Time Out of Mind

Time Out of Mind follows the multi-generational story of the Fortune family in coastal Maine, centered on their ancestral home of Fortune's Folly. The narrative moves between the 1830s and contemporary times, tracing the interconnected lives of seafaring Captain Fortune and his modern-day descendant, Kate Fernald. The maritime heritage and rugged landscape of Maine's coast serve as the backdrop for this tale of family legacy and belonging. Through parallel storylines, the book explores the relationship between past and present while documenting the transformation of a small fishing community into a summer resort town. The novel incorporates elements of romance, family drama, and historical events that shaped New England's coastal communities. Characters navigate social expectations, personal ambitions, and the pull of tradition across different time periods. This work examines timeless themes of inheritance, the weight of the past on the present, and humanity's connection to place. Field's novel captures both the concrete realities of Maine coastal life and the intangible bonds that persist through generations.

Readers describe Time Out of Mind as a historical romance novel that captures Maine coastal life in the 1800s. The atmospheric writing transports readers to a specific time and place through details of local customs, architecture, and seafaring culture. Readers praise: - Rich descriptions of the Maine setting and historical period - Complex family dynamics and relationships - Integration of seafaring life and traditions - Field's ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some dated language and attitudes - Side characters lack development - Predictable romance elements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (142 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 reviews) "Like stepping into a bygone era of Maine history" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful prose but moves too slowly" - Amazon reviewer "The setting becomes a character itself" - LibraryThing review The book maintains a small but devoted following among historical fiction readers and fans of New England literature.

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🌟 Rachel Field's "Time Out of Mind" won the National Book Award in 1936, making her one of the first women to receive this prestigious honor. 🏠 The novel is set in Maine's coastal region and draws heavily on the area's shipbuilding heritage, which Field knew well from her summers spent on Sutton Island, Maine. 🎭 Before writing novels, Rachel Field was a successful children's author and playwright, with her play "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" being performed on Broadway in 1921. ⚓ The book's depiction of Maine's maritime culture was so authentic that several historical societies have used it as a reference for understanding 19th-century shipbuilding families. 📚 The novel's themes of family legacy and the decline of traditional industries mirror Field's own observations of Maine's changing coastal communities in the early 20th century.