Reviews of Arlo, Alice and Anglicans: The Lives of a New England Church

"With a fine eye for ironic detail, Laura Lee lays out the history fo this building and the people who passed through its doors.  Guthrie fans-- and that undeniable subset of folks who really do dig New England ecclesiastical history-- shouldn't miss this book."-- Pamela Murray Winters, Dirty Linen, February/March 2001.

"It is a tale that has begged to be told, and Lee... has not only set down the history of Trinity Church, but has managed to set
the record straight on a few key points."-Judy Tarjanyi, Toledo Blade, November 18, 2000.  Read the entire article here.

"Indeed, Trinity reflects many of America's transformations in microcosm... The book mines a fascinating topic..."-Publisher's Weekly, October 16, 2000.


"I didn't expect too much from this book. I bought it for the usual tourist reasons (we were in Stockbridge to hear Arlo sing in the church). Published by Berkshire House, it  graces the "local shelves" tables of every local bookstore and gift shop.This book didn't actually need to be GOOD. It just needed to have some scraps of fan information about Arlo and some old pictures of the Church and Officer Obie and so forth...I cannot begin to describe how surprisingly satisfying this book is... It is so much more wide-ranging and thoughtful than might have been expected."-Daniel P.B. Smith, Amazon.com reviewer.  October 14, 2000.

"Lee skillfully weaves in the social, economic, religious and cultural history of the area and in-depth biographies of Alice and Arlo.  There are some splendid old photos and candids of the principals in the dailyness of their living.  The book is far more than just an exegesis of Arlo's charming (and brain haunting) song, 'Alice's Restaurant.'... The author has a good ear for the story that perks up the dry spots.  The material could have overwhelmed her-- all that church history, all those friends of Arlo's-- but she stays on track and delivers up a fine read."-Daniel Caplice Lynch, Berkshire Eagle, August 31, 2000.

"Before becoming the setting for Alice's Restaurant, it was an actual place of worship.  It is now the home of the Guthrie Center, a nonprofit organization run by Arlo Guthrie.  By telling the story of the lives of this church, Lee explores the history of America and the truth behind the legend of Alice's Restaurant... Arlo, Alice and Anglicans: The Lives of a New England Church works on many different levels."- Shelly Jarenski, The Advocate (newspaper), May 24, 2000.

"While initial thoughts might be that reading about a church’s life ranks right up there with watching grass grow or paint dry, author Laura Lee has done an excellent job of pulling things together into a great book... You'll discover the many transitions the building and its community go through in such riveting detail that you almost feel that you have known the people involved all of your life. Lee's method of comparing the past with the present makes you wonder what will happen next."-Bill Caccia, Oldies Music Topic, About.com.
 

Return to Arlo, Alice and Anglicans.