House by the Sea

The House by the Sea: A JournalAfter Nelson, New Hampshire, Sarton sought what she thought would be a totally "different" life as far as neighbors, company and the like in York, Maine. She was in her mind seeking "personal space". In this succinct journal Ms. Sarton chronicles her "new home" and life in Maine with often great detail and a wide range of emotions. While I am not particularly found of Journals, this one drew me in. I, too, yearn for the harsh ocean environment that the house at York afforded Sarton; the seasons; working in the garden(s);and, relaxing in those veranda recliners and gazing out over the field of tall grass to the ocean(glass of wine in hand). A most excellent piece. If you are not a Sarton reader, this will bring you into the fold.

This is the book which introduced me figuratively and literally to May Sarton! I saw this title in a bookstore and looked through it. WHAT A TREASURE this book became. May Sarton has the ability to cast light across darkness in such a way that the reader is revitalized and nourished. Inner strength is rediscovered. Life is redefined - routine events reclaim their original joy. What is old becomes refreshed. What a gift May Sarton continues to give through her work: life is to be lived and used and appreciated and given for as long as one can. *The House By The Sea* celebrates life, its beauty, serenity and joy. Sarton was most alive when she created life through her work. This theme resonates in all her work and teaches by demonstration the importance of exploring the inner self to find abundance.

Simply a superb observation of everyday in an idyllic setting by an insightful and honest author. I agree with other reviewers that May Sarton's best work is in her journals. She allows herself to have all of her emotions, unabashedly vulnerable as they occur. She beautifully describes simple things we miss in our everyday life yet also explores to the innermost layers some of the complexities and ponderous questions life brings. I was fortunate to find a brief biography of May Sarton in a used bookstore some 15 years ago and she became an important part of my inner life since then. I have framed on my desk a card she wrote in response to letter from me. A gracious, courageous but very real woman who gave much to her art.

Gina -- like you I just discoverd May Sarton with A House By the Sea. I loved every word, every page. She expressed to me how hard it is to be aging, to be alone, to be an artist but she also showed how to LIVE and savor each day, each moment. I loved the joy she took in the little things of life. I wanted to be there with her, a silent companion. What a wonderful book, one I will share with all my friends and keep to go back to all my life.

Sarton's masterworks are her journals -- all of them. In many respects, she defines the difference between the diary form and the journal form by exploring the great abstractions and mysteries of life itself, rather than a day-to-day exploration of events, people and places. Sarton is unflinching in exploring ugliness, loneliness, frustration, and the pain of growing older, but as she says in her introduction, writing about the negative aspects of life is much easier than exploring the beautiful aspects of life. This journal, unlike her earlier 'Journal of a Solitude,' explores, defines, and comes to grand resolutions regarding beauty. May Sarton well deserves to be classified as the major journal writer of her era.