A review by kateraed
The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories by Sarah Orne Jewett

3.0

Obviously immensely important for the history and advancement of women writers and feminist literature, but less and less an accurate reflection of place (as will always happen with the passing of time), and doesn't deal with the deeper substance of the human condition enough to withstand changes in culture. That said: an absolute delight to read, especially while remembering it as one of the first works of women-penned literature. Jewett offers glimpses into the story of a community, the relationships and events that create and bind a community together. She portrays the world through the social connectedness and web of relationships, which can make the narrative seem quite nonlinear, but that would be exactly the difference between men and women in that time, and also a reflection of the modern movement. The protagonist's conversations circle on isolation vs togetherness, strangeness vs society, and the values of traveling vs of staying. Grief and loss is also a dominant theme -- nearly every character has lost someone loved, and carries their grief uniquely. It's lovely to have a woman protagonist have conversations with other women privately, out of the sight of men; and to have conversations with men that are neither romantic nor sexual. A great pick for a Maine vacation.