When my book group's selection committee chose this novel it was partly because it was based on a tragic and local story that none of us knew anything about. I was fascinated and couldn't wait to read it. I am disappointed. Not because the book isn't beautifully written and skillfully structured -- it is. Not because the author wasn't successful in doing what he set out to do -- he did. It's just not the way I wanted this story to be told.

In 1912 a mixed race group of people were evacuated by the governor from Malaga Island, off the coast of Maine. They had been living a primitive existence since the 1860s, often on the edge of starvation. Many were sent to a home for the feeble minded on the mainland, and others drifted off to unknown places.

Harding writes this story in the manner of a folk tale or a biblical parable. In third person, no dialogue quotes, and with lyrical, poetic prose. The characters and the things they do stretch belief. The feeling is cool and detached, creating a universal tale as old as humanity.

There are only a couple times in the book when real outrage at what is happening breaks through. Although I know Harding limited the anger and intense feeling on purpose, I wanted more of it. As a New Englander I'm partly angry at myself for not knowing this story, but also at the cruelty of what the government of Maine did to these people. I can't quite abstract the specific facts to reach a more catholic take on the story. All that said, This Other Eden is beautifully written and explores through fable really the need of people in power, because of their own fear and narrow-mindedness, to destroy the lives of others. From the Pharaoh driving out the Israelites to the countries deporting immigrants today, it just keeps happening over and over and over again.