I leapt at the chance to be an early reader of MILL TOWN, "a book of narrative nonfiction, investigative memoir, and cultural criticism that illuminates the rise and collapse of the working-class, the hazards of loving and leaving home, and the ambiguous nature of toxics and disease with the central question; Who or what are we willing to sacrifice for our own survival?"

Given the ways AMITY AND PROSPERITY and TOMS RIVER have stuck with me, I figured this would be an easy home run too. I was taken by the gorgeous preamble. And then I just... didn't get past the 10% mark for a year.

The narrative thread here is a meandering one, from Acadian history to analysis of the river water to a visit to Prince Edward Island and so on and so on. While this may keep a certain reader turning the pages, it felt more jarring to me -- I didn't know what topic or tone the story will take next, and changes often take place before I had a good understanding of the ground that's already been covered. My preference would have been for MILL TOWN to be more investigative journalism (or memoir or cultural criticism). I daresay housing it to a greater extent within a certain genre would have resulted in a stronger book.

I still think the story of the mill is an interesting one, and its impact absolutely needs study. I also think Kerri Arsenault can write a beautiful sentence and makes a great narrator. But I'm setting MILL TOWN down for now; DNF at 43%.

I kept getting distracted with the forget tangents this book went on. I think it was probably really good for the right audience, but that didn’t turn out to be me.

Very interesting; well-written and engaging.


Review copy provided by publisher.

(my reviews are short due to the nature of my project)

Interesting story to listen to. Overall, very intriguing ideas and well researched but she covers so much it all feels half baked.

Very well researched and well written! The author did a great job of weaving in local testimonies with the broader picture that made the story easy to understand. The narrator was a bit monotone at times which made it slightly hard to listen to, but it was overall an interesting read!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The author did a fantastic job as a narrator also. My only criticism, and this is strictly my opinion, is how we got off target with the theme of the town for a good bit of the author's history. Some may love that and I didn't hate it, but I felt it was more filler than actual needed information for the book. Again, I did not hate this book and rather enjoyed it, but I was anticipating most related to the actual town and what took place there. I didn't need to know about the author's trips to France. Over all it was a great listen, but I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had read the book. I feel I might have become a bit bored. I am going this a 4 star as an audiobook. As a physical book? I'm curious to see what others think.

This was a very interesting memoir about a woman's life growing up around a paper mill and the toxins in the air because of it. Most of her community later ended up with cancer. This memoir has a series of facts as well as her own home life and what it was like to grow up there, how her life has been over the years since leaving her home town and what it is like to return there after so many years. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my gifted copy.

3.5 stars. Well-written, and I enjoyed hearing it read by the author. The book was a bit meandering, mixing history, science, research, economics and Arsenault's own family story together into a tale about growing up in a small, rural one-industry town and the economic, environmental and health consequences. It's sad, but unfortunately, it's nothing we don't already know: industry pollutes, those who have the gold make the rules (the golden rule), and we the people pay the price.

***I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley!***

I’m not entirely sure where this book went wrong for me. Maybe I am not the right audience for it. Perhaps I should have read it versus listened to it. Perhaps I had the wrong expectations. I can’t say for sure but it was just boring.

The author of the book did the audiobook and that was the wrong choice. The entire book is read in deadpan. There is absolutely no life in it, no passion, no excitement. I was bored to tears listening to it and struggled to focus on what was being said.

The book had some interesting pieces to it. And I could tell that the author has a lot of strong feelings about how the story of her hometown relates to a larger picture of environmental irresponsibility, lack of corporate accountability and the deceit of the general public. Unfortunately that is way too large of a scope for a single book. So while the author makes some interesting points about these topics there is no depth or exploration of the idea.

There are also a LOT of tangents in this book. All of the material focusing on the town and the struggles and effects of the paper mill were really riveting. But there were also whole chapters on the town’s founding, her own family tree, her travel experiences and lots of other things. It detracted from the main story. Frankly, at times it self like a memoir of her family and that just wasn’t something I found interesting or compelling.

I got to about halfway through the audiobook before I couldn’t stand it any longer and stopped. I am sure this story will find its audience but I was not it.

In an understated tone, Arsenault talks about her family's history and how they came to the small town supported by the work of the local paper mill, as well as all the illness and pollution it has caused, leading the area to be commonly known as Cancer Valley. She also delves into other ways factories have placed money and profits over the well-being of both the land and the people living on it, as well as the employees working in dangerous conditions and the toll it inevitably takes on them and their families. This is a very informative and engaging story of life in Maine, but could easily be reflected in the lives of factory workers and factory towns across the country.

Mill Town is a memoir that follows one woman’s quest to learn more about her family but stumbles upon the darker side of America’s milling towns. As she follows the investigations and the failed attempts at protecting the people who live in these towns from the chemical pollution, readers learn about the catastrophic effects it has had on this small population and how the government failed them. This book is a riveting and dark read; it was hard to put down as the shocking accurate tale unfolds before you.

Maine is a land of hardship intertwined with a stubborn sense of pride. We love our way of life even if it kills us.
Mill Town is a book about Rumford and Mexico, Maine, the paper mill that most everyone works at, and the health issues that the paper mill causes.
Kerri comes off sounding like she knows better than the rest of us Mainers, a pretentious attitude wondering how we sit back and take it. Her real feelings are actually an exasperated love and it shows.
All of her research against the paper mill and Nestle water shows significant health issues that get a slight nod and maybe an “ayuh”. We stoically sit back, not wanting things to change. Mainers put up with the idiocy of politicians and selfish business decisions to live in a place we love and a difficult way of life we brag about.
I grew up in the larger paper mill town of Westbrook, And I’m just a few years younger than Kerri. I understand her frustration and her book makes a wicked good read. Her research of the history of the area, the paper mill, the dramatic increases of cancers and other health issues make this a great book. Unfortunately, I doubt anything will come of it.

4 Star Memoir!

This book is such a great read. Hard at times yes, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

This book takes you through the process of environmental hazards and the effects they have on mankind. Mill Town is truly and eye opener when it comes to manufacturing and the process that every day used items have on your health. They called the town "Cancer Valley"

My View on the Summary:
Mill Town is focused around a small town in Maine that has a paper manufacturing factory. The company itself did not abide the regulations when disposing of certain materials and it left the town ravaged. The way of life in this town was, you just expected to die of cancer. For years, cancer had plagued the town but it wasn't until a spike in child cancer cases within a radius of the factory, that anyone was aware in what danger they were in. Little did they know the factory was disposing hazardous materials in the water systems and in the land fill, Disregarding the proper regulations which then were putting the towns people at a great risk.

This book was an eye opener and definitely touched home! It was sad at times. I remember listening to this book and thinking how many more people have to die???

This is just one reason we have to take care of our environment, If not for the sustainability of the earth, at least for mankind and survival of your health.

Wonderful book and I highly Recommend it to EVERYONE! Everyone should be required to read this.

Thank You Netgalley and Macmillin Audio for providing me with the audiobook for my honest feedback!

I listened to this one on 1.75 speed and still really struggled to finish it.

I believe most of the issue is that the book is drastically mischaracterized. The description says this book is a personal investigation that asks the question, “Whose lives are we willing bc go sacrifice for our own survival?” and describes an Erin Brockovich style situation. That’s not what this book is.

This book has a basic underlying thread of an investigation into the paper mill’s effect on the town the author grew up in, but is largely just a meandering story of her life and travels that checks in on the town from time to time like she does. It lacks the hard-hitting scathing condemnation of corporate greed that Erin Brockovich had. It doesn’t really answer (and I would say hardly even asks) the advertised question.

I’m sure if the book was correctly billed as the story of a girl who watches her home town and it’s problems from a distance there would be people interested in reading it.... but I am definitely not one of those people.

Gosh, I had high expectations for this book because 1) I love memoirs, 2) I've read some very positive reviews of this book and 3) I'm pro-environment. I was very much looking forward to Kerri Arsenault revealing the lies and secrecy in our big corporations and governmental agencies. That said, this book just fell flat for me.

In particular, I found that there were too many personal tangents (e.g., the author's trip to France) that took away from the main storyline of exposing the paper mill. Yes, this is a memoir, but I much preferred the research and investigative components to her packing up her house and moving 40+ times.

I found the length to but much too long to hold my interest. I kept wanting Kerri to get back to telling the real-world stories of what's happening to the people (and families) affected by the poisoned water and air.

Usually I find that a memoir is at its best when the author reads his or her story for the audio book, but in this case, Kerry's voice (inflection, tone, approachability) didn't work for me.

Mill Town is new memoir that is a reflection on family, small town life, the impact industry has on the environment and small towns and more. This is a thoughtful book that wanders seamlessly from personal anecdotes to scientific research.

Kerri Arsenault grew up in the small working class town of Mexico, Maine where generations of families have worked at the local paper mills. As an adult, Arsenault realizes what an impact the paper mills have had on the town by releasing toxins into the environment. A seemingly large number of the town's residents, including Arsenault's own family members are diagnosed with cancer over the years, leading some to wonder if there is a connection to the paper mill.

This was a fascinating read that delved into some topics that I already had some knowledge about but also taught me some new information. Arsenault effortlessly covered multiple topics and angles and kept it engaging the entire time. She delves into the chemicals known to be released by the factory and their known impacts but also looks into the history of the area and the Acadian people. We learn about the divide between polluted Maine waterways and Maine's image as "Vacationland". I formerly worked at an environmental software company that specialized in an app to track water quality and potential threats to source water so this book definitely piqued my interest, but will also be a good read for anyone interested in environmental non-fiction or memoirs.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author and she did a good job with it. I will definitely look into checking out more of her writing.

Thank you Netgalley for this audiobook of Mill Town by Kerri Arsenault.

First off, I'm not typically someone to nitpick the narrator of an audiobook. Most of the time, they're fine. But, I do take slight issue with the author of a book reading their own work. Unless they're an actual actor (Mindy Kahling, Tina Fey etc), I wish that authors would leave narration to the experts. I totally get it, they wrote it! They want to read it, it's their prerogative, but without the skills of a voice actor, it may turn off the listener.

There was nothing wrong with the narration, but given ALL the information that this book throws at you, a more lively narrator may have helped. This is a story of an old paper mill town, the beloved home town of the author. But the romance of her childhood town becomes shattered after extensive research of the history of the town as well as the havoc the paper mill has caused on it's residents, spoiler alert, they dubbed it cancer town!

If I were a dogged historian, I think this would have been way more up my alley. It's clearly well researched and meticulously written. I appreciate the passion that Arsenault put into it. But it's heavy, and dry, a bit too dry for this reader who mostly revels in a good story.

Again, I find no fault in it other than the fact that I may not be the right audience for this memoir of a town.

I had a hard time getting into this book. Even though it tells an interesting, and important, true story, I couldn't engage with the disperse narration, I found myself distracted even when listening in the car. I do think it's a book with an important message and perhaps a more focused narrative would have served it will. That said, it is a worthy book and reading a hard copy and taking it in at times when one can focus, will probably be worthy endeavor.

I received an audioARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a compelling, tragic story about family and the impact of corporate behavior on communities. While it is non fiction, the narrative is fascinating & never dry.

Mill Town
By Kerri Arsenault
Audiobook narrated by the author

Mill Town is many things: part memoir, part Maine history, part labor discussion, and part environmental awareness. Lots of parts.

The narrator, also the author, has a pleasing voice and is easy to listen to. She brings the book to life making the portions involving statistics and numerical legal codes as riveting as possible given the dry content. The overall story itself was full of interesting facts, insights into family relationships, and beautiful atmospheric descriptions. However, the frequent topical shifts seemed to be lacking a primary focus and this impacted how much I was able to enjoy it.

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone with interest in the history of the paper production industry, the history of Maine, and the relationship between local economy/ industry and environmental/ health concerns.

Thank you To NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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