The Fourth Coast: Exploring the Great Lakes Coastline [Mass Market Paperback]

Mary Blocksma (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1995

Beginning at the St. Lawrence Seaway and extending to Minnesota, the North Coast is the longest of the US coastlines. Blocksma, author of Reading the Numbers and Naming Nature explored the 5,000 miles of this northern coastline to bring us the most interesting, compelling and unusual finds along the Great Lakes.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One summer Blocksma, a Michigan librarian and writer, set out to explore the Great Lakes coastline from New York to Minnesota, the longest continuous coastline in the United States. Driving a minivan and camping alone, Blocksma completed the 5000-mile journey in 90 days. Her itinerary-always following the road closest to the shore-took her to large industrial cities like Milwaukee, small artistic communities like Saugatuck, Michigan, and wildlife areas such as Isle Royale National Park, the largest island in Lake Superior. Blocksma's prose is adequate, although she occasionally produces a lovely description of the natural world. She provides few insights into what it was like for a woman to travel and camp alone. Instead, the author is a camera: she records what she sees and hears but does not reflect on it. This work may be useful as an introduction to a beautiful and diverse area of the country, but those seeking depth will have to look further. Recommended for public libraries and travel collections.
Caroline Mitchell, Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140178813
• ISBN-13: 978-0140178814
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,877,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant drive., June 18, 2005

By 

Marcus Peacock (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fourth Coast: Exploring the Great Lakes Coastline (Mass Market Paperback)

An interesting idea: drive the U.S. coast of the Great Lakes and see what you run into. Well written overall with a few excellent vignettes. The fact is, it does start getting a tad tedious by the time you reach Lake Superior, which seems a shame. This might have been better if Blocksma had decided to go more into the history of these places or made it a more personal journal (e.g., Blocksma omits meetings with friends and family and the reader has little idea what's going on in her life at the time). In the end it's a pleasant trip, despite the bouts of rain, but would I want to reread it? Probably not.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful road trip, with adventure and painless learning., January 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fourth Coast: Exploring the Great Lakes Coastline (Mass Market Paperback)

Reading Fourth Coast was like taking the trip, with anticipation for every new day and experience Ms. Blocksma related. I learned a lot and eagerly anticipated each daily adventure. When the trip was over, I put down my book and cried, so sorry I was to have it end. Read it.