Summers at the Lake: Upper Michigan Moments and Memories

Paddling a canoe into sunrise on the longest day of the year... watching a child take her first kayak ride with her father... gazing at a bald eagle, riding air currents high above the lake... chuckling as a hummingbird defends his feeder against intruders... dodging campfire smoke while burning marshmallows and telling scary stories to wide-eyed kids. These are some of the moments and memories depicted in Summers at the Lake. The essays-often humorous; sometimes tinged with a sweet melancholy--celebrate the people and events marking the progress of the seasons--from the budding of the first green leaves of May to their falling, gold and scarlet, in September. These prose poems capture the joy of simple, lake-side living and quiet reflection." "Jon Stott is a masterful storyteller. In Summers at the Lake, he shares memories that read like prose poetry. Each story takes us to a place of solitude and beauty and will stir pleasant memories of our own." --Sharon Kennedy, author of The Sideroad Kids: Tales from Chippewa County "This gentle book by a gentle man is the kind that grows on you. Reading it will give you the same benefits as meditating in lovely surroundings in peace and calmness." --Bob Rich, author of From Depression to Contentment "In Summers at the Lake, much can be learned about life in the U.P. and its enjoyable places. You can explore the wonders of the U.P. while dipping your toes into the everyday experiences of life near Crooked Lake." --Sharon Brunner, U.P. Book Review "Jon C. Stott delightfully describes the many joys of lakeside living with the unchanging activities of summer. Deb Le Blanc's photos will make readers feel as if they are right there at the cabin, next to the author." --Carolyn Wilhelm, MA, Midwest Book Review "Stott presents these slices of life with atmospheric descriptions, remaining informative without overpowering the reader with information. I thought it was a nice touch to include the traditional names of Native Tribes in the UP area first as well. The thorough nature of his memory and research is quite apparent throughout this work. Readers of travelogues and happy memoirs will find lots to love about this collection. I highly recommend Summers at the Lake: Upper Michigan Moments and Memories by Jon C. Stott." --Leslie Anne Smith for Reader Views From Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com

About the Author :
Jon C. Stott, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Alberta, has spent most of his summers beside lakes - as a boy at Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, Canada, and, since 1971 (when he was a professor at Western Michigan University), at lakes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Since his retirement, he has written non-academic books about minor league professional sports and the craft beer boom, along with retellings of traditional legends and folktales. The stories in Paul Bunyan in Michigan: Yooper Logging, Lore & Legends are set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He is currently writing a celebration of and guide to the craft breweries and brewpubs of the Upper Peninsula

Review :
"Much can be learned about life in the U.P. and about the enjoyable places to visit by reading this book. The placement of the importance of rituals and the simple life resonated throughout the book. Stott clearly delineated what it was like to ride his bike on country roads, paddle a canoe and swim laps on a scenic lake, visit local establishments, examine wildlife, and explore historical landmarks. The reader will be encouraged to explore the wonders of the U.P. while dipping their toes into the everyday experiences of life near Crooked Lake." --Sharon Brunner, U.P. Book Review "Jon C. Stott delightfully described the many joys of lakeside living with the unchanging activities of summer. Deb Le Blanc's many photographs are stunning, enriching the text. Readers will feel like they are right there at the cabin next to the author. Stott says calendars are not required; just note the active fly type until summer is over and time has flown. Excerpts from the author's father's published writings show how lakeside living was the same for several generations that spent summers at the lake. Often locals will not reveal where their prized blueberry picking spot is, but we find out where the author found his. Famous poets and authors are quoted concerning flowers and typical sightings of the Upper Peninsula. Encounters with hummingbirds, loons, blue herons, and ducks are recounted. Dealing with older appliances, including televisions, meant adventures with fire and explosions. Lakeside clothing such as printed T-shirts, beekeepers' hats, and treasures are sorted according to events. Read about when Stott paddled his canoe four centuries into the past on a quiet morning. Take a trip back into the summers of your childhood and reminisce as you read. Nostalgic, melancholic memories. Anything but boring! " --Carolyn Wilhelm, MA, Midwest Book Review "Stott has an accessible voice in his writing, blending his sense of humor with beautiful descriptions of the UP. He has a fantastic ability to pull his readers into the scene he's creating and make it feel larger than life. Each essay feels like a conversation with someone, and the decision to include older articles from his father was a wonderful choice as well. Being able to see the ways that the area developed and see the perspectives of generations was a great way to show the enduring interest in this region. I thoroughly enjoyed the vignette Paper Boy and the chapter Avian Encounters. I think Stott's humor and lyricism really shine in these sections, showcasing his skill as a writer. Stott presents these slices of life with atmospheric descriptions, remaining informative without overpowering the reader with information. I thought it was a nice touch to include the traditional names of Native Tribes in the UP area first as well. The thorough nature of his memory and research is quite apparent throughout this work. Readers of travelogues and happy memoirs will find lots to love about this collection. I highly recommend Summers at the Lake: Upper Michigan Moments and Memories by Jon C. Stott." --Leslie Anne Smith for Reader Views