My Pamet

For 43 of his 72 years, Kane, while serving also as a tax-collector and teacher in the area, wrote for the Provincetown Advocate and Orleans Cape Codder weeklies. Warm and witty portraits of individuals, families and their dogs stand out in this diverting, varied selection from his columns. Memorable, too, is his frieze-like evocation of major and minor events, concerns, gossip and seasonal rhythms of a close-knit, distinctly regional community. With a born storyteller's gusto, he recalls village lore and obsolete customs--a boy's first cigar, box-suppers, spelling bees, treasure hunting, socializing at the town dump, along with shipwrecks on the rocky shore--including those induced by scavengers. Even random forays into Kane's annals of the tragic and trivial provide refreshment and amusement. (July)