5 comments about Backstage Iditarod.

1. June Price does an excellent job of bringing you right there through it all.... if you really want to know what these mushers do, go through, and provide for their dogs, how much a part of the team they are, then read this book. It's a very well done account of the true happenings surrounding this great race. June has spent many years with these very people, researching, learning, and beautifully putting to paper, the extraordinary Iditarod, it's participants, and the dogs... Everyone who loves to gather more information about the inside of the race should put this on their MUST READ list. She takes you there, keeps you there, and gets you to the finish line... without even getting cold! :-) Thanks for a wonderful book, June.



2. This book is a fun read for those who have been to the Iditarod and those who wish they could go. Taking you thru all the steps leading up to the race, you'll think you are actually there. I've been to the race 3 times and helped a couple Iditarod mushers before the race. This book helps me relive those memories. I think you'll enjoy it very much!



3. Reading June's book is just like experiencing all the excitement and activity of being at the Iditarod. I've been at Anchorage for the ceremonial start and then at Skwentna to help the mushers, and reading June's book, I relived my experience. I pictured myself right there again, seeing, hearing and experiencing the Iditarod through June's descriptions. This is a must read for all who would go to Iditarod, and all those who have been, and everyone else, too! Thanks, June!



4. This is a fun behind the scenes look at staging and preparing for the Iditarod. A nice blend of Who, What, Where, When, How and Why that the level of detail never gets dull. Avid sled dog fans will enjoy this along with those newly discovering the sport.



5. This was a great background read for the preparations that go into the Iditarod. It's a fun and engaging read--even for long-time fans of the race. There's lots of interesting background info included. Thanks June!

5 comments about Frommer's Alaska 2006 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Doing a road trip via Motor Home...great explanations of camp sites, fishing, etc. Very helpful for a first time visitor for sure!



2. This book has been very informative in helping us to select which cruise line, tours and offshore excursions we plan to take advantage of while in Alaska. I highly recommend reading this BEFORE BOOKING and taking it along as a guide on your trip. It gives insider tips you may not have thought about when planning a trip. JPB



3. What more can one say about Frommer? You can't, or shouldn't, take any trip without taking along Frommer's reviews/commentary, and what to see and do books. Our trip to Alaska was just fantastic, and the information provided in it on everything from travel by cruise ship, history and what land tours to take was outstanding. I purchased the book (and others like it) from Amazon, and they all arrived in a timely manner, and the "price was right".



4. I received the 2008 edition for Christmas...
   true to Frommer's form. Great "Best of Alaska"
   and "Planning your Trip" chapters...good inter-
   net links and current contact phone numbers.
   Nice section of "Alaska in Depth."



5. This book is all you really need to go to Alaska. If you are a fan of Frommers products you will not be dissapointed. It's a thorough and accurate overview of all the basics needed when planning an Alaskan getaway.

5 comments about My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--the World's Most Grueling Race.

1. A dynamite read even for someone who has never lived north of Key West, who has never even heard of the Iditarod, and who hates dogs. Adds credence to the fact that I never read fiction..life is a lot stranger, and a lot more exciting



2. Of the Iditarod books I've read this has to rank as one of the best. Apparently a good sense of humor and a high appreciation of irony is a necessary component of being a Musher.



3. This is far from the best-written non-fiction book I have ever read. The journalist's experience writing in the shorter form of articles shows through in the disjointed feel of much of the narrative. This is still well worth the read if you have any interest in Alaska, mushing, or man's working relationship with dogs. Even without those interests you may well find the book enjoyable.
   At the beginning I was first overcome by the romantic notion of this amazing race, and reading through his preparations deluded myself with the fantasy of doing such a thing myself (a real joke considering how much I dislike even camping). Once the race gets underway, my most common thought was "these people are ...insane!" It was terrific and I really wanted to know how it would turn out for each and every one of them.
   The title can provide for some fun too. The other day I overheard from another room Child A ask, "What is a lesbian?" Child B responded, "It is a type of dog." After much laughter I had to call them in and correct it, although I had fun imagining the kind of conversation this could cause in public at one point if they were both left with their misconception.
   Since you are on this page, and reading these reviews, you are probably interested enough in the subject that reading this book would be a positive experience for you.



4. I thought the book was well written - I read at every opportunity, even my lunch time at work! I'm from South Africa, where winter day temperatures hover around 15 deg C (59 F) and I've seen snow maybe twice in my life, but this story was written in such a way that I'm burning to try mushing myself! Imagine that! I've ordered other books on mushing which, I'm hoping, will convince me that I shouldn't be so crazy.

   Well worth the read and keep it on your bookshelf for future reading.




5. Every once in a while we go up to Ely, MN, and spend a day or so dogsledding. So, prior to this year's trip, I bought a few books on the Iditarod and mushing in general.
   
   With the Iditarod in the news right now (especially with the legally blind woman competing this year) I figured I'd learn more about that particular grueling race. This was the first book I got, as the title caught my eye and the reviews were good.
   
   About 1/3 the way into the book, the jumping around between the various mushers and their stories started to get annoying. While I was interested in the various stories, interspersing them in a sort of "time line" format along with O'Donoghue's own experiences was not something I, myself, particularly enjoyed. There were other things about his writing style that seemed to indicate the book was written for his associates and the people with whom he raced, rather than the public at large. As a reporter, it made sense that O'Donoghue would toss in some short human interest stories of the other mushers. But he also had a few nicknames and references that seemed to be for the benefit of those in the know.
   
   Then I made the mistake of picking up Gary Paulsen's Winterdance before I had finished this one. What a huge difference!
   
   I reluctantly came back to My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian and am still trying to finish it. After Paulsen, it just isn't the same. Not to mention his overuse of the word "lesbian" as an adjective, almost as if he felt it necessary to justify the title of the book. OK, the dog was "confused". We get that. But halfway through the book I started noticing he was referring to her as "the little lesbian" or "the lesbian" more often than anything else (like "my lead dog" or her name), and once that sort of thing is noticed, you know, it then just sort of jumps off the page at you. So it's gotten to the point where, when I read that description of his lead dog my eyes roll and I tend to flinch. Gahhh not another one!
   
   I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle of the Iditarod with "O'D" and just can't quite bring myself to pick it back up. He doesn't convey anywhere near the appreciation or love of the dogs that Paulsen does, and it is, after all, all about the dogs. Or should be.
   
   If you want objective, dry facts and figures, this is your book. If you want the soul of mushing, read Paulsen.

No comments about Alaska 2009 Wall Calendar.

5 comments about Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call 2007 (Frommer's Cruises).

1. This book is a good general overview of cruising in Alaska. It would be particularly helpful for first-time cruisers, as much of book is spent explaining how a cruise "works"-- dining, tipping, etc. I appreciated the recommendations on what to pack for Alaska, and they made several good suggestions that I wouldn't have thought of myself. The book was not as up-to-date as I would have liked (Norwegian Pearl had not sailed as of it's writing), but I guess that's understandable. There were some good suggestions for things to do at the various ports on your own, aside from the shore excursions. In all, a helpful, easy-to-access book.



2. I just returned from a cruise to alaska and found this book to be very helpful. I work in a cruise related field and found it contained great reviews of different cruise lines. Port information was easy to follow. The "voice" of the book was friendly and eager to help. I recommend it to anyone who is considering or going to Alaska by ship.



3. This book was very helpful in determining which cities we wanted to include on our cruise port stops, BEFORE booking our trip. We were also able to plan ahead our list of "must see and do" in each port. This book will definitely be used as a guidebook to take with us to Alaska.



4. I found the information in this to be generally helpful. I ordered the 2007 edition planning an Alaskan cruise in May 08. I did not realize that the ships changed from year to year. The Star Princess, on which we are booked, was not included in the 2007 edition. I was not able to find the 2008 cruise guide yet on Amazon. Live and learn.



5. Its ok! This book was of little use to me but I do feel it would be useful to some others. I already own Frommers Alaska and Frommers Cruises and Ports of Call. So, I found the information in Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call to be totally redundant. Also, the first 150 pages or so are an intro to cruising, reviews of cruise lines and ships. Only in the final 100 pages are a discussion of "what to see, what to do, where to stay" in Alaska. If you don't have the others then you will like this book but if you have the others then you will find it a "cliff notes" of the other two.

No comments about Alaska Then and Now: Anchorage, Fairbanks & Juneau.

5 comments about The Milepost 2005: With Plan-a-Trip Map.

1. After just returning from driving around Alaska for one month, (2005) this book is invaluable. Advertisements are plainly marked and information is very useful. It is very nice to be able to know what some of the sights are along the way, where good viewpoints are and where there are picnic areas and rest areas. Only negative is we used the book so much, pages started falling out.
   This should be the first purchase for anyone contemplating driving Alaska (and BC, and Yukon) highways.



2. This is a great guide for visiting & driving in Alaska. All roads are detailed and each mile is described distinctly. There are lots of ads for travel guide activities such as flightseeing, fishing, etc. A great guide to have.



3. If you read all the entries in this guide, you won't have time to look at any of the views! Extremely comprehensive (down to where there are pullouts to let faster drivers pass) and informative. A little bit of a learning curve is required for travel in directions other than those shown, but not too bad. Road map sections seem very complete. A very useful guide.



4. We bought "Milepost 2005" on the advice of friends who live in Alaska. We've used it to plan our entire trip this summer & have found my exciting things to see & do while on vacation this summer.



5. The "Milepost" is a uniquely invaluable resource for travel by road in Alaska and Northwest Canada. This guide will be highly useful for the average tourist, RVer, and camper.
   
   Alaska and Northwest Canada constitute a huge area with vast terrain variation and far less travel infrastructure than most travelers are used to in Southern Canada or the lower 48 states. Travelers should not, for example, expect gas stations, restaurants, and franchise hotels at every exit of the highways, nor should they expect that all facilities will be open year-round. Further, some routes are closed in winter or are highly dangerous due to weather conditions. Finally, travelers should be alert to both the prospect of viewing wildlife along the roads and the hazards of a traffic jam behind, say, a small herd of bison at Muncho Lake in Canada.
   
   The Milepost provides maps, diagrams, photographs, and most of all, an almost mile by mile summary of what to expect in driving the major highways in Alaska and Northwest Canada. The information provided will allow the traveler to locate the next gas station, campground, hotel, or scenic spot. The advertisements included allow some advance planning for areas where few hotel beds may be available. Travelors may also plan ahead for fishing charters on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska or the operating hours of visitor centers or the few but excellent museums that can be found along the road. If buying the most recent edition of the Milepost, travelers can expect some up-to-date information on where to expect major road construction. The Milepost includes information on major hiking trailheads on the main roads, but hikers should seek elsewhere for detailed information on off-road routes.
   
   The Milepost is a must-have guide for road travel in Alaska and Northwest Canada and is most highly recommended to travelers and residents in a wild and scenic part of North America.

1 comments about Exploring Alaska's Birds (Alaska Geographic).

1. Exploring Alaska's Birds: Alaska Geographic, Volume 28, Number 1 is filled from cover to cover with gorgeous color photography of Alaska's wild birds, ranging from ospreys to three-toed woodpeckers. Packed with insightful articles on these colorful and diverse feathered friends, their migration patterns and navigation systems, adaptations to Alaskan winters, as well as their relationships to people, Exploring Alaska's Birds is a remarkable and highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library ornithological reference collections.

No comments about Journeys Through the Inside Passage: Seafaring Adventures Along the Coast of British Columbia and Alaska (Caribou Classics).

1 comments about Disappearing Lake.

1. Beautiful visuals and a lucid, entertaining account of an amazing ecosystem make this a perfect gift for curious young minds.