The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses): A Novel

There are some novels that as you begin reading draw you in to a special world created by the author. In this case, the reader will reside for a time at The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers in Bar Harbor, Maine. The setting is all the more captivating for those of us who have had the delight of visiting and experiencing Bar Harbor, Maine. The reader will be introduced to literary greats that are now in various stages of ill health. The reader will also be introduced to some of their caretakers who have come to live and work at this facility for unique reasons that are revealed through their interactions together and also during their daily care for their patients.

The “king” in residence, Alfonse Carducci, thought he had show more writer’s block but as he picks up pen and paper, words begin to flow and now he is fearful that his time will end before the final pages are written. His darling “queen” of another lifetime, wants to feel the joy again of writing and intercedes to contribute in her own opportune way. This writing becomes an exquisite story within a story and one realizes that they are in the midst of reading a magical novel. One might wonder how reading a story about retired and elderly men and women can be magical but then one must remember that just because the body fades, or the mind does not remember the hour to meet friends, or pain takes a toll in what once was possible, the human spirit can be resilient. The human spirit can be touched beyond expectation and can become an incredible story of truth as well as a story beyond only one’s imagination when creativity is nurtured by the friendship, love, and understanding of others.

Not since reading “Whisper Beach” by Shelley Noble have I been as engrossed in an author’s exploration of the essence of the human character. In a careful but notable way the novel expresses that the life journey of authors and editors may have taken totally different courses even within the same profession and yet at the end of their lives they come together respectfully and provide a safe haven for one another. Caretakers (orderlies and doctors too) have come from totally different experiences but their care and their presence bring comfort and compassion to their patients and one even becomes the much needed muse. Their bonds of friendship bring magical moments and highlights to empty hours. As they care for others they also reach out and encourage each other.

There are some novels that have a beauty beyond the page. This is the artistry of words not to be missed.

“Words can be like x-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” ~ Aldous Huxley, A Brave New World ~English critic & novelist (1894 - 1963).

Terri-Lynne DeFino’s writing pierces the soul and provides a thoughtful novel that will stay with this reader long after the final page was read. Writing like this opens the reader’s mind and creates pictures that cannot be captured on stage or film as the words blend with the reader’s own experiences so that sometimes the novel brings romantic depths, sometimes enchantment, sometimes peels back the layers of moments lost or buried deep but never truly forgotten, and sometimes wonder in all that yet could be… This is a time that needs to be spent alone. The writer has finished her gift of artistry and now the reader begins absorbing the depth and breadth of the experience he/she is about to embark. It is an extraordinary gift. Thank you Terri-Lynne DeFino. Your gift of writing has touched my heart and pierced my soul.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this title as an “Early Reviewer” from Library Thing. show less

A retirement home strictly for famous writers in their old age, set in Maine in 1999 sounds like a good premise for a story. The home is the brain child of now dead writer Cornelius Traeger whose witty quotes front all the contemporary chapters. Moreover, there is a story within a story here as 4 of the "inmates" in the Pen who were once good friends (and some lovers) decide to collaborate on a new book in their late years. Olivia Peppernell is the spunky, pot-smoking (for medicinal purposes!) old woman whose books took on some women's issues in the day, reflecting her own life of being controlled and spoken for except when she was writing. Raymond Switcher is a salt-of-the-earth guy, steady and reliable and not the typical fast-lane show more best-seller author who is contrasted in Alphonse Carducci, the most famous of the group and a handsome, playboy type whose wit and brilliance were legendary in his day. Expert editor Judith Arsenault completes the quartet. They each pass a journal around among them and each writes a portion of a story set in the late 40s and 50s - a tale of forbidden love and passion and misunderstanding. Judith transcribes. They are working against their own frailties and the clock as Alphonse is ailing. However the staff there plays a role too -- Cecibel Bringer is an orderly who is the muse for Alphonse. She is beautiful - on half her face, the other half horribly scarred and "melted" from an auto accident. She finds romance with Finlay Pottinger, the handyman on the property who has his own sordid past of serving time for killing the teacher who abused him. So actually there are 3 stories here, I guess. Each develops expertly and the organization is very clear, which is appreciated because it's pretty complex. What is most interesting is the creative process among the writers and their camaraderie and their determination to create one last thing of beauty and meaning before they leave the earth. Pulled along in their wake, Cecibel and Finlay are also transformed creatively and the Pen fosters growth and healing even in the last stages of life. Charming and sweet with some humor and clever twists that manage to avoid triteness. show less

There are a handful of books that have pulled me in and found a place in my soul. This book is one of them. This is a beautiful story about aging and relationships, and how our view of relationships changes as we get older. It may be because I am older than I care to admit, but I loved the older characters and how they approached life as it waned. The bond formed between Alfonse, a famous writer who is dying, and Cecibel, the young caregiver who is both emotionally and physically scarred, is the centerpiece of the book. There is also a story within a story, as Cecibel inspires Alfonse to write again. This quickly becomes a joint project, as three other residents with whom Alfonse had relationships become involved in the writing.

Both show more story arcs are beautifully written. There are so many quotable lines in this book. It has been a long time since I read something that touched me so personally. Terry-Lynne DeFino demonstrates an extraordinary gift in exploring human nature and the nobleness of old age. Yet it is not a book about or for the elderly. There is something here for almost everyone: romance, mystery, pathos. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for the opportunity to be an early reviewer of this book. show less

My first 5 star of this year I think. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I'm always attracted to books about books. This one is a book about books and authors and lovers of books and a book within a book, story within a story within a story!!! Without giving anything away, this story is set in a Home for Elderly writers, editors, publishers, and anyone with any connection to books. The orderlies that take care of these patients are all from the fringes of society and live there with the patients, and in doing so they all become very close. They create a very unlikely family and this is what is so endearing about this book. There is so much going on in this book, several different story lines, but the author ties everything together show more seamlessly. Not only is it a great work of literary fiction, the writing is beautifully done, almost poetic. Its also a romance and a story of redemption and healing for pretty much every character. The entire story was wrapped up very cleanly without a lot of questions left hanging (which I hate). I would highly recommend this to anybody who loves books. show less

This book not only has many stories to tell, it also literally has another book written by the characters as well. Original, uplifting, and at times heartbreaking. The characters in this book really are characters and they each have their own story to tell, their own secrets to keep, their own fight with the past, and their own fear of the future and how quickly it seems to be arriving. Each character bolsters the others and brings out more than they would ever be without one another. Beautifully written, wonderful to read, and impossible to forget.

As both a reader and a writer, this book about a retirement home for writers immediately caught my interest. The concept is original and thoroughly entertaining. But the book as a whole didn't work as well for me as I'd have liked.

The writing immediately hooked me. DeFino has a literary approach, with sentences I loved as much for their beauty as for the way they moved the story forward.

The characters in the main story were my absolutely favorite part. They're quirky and fun, with mysterious secrets that keep you wondering about their pasts. They're each fascinating in their own way, and I wanted to spend time getting to know them.

And that brings me to the other aspect that I didn't like so much. These aging writers begin writing their show more last great book together. That book-in-progress is included in its entirety and becomes a second story of its own, essentially a book within this book. It's a period romance, which is a genre I wouldn't opt to read. I found those characters less interesting and the story far more predictable.

I'm not a fan of the story within a story tactic. I felt the main story too often lost its impact because we kept jumping into the second story. Consequently, neither story felt as complete as it should have. Plus, we already had a lot of characters in the main story, and adding a bunch more with a second story just created a muddled mess.

The end of the main story is emotional and, while compelling, would have been far more powerful had the entire book remained with these characters.

*I received a copy from the publisher, via LibraryThing, in exchange for my honest review.* show less

What a clever book!

Three elite writers and one of the leading editors find themselves together waiting out the remainder of their days at a retirement home for writers and those in publishing, fondly referred to as “the Pen” (pun intended). Alphonse, a legendary author and philanderer, has just arrived and becomes smitten with orderly Cecibelle, a young woman scarred both inside and out. Using Cecibelle as his muse, Alphonse starts writing again, something he hasn’t done for over a decade. When Olivia and Switch learn of Alphonse’s new manuscript, each jumps in and writes alternating chapters. Editor Judy lends her editorial skills, and the fun begins.

The book written within is just as entertaining as the novel itself. Truly a show more fun, unique spin and so well-written. I loved all the characters, those who the book was about, and those within the book that the characters wrote.

This is a wonderful read. show less