it’s in the State I live and I had been on the Isle au Haut. The details and descriptions I read were with accuracy to what I remember. The information was educational but I got pleasure out of the story behind the Lighthouse Inn. Plus, throughout the book the author included many recipes that they served at what they call a B&B establishment.

Jeff and Judi story started as a dream that over time they made it happen. Originally they were from California and one day they decided to uproot their teenage son and their activist memories of the 60’s and 70’s and head across the country to settle down in Maine. They knew their dream and started out slowly building towards what they wanted. They had many challenges with no experience and little money. The Island had a lot to offer as: adventure, small community area, great people for neighbors, a mail boat that came everyday with mail, supplies, visitors, so their needs were met

A few big problems along the way: the Island had no electricity, no plumbing, and the old weathered house was in need of a lot of repairs and paint. The author explains the repairs, getting running water in to the house for their guest and some kind of energy to light up the place. So, it was interesting how they mastered all the hurdles along the way even placing a dock at their end of the Island, which was never attempted, for the conveniences of having their supplies and their guest dropped off at the Inn instead of going across the Island where the mail boat struggled to dock because of the huge rocks.

The guest at the Inn had many stories to tell, and loved the rustic way of a vacation on an Island where they had to make their own adventures as hiking, biking, canoeing, bird watching, or just relaxing enjoying nature, wildlife, or doing something the host suggest doing as a group…… (altro)

An enjoyable read about two aging hippies trying to make it work. Interesting, light prose though Burke's writing is overwrought at times. Okay, it's overwrought a lot. Just skip the whole chapter about his confrontation with a Vietnam vet. Trust me. I felt some of the recipe tie-ins were forced (do you REALLY remember the kind of coffee cake that you served the refrigerator repairman 15 years ago? Really?), but I didn't mind as Judi is definitely doing the yeoman's work in this partnership and deserves the recognition. Especially since her husband spent a good deal of his book talking about how sexy other women are.

It sounds like I didn't like this, doesn't it? I did! It was good! Interesting people doing interesting things, just in a slighty overwrought, mildly skeevy fashion.… (altro)