Dogfish Memory

In this meditative, unconventional memoir, Chaucer professor and Maine native Dane chronicles a lifetime of sailing his home coast. Dane's family has deep roots in the state, and he writes of his suspension between different versions of Maine%E2%80%94the place as it may be and the place as it's perceived by those who "play Maine," a group that includes summer people, tourists, and even salty fishermen. In his wide-ranging reminiscences, Dane examines the ties of family and friendship, time passing, and above all, "Linda Jane," his inclusive name for the lovers who have drifted in and out of his life. Dane doesn't write chronologically; each section begins with a particular memory or place, then moves forward or backward in time. This device has its risks%E2%80%94the currents are hard to follow at times. It also isn't immediately apparent that his "Linda Jane" is many women. However, Dane's approach offers unique perspectives. Many of the sections have a subtle intensity that elevates them to prose poems while the focus on sailing always anchors them. In discarding chronology, Dane is able to present life as we remember it. As he notes in one particularly cogent insight: "Imagined adventures... lead from known to known. Real adventure, by contrast, begins at a single point in the fog and ends at one." (June)