Customer Reviews

Fiddler's Green: Or A Wedding, a Ball, and the Singular Adventures of Sundry Moss

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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nobody has written a review of this book yet! Here it is, Halloween, and still no personal review. If you are reading this it means you have some interest in possibly owning this book. Let me put your doubts to rest... buy it, you won't regret it. This is a kind, compassionate, humorous, and literate story that could be read by your saintly aunt. I've enjoyed the adventures of the Moosepath league since their debut and they just keep getting better. Thank you Mr. Reid!
P.S. I'm not saintly and I'm an uncle so don't be put off by comparisons.

While this book is just as good as any of the others in Van Reid's clever series, it seems as though the bottom has fallen out of the series and that people just aren't clamoring for these books any more. Some bookstores aren't even carrying this latest volume, and that's a shame. Maybe it's time for a boxed set. If Van Reid had any thought of continuing for a sixth volume, the lack of attention to FIDDLERS GREEN might be giving him second or third thoughts. One the public has had enough of a series, there's a law of diminishing returns. Even the best series (like Maxo De La Roche's JALNA or the Charlie Chan movies) peter off in the face of public indifference.

It's s shame too, because this story is one of Reid's better ones. Even if Chairman Toby and Sundry Moss were not in it at all, and indeed they contribute to the hilarity in big ways, such as Toby's long-awaited wedding, it would still be a page turner due to the mystery of Robin Oig, the sailor who dreams of finding an earthly paradise at Fiddlers Green.

Robin should have a series of his own, for he is a thoughtful, dreamy romantic figure who would fit in nicely with the famous Aubrey and Maturin novels of the late Patrick O'Brian. If you liked Cornelia Underwood or Mollie Peer (by Reid) or THE PICKWICK PAPERS or MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT (by Dickens), you might like FIDDLERS GREEN.

I'm not quite finished with Fiddler's Green, but I've read enough to know that I like it. I've found the whole Moosepath League series to be charming. The other day I was watching a Monty Python clip--Upperclass Twit of the Year--and I couldn't help wondering if this sketch may have provided a tiny bit of inspiration for the characters of Ephram, Eagleton & Thump. Not that they would ever "kick the beggar" or "insult the waiter" but the haplessness of these three men never fails to entertain. Fiddler's Green is a departure from the other books in the series because much of it focuses on Sundry Moss and an adventure he has on his own. It's a bit of a creepy adventure, too, although each of the books in the Moosepath League series flirts with the dark side just a bit. As with the other books, Van Reid inserts tantalizing bits of old New England folklore that make me want to do my own research.

Van Reid's books, set in Maine's past, are unusual. They're difficult to classify: part historical, part romance (not the gooey or bodice-ripping sort, more enjoyable), and part tall tale. The characters are alive and lively, the story development moves right along, and the humor is delightful. Despite never being in Maine, I have felt very attached to this series and hope for more.

I was recently enlightening by finding the series involving the Moosepath League, and enjoyed Fiddlers green as a wonderful summer read. The characters and story developed by Mr. Reid are rare in most of the books I have read recently, and I sincerely hope he plans to continue the series with its charming characters and stories that I would describe as good, clean, fun!

Though hasty in its preparation and beset by sinister unknown forces that attempt to thwart it, the long-anticipated wedding of Mr. Tobias Walton and Ms. Phileda McCannon goes forth beautifully and the two set sail for Halifax for a brief honeymoon before meeting Toby's nephew. The members of the Moosepath League find themselves at sea in his absence but they are quickly diverted by the prospect of a society ball and some very interesting widows they encounter. Sundry Moss feels Mr. Walton's absence even more acutely, wishing for his advice as he tries to woo Priscilla Morningside despite her mother's clear and snobbish objection. When Priscilla leaves town quickly after the ball, Sundry very nearly loses heart. Not one to feel sorry for himself for long, however, he devotes his time to Melanie Ring and her alcoholic father, joining them on a trip to find family in Northern Maine. As usual for a Moosepathian adventure, the trip is eventful and includes a kidnapping, an encounter with two rival witchy clans, a dead man who comes to life (several times, in fact!) and a sailor searching for the paradise of Fiddler's Green. Dark at points but overall rich in imagery and imagination, this book is a satisfying addition to Van Reid's Moosepath series. Its ending leaves a promise of more to come, which I hope is the case! I would be very sorry to see the end of these wonderful books.

It's wonderful to know you've received value for your purchase. The book was delivered quickly and in great condition for a fair price. What more could you ask for?